Horse Found Neck-Deep in Mud Pit Retires to Farm With the Horse Who Helped Save Him

Cyrus is one very lucky horse. The 18-year-old Clydesdale first cheated death after being pulled from New Holland Sales Stables, an auction that sells horses for slaughter in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He was being boarded temporarily by his new owner at Thornbury Farm Stables in West Chester, Pennsylvania when a second incident occurred that could’ve been another catastrophe.

On October 5, Cyrus was relaxing in a pasture when he was spooked by a dominant horse chasing him into a nearby swampy pit. Nobody who worked at the farm noticed he was missing until Penny Parker, the stable manager miraculously heard cries from his pasture mate, Ghost, a 15-year-old Medicine Hat Paint.

Lt. William Cahill, spokesman for the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department, said the horse was last seen about 6:30 p.m. Cyrus was discovered the next morning sinking, with only his head and rear visible above the dank muck. “About 80 percent of the horse was submerged,” Cahill told Philly.com. The 1,700 pound beast was finally pulled free hours later by several emergency crews by a crane that was brought in to lift him.

The horse had been hoisted at least 20 feet into the air.

Groggy from the ordeal, having been sedated by Unionville Equine Associates, Cyrus made a recovery aided by his equine buddy Ghost. Parker recalled, “When Ghost came over he just leveled out – calm and peaceful. It was kind of magical.” Perhaps they found a connection as Ghost who was no longer rideable due to bone fractures, was also once bound for slaughter and rescued.

Parker who is a volunteer for the horse rescue group Horses of New Holland couldn’t deny their kindred spirits so when it came time for Cyrus to join his human savior, Keith Horswill, of Zuni, Virginia, she made a plea to include Ghost.

“When he watched the magic between Cyrus and Ghost he decided they should stay together forever,” Parker said.

And now they are neighing and nuzzling, retiring happily ever after in their new Virginia family farm.