Horse in a Hole: 4 Days’ Agony, Then an Airlift

For four scary days, a 7-year-old Appaloosa was trapped in a tight sinkhole off California 74 outside San Juan Capistrano before 10 firefighters and a helicopter crew made a daring rescue Monday.

When the tired and frightened 800- to 1,000-pound gelding was finally freed, a small group of horse lovers who were watching the delicate operation burst into tears.

“I can’t believe what everybody has done,” sobbed Cori Winker, who leases the horse, named Happy Appy.

At one point, rescuers thought it might become necessary to euthanize the horse because it appeared doubtful they could get it out of the remote hole.

The horse, owned by Fred Love Livestock, is one of about 40 at Love’s training facility in the rolling hills two miles east of downtown San Juan Capistrano.

After Happy Appy was discovered missing Friday, mounted searchers began riding to every remote corner of the 1,200-acre ranch.

On Sunday, they found the horse in the last place they thought possible, about 100 feet down a 30- to 40-degree slope covered with low grass and chaparral.

Somehow, he skirted a fence, “fell on his side and slid in” to a hole 30 feet deep and six feet in diameter, said ranch manager Tracy Kuchan. “El Nino, with all these slides, did such damage around here.”

She and her husband, Gary, got some water and hay to the horse, and the Orange County Fire Authority was summoned. “We went out at night, but we couldn’t do anything,” said fire Capt. Scott Brown.

Firefighters returned at first light Monday and struggled to get a cargo net under the horse, which was wedged in while standing on all fours in the sinkhole.

“The horse is real excitable and spooks really easily,” Brown said as the crisis unfolded.

The rescue was hampered with the ground so unstable that firefighters couldn’t position any heavy equipment. “Firefighters can’t get into the trench,” Brown said, so they laid wood around the lip of the sinkhole so they could work.

At one point, a net was secured around Happy Appy, but he moved and foiled their efforts. Firefighters had to undertake the tricky procedure again.

Brown said rescuers were considering euthanasia: “It may be impossible to get out.”

Shortly after 3 p.m., however, their luck turned and the second net was in place. The horse was tired and compliant and was administered a sedative.

“This second net went under real easy,” said Mike Ahmuda, the Fire Authority’s incident commander. “The horse is so tired, it’s not even moving.”

Tension mounted as a Fire Authority helicopter piloted by James Davidson swung into place over the trench. A 50-foot cable was used to lift the horse.

Opposite the slope where the drama was playing out, Winker, Kuchan and a few other friends stood with their arms around one another.

“I’m going to give him a big hug,” Winker promised.

The anxiety rose.

“I’m about ready to throw up,” someone said.

The helicopter gently lifted the horse but some unexpected movement put him briefly upside-down when he reached the surface. Happy Appy slipped out of the net at first opportunity and bolted. That wasn’t precisely what rescuers had in mind, but it was close enough.

Winker and a couple of others cried, then began smiling.

Soon Happy Appy was rounded up and Winker led him down the trail from the steep hill.

“He’s good,” she said.

Pilot Davidson walked up and introduced himself.

“Hi, horse,” he said, looking most satisfied with his first horse rescue.

The horse appeared to be unharmed, but ribs were just beginning to show.

“We’re having a big ol’ barbecue” to celebrate, Winker said.