The owner says it could’ve been much worse, as the five horses were near one of the two feeding stations on the property while most of the herd was at the other.
WINNSBORO, Texas — Five horses at an East Texas equine rescue were killed after a lightning strike during a storm, leaving staff and volunteers grieving the sudden loss.
Lisa Smith, founder and president of Hooker Ranch Equine Refuge in Winnsboro, said the incident happened as severe weather moved through the area. Her husband, Ken, first noticed something was wrong while looking out a window at the property.
“He said, ‘Babe, you need to come here and look,’” Smith recalled. “I looked, and five of our horses were laid underneath a tree, and I knew immediately what had happened.”
Smith said horses do lie down at times, but the situation stood out because of the storm and the number of animals down at once. When they went out to check, all five were already dead.
“That’s the only thing that would explain a large-scale event like this,” she said, referring to a lightning strike.
Hooker Ranch Equine Refuge, established in 2022, focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming at-risk horses, particularly those in danger of entering the slaughter pipeline. Since opening, the organization has taken in about 600 horses, with animals regularly coming and going as they are adopted or transferred.
“We have a revolving door,” Smith said. “Every day it changes.”
The five horses lost included a mix of animals at different stages of recovery. Two were older retired draft horses named Thelma and Louise. Others had recently been rehabilitated and were available for adoption. One horse had already been adopted by a volunteer and her daughter, who had been visiting the ranch regularly to train with it.
“I immediately called her and let her know,” Smith said. “That was really hard.”
While the loss is significant, Smith said it could have been worse. The horses were gathered near one of two feeding stations on the property. Most of the herd was at the other location at the time.
“There could have been a lot more horses that were affected by this,” she said. “We were very fortunate we only lost five, even though that is a large number.”
Lightning strikes involving livestock are rare but not unheard of, particularly in open fields. Smith noted she has heard of ranchers losing dozens of cattle in similar incidents.
“It really emphasizes how we need to be safe,” she said. “It’s very dangerous.”
The rescue’s mission includes preventing suffering among the animals in its care, including providing humane euthanasia when needed. Smith said that commitment made the sudden nature of the loss especially difficult.
“Our goal is to never allow any horse to suffer,” she said. “We hope they didn’t suffer.”
The aftermath has been emotional for the volunteer-run organization. Horses are not buried on-site due to safety concerns, so staff had to load the animals onto a trailer for removal.
“It’s hard on everybody,” Smith said. “Some of my volunteers came today crying. It’s just difficult. Each one of them has a story.”
Despite the setback, Smith said the rescue will continue its work, though it may require additional fundraising to recover from the loss of resources invested in the animals.
“We put so much into them to get them healthy and into homes,” she said. “Now we’ve got to backpedal a little bit and continue to fundraise.”
The organization relies heavily on donations and volunteer support to operate. Expenses include feed, hay and veterinary care, which Smith described as among the most significant costs in horse rescue.
Hooker Ranch has seen an outpouring of support following the incident, with community members reaching out through social media to offer help.
For those interested in supporting the rescue, donations can be made through its website. The organization also accepts feed, hay and other supplies, and is seeking larger equipment such as a tractor.
Smith said the loss, while heartbreaking, reinforces her commitment to the work she has been doing since starting rescue efforts as a teenager.
“We built this country on the back of a horse,” she said. “They deserve a chance to be loved.”
Even in the face of tragedy, that mission remains unchanged.
“This is what we live for,” Smith said. “Each one of them matters.”
A donation page has been made available, which can be found on the refuge’s Facebook page.