Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
A horse has been killed during a storm that hit an equine rescue centre in America.
The Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue in Hardy, Virginia, was subject to strong winds on Friday evening (19 June), which pulled down trees and fences as well as roofing from a barn.
One of the centre’s horses, Daisy, died after being “sliced open” by tin falling from the roof.
“We are heartbroken over the loss of Daisy,” Patricia Muncy, president of Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, told H&H.
“She spent seven years of her life here with us. She was a yearling when we took her in from a large seizure case. She was one of 25 horses rescued.”
Three other horses suffered minor injuries in the storm, and the centre’s owners told H&H they are recovering well following treatment.
The 10 horses that had been housed in the damaged barn have been left without shelter and the fields were littered with debris, including posts, roofing, logs and fallen branches.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“The damage is nothing compared to losing Daisy,” Ms Muncy added.
A clean-up was held with local volunteers the day after the storm and the rescue centre is now raising funds to make repairs.
In February last year horseandhound.co.uk reported that a group of five fillies worth an estimated €1m (£830,000) had died in Ireland after being electrocuted during Storm Darwin.
The yearlings were in a paddock at Kilfrush Stud, Knocklong, Co Limerick, when an electricity cable snapped and travelled through the ground, killing the horses instantly.
The alarm was raised by a member of staff, who went to check on the horses during the storm.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.