The horses of Niscemi were saved, but it's an emergency.

The horses are safe. It seems all of them. And this is already great news for the Arabian horse breeders in Niscemi who are experiencing the tragedy of the landslide that, one trickle of sand at a time, is taking away the homes and streets of a town of about 25 inhabitants, minus the 1500 who have been displaced so far.

The support of the Fire Brigade and Civil Protection was crucial for this remarkable rescue, which immediately went viral online and was even featured on regional news programs. They supported the breeders (many are members of Anica, the Italian National Arabian Horse Association) in rescuing the animals, who were left stranded just meters from the edge of one of the ravines created when the hillside began to collapse.

Rescuing the stranded horses was complicated because they were in what has been designated a "red zone." This extremely unstable area required moving them without risking scaring them. The ravine was too close. Using helicopters was too risky.

And so, farmers, flanked by firefighters and Civil Protection personnel, brought them to safety one by one: mares, foals, and even a lively gray stallion who was loaded onto a trailer alone.

But now the question is how to ensure that the solidarity of good intentions turns into action. In Niscemi, there are those who have lost everything and are clinging only to the thought of their animals, of how—at least they—have been kept safe, and of what can be done tomorrow.

To see some pictures of the rescue https://www.facebook.com/reel/1574530233876992