By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
While dozens of people around them were lining up to depart the Waseca County Fairgrounds to take part in the seventy-third annual Sleigh and Cutter parade, Dave Lienke of rural Waldorf was caught up in a difficult situation. His Quarter Horse Scottie, who was to have carried Lienke as part of the Waseca County Sheriff’s posse, had decided to lay down in his trailer while waiting for preparations to be completed.. When it was time to stand up, the horse worked its way out onto the frozen ground outside, and then could not catch its footing on the packed snow and ice.
Although as many as eight volunteers tried to help the horse stand, it simply wasn’t working. “I think as soon as one of his feet would slide, he would give up,” observed Lienke. Volunteers tried everything they could think of, from rolling Scottie over from lying on his left side to his right, to simply pushing, Scottie was still on the ground as the parade’s 34 units left the fairgrounds.
Since no amount of “manpower” seemed sufficient, one of the volunteers thought to bring in some “horsepower,” a skid loader owned by one of the city’s emergency response departments. With its help, Lienke and those assisting him were able to get Scottie back on his feet and into his trailer, where, only a short time later, the horse was indicating his impatience to be on his way.
Lienke received numerous statements of support from parade participants, who learned of the unusual “emergency response” upon their return from the parade route.
“I’m really grateful for the help,” said Lienke as the trailer behind him shook with Scottie’s impatience. “Now I guess it’s time to take him on home.”