Rescue crews plunged into a cold pond Tuesday to save Katie, an 8-year-old horse who had escaped from her pen and broken through the ice north of Johnson Creek in Wisconsin.

A black 1,800-pound Percheron who's expecting a foal in June, Katie was freed by rescuers from the Johnson Creek Fire and EMS Department. They were unable to drive trucks close to the pond, but chopped through the ice and hauled her out with lines and a lot of pulling.

"She was just so exhausted. I was sure we were going to lose her," said Connie Milbrath, who, with her husband, Gary, owns Katie and four other horses. She learned of Katie's plight when her 4-year-old grandson looked out the window and announced, "Grandma, the horse is in the pond."

Milbrath called for help and went outside to tie up another Percheron who had also escaped the pen. "That horse in that pond just kept looking at me, like 'can you help me?' It was just devastating," Milbrath said. "The fire department was just awesome. I can't say enough to thank them."

The rescue took about an hour.

This story was written by Anita Clark of the Wisconsin State Journal. Photo courtesy: Lloyd Schultz -- Johnson Creek Fire & EMS