Hurricane Dorian: Ocala horse shelters open

Aug. 31--As Hurricane Dorian's predicted path shifted toward a South Florida landfall, Marion County horse facilities geared up for the expected arrival of animals needing shelter.

As the center of the state's equine industry, Ocala is home to several large venues with hundreds of stalls available for emergency livestock shelter.

Ocala Breeders' Sales is one of the largest venues capable of housing several hundred head.

"Realistically, we can accommodate 400," said Tom Ventura, president of OBS, adding that more space is available if needed.

OBS is not taking reservations, but it does require advance notification if someone plans to bring their animals.

"We've been fielding calls mostly from the east coast," Ventura said. "It's not panic mode right now. There's still a lot of uncertainty."

With the storm's shift in track, Ventura said, some of the horse racing stock that competes and trains in South Florida may come north. Palm Beach also is a sport horse mecca, with a vibrant hunter/jumper scene.

"The important part is we're there if need be," he said, adding that OBS took in about 150 horses during Hurricane Irma.

With about 226 of the 286 stalls already booked, the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion is nearly full. Reservations include local animal owners as well as some from throughout the state, said Stacie Causey, a Marion County government spokeswoman.

At the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park, all 120 stalls are reserved, said Jason Reynolds, the park's executive director.

"We've had calls from Miami to Georgia and everywhere in between," Reynolds said.

Despite the reservations, as the storm's track becomes more defined, both the livestock pavilion and the horse park expect space to open up as people in those areas not affected stay home. Those who need a stall should check back for availability.

At the horse park, owners can stay on the grounds -- something that neither OBS nor the livestock pavilion allows.

"As a horse owner and animal lover it would be very difficult for me to leave my animals and not be able to access them," Reynolds said, noting he would seek secure shelter in dangerous conditions.

All the facilities are secured, and, weather conditions permitting, personnel will be on-site around the clock.

As of Friday afternoon, two horses had arrived at the horse park with none reported at the other shelter sites. But the flow should pick up over the weekend.

And while horses are the most common animal expected at the shelters, they are not the only livestock accepted.

On Thursday, the Livestock Pavilion took in seven steers from the Forest High School agricultural program.

The Horse Park's reservation list also includes some non-equine guests.

"We've got a reservation for a couple of goats," Reynolds said. "If it can fit in a stall, bring it."

Contact Carlos E. Medina at 867-4157 or cmedina@starbanner.com

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