The scenic Minnesota Equestrian Center has been the center stage of the attraction in the region. The 3-acre area of the facility has almost everything to tease any horse racing and equestrian sports lover. With two indoor arenas and 342 stalls, the facility is well-equipped to host all the excitement of the sports. Located just a few kilometers from Winona, the establishment offers everything to captivate fans. However, much of it might change in the future. The reason?

On November 21, the Minnesota Equestrian Center was devastated by a tragic barn fire, resulting in significant losses. Reports indicate that two horses and a cat perished in the blaze, while property damage is extensive and under assessment. Amid this heartbreak, a silver lining has emerged—the outpouring of human compassion and generosity, rallying to mitigate the impact. How is this kindness manifesting? Let’s take a closer look.

The hands of support come from the most affected one 

As per the update, the flames had enough time to burn down a quarter of the entire Minnesota Equestrian Center. However, the rest of the area didn’t go unmarked. It had to experience severe heat damage. Furthermore, when the Wilson Fire Department arrived at the place, the fire had already taken over the nearby barn. That’s how the family living attached to the building also came under the wrath of the fire. Fortunately, the family had the time to save lives, but the property didn’t have the same fate. Because of the fire, the Mota family had to leave their house without taking anything. And now they have nothing left. The family members, the barn manager Jose, Bethany, and their two kids are on the verge of facing utmost poverty. But the community has been working to save their day. 

After the accident, the Minnesota Equestrian Center set up a fundraiser on the GiveSendGo platform. As of now, the top donation has come from Mike Slaggie of $2500. However, the financial help keeps pouring from the equestrian community. And the equestrian center is expecting to see a few more names on the list to carry on the humanitarian cause. On November 22, Jessica Rivers, the chief of the Minnesota Equestrian Center, dropped the fundraising link on Facebook. Since then, support has been coming. The link is still active. So the hope is still beaming. However, the family has yet to respond. Meanwhile, the firefighting in the Minnesota Equestrian Center has epitomized the support from the community. Folks, do you want to know how? 

The equestrian sport lovers come forward in the dark day

Fighting the fire on the dry lands of Winona was an arduous task, as expected. Tank operators made approximately fifty trips to water sources, delivering a staggering 120,000 gallons of water to the site. To prevent the fire from spreading further, an excavator was used to demolish the breezeway connecting the barns, effectively limiting additional damage to the venue. Firefighters worked tirelessly, monitoring the situation for several hours and extinguishing any lingering hot spots. Throughout the night, Wilson firefighters and staff from the Minnesota Equestrian Center maintained a vigilant fire watch. Nearly 100 personnel devoted over eight hours to containing the blaze, a feat made possible by the crucial support from external resources.

In the press release, the authority said, “The majority of those people were volunteers who left their jobs or families, canceled appointments or skipped their errands to respond to this fire.” Moreover, Hy-Vee came forward to supply the food for the firefighters on Thursday. With the concerted effort, the blazing flames were brought under control. Now, the Mota family is waiting for a similar miracle to turn the tide in their lives.