NORCO (CBS) —  Workers rescued a horse that had fallen into a ditch in Norco Saturday, according to a fire department spokeswoman.

The horse, named Buddy, fell into a 12-foot-by-12-foot water drainage hole in the 3600 block of Temescal Avenue at about 10:45 a.m., said Jody Hagemann of the fire department.

Firefighters assisted officials from county animal control and the Norco Large Animal Rescue Team to safely rescue the animal at about 2:20 p.m., Hagemann said.

Rescuers used a backhoe to dig an escape channel.

The animal  — an $80,000 show horse — received only minor scratches, she said.

Buddy’s owners declined to comment to reporters.

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