Mare Freed from Silo Thanks to Team Effort
Matsi the mare is safe and sound after an incredible rescue effort involving UC Davis veterinary experts, emergency responders, and animal rescue organizations from Northern California.
On December 9, 2024, Matsi, an 8-year-old American Quarter Horse-Quarter Draft cross, found herself stuck in an underground space beneath an empty rice silo.
When county animal services called the UC Davis Equine Field Service for help, their team of veterinarians, technicians, and fourth-year veterinary students jumped into action. Collaborating with rescue teams, they devised a plan to lift Matsi safely from the silo.
The operation was both a challenge and an incredible learning opportunity for the students, who gained hands-on experience working in a real-life emergency. Under the guidance of UC Davis experts, they learned how to assess a patient under pressure, manage sedation, and plan technical rescues – skills that will shape the next generation of veterinarians.
After days of planning, Matsi was sedated, carefully harnessed, and lifted to safety using a rope-and-pulley system. The team’s quick thinking, teamwork, and care ensured a successful rescue, and Matsi was soon walking on her own, much to everyone’s relief.
This effort wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, the California Veterinary Emergency Team, Yolo County Animal Services and incredible groups like Sonoma Valley Animal Emergency Response Team, North Valley Animal Disaster Group, El Dorado County Sheriff's Search & Rescue, Yolo Fire, Knights Landing Fire, Halter Project, and many others.
The community came together to save Matsi, and this rescue highlights the dedication of everyone involved – from seasoned experts to the future veterinarians training right here at UC Davis. What a team effort!
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