SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. (AP) -- Firefighters in Sandy Springs waded into a chilly backyard swimming pool to rescue a horse that fell in.

Authorities say the horse stepped on the pool cover, which gave way behind a home on Northland Drive Sunday afternoon. Sandy Springs Fire Chief Jeff Scarbrough said tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that firefighters had to get into the pool to reach the horse. He said firefighters cut the pool cover and walked the horse to the shallow end, where the animal was able to jump out.

Fire officials say the horse was not hurt in the rescue, which took about 20 minutes. The Journal-Constitution reports that there's a fence around the pool, but the gate was left open.

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