Horse IQ

Picture this. Your home is destroyed. The roof has been ripped from your barn. Your horses are petrified as they navigate the labyrinth of broken glass and twisted metal that used to be their paddock, spooking at every turn. At your beloved horses are still alive. But are they okay? And even if they are, how are you going to care for them now that you’ve all your feed, tack, equipment…everything?

In times like these, it pays to have friends like Diana Carey. Here’s what she did. And why it pays to have horse friends like her.

This scene isn’t from any disaster movie or the latest episode of Jericho. It’s real life. And it happened in central Florida just a short time ago to Hiley Akin of Lady Lake, FL. The killer tornadoes ripped through her home like a stampede. It devastated her house, cars, and pretty much her entire life.

But what worried her the most was her barn.

In a matter of minutes, Hiley had some 6 horses that she now had no way to care for. No way, that is, until her friend, Diana Carey, showed up - feed buckets in hand.

Carey has 5 horses of her own, but took it upon herself to go to the Akin’s home, gather up the mortified horses, and restore order. That is, as much order as possible after a tornado.

Not only that, but two local feed stores were generous enough to donate feed for the Akin’s horses. Not sure if they did the same for the other newly homeless horses in the area or not, but knowing horse people like I do, it wouldn’t surprise me.

The call tornadoes “disasters” for a reason. They are nothing short of devastating. But that’s usually the time when horse owners show their true character. And that’s why I love them so much. Click here for a video clip from wftv in central Florida to watch this heartwarming story of horse rescue and true friendship.

I only wish I knew the names of the feed stores and tack shops that donated their wares to these fortunate animals. I’d like to name them here on Horse IQ. If anyone knows, please leave a comment below. They certainly deserve the recognition for their character and generosity.

Horse care is hard enough when things are going well. But when your life - as well as your horses’ lives - gets turned upside down like this, it pays to have friends like this. And it definitely pays to be a friend like this, too. Diana Carey, I salute you.

Yours for Better Horse Care,

Sierra Lynch

Tags: Horse Issues

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