Clydesdale horse that Delaware City firefighters rescued twice dies from injuries

Bubba the Clydesdale died on Wednesday, just days after Delaware City firefighters saved the horse in a frozen marsh and then helped him out of his stable. 

Due to internal injuries suffered in the second rescue, the 2,000-pound horse on Cozy Quarters Farm had to be put down, owner Pam Collacchi said. 

Firefighters first met Bubba while he was stuck in a frozen and muddy creek on Sunday. With a 1-ton Clydesdale stuck in the Dragon Run Creek, the local firefighters had to improvise.

The Kent County Large Animal Rescue Team would have taken too long to arrive, so they managed to haul him out using supplies they had available: an Ford F-350, wetsuits and fire hoses. 

"We might not have done what we should have," Chief Wally Poppe told The News Journal, "but that horse wasn't dying on my watch."

The 8-year-old Clydesdale needed a lot of rest and warmth after being submerged in freezing water for about 45 minutes, so he relaxed in his stall, Collacchi said. 

The next morning, he wedged himself into the corner of the stall and could not stand up. Bubba was stuck on his side as firefighters helped roll and push him out of the stable corner. 

Collacchi kept a close eye on Bubba throughout Monday and said he seemed to have been recovering fine, eating, drinking and walking around the barn. 

But, on Tuesday he was back on the ground and couldn't get up.

The vet told Collacchi that the horse had no feeling in his hind legs, and even if they could get Bubba to stand, he would have suffered lung and other damage from being on his side for such a long time.

"It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the difficult decision of putting Bubba down," Collacchi said. "We are so glad to have had Bubba in our lives and pray his walk to heaven is a blessed one."

The Cozy Quarters Farm is a lesson farm, so riders train on horses. Bubba was well-loved, and he enjoyed attention from visitors, Collacchi said.

It was his first winter on the farm, and Collacchi said he already had a girlfriend, a horse named Sunshine. His favorite snacks included apples, carrots and peppermints. 

Chief Poppe said he and his company were saddened by the news of their favorite Clydesdale's passing. 

First responders have discussed creating a New Castle County Large Animal Rescue Team after Bubba's water rescue. 

MORE ON BUBBA'S RESCUE:

How firefighters rescued a 2,000-pound Clydesdale from a frozen marsh

Bubba the Clydesdale saved from marsh

Contact Josephine Peterson at (302) 324-2856 or jhpeterson@delawareonline.com. Follow her @jopeterson93.