After a horse named Mac was found sinking into deep mud, a group of mountain bikers rushed in to help.
The incident unfolded near Beaver Pond in Bear Brook State Park in Deerfield, New Hampshire.
The riders said they worked to keep Mac's head up while trying to push him free.
Here's what to know
Crews from at least three fire departments and local animal organizations, including the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, also took part in the rescue, according to WMUR News 9.
News 9 reported that the bikers stepped in early, saying they reached Mac soon after he began to sink and held his head before responders arrived.
After hours at the scene, Mac was freed from the mud with specialized equipment and then led out of the woods.
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The bikers kept the horse alive while waiting for local authorities to step in.
They did the right thing, preventing the most immediate cause of harm by keeping the horse's vital airway open and calling authorities rather than trying to free the horse by themselves.
The rescue reportedly took hours and was likely a tiring situation for both the rescuers and the stuck horse, but in the end, it was a story of triumph.
Where can I learn more?
Mac's rescue is one example of how volunteers and animal groups step in when animals are in danger.
• In Nottingham, ARC Wildlife Sanctuary volunteers found swans weaving in and out of highway traffic and brought them to safety.
• In Turkey, volunteers rushed to aid wildlife after forest fires tore through communities and habitats.
• In Canada, a nonprofit saved animals from wildfire even as tight budgets strained emergency flights.
• In Nottingham, volunteers raced to protect wildlife after an oil spill threatened ducks near a business park.
• In the U.K., neighbors banded together to save land so rescue horses could keep grazing.
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