The equestrian center contains hundreds of animals

All the trailers arrived at once with hundreds of horses fleeing the Eaton and Palisades fires in Los Angeles.

Some horses came alone, others in trailers stuffed with other animals. Many had owners, but others arrived alone, delivered by rescues or animal control. One horse, according to the volunteers, actually carried his master all the way from Altadena – a five-hour walk. Pigs, donkeys and miniature horses followed.

In 24 hours, the Los Angeles Equestrian Center was transformed into a modern-day Noah’s Ark. Over the past week, he has sheltered hundreds of animals from disaster as part of his official role as one of the city’s major animal shelters.

Tucked away in the shadows of Griffith Park, the facility has taken in more than 200 horses in addition to the roughly 500 already living there.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday was “chaos,” said Jenny Nevin, spokeswoman for the equestrian center. The facility cataloged each horse that arrived, making sure they could be reunited. The animal shelter has been free for the owners, thanks to the support of public donations and frequent free deliveries of hay, feed and other supplies.

Sergio Martial was one of dozens of people who brought animals here after their own farms were destroyed or threatened.

A week ago, he and his girlfriend Jenny Bacon participated in a competition to help save more than 70 animals from Dam stable Ethanbattling flames so intense that his face mask caught fire and his glasses shattered and deformed.

His efforts landed him in the hospital, his lungs and throat burning after inhaling burning air.

A week later, Mr Martial, 29, and Ms Bacon, 30, showed Arthur and Playboy – the two miniature horses he helped rescue that night – around their new home. Here they were safe from the fires and seemed calm and friendly despite everything they had been through.

“It still hurts to swallow,” Mr Martial said, pointing to the face mask he has to wear to prevent infections. “I would do it all again – no doubt.”

Most of the owners of the animals at the shelter have been identified, and several owners spent Tuesday afternoon walking their horses around the stables.

Dozens of volunteers cared for other animals at the center. Some of them became local celebrities.

Two donkeys, Maurice and Mika, often poked their heads out of their stables to demand attention. They fled the mountain with their owner as the Palisades fire approached and were reunited because he painted his number on their sides.

“They love it when you sing to them,” volunteer Lucena Herrera said. “We all just adopted them and took care of them.”

But a handful of animals are still unclaimed. A miniature horse named Izzy has not found an owner a week after the fires. The volunteers collectively adopted her until she could find a new permanent home.

So many volunteers came forward to help the animals that staff had to turn some away, Ms Nevin said. Between 50 and 100 volunteers were now raking the stalls, feeding the animals, blowing hay and serenading Maurice and Mick when they were getting nervous.

Watching the owners reunite with their horses was one of the most rewarding experiences for the volunteers, said London Scott, founder of the local Cali Cowboy Club.

“It’s a really wonderful process,” Ms. Scott said, “to be able to see it first-hand and know that you played a small part in someone feeling a little peace of mind at a tragic time.”

Attendees describe a deep connection with their animals and say the burned-out farms are a place of peace in this busy metropolitan area.

“They’re my safe place,” said Catherine Armento, 42. “It’s like a connection, a connection that I don’t really have with anything else on this planet.”

Many of those in attendance don’t know what’s next, where they can take their animals after the chaos of the long-running fires in the Los Angeles region is over.

“I couldn’t even process any of it. There are 40 horses to look after,” Ms Bacon said. “When it’s all said and done, I think we’re all going to go eat margaritas and just have a good cry.”