Seven horses leisurely strolling a paddock in a green field off Devon Road in Port Coquitlam look as pampered and relaxed as Hollywood stars.
But their retirement wouldn't have been so happy if it wasn't for a group of volunteers with the Standardbred Horse Fan Club who raise money to rescue them.
And this Sunday (July 12), Tri-City families can meet the animals and contribute to their care during a country fair and silent auction.
"They are wonderful horses, they have beautiful personalities," said Felicia Allen of the race horses that were once used to pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky.
The Denmark-born Allen has been training horses for more than 50 years and operates Epona Stable in PoCo. She took up horse rescue as a sideline several years ago and founded the fan club to support the program and raise funds. Many of the horses would likely end up in the slaughterhouse and be sold for horse meat without intervention, she said.
But keeping the animals is expensive.
It costs $1,000 a month in food and vet bills, Allen said. But she doesn't begrudge the cash or the effort.
"I just feel I need to do it," she says, "It's what I love."
Horses are sometimes paid for outright at an auction or Allen tops up a bidder with money so a horse will go to a new home. She retrains them from the pacing gait they use in racing to one that enables them to trot, canter and gallop so they can be adopted by new owners.
But not Lacey, a large shiny brown mare who loves to eat grass.
When Allen acquired Lacey from the track 10 years ago, the animal was extremely scared and had to be retrained using a gentle touch and equine communication. Now, the two are constant companions.
Sunday's event run by the Standardbred Horse Fan Club will make sure Lacey and other horses have a happy and safe retirement. Allen's dream is to acquire a permanent location and a covered ring so the animals can be trained year round.
The country fair runs from from noon to 4 p.m. at Epona Stable, 3323 Devon Rd., Port Coquitlam. Entrance fees are $3 for adults and $1 for children, and the event features a silent auction, with services up for bid, including personal training gift certificates, horseback riding lessons, coins and a gift card from PoCo Building Supplies. As well, visitors can be photographed with the horses, ride a mini-tractor, enjoy a nutritious snack, watch Irish dancing performances by Carly Reid and meet Hamlet the rescued pot-bellied pig. Free manure is also available for anyone who brings a plastic container. To see more about the event and bid early on the items, visit www.standardbredfanclub.com.
