---
title: "This Woman Saved Her Pony from California’s Wildfires in a Honda Accord"
description: "If it fits, it ships."
date: "2017-10-18"
modified: "2017-10-18"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/15255/this-woman-saved-her-pony-from-the-california-wildfires-in-a-honda-accord"
categories:
  - "Honda News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Accord"
  - "California"
  - "Evacuation"
  - "honda"
  - "Honda Accord"
  - "horses"
  - "sedan"
  - "wildfire"
---

# This Woman Saved Her Pony from California’s Wildfires in a Honda Accord

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/10/22489659_10156816800044741_2561081051437322561_n.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The cleanup continues after a devastating (and still ongoing) [round of wildfires](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/15083/eerie-drone-footage-shows-postal-worker-deliver-mail-in-wildfire-destroyed-neighborhood>) in northern California, and stories are beginning to emerge that showcase [the extreme lengths](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/15065/deputys-dash-cam-video-from-the-california-wildfires-is-like-riding-through-hell>) people went to save both humans and animals from the flames. Case in point: a woman in Santa Rosa was faced with the seemingly-impossible situation of evacuating her three horses with a two-horse trailer as the inferno closed in. Solution? Just cram the smallest one in the backseat of a Honda.

With the fire burning less than a mile from her house and closing fast last week, Lauren Mesaros decided it was time for her, her two mares, and her pony named Stardust to go. Unfortunately, the trailer she had borrowed from a friend could only fit two horses, leaving no room for Stardust.

Rather than leave him behind, however, Mesaros decided to try and get him into the backseat of her 2001 [Honda Accord.](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/14720/2018-honda-accord-first-drive-review-can-this-all-new-family-car-save-the-sedan>) She enlisted the help of her "horse whisperer" friend, who coaxed him into the mid-size sedan using a carrot and quickly shut the door behind him. It apparently wasn't too difficult...and it helps that Accords have pretty roomy backseats.

"He actually walked right into the car like a dog would," [Mesaros told *SF Gate.*](<https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Wine-Country-fires-pony-evacuated-backseat-Honda-12280095.php#photo-14355451>)

The equine trio was taken to a nearby ranch to wait out the fire. Thankfully, Mesaros's property was spared by a sudden change in wind. Her Accord is another story.

"My car will never smell the same again," [Mesaros told *SF Gate.*](<https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Wine-Country-fires-pony-evacuated-backseat-Honda-12280095.php#photo-14355451>) "It's a little funky in the backseat, but \[Stardust\] survived."

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)