Horseback riders hurt near the Chattooga

Two horseback riders injured last evening in a remote part of Oconee County were sent to the hospital after a search and rescue in which public safety responders applied special equipment.  Scott Krein of Oconee Emergency Services said the two persons were hurt when they were thrown by their horses who became spooked in the Earles Ford horse trail area near the Chattooga River.  The horses ran off, but the two riders made a 9-1-1 call that precipitated a search.  Responders resorted to stokes baskets and wheels to carry the patients 1 ½ miles to a gravel road and hospital ambulances.