The images coming out of Asheville, North Carolina and parts of Florida’s Big Bend following Hurricane Helene are devastating to behold. The loss of life and livelihoods continues to grow, but there are some good news stories, too, including the safe evacuation of hundreds of horses.
As evacuation warnings were given across Florida’s Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States, the horse community rallied and various agriculture centres, fairgrounds and farms situated outside of the danger zones opened their doors to local horse folk seeking shelter for their animals ahead of Helene.
In Ocala, Florida, the World Equestrian Center (WEC) took in an astounding 1,200 horses and kept them out of harm’s way on the 378-acre showgrounds. The trailers began arriving on Sept. 25, the day before Helene made landfall, and the horses remained in its stables until the Category 4 storm passed.