WELLINGTON, FL -- Horse riders and polo players from around the world are once again descending on Wellington this week for another equestrian season.
And just in time - the Palm Beach Equine Center is back up to full speed.
In August, tropical storm Fay unleashed a tornado that raked across the Wellington veterinary clinic, turning four long barns into a twisted, splintered mess.
Today, just in time for the start of equerstrian season, roofs have been replaced and damaged buildings have been repaired.
"We got barns done as people came in and we put them in their stalls and they were happy," said Dr. Scott Swerdlin, the center's president. "And the last people who came in had their stalls done just last week," he said.
Riders in town for the next several weeks to compete say it's miraculous.
They had seen images of the damage in news reports and wondered if the facility could possibly be repaired in time.
Leslie Ward, a rider from New York has kept her horse here for years.
"I looked at a lot of other places, and I really don't know where we would have gone," said Ward. "I don't have one other barn I can think of I would go to."
Another rider, Lisa Zimmer from New Jersey plans to compete in about eight shows over the next twelve weeks.
"Everything else is booked early and this is such a key location," said Zimmer, "Because there's so much to do here."
And what report on the tornado would be complete without updating the status of Onyx and her amazing story of survival.
On the night of the storm, Onyx's barn was completely ripped away.
Yet her owners found her standing calmly without a scratch.
Today, five months later, Onyx is none the worse for ware, they say, excpet she's understandably a bit jittery when the clouds gather.
""You know, I think she probably gets a little nervous when the storms come here," said Swerdlin, "But so far she's doing pretty well."
On the night of the tornado there were just five horse in the stalls and not one of them was injured.
Now, back in season, there are more than 350 horses lining the paddock area.
A reminder, they say, that as disasterous as it seemed, the tornado's timing could have been much worse.
