LOOK: Firefighters rescue “exhausted” horse in Cherry Creek State Park

Firefighters are responding to a tired horse who fell and sunk into muddy water within Cherry Creek State Park.

Adrian D. Garcia

Jul. 28, 2016, 5:06 p.m.

Update: Cupcake is free!

Tweet from @SouthMetroPIO

Firefighters rescued a tired horse that fell and sunk into muddy water within Cherry Creek State Park on Thursday.

Cupcake fell into the knee-deep water within the park at about 1 p.m., said Eric Hurst, spokesman for South Metro Fire Rescue. About four and half hours later the 13-year-old horse was rescued.

Tweet from @SouthMetroPIO

On Thursday, Cupcake’s owner was riding her and exploring the wetlands within Cherry Creek State Park, about three miles east of the Denver Tech Center.

“The water got deep and Cupcake lost her footing,” Hurst said. The rider was uninjured, but Cupcake was unable to get up.

Firefighters arrived on scene at about 3:30 p.m. after being alerted by park rangers about the situation. They tried unsuccessfully to lift the horse by putting plywood under her.

A veterinarian was on scene shortly before 5 p.m. to give Cupcake an injection that helped give the horse energy needed to stand and walk, Hurst said.

Tweet from @SouthMetroPIO

Subscribe to Denverite’s newsletter here.

Colfax and Broadway, April 30, 2019. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The Colfax Avenue and Broadway intersection will be closed for a lot of Saturday as Denver Water kicks off old pipe replacement project

While some of the work could continue into Sunday, Denver Water says it shouldn't disrupt ¡Viva! Streets Denver celebrations.

Cindy Stepp of Denver stands next to a ghost bike memorial for her daughter Ainslie O'Neil, who was killed in December 2022 at West 35th Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Denver.

Her daughter was killed on her bike in Denver. She’s still riding and pushing leaders to make streets safer

Ainslie O’Neil was killed in December 2022 when she was struck by a driver while crossing Federal Boulevard on West 35th Avenue.

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero sits on a DPS Board of Education special session on violence and safety. March 23, 2023.

Denver board divided on competing school policing proposals

The Denver Public Schools board will hear public comment next Monday and could set a special meeting then to vote.

Denver's first safe outdoor camping site will soon open here next to First Baptist Church in Capitol Hill. Dec. 4, 2020.

Initially a pandemic response to homelessness, safe outdoor sites could become a long-term program

City Council will vote Monday on zoning changes that would codify the program and provide opportunities for expansion.

A gang of rollerbladers cruise Welton Street, which is closed for ¡Viva! Streets Denver. May 14, 2023.

Broadway and Welton Street will be car-free again this Sunday for Viva Streets Denver — and you can come meet the Denverite team!

We'll be tabling at the second ¡Viva! Streets Denver.

Things to do in Denver this weekend, June 2-4

First Friday art walks, Nuggets watch parties and more!

Westwood nonprofit D3 Arts needs $18,000 to pay for building upgrades after getting cease-and-desist letter from Fire Department

The Westwood staple needs a new commercially licensed fire alarm system to continue operating as an event space for the community.

"Musubi//Connections" by Maki Teshima at Steele Elementary. June 1, 2023.

Maki Teshima’s first public art installation promotes connectedness in the Washington Park neighborhood

The installation is an ode to the art and culture of knotting across Asian communities.

The severity of Denver’s housing crisis shows in May’s record-breaking eviction filings

Last month, the courts saw 1,216 eviction filings. Those numbers are not likely to get better without big policy changes and significant investments, according to advocates.