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40-Year-Old Horse Rescued In Acton After Losing Ability To Stand Up

A 40-year-old horse that lost the ability to stand up in Acton was rescued on Monday by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.


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The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call at 12:01 p.m. on Feb. 1 about the aging horse, named “Blackjack,” who had fallen and was unable to regain his footing.

Firefighter Humberto Agurcia said that units called in for the horse rescue were on scene by 12:46 p.m.

“Firefighters from two stations answered the call,” he said. “We had a (Urban Search and Rescue) unit as well.”

The USAR team provided a sling for the crews to pick up the animal.

Related Story: Horse Stuck In Ditch Rescued In Santa Clarita

“They created a sling for the horse to basically get the horse back on its feet,” Agurcia said. “We used a small crane to lift it.”

After the animal was picked up, he said, it was turned over to animal control, who then checked its health.

The horse rescued was 10 years older than the average life expectancy of horses, which is 30 years old.

Two days after the incident, a tweet by the Los Angeles County Fire Department Public Information Office confirmed that Blackjack was in good health and spirits after a visit by firefighters from Station 80, who had helped rescue him.

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40-Year-Old Horse Rescued In Acton After Losing Ability To Stand Up

3 comments

  1. As a horse owner of many years, and former owner of a holistic horse board and care facility in Placerita Canyon several years ago, I can attest that horses can live that long. In fact, it was a 40-year-old Arabian that was still entertaining crowds at the Annual Cowboy Festival several years ago. Not usual, but very possible with the right care.

    Hats off to those who unselfishly rescued this horse. But it does beg some questions: Where was the owner? How did anyone know his name? Hard times can mean hard choices and horses are too often abandoned because their owners can no longer care for them. This horse at least remained in good health and spirits following his rescue. Lucky him!

    • The owner called when attending vet refused to treat the colic. Jack is mine, well and happy. I was with him every agonizing moment. Before you judge, look at yourself.

  2. It very may have been the owner who called. They may not have had the equipment to get him upright again. Glad he is back up and rocking it.

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About Chris McCrory

Chris McCrory is the acting News Director for KHTS Radio. He set up a profile picture in his first week as an intern in 2015, and still isn't sure how to change it. He will graduate from Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism in December 2018.