TEEN SAVES AND LEADS FRIGHTENED HORSE TO SAFETY DURING LA WILDFIRES
Nearly 200,000 people are under evacuation orders as wildfires continue to affect the Los Angeles area. For the animals that these people live with, leaving their homes in uncertainty is just as difficult as it is for anyone else. Sovereignty, a bewildered and frightened horse, refused to board the transport vehicle that would have taken him to safety. Kalyna Fedorowycz, a 16-year-old rider, fortunately intervened to save the day and led him away from the fire.
When Sovereignty refused to cooperate, the young woman, whose horses were already loaded, became worried. Kalyna decided to evacuate him herself to keep him from being abandoned, taking turns riding the horse and walking or running with him the 14 miles.
“I rode 14 miles on a horse that isn't mine out of the canyon because he wouldn't load for evacuation,” she shares on TikTok. “That basically sums me up as a person.”
Kalyna’s father, who used his car to protect the young rider and the horse, recorded the effort. The video demonstrates the teen's resolve as he obediently leads the horse while the fires burn in the distance. The caption for one video says, "I thought I would post some of the videos my dad took as he drove behind me." "I am so grateful to everyone for their love and support. I wish everyone continued safety!
In addition to receiving international recognition for her bravery, Kalyna was named the Top Finisher for the 2025 Michael Nyuis Foundation Grant for young riders. "She rode a horse more than ten miles to safety during the Palisades Fire—that bravery and determination?" the foundation writes. Philip Cillis, a competition judge, adds, "There were so many deserving applicants, and it was really difficult to choose." We were drawn to Kalyana because she seems so driven and persistent. She might be "the next Ashlee Bond," in my opinion.