A fire that burned down the barn housing 12 horses for the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program last week didn’t injure any people or animals, but it did hurt the program’s efforts to help young people and veterans.
The Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, based in Fairfax, is a nonprofit group thatuses equestrian activities to help people with disabilities, at-risk youth and veterans.
The organization lost all of its riding equipment, totaling approximately $50,000, as well as the housing for the horses, according to Breeana Bornhorst, program director for the riding program.
Clancy, one of the 12 horses owned by the group, was the only horse in the barn at the time of the fire, but he kicked down his stall door and was able to escape the heavy smoke. The organization was leasing the property and will most likely need to find a new place in the Clifton area because many clients live there. Currently the horses are residing in a pasture at the site of the old barn until a new home can be found.
“We’re working to get horses and riders together again as soon as possible,” Bornhorst said.
The organization is holding a “Barn Raising” fundraiser on Sept. 20. For more information, visit www.nvtrp.org.
