1,500 bales of hay being sent to Fort McMurray

Donations came from across Canada, the United States and United Kingdom

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) will send 1,500 bales of hay to Fort McMurray, Alberta to help equine owners stock up on feed over the winter and replace some of the hay lost in wildfires earlier this year.

Because of the wildfires the price of hay increased and generally residents of Fort McMurray pay additional charges per bale for landed transportation.

Since the May wildfires, AEF collected donations to help those affected.

“As of December 1, 2016, $53,000 in funds has been accounted for,” said Les Oakes, AEF president, in a release. Other donations included gift cards, forklifts, storage space and the time of volunteers.

For those who lost hay during the wildfires, there’s some sense of relief knowing help is on the way.

“I had $2,400 worth of hay that I lost in my barn,” Velda Peach, a horse owner and graphic designer at Keyano College said in the release. “Words can’t express enough of what (they) have done.”

Others within the equine community say the donations are a sign that horse owners are there for each other when needed.

“From myself as president of the Tower Road Equine Association, we are so grateful for the equine communities’ support,” Karina Webb said in the release. “It does make a real difference. The support really touches all of our hearts and is absolutely inspiring.”

Whoever registered with the AEF during the wildfires can pick up their hay bales on Saturday, Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 18.