Grace Pilkington, and her mother Deborah were driving in New Hampshire on their way to the Area I young rider eventing camp at GMHA on Sunday afternoon with their horse Hershey in a bumper pull trailer when they noticed what looked like smoke coming from the trailer. The smoke was actually steam coming from a water cooler that had caught fire. Deborah and Grace quickly parked the trailer on the side of the highway and they rushed back to the trailer to find that the front of the trailer was on fire. Grace, just 14 years old, rushed into the burning trailer and guided Hershey out with Deborah helping from behind. 8 foot high flames soon engulfed the trailer, but neither Grace nor Deborah was injured and Hershey escaped with just a singed fetlock thanks to Grace’s heroism.
As is often the case with heroic moments, Grace told the Nashua Telegraph newspaper “I wasn’t really thinking.” She just wanted to save her horse. Hershey spent Sunday night at the farm of an off-duty Nashua County Fire Rescue lieutenant. Deborah and Grace were struck by the kindness of everyone involved, including around 15 drivers who stopped to help and a local veterinarian who checked Hershey for injuries. The fire fighters reportedly stopped traffic on the highway to let Hershey graze in the median.
On Monday, Grace, Hershey, and Deborah continued on to the GMHA young rides camp, although Hershey will get the week off. Grace and Hershey finished 5th at the Fitch’s Corner Area I novice championship last week. Deborah said that she has nicknamed Grace “Boyd Martin” for her decision to run into the burning trailer to save Hershey.
Video from the Nashua Telegraph:
Thanks to EN tipster Jess for the heads up. Have a great week at camp Grace and we look forward to seeing Hershey back out eventing soon. Go eventing.