Horse Rescued Sunday at Redmond's Watershed Preserve

Pippy the horse was rescued Sunday afternoon at Redmond's Watershed Preserve Park by the Redmond Fire Department and the Washington State Animal Response Team.

Patch spoke with some of the rescuers. Check out video of the interviews here.

Updated at 6:40 p.m.

According to Redmond Deputy Fire Chief Russ Albertson, a horse was spooked by bees on the trail, bucking the rider. The horse ran off the trail and into a ravine. The rider was treated and released on scene, and several people arrived, including a veterinarian, to help rescue the horse, Albertson said. Woodinville Fire Department also responded to the scene.

This is the third local horse rescue in the past couple of weeks, Albertson said.

Stable owner Robyn Smith of Equine Life Solutions said the horse's name was Pippy, and she thanked the rescuers profusely for their work as she came out of the woods with the rescuers.

Dennis Brislawn, spokesman of the Washington State Animal Response Team, a nonprofit team that helps with animal rescues, said the floor of the ravine was muddy, which made it hard for the horse to escape on its own. Firefighters and rescuers cut away brush debris and laid down plywood, which gave the horse some footing, which enabled it to walk out on its own power, Brislawn said.

Originally posted at 1:30 p.m.

Redmond Fire closed parts of the park while the rescue was underway, which took several hours, but less time than rescuers were expecting. Watershed Preserve Park is located at 21760 Novelty Hill Rd.

Previous rescues:
Pony Rescued From Redmond Ravine
Cocoa the Horse Freed From Mud Near Woodinville Home