Hanif questions sanctuary representatives on capacity
Hanif asks sanctuary representatives about capacity concerns raised by the industry. Bolling acknowledges finite capacity but notes the coalition represents three dozen sanctuaries nationwide and describes their enrichment programs.
Thank you, Chair.
For the folks affiliated with the sanctuaries, I wanted to hear if you could respond to the concern that was shared here.
That sanctuaries don't have the capacity or that sanctuaries are not doing what we think will be the new lifestyle of horses?
Well, that's a loaded question.
It's a good question, and I acknowledge that sanctuary does have finite capacity, and that's certainly a concern.
So if you could maybe share how many folks work at the sanctuary and walk me through what a day with our coalition represents.
Our coalition represents almost three dozen different sanctuaries across the country, so I could speak for my organization singularly, but when we're talking about capacity, we're thinking about dozens of different organizations nationwide.
And then, yeah, I'd love to hear just what's happening at the sanctuary you're affiliated with.
So I'm, again, co-founder of Red Feather Equine Sanctuary, and our core belief is that horses are not inherently defined by the work that they can do.
But that means for us that when they come through our doors that we treat them as we would treat a horse who could do that work, which means that they do actually get enrichment training.
We have a trainer that comes to our facility once a week and does groundwork with the horses.
We trailer them to her facility once a week so that they can maintain freshness on their trailering skills.
We participate in equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted therapy activities with the horses.
So they're not just being thrown in a field.
are utilized, we just have learned to respect them for what their physical limits are and we have a different relationship with them.
Got it.
Thank you.
Okay, thank you.
I appreciate the testimony from this panel.
Thank you.
Okay, next panel.
Waller.
Walker, I'm sorry, my mistake.
Walker, blank.
Blackish ship?
Something like that.
Sorry.
Clara Bright.
Tommy.
Hughes.
Abderham Sanganoff.
I think the last name is...
Follero or Vallone is the last name?
I think the first name is Giovanni.
Giovanni, I think.
Natalie Honick.
That's it?
I don't know who's who.
All right, go ahead.
You can start.