Two horses within the last few days have died in Medina County after getting stuck in muddy ponds.

One 2,000 pound draft horse died after being trapped in a pond  for several hours Saturday in Homerville.

 The other horse was stuck in a dried-up pond near Spencer for 12 hours Monday before being pulled free by rescuers, but was unable to stand on one of its legs.

Stephanie Moore of the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals tells AkronNewsNow.com the dry summer conditions are responsible for their deaths.
 

"We think the drought has a lot to do with it, because the first scenario on Saturday, that was at one point a functioning watering hole for these animals," Moore explained.

According to Moore, the horse had to be put down today.

She says farmers and those with livestock can prevent their animals from being trapped by following a few simple tips.

"People need to provide accessible water so that the animals don't have to risk going in these types of ponds," Moore said.

"You can prevent an accidental death by keeping a track of your animals by counting them both day and night."

Farmers tell the Medina County SPCA ponds in the area are several feet below normal in some locations because of the lack of rain.
 

The dry weather has affected some growers who sell fruits and vegetables to the public.

Graf Growers on Akron's White Pond Drive is ready for the dry conditions. They use a complex irrigation system with water from a well to keep the corn and tomatoes growing.

But Scott Graf says that even in wetter years, there are extra costs involved.

"I'm sure the electric bill is high, because we're pumping (water) with electric, so I'm sure it's high," Graf tells AkronNewsNow.com. "But we were pumping last year, pumping water off the field, so I'm not sure it's a big difference."

Graf describes the irrigation process, which uses water from a nearby well.

"Peppers and tomatoes, they are on a trickle irrigation, so it's a low pressure under plastic, so it's just a real slow soaking of the plants", Graf explains. "And then with the corn, we use our irrigators with pipe, or the traveling machines."

Graf says generally, the prices of things like the corn and tomatoes he sells don't change much, because those extra costs average out over time.