Helping Horses, San Diego's Oldest Equine Seeks National Grant

The Horses of Tir Na Nog in Guatay is hosting an open house this weekend as part of a national competition between non-profit horse organizations. At stake is a $25,000 grant, which would be a game changer for the local facility which continually struggles to make ends meet. NBC 7’s Dagmar Midcap has more on how you can help.

San Diego’s oldest equine sanctuary needs your help to secure a national grant worth $25,000.

A nationwide competition between non-profit horse organizations  will take place on “National Help a Horse Day” Saturday, April 26th.

As part of the competition, The Horses of Tir Na Nog in Guatay is hosting an open house this Saturday and Sunday. 

Amy Pat Rigney, the facility’s administrator of horses, say’s winning the $25,000 grant would have an enormous impact.

“It would pay for 4 months worth of food, about a quarter of a our annual food bill, or it would cover the majority of our veterinary bill for the year. So it’s a huge percentage of what we do,  it would be wonderful to have that money come into San Diego and to have it go to San Diego’s horses that other folks have let down  and yet the community has rallied to care for over the years.”

The Horses of Tir Na Nog has helped over 80 horses since opening in 2003. The sanctuary takes in neglected and abused animals, then helps with their recovery and provides a place for the animals to live out the rest of the lives.

“We have the fun job. We get to see them recover their health, gain weight and the spark comes back,” says Pat Rigney.

The Horses of Tir Na Nog has placed the last two years in this competition, but never won.

This weekend’s open house has a theme, “Horses and their Heroes.”  Pat Rigney says in keeping with the theme various rescue heroes from organizations will be attending such as CAL FIRE, animal services, border patrol and San Diego County Sheriff.

The Horses of Tir Na Nog open house is Saturday, April 26th and Sunday, April 27th from 10am to 1pm at 26920 Olde Highway 80 Guatay, CA 91931.  Visit horsesoftirnanog.org for more information.

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