Swansea Couple Rescued In NH Horseback Riding Misadventure

SWANSEA, MA — A Swansea couple makes up two of the four people rescued from a New Hampshire mountain over the weekend after getting lost while on a horseback riding expedition, New Hampshire Fish and Game said in a news release Sunday.

The four Massachusetts horse riders called for help Saturday evening after getting lost while riding on the Weetamoo Trail on Mount Chocorua in Albany, New Hampshire, officials said.

The riders first took the Liberty Trail to the Hammond Trail but were unable to follow the same route back due to hazardous conditions and steep and rocky terrain, according to officials. They then headed to the Weetamoo trail but lost track of their location and had no lights, officials said.

Three of the horses fell during the ride and sustained minor injuries, according to officials.

The riders were identified as John Huether, 69, from Chatham, Wayne Therrien, 76, from Rochester, Danny Nadeau, 66, and his wife Tami Nadeau, 61, from Swansea. The group was part of the Granite State Carriage Association participating in the annual “Look to the Mountain” event, officials said.

Conservation officers hiked around 1.6 miles to meet the group on the Weetamoo Trail, according to officials. The riders were given headlamps, warm clothing, food and water, and escorted to the Piper trailhead parking area arriving shortly before 2:00 a.m. Sunday, officials said.

Their horses were loaded onto trailers and taken back to their campsite on Philbrook Neighborhood Road in Tamworth, according to officials.