Marshfield pony tumbles into covered pool

MARSHFIELD, Mass. -- A pony fell into a pool Wednesday afternoon when it tried to walk on the pool’s cover.

The 10-year-old pony, named Star, originally escaped from a barn and headed straight for the pool. Weighing in at 900 pounds, the pony easily went right through the pool's cover.

The pool was nearly full of cold water, but the pony was tall enough that it was not in danger of going under.

Owner Abby Crosby did what she could to help.

"I just was able to grab her head and her halter, and just keep her head up. She was trying to get up, but it was the deep end so there was no footing. So, when the emergency people got here, they cut the cover so that we could get her to the shallow end, and once she was in the shallow end, she could stand comfortably. She was, at that point, really cold and exhausted," said Crosby.

A dozen firefighters and animal rescuers were called to the Marshfield home.

Initially, fire officials tried to make a raft to get the pony out, but that did not work. Instead, they brought a back hoe.

"We got the tactical team organized and supported her head with a flotation device and sedated her. Then, the divers got in the water, used a sling that a Duxbury firefighter designed. Once we got the sling on her, we got a back hoe in place and lifted her out, said veterinarian Dana Pantano.

That pony was then safely returned to Crosby's barn and is expected to be OK.

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