North Texas firefighters rescue 'extremely lucky' horse from sinkhole

Ginger, a horse in Arlington, became trapped in a sinkhole after soil collapsed from under her on June 15, 2015, according to the Arlington Fire Department. After two hours, three rescue crews were able to free Ginger, who only had a few scratches on her legs and back. She was then sent to the Burleson Equine Hospital, where she is expected to heal quickly. less Ginger, a horse in Arlington, became trapped in a sinkhole after soil collapsed from under her on June 15, 2015, according to the Arlington Fire Department. After two hours, three rescue crews were able to free ... more Photo: Courtesy, Arlington Fire Department Photo: Courtesy, Arlington Fire Department Image 1 of / 89 Caption Close North Texas firefighters rescue 'extremely lucky' horse from sinkhole 1 / 89 Back to Gallery

Arlington firefighters responded to an unusual situation last week when they had to rescue a horse that fell into a sinkhole most likely caused by recent flooding.

The horse, named Ginger, became trapped four feet below the surface after the soil in a driveway collapsed from under her, Lt. Lee Tovar, a spokesman for the Arlington Fire Department, said in a phone interview.

After two hours, three rescue crews were able to free Ginger, who only had a few scratches on her legs and back.

"It was the perfect storm of fortuitous events," veterinarian Amy Armentrout told NBC DFW. "I would consider her extremely lucky because she was trapped in a precarious situation."

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Around 12-15 firefighters used straps to help move the horse, and a back hoe was used to help dig around her, Tovar said.

He added that Ginger most likely fell because drainage pipes under the driveway were damaged after heavy rain, creating an underground culvert. The soil then collapsed and resulted in a sink hole as soon as Ginger stepped on the driveway.

“When she fell, she tried to kick herself out, which made her sink more,” Tovar said, adding that she sank four feet underground.

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"I was just kind of horrified," Carolyn Putney, who has owned Ginger for more than 25 years, told NBC DFW. "She's my baby. One of my babies is like one of my children."

The news station reports that Ginger was then sent to the Burleson Equine Hospital, where she will heal for another week.

Although Ginger has a few casts on her legs, she “really couldn't be doing any better," veterinarian Amy Armentrout told the television station.

Click through the slideshow to view photos of the rescue followed by other sinkholes in the news recently.

rsalinas@mysa.com