In North America at least, stories from the California fires are dominating news feed. With dozens of human fatalities and many more missing and unaccounted for, thousands of homes and other buildings burned and over 200,000 acres destroyed, there are fears that more will be lost as more fires are cropping up. Horse owners and other animal lovers have been scrambling to move their animals out of harm’s way. But out of the devastation heroes and stories of bravery and ingenuity are arising.
Mule in a Pool
One of the most remarkable stories is about a mule found hiding in a pool. Whether the mule ended up in the small pool by accident or its own ingenuity, we will never know. The mule was found tangled in a pool cover, which kept it immersed without drowning. When it was found by a group of people checking on the fate of their homes, the mule was shivering violently and was said to look ‘defeated’. Rescuers unhooked the pool cover, pulled the mule into shallow water and it was able to scramble up the steps. The mule was later removed from the area and taken to safety. Many versions of this story say this was a horse. The homes and lands around the area where the mule hid in the pool has been totally razed, with no buildings or vegetation left standing after fire swept through.
Horse Owners Pitching In
Horse owners without resources or time were forced to leave horses in the paths of the blazes. But thankfully, many were saved due to the bravery of people willing to go back into the danger zone and bringing out as many animals as possible. Convoys of trailers have been organized and not only horses have been saved. Those planning to save horses find they’ve returned with trucks and trailers carrying other pets and livestock. Working with officials, one group of rescuers despaired after receiving several hundred calls to rescue horses and other animals. Many of the horses found and rescued are suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.
Other’s without trailers have been riding their horses out as people on foot raced out of the path of the flames. One woman who returned to pick up two horses who were left behind on her ranch ended up bringing back up other animals as well.
Donations to Rescue Organizations
Of course the Humane Society has had a hand in the rescue of many animals in California. The efforts were noticed by celebrity Sandra Bullock and her family, who donated $100,000 to help rescue and care for animals rescued from the fires. In fact, response to the fire prompted the Humane Society of Ventura to post on their Facebook page that at this time, supplies of feed and other supplies were plentiful. But the one thing they are short of is volunteers. As the HSVC faces keeping many of the animals long-term, monetary contributions are welcome.
If you wish to donate to help horse and other animal owners The New York Times lists Caring Choices and Huff Post lists the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation as reputable agencies collecting funds to help animals affected by the fires.
My horse Phoenix was a barrel horse I got from Fallon Taylor. My story with my pride and joy came to a close on April 26, 2013. The day before was a beautiful day and it was warm enough that I didn't even have to wear a jacket. Th ...
January was a horrible month in the province I’m in, with several stable fires making headlines. The first was a stable of forty-two horses, mainly Standardbreds. Fire crews were helpless to rescue the horses trapped inside. Less ...
Governments at all levels, many aid agencies and others are contributing what they can to both fight the fire, which as I write still burns out of control, and assisting the residents as they evacuate. Evacuating for many, has mea ...
In the path of one blaze was Rancho Padilla in Tujunga Canyon, a family owned ranch where 30 of the 60 horses stabled there were lost to the fire. There was no time to evacuate the horses, as the buildings were already on fire whe ...
As her family fled the fire, leaving behind possessions and favorite farm animals, a horse named Charmer, once rejected as a show horse, carried her owner to safety though blinding smoke to safety. Her rider, disoriented by the sm ...
A video of a horse galloping back into a California wildfire to bring a mare and foal back into its herd demonstrates an amazing example of herd dynamics has gone viral. The video shows a dark-colored horse galloping back into the ...
In North America at least, stories from the California fires are dominating news feed. With dozens of human fatalities and many more missing and unaccounted for, thousands of homes and other buildings burned and over 200,000 acres ...
Animal activists would like to see all barns installed with overhead sprinkler systems and want to see it part of the building code. A clothing designer has come up with another idea for horses stabled and outdoors in pastures. Bl ...
The possibility of a barn fire is a frightening thought for horse owners. A stable in Bucks County, Pennsylvania faced a terrifying blaze recently, that resulted in a dramatic rescue. Most of the horses in the barn were taken out, ...
After pictures of two emaciated horses accompanied a news story about horses rescued from the Valley Fire in California, viewers wrote expressing their concern. But, both horses are doing as well as could be expected for very seni ...
It’s a hat trick for MH Møder The Jötunn who took the #1 rank, the highest jump and the best win streak in the last week of June beating out the successful Tennessee Walking Horse DixieDE owned by Dixie Diamond Equine for the top ...
Thankfully many first responders are being trained in large animal rescue. The specialized training helps the animals of course, but also keeps the involved humans safer. After a large draft horse made a bad decision about where t ...
We are halfway through 2022 and the mares are dominating the rankings and earnings. Over 104" jumps are not uncommon, but the mares rule the highest jump records, with only a handful of stallions breaking 104.75. ...
There is a saying, desperate times call for desperate measures. And that’s what happened after a farrier was called on to trim up a very neglected pony named Spur. The method and tools used may be unorthodox, but they got the job ...
What happened to this foal’s family? She was found on a mountain road by a field officer for World Horse Welfare. There appeared to be no other horses nearby that could have been her herd. So luckily, the orphaned pony received nu ...
The Tennessee Walking Horse stallion Chemical Warfare sits in the #1 ranking as we enter the middle of June. Chemical Warfare is out of the Dixie Diamond Equine stable. Foaled April 4, 2022 he is 16.1 hands and has 15/15/15/15 con ...
It’s spring in the Fresian foaling barn and the newest addition is Saly’s new filly. This long-legged beauty’s birth was caught on the foaling camera. She doesn’t take long to stand under the watchful attention of her dam and a ca ...
Evelien Deelen, a doctoral student in cultural anthropology explores how human culture affects horse wellness. In this video, part of a series called Webinars With Wendy, she explores the different attitudes towards horses, oftent ...
By 
