Most of us would do everything to protect our families. And if those family members can’t always fend for themselves, we would go the extra mile to ensure their safety. For equestrian fans, the four-legged bovine creatures are undoubtedly an extension of their families, and considering they make their feelings heard with words, it’s unsurprising that the horses’ carers will walk through hell to guarantee their safety.

Unlike most other sports, equestrian doesn’t solely depend on the human athletes’ prowess. The well-being of the equine stars is also a major factor in success in the sport, and to make sure of that, nothing is viewed as off-limits to their human partners. As Hurricane Helene ravaged the USA, some carers once again rose up to the challenge to warrant that the horses didn’t suffer.

The equestrian crew held their ground to protect their stable

Citizen Times reported on November 4 how a group of horse carers at the Baltimore Equestrian Center braved the adverse weather to give their assistance to the stable’s 54 horses. When the tropical storm hit Ashville on September 27, the town witnessed massive destruction and justifiably, the horses underwent significant panic. To make sure they didn’t suffer for too long, Elizabeth McLean left her shelter at the Baltimore Estate to reach the stable through mounds of “drowned trees and shrubbery.”

Along with the horses, McLean also had four of her crew members stuck at the Baltimore Equestrian Center with all of them dreading what would happen if the French Broad River’s waters reached the stable. McLean, Baltimore’s director of equestrian activities, noted that there were an estimated 60 fallen trees on the road that leads to the barn. Her distress was understandable because her crew members, who were sleeping at the main stable to help the horse through Helene, had prepared for only one night. Instead, they were in for three continuous days of battering storms, and Mclean was concerned about how they were holding up against the odds with a limited supply of food and other resources.

“I was just watching the river level and trying to see if it’s gonna go into the barn or not and if we’re gonna have to take all the horses out,” said Caroline Wright, one of McLean’s crew members. With the water supply cut, Wright panicked, thinking about how they’d get their hands on a large enough source of water to keep the horses hydrated. Thankfully, on Saturday, the crew stumbled upon a water tub in one of the worker’s trucks. As the storm subsided, they slowly got to learn about the extent of the damage it had left behind.

“We were insulated from a lot of it for a while, and slowly started hearing about the rest of the area and realizing just how lucky we had been,” Wright said. With that, McLean and her crew once again proved why equestrian loyalists won’t budge even in the face of adversity to give the horses protection.

Going all-in to guarantee the horses’ security

When a fire engulfed the equestrian center outside Greensburg in Westmoreland County last month, the equestrian community watched in horror. The community members scurried to receive news on the horses and if they were affected by the flames. Melissa Lynn, the sister of the owner of the Westmoreland Equestrian Center stated that horses are “like family” and their safety was the stable’s top priority. “I am just sick over it,” Lynn lamented about the destruction the fire caused.

But the battle against natural elements isn’t the only way the fans fight to protect their horses. When news of Charlotte Dujardin’s horse abuse during training surfaced, her actions were widely criticized despite her international fame and status as an elite equestrian star who boasts multiple Olympic feats.

The British icon also pulled out of the Paris Olympics amidst the ruckus and publicly apologized for her behavior. Australia’s Anthony Dean Thomas also had to pay a hefty fine of $20,000 after a video of him beating a horse with his riding helmet surfaced. What would you suggest to protect our horses better in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments!