There was a legend of a firehorse who suffered a hoof injury on the way to a fire - sound familiar?

Question

Supposedly the horse got his hoof caught in a railroad or streetcar track and it was torn off, but he continued on to the scene of the fire. Details of this or any other stories of heroic fire horses would be appreciated.

Answer 1

http://www.toledofiremuseum.com/jimhorse...

Sure enough, there was the story that goes as follows....

"Jim, the 'Beau Brummel' of the Toledo Fire Department is dead.  By the passing of this faithful and valiant server of the public, there is emblazoned on historic annals of the City, a record of equine stoicism seldom, if ever, equaled or excelled. Jim, the most handsome, strongest, best trained, and most responsive, dependable horse on the department, was Toledo's most distinguished specimen of equine intelligence and fidelity; and, needless to say, he was the unending pride of Engine House #3.  Such an ideal firehorse he was, that he was in the process of having his portrait painted by the artist, H.C.N Crandall, for exposition on the wall at the Museum of Art.

It was the exemplary 'Jim' who always responded first to 'alarms' and ran with unerring accuracy, in his lead position of the three horse hitch on the large steamer at headquarters.  It was after such an alert response to the ninth alarm of the day, that his driver, Charles Harrison, clasping the heavy harness about Jim's massive neck, observed the horse was standing unflinchingly at his post of duty upon three legs, and that his left hind leg hung helplessly from his body.  Hurried examination proved the valuable animal's leg was broken and he was taken from his central place in the engine trio forever.

Toledo's finest veterinary surgeons were called, but it was declared that the horse could not be saved and he was killed by a new modern method of injecting positive poison in the jugular vein.

When and how Jim's leg was broken is a mystery.  He had responded to eight calls during the day and was willing to respond to the ninth.

The horse was only seven and a half years old, and had only served the fire department for two years, but in that short time had proved himself to be the finest and most accurately trained.  He also had the honor of being the most perfect specimen of equine beauty and symmetry of the city's lot of exceptional horses.  He was a very large dapple gray, beautifully marked, and was valued by many to be worth as much as $400.00

The portrait of "Jim" for which he had been posing for several weeks is almost completed.  Artist Crandall said at least two more hours of work had to be done on the canvas and that Jim was to have stood for his last time tomorrow.  Mr. Crandall will finish the painting from memory, and it will so be placed on exhibition in the Secor hotel, before going to the Museum of Art.

The last alarm to which Jim would have responded was received at 11:30 p.m. to 801 Junction. It was a one story frame building used as a bowling alley and was partly burned.  The fire started inside and caused $600.00 damage."

Answer 2

The horse was known as Firehorse #12.  He lost his hoof galloping to a fire and kept running anyway.