WALESKA — Firefighters rescued a horse from underneath an old bridge in rural northwestern Cherokee County on Tuesday morning.

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services responded at about 11:20 a.m. to the animal rescue call in the 100 block of Hancock Mountain Trail in the Salacoa community of northwestern Cherokee County.

Firefighters arrived on the scene and were directed to the location of a large horse that was lying on its side underneath a small old bridge, according to Tim Cavender, spokesman for the Cherokee County fire department.

The horse appeared to be in distress and it was unknown as to how long it had been underneath the bridge, Cavender said.

Cherokee County Special Operations Chief Darrell Mitchell made a request to contact the Milton Animal Rescue Team and for a wrecker service to help lift the animal back on its feet.

The firefighters on the scene, along with Cherokee Animal Control officers and Milton’s Animal Rescue Team were able to drag the horse from underneath the bridge, Cavender said.

The horse was later positioned so members of the rescue team could pull her up so she could stand on all four legs.

The first attempt was unsuccessful as the horse collapsed and began to lie on its side again, Cavender said.

“A second attempt was made and the horse was able to stand,” he said. “For a brief moment, it appeared that the horse was going to fall on its side again, but a tree helped to brace the horse and it continued to remain standing.” The horse was later led out of the area and taken to a nearby pasture, Cavender said.