Florida firefighters rescue horse trapped in mud pit

— -- A horse that was trapped in a mud pit in southeastern Florida has been freed, thanks to some diligent firefighters.

Palm Beach County firefighters received a call early Monday morning about a horse stuck in the mud in The Acreage, Florida, an unincorporated area near West Palm Beach. When they first arrived on the scene, firefighters found the horse stuck in the mud up to its belly.

"Firefighters ... started working on digging the horse from the mud using hand tools and keeping the scared horse calm during the rescue," Captain Albert Borroto, public information officer with the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, told ABC News.

According to firefighters, a local veterinarian sedated the horse in order to get it out safely.

"Using training learned in equestrian rescue classes, the crews were able to get the rescue straps around the animal and prepare to pull it from the mud with a pulley system," Borroto said.

It took about an hour to get the horse out.

"The 25-year-old horse named Skip was evaluated by the veterinarian and is doing well," Borroto said.

Authorities have not released how the horse became stuck in the mud or if it has been claimed by someone in the area.