Rancher and Neighbors Rescue 15 Horses from Oahu Floodwaters
Similar Articles
Swiftwater Rescue Teams Save Horse Stranded by Floodwaters
Dog Found Alive After Week-Long Search Following Owner's Rescue
Stranded Juvenile Humpback Whale Successfully Rescued in New South Wales
Over 70 Animals Rescued from Texas Property, One Dog Finds New Home
Tow Truck Owner Rescues Moose Trapped in Saskatchewan Lake Ice
Rancher Tyler Smith, with the help of neighbors, successfully rescued 15 horses from chest-high floodwaters at Dillingham Ranch in Waialua. The animals were led to safety without injury during a heavy wet season that prompted a government alert. The group also used a backhoe to assist other neighbors and pull vehicles from the water.
Facts First
- 15 horses were rescued without injury from a flooded paddock on Oahu's north shore.
- Rancher Tyler Smith led the effort, riding one horse out of rising water and walking others a quarter-mile to safety.
- Neighbors Kelsey and Levi assisted with a backhoe, which was also used to rescue a woman and pull stuck cars.
- The rescue occurred during a heavy Hawaiian wet season following a government flood alert.
- A stallion's fear nearly caused panic but was managed during the operation.
What Happened
During a heavy wet season on Oahu's north shore, chest-high floodwaters inundated paddocks at Dillingham Ranch in Waialua. Rancher Tyler Smith arrived at the scene in a pickup truck and found water filling the vehicle's footwell. He rode one horse out of the flooded area. Neighbors Kelsey and Levi arrived with a backhoe to assist. The group first rescued a woman named Inga from the area, who then helped with the horse rescue. Four of Levi's horses were found clustered on a spit of high ground within a flooded paddock. Smith reported walking the horses a quarter-mile to safety, managing a moment where a stallion's fear nearly caused panic. A total of 15 horses were rescued using a combination of the backhoe, halters, and manual effort.
Why this Matters to You
This event highlights how community cooperation during natural disasters can prevent loss. For you, it underscores the tangible risks severe weather poses to livestock and property, even in idyllic settings. The successful, injury-free rescue of large animals demonstrates that prepared neighbors with the right equipment can make a critical difference. The subsequent use of the backhoe to pull cars and help people on roofs shows how one coordinated response can address multiple cascading emergencies.
What's Next
Veterinarians have confirmed the rescued horses are uninjured. The neighbors' equipment and willingness to assist may continue to be a resource for the community as the wet season persists. Similar flood responses in the area might benefit from the lessons learned about managing animal panic and using heavy machinery for multi-purpose rescue.