Helping hands
Horse sanctuary owner touched by community support
Yogi Fell is overwhelmed, in a good way. “I never realized I had much of a story until all this happened, but having this community support…” she said stifling tears. “It’s really something.” Earlier this year Fell, owner and operator of Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary won the Heroes of the Horse award run from Horse Canada Magazine. The prize money that came with the award was used in part to help buy her winters supply of hay for her 13 horses and two ponies.
Yogi Fell is overwhelmed, in a good way.
“I never realized I had much of a story until all this happened, but having this community support…” she said stifling tears.
“It’s really something.” Earlier this year Fell, owner and operator of Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary won the Heroes of the Horse award run from Horse Canada Magazine. The prize money that came with the award was used in part to help buy her winters supply of hay for her 13 horses and two ponies. Now Fell is facing the need for a new barn cleaner to help them through the winter months.
“This machinery is crucial to help me in the winter months clean the barn and stalls from manure.”
She added, “I can’t see myself, with my wobbly knees, climbing over snow banks with a sleigh full of manure.” Before coming to the conclusion that new was the way to go, Fell enlisted the help of Island Dairy, her go-to for barn maintenance needs, to get quotes for used cleaners. “Everything that came back to us was in similar shape as what I currently have. So then Island Dairy took on the role to find a Canadian supplier for the ‘boom’.”
In order to purchase a new cleaner, Fell is looking at an $8,000 to $9,000 cost. But she operates the farm on her pension and it wasn’t a feasible option.
A GoFundMe page has since been started and Island Diary has donated $1,000 to the campaign. Currently it has raised around $5,000 dollars.
“It’s completely overwhelming, and if nothing, this has brought people from the past back into my life.” To donate to the GoFundMe page go to https://www.gofundme.com/new-barn-cleaner-for-the-horses.