FloodingMonday, November 9
Rising floodwater has forced Harmony Farms near Cocoa to suspend therapeutic riding
The Daily Melbourne team
Flooding from recent historic rainfall and the St. Johns River has forced Harmony Farms, a nonprofit near Cocoa, to suspend its therapeutic horseback riding sessions. The pastures and arena are flooded, and WESH says the barn was still dry Sunday night.
Flooding closed Harmony Farms' pastures and arena and halted riding
Harmony Farms near Cocoa, as of Sunday night
✕3 Flooded
- Pastures
- Arena
- Bedding storage
✕1 Suspended
- Therapeutic riding
✓1 Dry
- Barn
Executive director Jeanine Allen said water started pooling in the pastures Friday night. "By Saturday morning, we were almost completely underwater," she said. Officials expect the river to crest near Cocoa in the coming days, and she said moving the senior horses could be more stressful than hand-walking them in place.
- Safe: all staff, volunteers and horses
- Immediate need: horse bedding, which was stored where it flooded
- Extra costs: hay and feed, since horses can't graze
- Repairs ahead: replacing horse fencing and regrading pastures
- Harmony Farms is asking for donations
34 yearsHarmony Farms has served the Brevard County area
WFTV says more than 34 years. WESH says it's been around almost 35.