Firefighters from two agencies assisted a horse that fell into a ditch and was at risk of toppling into a creek Sunday evening.

Shortly before 7 p.m., personnel from the Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara City fire departments were dispatched to an animal rescue in the 1700 block of San Marcos Pass Road, Karen Cruz Orduña, county Fire Department spokeswoman, said. 

The approximately 30-year-old horse — name unknown — fell into a ditch and was at risk of falling into a creek, leading to the rescue operation, she added.

The animal’s veterinarian sedated the horse, allowing crews to safely rescue and return the equine to stable ground.

Despite the two-hour ordeal, the horse was not injured, Cruz-Orduña said.

While most of their calls involve human patients, firefighters throughout Santa Barbara County sometimes wind up helping their four-legged and feathered friends. 

Past rescue calls have included a camel, barn owl, bat, live horned owl and plenty of other creatures that have landed in a predicament.