Lightning strike kills horses at sanctuary

WINNSBORO — As storms rolled through East Texas on Tuesday night, a tragic strike of lightning left five horses at a Winnsboro equine refuge dead. The Hooker Ranch Equine Refuge is home to a herd of up to 100 horses, rescuing and rehabilitating the equines with veterinary care and a place to stay. On Tuesday night, the non-profit lost five horses after a lightning strike hit the property.

Our news partner KETK is reporting that among the five horses were two draft mares, two Standardbreds and a quarter horse. The Standardbreds — Lucy and “Look Don’t Talk” — were just put up for adoption while Freya, the quarter horse, was pending adoption.

To avoid any issues arising from burying the large animals on the property, community members lent the refuge a tractor to move the horses. Each horse was respectfully tarped and prepared for a proper burial, the refuge said.

The refuge, which operates as a shelter for surrendered horses across the state, focuses on keeping the animals out of the slaughter pipeline.