Quebec non-profit A Horse Tale (AHT) Rescue has been nominated as a finalist for Horse Canada’s 2019 Hero of the Horse Award.
Out of the ten nominees, the Vaudreuil-Dorion based rescue is the only horse shelter from Quebec that’s nominated for the national award, said Mike Grenier, executive director of the seven-year-old organization.
“It’s an honour,” Grenier told Global News on being nominated.
With Montreal’s calèche industry coming to an end, AHT Rescue has already taken in six retired calèche horses and looks forward to taking in more.
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The rescue also works with the MS Society, the Canadian Armed Forces and programs for people with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities. The animal shelter welcomes members of these groups on a weekly basis to benefit from spending time with the horses and nature.
Grenier told Global News they also have a tentative growth project on the horizon. Due to their limited space, the rescue wants to have a new barn built to house an additional 40 horses.
They currently have to refuse up to 15 horses a year due to a lack of space.
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The winner of Horse Canada’s 2019 Hero of the Horse Award will win $2,000, which the organization said it would put to their expansion project.
“Winning would not only give them the extra funds but also the recognition for all their hard work,” said Vaudreuil-Soulanges MP Peter Schiefke.
Horses in the area are counting on the shelter, Grenier said.
Voting is open until Sept. 15 and can be done here.
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