Rescuers remove 'Mountain' from a pool

Knoxville, Tenn. -- A 1,200-pound retired show horse was declared fine after rescuers and a wrecker truck extracted him from a swimming pool in Knoxville, Tenn.

Mountain, 27, apparently wandered away from his home and onto the property, falling into the tarp-covered pool, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported Thursday. Deborah Black discovered the shivering horse in the brackish water and called for help.

About two hours later, a rescue crew of firefighters, veterinarians and animal control officers pulled Mountain out. Black said Mountain apparently fell into the pool sometime Monday night before being discovered Tuesday morning.

Through most of the rescue operation, Black was in the pool and stroked the American Saddle-bred horse, which was showing signs of hypothermia. Mountain will be treated with antibiotics for pneumonia and watched for signs of internal injuries.

Black said she didn’t have “enough thanks” for the rescuers.

“He’s like a 1,200 pound yard dog,” she said. “Needless to say, I won’t be treating him like a yard dog anymore.”

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