Lots of people think about their pets with holiday gifts and treats. One Central New York animal advocate wants you to think about other animals this holiday season. Marion Secor of Skanda Equine has made it sort of a personal quest to see if she can help horses and the people that care for them over the winter.
" Most of what we get is people who have overextended their financial abilities and people who perhaps saw a horse at an auction and didn't want anything to happen to the horse and took the horse because the horse was very cheap at that point and didn't have an understanding of the financial needs of the horse. There are people who have hit on hard times and those people are people that just need the extra support."
Secor is continuing her “Horses for the Holidays” program. She’s asking for donations of food, blankets, heated water buckets, or money to offset veterinarian and other bills. Secor has also found a variety of reasons why someone might need help caring for a horse through the winter months. She wants to hear from those in need or people who see a horse and owner that might need help.
"We are really asking the community to notice those that might be struggling and perhaps tell them about us and tell them about the program. This is something that is without judgment, we are just here to help. I would love to get more calls. 'I can't pay for the carrier right now, I can't pay for the veterinarian to come out, or my horse is too cold, and the lighter blanket I had for earlier months isn't good enough.'"
Secor’s farm Skanda Equine facilitates the program but does not take any of the donated money or items. She’s arranged drop-off locations at Tractor Supply Co. in Baldwinsville, East Syracuse and Hamilton; Cornell Cooperative Extension in Morrisville; the Cazenovia College Equestrian center and others.
Information about the program can be found at Horsesfortheholidays.com
