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Horse Rider Rescued By Fellow Riders When Horse Slips Into Rural Texico Pond
1/12/12 @ 2:33:40 am

A 33-year-old rural Texico man reportedly went underwater several times after his horse became spooked and ran into a pond on the East Canton Road in northern Jefferson County early Wednesday night. Kell firemen say three others who were riding horses with Chris Clark of the Divide Road were eventually able to rescue him after he had been in the water four or five minutes.

Kell Fire Department Assistant Chief Mick McDaneld says once out of the water, the group that included Clark's ten-year-old son and another man and woman, had to walk about a mile to the closest home. McDaneld reports Clark collapsed on the road a short distance from the home, apparently from the effects of hypothermia. The home owner then helped get Clark inside the home where he was able to get out of his wet clothing and get warm next to a fire. Medical personnel wanted to take Clark to the hospital for treatment, but he refused. Eventually, they decided that his body had warmed enough treatment would most likely not be needed.

McDaneld says the group was riding horses near the pond, when Clark's horse apparently became 'spooked' and went into the pond. Clark was thrown from the horse while it was in water seven to eight feet deep. McDaneld says Clark's son initially went into the water, but turned back when the water came up to his knees. The female rider went into water up to her neck before coming out because she was not a strong swimmer. The other man with the group was then able to reach Clark and help drag him into more shallow water where he was able to get his footing and walk out of the pond.

McDaneld says Clark was very lucky. Clark told him all he could think about was his wife and children as he tried to keep his head above water.

The pond is located well off the nearest road about a mile northwest of Divide. The Kell Fire Department was called to the scene just after six Wednesday night to assist the men until Litton's Ambulance could arrive from Mt. Vernon.

Well I was the woman who can't swim (S.O. {name withheld for privacy} writes). My fiance is the one who got into the water and saved the drowning man, who is actually one of our good friends. We almost lost the horse. Horse is still being giving warm water and warm mash, but thankfully doesn't seem to have taken any water in to the lungs. Vets just wanted us to keep him warm and he is in our foaling stall with his pasture buddy (Vets recommendation for body heat).

The only inaccurate part of this story is I didn't exit the water, I just didn't swim to the guy. My fiance had tired really close to the bank and I had walked into the water and pulled his arm until he could touch and he then dragged the man the rest of the way in. Also two of the horses were spooked into the water. The man's and my fiance's due to several deer coming through the field with several dogs barking on their heels (the dogs have been captured). My mare and the man's son's horse both spooked but they bolted forward onto the dam area and not into the water.

The water was the coldest I have ever felt. Even colder than the time I fell through ice over my head. The pond is spring fed, and the temperature that day was around 36*. Everyone is doing alright and the horse is back to his normal body temperature.


It took my fiance 5 minutes to get the man close enough to the shore for me to assist. It took us 15-20 minutes to rescue the horse, who was lodged underneath a downed tree that was submerged. I had to jump into the water and cut the saddle riggings to release the horse from under the tree. By this time the horse had became to tired and actually was floating on his side, groaning. My fiance and I struggled to keep his head above water. The man who was drowning finally caught his breath and him and his son helped the best they could to get the horse out of the water. We finally got him out after breaking almost all the reins and lead ropes we had with his by pulling him halfway up the embankment on his side. I then started smooching and rocking the horse to encourage him to get up, while the men were ready to pull as soon as he stood. He finally leaped up and we got him on shore.

This was a very scary experience and shows that freak accidents happen all the time. If we wouldn't have been on that narrow path when the deer came through, we probably wouldn't have had the problems we did. The literally pushed past us on the trail with the dogs (3 large labs) right behind them. The dogs had escaped their kennel and went on a deer hunt by themselves.


This was also a trail we were very familiar with, but I don't believe we will take it again until summer.

When I was a kid about 11, my dad had me go to my hunter's safety course, like all young prospective hunters do. There was an older gentleman there that was well known for wilderness survival. I do not remember his name, but could probably find it out. He offered a clinic during summer break for hunters about surviving elements and what to do during emergency situations. I was the youngest to go to it, but my father insisted that it would be good for me and even went with me. We watched tons of videos the first few days, spoke to several search and rescue personnel, and had a few paramedics and policeman come through and share their expertise.

The next couple days we watched several different mock rescues; drowning, gun shot wound, hypothermia, broken leg, ATV wreck, fall from tree stand, and a few others I don't quite remember.

After watching each mock rescue we were walked through step-by-step procedures and even had some hands on experience in some of the mock rescues. I didn't get to do the drowning, but when you are 11 years old, watching even fake things stick in your mind. The biggest thing we were told is ALWAYS REMAIN CALM. The ATV wreck was the most interesting, but I remembered the hypothermia one the most:

1. Do not let them rest. If they lay down and fall asleep in the middle of nowhere, they WILL die.
2. Keep them talking and pay attention to how they talk. A person close to collapsing will not answer questions correctly or at all.
3. Get them to a warm location as fast as you can, and strip them completely down. If you are stuck a distance out build a fire immediately and offer dry clothes. Keep the person moving and talking.
4. NEVER leave the person unattended. Even if they do collapse they may get up disoriented and wander way off from where you last knew them to be.

Now I know these aren't what you here in EMT classes or Search & Rescue but these are what we were told to do as civilians in a worse case scenario.


This was definitely a different experience for me. No matter how many clinics or things we were told and taught that day, I never expected to have drowning/hypothermia both in one. I know when it all happened I remembered the "STAY CALM" more than anything. I can not swim. I've went to swimming lessons, been thrown into deep water without a life jacket, and just NEVER caught on to more than a doggy paddle to keep afloat.

I also did some job shadowing for my senior year in high school with an ambulance crew. I got to watch some interesting things while riding them, both serious and minor situations, and they always said STAY CALM, your brain and body can function better if you are thinking clearly. You will move more accurately and efficiently if you don't panic.


The only things I wish would have been different is:

1. Had a rope, any rope. I suggest carrying a leadrope/lasso. We wouldn't have such a hard time reaching him if we would of been able to throw him a rope.

2. Extra clothes in cold weather. I wish we would of packed our saddle bags with some extra jackets, a blanket would have been even better!

3. Radio/CB. We were in an area with no cell phone signal. Many of the locals have CB's and we would have been assisted even quicker if we didn't have to walk that far to get help.



My cousin, who is in the army and also an EMT, suggested it would be wise to carry those hand/feet warmers for incidents like this, and even said it would be good to carry some MRE's (Dehydrated food, for those who don't know). Most of them have coffee or hot tea in them which would have helped warming the body. He also said their is a lot of places that have first-aid clinics you can attend.

I am really blessed to have had a father who thought it was important to know how to handle the elements and survive. I probably would have panicked without him encouraging me to go to the clinics when I was little. NEVER TOO YOUNG TO START!

Thank you "S.O." for allowing me to post your experience. It's a good reminder to all of us that accidents can happen, and remaining level headed can save lives. The people and horses involved in this incident are all recovering.