The prolonged economic downturn combined with unexpectedly high costs of hay have put a serious strain on the Bear Valley Rescue horse sanctuary.
As many Albertans face difficult financial decisions, some of those who own horses have to choose between putting food on the table and the luxury of owning the animals, said Kathy Bartley, who has run the operation with her husband Mike for about 13 years.
“We're getting more owner requests and surrenders,” said Bartley.
That could be due to the economic situation with the prolonged downturn in the oilpatch, she said, adding those Albertans faced with having to sell their farms can't keep their animals either, she said.
The sanctuary, which is located southwest of Bergen, also takes in horses that were headed to slaughter, from the SPCA and auctions. There are about 150 horses currently under their care — plus another 50 or so in foster care — but also a few pigs, goats, llamas, cows and chickens.
The number of horses at their ranch has always been fairly high because there are not many organizations in Alberta like the Bear Valley Rescue that take in horses and other livestock, she said.
“People are limited in their choices,” she said.
But an increasing number of requests to shelter horses is only part of the equation. Another major part of the problem has been a big jump in the price of hay, she said.
“The price of hay was really high last year,” she said, adding the costs over the winter more than doubled.
To get through last season, they had to dig into their coffers. While they would usually by this time of year already be buying hay in anticipation of the coming season, she said last week they were still paying off last year's hay expenses.
“That totally sapped our resources,” she said.
Making matters worse, “we don't know if the price of hay is going to come back down.”
Social media seems to have unfortunately fuelled increasing costs. Gone are the days when prices fluctuated depending on the conditions the hay was grown in — crops grown in drier, tougher conditions would cost more — and a buyer could shop around for the lowest price, she said.
“There were people asking more for hay from the previous year — two-year-old hay — that two years ago would have gone for, when fresh, about 40 to 60 dollars a bale,” she said.
Through social media, producers can quickly compare prices and increase theirs even if their input costs weren't as high as others who dealt with, for example, drought conditions, she added.
“All of a sudden in 2015, you had people asking twice as much for old hay — more than they could have sold it for when it was fresh. Just because they thought they could,” she said.
While there are some Albertans who on a private basis take in one or two horses, a larger scale operation like Bear Valley Rescue obviously has a much greater capacity. Although room is made whenever a horse is adopted, the point is fast approaching where they might be unable to shelter any additional animals, she said.
“Especially without knowing the future price of hay,” she said.
The experience has “been very stressful,” she added.
“When the price of hay went up last year, we were really panicked,” she said.
Although they always strive to have some reserves, the price of hay increased so much that those rainy day funds were tapped out, she said.
“It drained our coffers leaving no cushion going into next year,” she said.
They are hoping for public support in the form of cash or even hay donations, as well as anyone who could adopt a horse. Visit bearvalleyab.org or check out the sanctuary's social media presence to donate or to find out more about the operation.
Despite everything, Bartley expressed an unquestionable passion for what she and her husband do.
“I've been a horse nut since I was a kid,” she said, adding she also bears a love for all creatures.
“I've always been a real softie for animals since I was little — it's just the way I'm wired.”
But with horses, there are so few options left when they become either unwanted or the owners can no longer afford to provide care, she said.
“They don't have anywhere to go except for slaughter,” she said.
"We're getting more owner requests and surrenders."Kathy Bartley
