Save the School Horses: An Ontario Initiative
Many businesses have suffered hardship over the past several months as we navigate this new normal of living with Covid-19 in a global attempt to protect each other. Riding school owners and operators are especially hard hit after the necessary mandated closing of all equestrian facilities and cancellation of lesson and camp programs. The school horses still need to be fed and cared for, and when you contemplate the cost of feeding just one school horse each month is $250.00 consider that most riding schools own over thirty horses, with riding lessons the sole source of income.
The horse community has always been a tight group of fellow horse lovers, and no one wants to see other stables suffer, potentially close, or find the need to sell off their school horses because they cannot afford to feed them. Fortunately, our province has allowed riding schools to re-open but on a restricted scale, and many equestrian facilities continue to struggle financially as they shoulder the expenses of such facilities, as well as caring for their necessary lesson horses and keeping on essential barn staff.
At Inukshuk Farm, we are fortunate enough to not rely on income from lessons, camps or other public related activities. But we are a part of this horse community and as such we care about those stables who are suffering. Ontario Equestrian, a long-time partner to Equine Guelph, is supporting its membership during this time of crisis and are fundraising for the ongoing care of these animals during the COVID- 19 pandemic. Ontario Equestrian has struck a Fund Distribution Committee that will receive applications for funds and disburse them as it is able with the disbursement based on principles including expenses directly related to the immediate needs of the school horses’ care.
We are indeed “in this together and together we will get through it”. A big shout out to all the stables who donated hay, fostered horses and to the veterinarians and farriers who generously donated their services. But the crisis is not over! Please donate today at https://www.fortheherd.ca
By Janice Ecclestone, Inukshuk Farm
www.inukshukfarm.ca
