Workhorse rescued after falling into well> Excavator digs ramp to free trapped animal

BROWNVILLE — Workers excavated a section of a farm well Friday evening to free a 1600-pound Belgian workhorse that had fallen in.

The well was fairly shallow, about 15 to 20 feet deep, but still posed a problem for rescuers looking to extricate Logan, a 3-year-old horse that was trapped at the bottom.

Spooked while in the pasture off the Spencer Farm Road, Logan had backed up onto the well covering.

The cover buckled under the horse’s weight and the animal fell in, reported Brownville police Officer Jon Roebuck, who was called to the pasture at 6:20 p.m.

Logan initially was lodged sideways in the well, but, after thrashing about, managed to stand on all fours in 3 to 4 feet of water, on solid ground nonetheless. Local firefighters fed Logan hay to keep him calm while rescuers worked to free him.

Roebuck said initially they had planned to use a crane to lift the horse out, but a harness couldn’t be found and there was little or no room for anyone to fit a harness around the large horse. Roebuck estimated the well opening was 4 feet wide and 6 to 10 feet long.

Authorities also didn’t know what condition the horse was in and were concerned that Logan might have broken his back or legs.

Several firefighters at the scene were employees at Earl W. Gerrish & Sons and made a call to the Brownville construction company.

An excavator arrived and in about an hour had dug a ramp leading down to where Logan was lodged, Roebuck said.

About 21/2 hours after police were called, Logan stepped onto the ramp and walked to freedom, shaken up and nervous, but physically OK.

Roebuck watched as owner Harold Olmstead walked Logan back to the barn. Inside, Logan began eating hay with the other horses.

“It was a great effort by the whole community,” Roebuck said. “It all came together and worked out well.”