A Fight Against Time: Rescuing Pencil from the Icy Depths
On February 5, 2009, a quiet winter morning on Doug Oldiges’ farm in Melbourne, Kentucky, quickly turned into a desperate race against time. His beloved horse, Pencil, had tragically fallen through the ice on a frozen pond. The heavy stillness of the morning was shattered by the urgent sound of ice cracking beneath the animal's weight.
Doug Oldiges stood at the edge of the pond, his breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. His hands were numb, his body aching from the cold, but his focus was unwavering. He was trying to break up the ice surrounding the trapped horse, using all the strength and tools he could muster, attempting to free Pencil, who was struggling helplessly in the water.
The situation was dire. Pencil’s powerful frame was trapped in the icy waters, unable to escape the cold grip of the pond. Despite his best efforts, the ice was thick, and every moment that passed made the task more dangerous. Doug’s heart raced as he knew that every second counted. The ice around Pencil was beginning to creak ominously, and the sinking realization that the horse could be in real danger only fueled his determination to save him.
But Doug wasn’t alone in this critical moment. The Northern Kentucky Large Animal Rescue Team was on their way, and soon their fire trucks and equipment appeared on the horizon. Doug glanced up, relief flashing briefly in his eyes as he saw the firefighters and animal rescuers approach. These were professionals who specialized in large animal rescue, a team accustomed to the kinds of high-risk situations that required quick thinking and a deep understanding of animals.
As the rescue team rushed into action, Doug continued his work, breaking the ice into smaller pieces to create a path for Pencil’s release. The teamwork that followed was both swift and precise. Firefighters worked alongside Doug, pulling at ropes and using equipment designed specifically for such a delicate operation. Each movement was calculated to avoid further injury to the horse or the rescuers.
Pencil, clearly exhausted from his struggles, was slowly but surely guided out of the freezing water. Once free, the horse was carefully led to a safe area away from the water, where rescuers and Doug quickly covered him with blankets to help him warm up and recover from the shock.
The cold still clung to the air, but the immediate threat was over. Pencil was safe, thanks to Doug’s persistence and the swift arrival of the rescue team. The moment was a reminder of the deep bond between man and animal, where every life — no matter how big or small — is worth fighting for. As Doug stood there beside Pencil, both shaken but unharmed, he silently thanked the rescuers and knew that this was a day he would never forget.
It was a stark reminder that sometimes, the true strength isn’t just in how we save others, but in the unwavering will to never give up — even when the ice is at its thickest.
KY FEBRUARY 5, 2009 Doug Oldiges (cq) works to free his horse, Pencil, after he fell through the ice on a pond on Oldiges' Melbourne, KY. farm. Oldiges was breaking up some of the ice around the horse as firefighter and members of the Northern Kentucky Large Animal Rescue Team arrived at the scene. The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy
