In this wide world of ours, the horse community continues to operate as a neighborhood, with neighbors helping neighbors.

It's happening in Tennessee, where flooding has ruined thousands of homes and businesses. On a smaller, but still critical, scale, it's also happening in Iowa, where on May 4, 2010, the Des Moines horse community came together to help Greenfield, Iowa, trainer John Konecne, when his Stanzel Ranch barn near Highway 92 burned down.

John was riding outside when he smelled smoke. He was able to get into the barn and open stall doors, chasing the horses out through the heavy smoke. He was able to escape without injury, but unfortunately three horses perished in the fire when he could not get them to leave their stalls and the barn.

Greenfield firefighters responded to the fire and had to return later to control flare ups after they thought they had extinguished the blaze.

Meanwhile, neighbors, customers and friends helped gather the loose horses and get them caught. Some of the horses corralled themselves into the outdoor arena.

The barn had housed 15 training and show horses, along with two horses owned by John. The barn was a total loss. Also lost in the fire were a tractor, flatbed trailer and John's working tack and equipment. The fire’s cause is under investigation.

Initially, Adair County Sheriff Brad Newton reported two horses lost, but the third was found later in the barn alley. The three horses were AQHA show horses owned by John’s amateur-division clients.

Lori Sanford and Cody Reed, John's friends and customers, hauled horses to their homes in the area while firefighters fought the blaze.

Nancy Greene, an amateur-division customer of John’s and a horse owner, arrived the morning of May 5 to help. She said she sat in her truck for awhile, unable to look at the barn where her mare had lived for the past nine years.

Cody had called her to let her know that he had taken her mare to his place and that she was fine.

“(Cody) and Jordan (his wife) were so sweet about taking care of 'Dwight' (her mare),” Nancy says. “He told me he had a sheet to put on her if it got cool, and Jordan told me she would get her out and longe her for me.”

-- By Jennifer Horton for The American Quarter Horse Journal