A horse and pony in California are lucky to be alive after spending nearly 18 hours trapped in mud.
The animals became stuck near Salinas, California after a powerful flood caused a downpour of mud to rush down a saturated hillside, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
After discovering the trapped animals, the owners flagged down nearby firefighters and contacted the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for help.
After a heroic effort, local rescue authorities were able to free the two horses from the chest-high mud trap.
"It definitely took a village to get these horses out," said Beth Brookhouser, Monterey County SPCA spokesperson.
Neighbors also lent a helping hand by using shovels and other tools to help dig out the two horses.
Both horses are currently being treated by the Steinbeck Country Equine Clinic veterinarians, SPCA officials reported.
“The horses, a mare and a smaller pony, were very cold after spending the night immobilized in the muck. It wasn't until hours later that the horses stopped shivering,” Brookhouser said.
According to SPCA, the area has been susceptible to landslides after last summer’s wildfire scorched the area and made it more prone to erosion.
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