By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
As the magnitude of destruction created by Hurricane Helene’s rising flood waters across western North Carolina became apparent, a large-scale humanitarian relief effort rallied across private and public channels. The equine community knew help would also be required for four legged friends.
7 Lakes Stables joined local efforts in raising money and supplies for neighbors in need. A fundraiser has been set up through GoFundMe and will stay open as long as donations continue.
“We knew there would be a big initial effort,” said Stables Director Stables Director Jenn Wallace, “And then everyone kind of gets fatigued and the money dries up. Yet there’s still significant need right now.”
Many of the horses needing help are personally owned, but there are also commercial barns. Wallace has seen both commercial barns and local horse people step up in the initial response. Folks have gone out with mule trains to deliver supplies or have organized grain drops via helicopters.
“Some of these people are still not accessible,” said Wallace. “They’re still trapped, and they stayed because they had the animals. There’s no one to care for them So they made that choice to stay. Some of them tried to free their horses as the water rose.”
She recounts one gentleman who was in tears when he found one of his horses because he thought they all drowned. She also heard 22 horses were found and freed to higher ground who had been stuck at one farm.
“They just lost everything. A lot of hay people stored got damaged or lost, and we’re coming to the season where barns were already loaded up. And now there is nothing, and so it can create a hay shortage issue.”
Hay and medical supplies were among the initial needs horse owners in the hard hit area had. “Now what we are seeing is that fencing is a huge need, as is veterinary support and blankets for the horses. So now we’ve refocused.”
The stables have been working with the Sandhills Pony Club and Moore Equine Pet and Feed Supply and plans to divide donations between these two groups. The Pony Club mounted an immediate response to supply hay and now fencing supplies. Moore Equine in Southern Pines stepped up and has sent trucks with feed and supplies. Triple Crown has been matching donations.
The stables hope to directly participate in relief efforts. “When it’s safe, the Stables Club Drill Team would like to go to the mountains to get involved with a weekend project helping on the ground.”
Wallace says the needs will be around for the long term. “There are going to be a lot of horses that are homeless, so we are already starting to talk about how we could help,” she said “I have a horse trailer that could be used as a transporter to a new foster home. We’re just networking and figuring out where the biggest need is.”
One long term need will be the support of foster farms who take on the expense of care for displaced animals.
“Horse people in general have each other’s backs. We are a tight-knit type of community,” said Wallace. “It kind of reminds you of back in the days of farming when one farmer was down, the other farmers jumped in and supported them and got them through it. It is that kind of devotion that horse people have with each other.”
She believes there will be multiple foster homes in Moore County with mountain horses and other mountain animals. To her knowledge, there is at least one pot-bellied pig getting support.
Wallace says the western NC equine community may require an influx of assistance for at least the next six months. She hopes folks will consider even a small donation to the efforts. “Even if it’s just $5, that will help put everybody back on their feet.”
As of Oct. 15, 7 Lakes Stables has raised $2,050. To contribute, look up “Help Restore Hope for Western NC Equine Communities” at gofundme.com or use the QR code with this article.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
