If Horses could Fly… Horse Council BC’s Animal Disaster Relief Fund was utilized to facilitate a daring equine rescue of three horses stranded in Spences Bridge. The severity of the flood damage caused a massive highway collapse on both sides of the residences and farms. This meant the only way out for these horses was via helicopter.
H
orse Council BC received a call for help early Thursday morning November 18, 2021. Time was critical! With the help from a quick acting Vancouver flight crew on November 19th, Horse Council BC was able to get rescue equipment to Kamloops including the Anderson Sling. The sling is the only equipment capable of this type of rescue and was previously purchased by HCBC. Volunteers were on scene to harness the horses with the Anderson Sling and ensure the journey was as stress free as possible. The successful rescue saw all three horses flown to safety where they will be cared for at Sageview Rescue in Kamloops. Horse Council BC would like to thank everyone involved, the generosity and compassion shown is humbling. Summit Helicopters generously subsidized much of the cost of this rescue. Their amazing pilot was instrumental in ensuring everything went as well as it did. The Horse Council BC Animal Disaster Relief Fund was established to help supply volunteers that are housing displaced horses and other livestock, due to the current emergency. Donations can be made at: https://hcbc.online/Donate. If you are requiring assistance for your equines due to the floods and fires, please email industry@hcbc.ca or see www.hcbc.ca. Horse Council BC is a membership-driven not-for-profit association representing the interests of the equine industry in all sectors throughout British Columbia. Horse Council BC actively represents the equine industry in agriculture, industry, sport, and recreation through education, grant funding, club support, government advocating, liability insurance, and participant programs. Centurion Supply provides assistance for BC animals and owners (update January 7, 2022) Shipment is on its way to Merritt BC to assist in Horse Council BC’s Disaster Relief Fund! Centurion Supply in Ontario, along with about a dozen of their corporate partners and suppliers (from the U.S., U.K., and Canada) have made very generous donations and commitments to help in this cause. They are providing 115 assorted turnout blankets, grooming products, hoof supplements, horse treats, fly products, ointments, wraps, hay savers, and salt products. Ron Ranney, President of Centurion Supply says, “After watching the unbelievable destruction that was taking place, the chaos and conditions that these poor animals were enduring along with their owners, was very hard to watch. I couldn’t just sit back saying how terrible this all is, instead I did something useful about it. Having been in the industry since 1986 I have been blessed to have made many contacts and friends worldwide. It was time to call in some chips… and for Centurion to go big on donations ourselves.” Coordinated by Horse Council BC, members of the Nicola Valley Rodeo Association (NVRA) will oversee the distribution of Centurion Supply’s products once they have arrived at the rodeo grounds in Merritt. NVRA’s Gert Leslie says, “Many of our horse owners along the river are still working at rebuilding fences (and homes and outbuildings) damaged by the floods, before they can even bring their horses home again. The extremely cold weather and substantial snow accumulation here in the last couple of weeks certainly has not helped matters. Thank you again for all the efforts, and a huge thank you to all those contributing so generously. We will be sure to distribute the goods to those most in need. Best wishes to all for 2022.” Anyone wishing to donate can contact Horse Council BC Disaster Relief Fund, www.hcbc.ca. FEBRUARY 2022
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