BRADENTON, Fla. — In the serene landscape of the Bradenton causeway, a local horse-riding business, Florida Beach Horses, is grappling with a devastating tragedy that has left deep emotional and financial wounds.
The business, known for its picturesque beach rides, has been brought to its knees after a collision that claimed the life of a beloved horse and injured several others.
RELATED: 1 horse killed, several injured after Bradenton riding center trailer is T-boned and flips over
Ava Schultz, a dedicated employee of Florida Beach Horses, says she has worked with the magnificent animals for five years.
"We definitely build bonds," Schultz shared. "I don't want to say we have favorites, but we build bonds and they build bonds with us as well."
One horse in particular held a special place in her heart.
"Hoss was my heart horse," she said. "I loved him, loved working with him. He definitely was spirited, had a big personality."
PHOTOS: Hoss, a beloved horse from Florida Beach Horses, was killed in a trailer collision
On Friday night, everything changed. A T-bone collision shattered the peaceful world of Florida Beach Horses.
"The trailer itself flipped," Schultz recounted. "So that's how most of the horses got injured and hurt, and the trailer itself being upside down."
The aftermath was devastating. Hoss was killed, and seven other horses on the trailer were injured, with two of them suffering serious injuries.
"One of them was one that had the most injuries out of all of them that survived is still in the hospital," Schultz explained. "She was pretty much in surgery all day yesterday."
The financial impact of the crash is substantial. The business now faces tens of thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, with an uncertain path to recovery.
"At this time, we don't know when we will be able to get back," Schultz said.
The road ahead looks challenging.
"With the horses, it's definitely a long road to recovery," she said. "Some of the horses may never be able to get back."
For Ava, this is more than a business setback. It's a profound personal loss.
"It's been very painful to lose an animal that is like family to all of us," she shared, her voice heavy with emotion.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, there's a glimmer of hope.
"Definitely going to be a process for us to come back and do this again," Schultz said, "But hopefully, we will be able to come back."
Where horse hooves once trotted across the sandy shores, only memories remain for now. The community watches and waits, hoping Florida Beach Horses will ride again.
Florida Beach Horses is currently raising funds on GoFundMe to support their injured horses and recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, the Florida Highway Patrol previously said it would investigate the collision.