Horse dead, drivers injured after Florida Beach horse trailer crashes

A vehicle and trailer transporting horses for a Bradenton-based business overturned in an accident Friday night, leaving people and animals seriously injured and a horse dead, according to the business owners.

The owners of Florida Beach Horses, a company that offers popular horseback riding in Palma Sola Bay, launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign Saturday to raise funds for recovery after the accident.

“It is with the utmost regret that we come to share that our truck and trailer were involved in an accident where they were totaled and overturned last night after beach rides,” the owners of Florida Beach Horses wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday. “All the horses are injured and we lost our beloved Hoss. “We are very devastated and have absolutely no words for any of this.”

Alice Mercer, who identified herself on Facebook as a former horse handler for the business, said the accident occurred on State Road 70 near County Road 675 in East Manatee County.

“My heart aches for my Florida Beach Horses family right now,” Mercer wrote on Facebook. “Please pray for everyone involved.”

The owners said two people hauling the trailer suffered serious injuries in the accident and one of them required surgery.

A horse named Sparkles also required surgery after suffering skull fractures and leg injuries, according to the business owners. Medical costs for his injuries alone were estimated at $10,000, they said on Facebook, and his treatment was ongoing.

Starting Monday morning, GoFundMe had raised more than $100,000. The owners said the funds will be used for expenses including medical bills and surgery costs for the injured drivers, veterinary and emergency care for the horses and rehabilitation and recovery costs for everyone involved in the accident.

In an update posted to Facebook on Sunday, the business owners thanked the community for the outpouring of support.

“We can’t even believe the incredible support our community has given us. In difficult times, we feel embraced and (helped) by each of you,” the post said.