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Stable Life Inc. - Spirit Horse Program announces it is temporarily pausing its free mental health service

PORTUGAL COVE-ST.PHILIP’S, NL - September 18, 2023

Today, Stable Life Inc., the non-profit organization offering free equine-assisted therapy and peer support, announced it will be pausing service delivery for an indeterminate amount of time. Due to lack of sustainable funding throughout 2023, the organization cannot maintain its current level of service delivery and will therefore be pausing all mental health program operations for the time being. Other projects, such as their children’s programming and special events, will continue as normal as they seek further partnerships.

The Spirit Horse Program was created in 2013 after Alison Walsh, a very involved member of the equestrian community in Newfoundland & Labrador, died by suicide at the age of 25. Her horse, Tinker, was the inspiration for the program, and is still actively used in life-saving programming since 2013. Stable Life Inc. became an incorporated non-profit in 2017 with significant support coming from the 2018 Mer B’ys Calendar campaign, which saw over $300,000 donated to the organization. This donation enabled Stable Life to provide their mental health services at no cost for the last 6 years, reducing barriers to services and providing support for thousands of people in that time. It also enabled Stable Life to continue their ‘From the Centre of the Pen’ corrections program at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and the Newfoundland & Labrador Correctional Center for Women.

Through snowmaggedon, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising cost of living, things have changed drastically for non-profit organizations. The cost of caring for horses has risen, the cost of bills has risen, and the expendable income of the organization’s supporters has reduced. These realities are leading the organization to make some needed changes.

“Making the decision to pause services was very difficult, as we know there are people relying on our service. Mental Health and horses will always be our core and we will continue to provide a therapeutic environment, but how we do this might look a bit different. This will take the form of land based programming, community garden projects, employability programs, the incorporation of an Indigenous lens building towards Truth and Reconciliation, and our original Spirit Horse program. Going forward, we will also be putting more emphasis on our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Working with marginalized groups has always been part of what we do at Stable Life, but will now be included as part of our mission. We aim to return from this pause with new partnerships and even more effective programs,” said Erin Gallant, Program Director of Stable Life.