The National HBPA will assist Nebraska riders whose horses have been quarantined since March 10 following the Equine Herpesvirus-1 outbreak.
The National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protection Association Foundation is raising money per horse for every owner and trainer affected by the two barn confinement at Fonter Park since two horses were confirmed to have died from the contagious virus.
Fonner Park is located in Grand Island, Neb., about 90 miles west of Lincoln.
The NHBPAF is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) fund developed by the National HBPA as a safety net for riders when other forms of assistance are unavailable or depleted in the wake of a disaster. The organization previously helped raise horses after equine herpes emerged in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Kentucky, and earlier outbreaks in Nebraska. The National HBPA represents nearly 30,000 purebred owners and trainers in the US.
The Nebraska HBPA also provides affected owners and trainers with an amount per horse to use for expenses that continue to accrue while their horses are prevented from racing.
Leroy Gessmann, chair of the NHBPA’s support committee, said: “Knights are by nature always ready to help other riders when needed. “Without question, the members of the NHBPA Support Committee understand what it means to be benevolent and what it means to lend a helping hand. Nebraska horsemen and horsemen are in the interim. going through a struggle and this committee is proud to be joining with the Nebraska HBPA to provide some relief through the National HBPA Foundation.I highly encourage any horseman or horseman out there as well. support and donate to the NHBPA Foundation for moments like these that will most likely involve you next.”
About 110 horses, including a handful of stable ponies, have been affected. Nebraska HBPA President Garald “Wally” Wollesen said about 90 horses that were likely infected with the virus but tested negative were kept in a large barn, while another 20 that tested positive were transferred. to an arena set up with makeshift stables. Wollesen said he has been told that, if all goes well, the horses in the large stable could be released from the quarantine by the end of this week.
All horses were initially confined to their stalls. Over the past week, however, horses in large stables have been allowed to the training track, which is restricted to those horses and hot walking horses, Wollesen said. Strict fumigation procedures overseen by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture are followed when those horses are removed from their stables, he said.
“As an organization founded by riders and women, we know all too well the highs and lows that this industry has available to us,” said Dr. Doug Daniels, national HBPA president. . “It’s important for us to recognize those in need and, more importantly, to act as best we can to help those in need. I’m proud that the Support Committee has chosen to use the NHBPA Fund to help support those in need. financial support for the riders in Nebraska during this difficult time, proving once again that we are horsemen helping the riders.”
Wollesen said the outbreak had devastated the horsemen.
“In Nebraska, we make very little money,” he said. “We run 53 days a year and that’s it. In order to be quarantined for 21 days with no income, we had to do something to try to help people. In fact, it was in 2016, when it happened in New Zealand. Nebraska, my horses that have been involved know how painful it is.
“Everybody appreciates the help that we and the National HBPA Foundation have given them. These horsemen didn’t make a dime, but at least we helped them out a little. Nebraska has quite a schedule. history of equestrianism. They started contacting me at races and continuously, eager to help. A gentleman bought 11 bales of hay and delivered them to the quarantine barn. People have donated. contributed $15 to fund one horse for a day. Sadly — and we had to license two horses — the Nebraskans really went out of their way to help.”
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