Piedmont Tornado Spares Young Equestrian Competing at Pinto World

TULSA, Oklahoma---The Pinto World Championships are being held at Tulsa's Expo Square this week, and Grace Thionnet of Piedmont feels lucky to be there. On May 24^th an F5 tornado destroyed much of Piedmont, including the young equestrian's house.

‘We came out of the cellar to see that our home was wiped off of its slab, our barn were gone,' said Grace's mother, Jessica Theonnet, ‘our cars were destroyed, our horses died.'

A fundraiser was held by thoughtful friends in the horse-riding community and enough tack and supplies were gathered so that Grace could attend the Pinto World Championships. Grace's horse, Tuff, had survived the storms in her trainer's barn.

‘I'm happy because all the people helped me get ready,' said Grace, ‘and not just blowing it off and saying oh she lost her house.'