BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – A horse that fell approximately eight feet into a hole and landed on its back and side at a Boulder County trail has been euthanized, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday.
The horse was injured after a pair of Lakewood residents rode their horses on the lower loop of the Walker Ranch Loop Trail on the south side of South Boulder Creek near what is known as the “the cliffs.”
As the pair rode through the lower portion of the trail, the horse became spooked for an unknown reason and threw the Lakewood man off. It then ran up the very steep, rocky terrain and fell approximately six to eight feet into a hole, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
The rider thrown from the horse was not injured.
Deputies said emergency personnel worked for over five hours to try and rescue the injured horse, but to no avail.
At around 11 p.m. Saturday, personnel – including a veterinarian – determined that the injured horse “could not be saved due to the extent of injuries,” deputies said.
The 13-year-old horse was then euthanized by the veterinarian on scene.
Portions of the Walker Ranch Loop Trail were closed for several hours early Sunday morning as emergency personnel were removed the remains.
Three different agencies worked together to remove the dead horse from the site.
Deputies said the incident was the result of an accident and no charges will be filed.