Human digging chain rescuing trapped horses

Animals left to starve as winter moved in

December 22, 2008
By Cheryl Chan, The Province

Residents of a small northern B.C. town didn't expect to spend the week before Christmas trying to rescue two horses stranded in the Robson Valley.

Since last Monday, about 25 residents of McBride, about 210 kilometres east of Prince George, have been taking turns taking care of a three-year-old mare and five-year-old gelding trapped in two-metre-high snowdrifts in Renshaw, a popular snowmobiling spot accessible only by sled or snowmobile.

"They were starving to death," said Matt Elliott, who went up with two friends to check on the animals, rumoured to have been abandoned by a hunter in September. "The snow painted them into a corner. It's amazing they are in the shape they're in for as long as they've been out there."

The SPCA and a vet say the mare is likely suffering from rain rot, a skin infection, and frostbite. Both horses are weak but are expected to pull through.

Volunteers are transporting blankets and hay in -35 C weather to keep the rail-thin animals warm and fed, while others take turns digging a kilometre-long path, through snow sometimes 21/2 metres deep, to a groomed trail that's still about 30 km, or 45 minutes via snowmobile, from the nearest road.

The horses are too weak to sling out under a helicopter.

Progress is slow -- a crew of six men digging six hours a day for two days has cleared less than 300 metres -- and more volunteers are needed.

"The plan is to try doing a big day sometime this week," said Elliott. "There's no miracle cure. It's just straight manpower."

Community feedback has been "awesome," said Glen Daykin of local sled shop Spindrift Power Sports, who has been co-ordinating volunteer efforts. "I can't believe what this community has done to get these horses out."

Donations to help pay for gas and feed are also coming in.

Other people question the actions of the horses' owner by leaving them in the mountain to die.

"I sincerely hope to see these horses rescued . . . and their owner brought to justice," said Lisa Levasseur, who lives in the nearby village of Valemount. "It is appalling to me that these horses were left to slowly suffer to death, no matter the circumstances."