State Emergency Service volunteers have come to the rescue of a horse trapped in mud in the Lachlan River on a freezing morning.

Last Thursday, with temperatures dropping below zero, the team was called to a property near Forbes where the horse had become stuck in the mud and was unable to get out.

Flood rescue and large animal rescue techniques were put to the test as the team helped the horse swim to a safer location to get out of the water.

They then used a rescue glide and some people power to safely move the exhausted horse out of the shallows and into a sunny spot where it could be warmed with rugs and treated by the vet.

The rescue involved swiftwater techs from both the Parkes and Forbes SES units Savannah Lee Bevan and Matt Hando, and from Forbes Ryan Jones.

Savannah Lee said the rescue was safe and effective thanks to collaboration between SES volunteers, owners, local vet and neighbours.

The horse was left in the care of its owner, happy to be higher and drier.