Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association has approached City of Powell River councillors for a reallocation of Powell River Community Forest funds.
At the November 19 committee of the whole meeting, Sara Archer, general manager of the association, said she was appearing before the committee to discuss redistribution of a grant that was already allocated from the community forest reserve fund. She said the association was granted $27,000 for an overhaul of the facility because horses were becoming lame.
“Therapeutic riding is an integral part of the community, having operated for more than 32 years,” said Archer. “We are a not-for-profit, we are a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, and we are constantly getting better. Since I’ve been there for the past year, we have a really bright future and it became clear to me that with this grant money, we were given the money to buy a new groomer that would groom the arena.”
Archer said that every day, riders come into the facility. She said the footing for the horses has to be stable for the health of the horses and safety of riders and volunteers. With the community forest grant, the first step was to buy a groomer, which was purchased this past summer.
“This groomer really solves a lot of our problems,” said Archer. “It’s the right tool for the right job.”
Archer said after the purchase of the groomer, there is $17,000 remaining that was set aside to take out the old arena footing and put new footing in, but with the new groomer, it’s not a necessity. She said the outdoor paddocks are unsafe and unsanitary due to drainage issues. With the shelters, there is water pooling, and the horses are standing in muck and dirt, and the matter needs to be addressed urgently, added Archer.
“What I’m here to ask councillors today is to redistribute the remaining funds from arena footings to fixing the footings out in the paddocks,” said Archer. “The estimated cost is $15,000. We need to take out the contaminated footings and then we need to put in the proper compacting soils and foundation and drainage, so we don’t have the issue again.”
Councillor Rob Southcott asked Archer if the association had consulted with the community forest board.
“Their functions over the years have been decisions of this nature,” said Southcott.
Archer said the grant had already been allocated and she was instructed that she required council approval.
City chief administrative officer Lisa Bhopalsingh said senior staff had reviewed the criteria and it is for council to approve the change in scope.
Councillor Trina Isakson made a motion that staff be directed to amend the scope of the July 30 grant contract with Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association to permit funds to be used for paddock and arena improvement needs as required. The motion passed unanimously.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
