Cochin residents take trouble by the reins after horse gets trapped in icy creek

People living in the village of Cochin didn’t hesitate to hop into the saddle when a farm animal wandered into a dangerous situation.

About a dozen people rushed to help a horse that fell through ice on the creek connecting Jackfish Lake and Murray Lake on Wednesday morning.

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The village – located about 35 kilometres north of North Battleford – got a call at the community office saying the creature was struggling in the frigid water.

Mayor Mark Pattinson said he and a friend quickly sprung into action, grabbing ropes and heading out in a Jeep to search for the animal.

“It was a team effort from from the get go,” he said.

He said they found the horse struggling in the creek close to the bridge leading to Moosomin First Nation, and they began trying to haul it out. The effort attracted the attention of other people nearby, who ran over to lend a hand.

Corey Elliott said he was part of the group effort that helped get the horse to safety. (Corey Elliott/ Facebook)

Corey Elliott said he heard the commotion inside his home and rushed outside to see what was the matter.

When he arrived, he said people were lining the edge of the creek trying to help a horse that was submerged up to its neck.

“The horse was in panic mode, shivering and gasping for air,” Elliott said. “It seemed to be in rough shape, but all the guys that were out there were doing a great job to bring it back onto the ice.”

Pattinson said the creek was shallow enough that the horse could stand on the bottom.

He said he thinks the horse had been trying to escape the creek for about four hours, because it had created a big hole in the ice.

Elliott said the horse lay on its side, exhausted, after the group managed to drag it from the creek. He grabbed a blanket from his home to help dry the animal off.

“When it came out, I guess it had cut itself on some of the ice, so it was bleeding a little bit here and there,” Elliott said.

The horse is being referred to as “Frosty” after the icicles on its coat. (Corey Elliott/ Facebook)

Pattinson said he was “pretty sweaty” after the hour-long effort to get the horse out of the water.

Elliott said the group was worried the horse may need to be put down after the ordeal, but with a little help it was able to get up again.

“We all stayed strong and rocked it back and forth until we were able to get it to stand up,” he said.

Pattinson and the horse walked three blocks to a heated garage within the village so the group could dry it off and warm it up.

“It was almost like he knew that he was being saved,” he said.

“He didn’t fight me at all.”

Pattinson said he’s calling the horse “Frosty” because of the clumps of ice on its coat.

The horse was given a bale and some water while it warmed up. (Mark Pattinson/ Facebook)

“Everyone that showed up and was there did an amazing job and did everything that they could to help out and secure the safety of that horse,” Elliott said.

Pattinson said Frosty will be checked over by a veterinarian before going to yard with other horses until its owner can be located.