A 9-1-1 call took an unexpected turn on Sunday when Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to a call. They were dispatched at 1:40 pm to assist an injured person at the Patuxent River State Park in Brookville. During their search, rescuers found a horse whose leg had fallen through a pedestrian bridge and was stuck.
According to Assistant Chief David Pazos, more rescue units arrived at the scene to help. The MCFRS Technical Rescue Team and a vet were also called to the location. After hours of work, with the horse was sedated, crew members were able to free the horse’s leg by cutting threw a wood panel. At around 4:10 pm, the horse was freed and walked off the trail.
Once the sedation wore off, the horse was able to put weight on the injured leg. Officials say there is some soft tissue damage but the horse’s leg is not broken.
In an update on social media, Pazos said the horse thanked its rescuers by brushing its head along the bodies of the crew members who saved him.
Officials say the injured person who originated the call unaware of the horse, was found but refused transport.
Patuxent River State Park(Brookville)@140PM @mcfrs dispatched for injured person on trail. Found horse w/leg through pedestrian bridge on trail. Technician Rescue Team & Vet called to assist. Injured person(unrelated) refused transport. Horse sedated and leg removed w/mcfrs help. pic.twitter.com/fRIRGyfy0D
— Pazos@mcfrsPIO (@DavidPazos15) May 31, 2026
