After the outbreak of a contagious bacterial infection at Halifax’s only equestrian school, horses are quarantined and the barn is closed until further notice. Staff are now turning to the public for help.
On Sunday, Halifax Junior Bengal Lancers—which has been a local fixture for more than 80 years—launched a GoFundMe with the goal of $30,000. Multiple horses are sick with strangles (although complications are possible, it’s less nefarious than it sounds). By suspending programming, Lancers is no longer bringing in its regular program fees. The usual programs include “junior” and adult classes, along with a therapeutic riding program.
Sarge, one of two Halifax Regional Police horses who live at Lancers, is among the infected.
As Lancers is a non-profit, the temporary closure of the barn could prove costly. On top of vet bills, Lancers is dealing with its everyday costs, including food, bedding and building maintenance.
“Our primary concern right now is without a doubt the health of our horses,” reads the description on the GoFundMe page. “At this time we can report that infected horses’ symptoms have been relatively mild, and have been kept stable due to exhaustive diligent work by our dedicated staff.”
As of Monday, the page has raised $4,205 of its goal.
Disclosure: Rebecca Dingwell, the author, takes part in the adult riding program at Lancers and she loves the horsies.
This article appears in May 24-30, 2018.
