BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Cocoa-area nonprofit it still dealing with flooding issues after last week’s heavy rains drenched the area.
The weather damage is impacting Harmony Farms and its horse therapy sessions. The pastures are still flooded, so the horses have no place to graze and get exercise.
What You Need To Know
A Cocoa-area nonprofit it still dealing with flooding issues after last week’s heavy rains drenched the area
The weather damage is impacting Harmony Farms and its horse therapy sessions
The farm’s owner says the horses have no place to graze and get exercise
The adjustment has meant extra expenses and canceled therapy riding trips for kids.
“They are used to being out twelve hours a day,” says owner Pam Rogan of her horses. “They are getting cabin fever just like people do.”
The entire property was flooded due to the downpours from a recent storm.
Rogan said the area has already seen heavy rain every day for a month. For days, the one road in and out wasn’t accessible by car or truck.
Now much of the water still stands, and she said it’s a muddy mess.
“A lot of our riders are in wheelchairs and walkers, so it’s impossible to get through,” Rogan said. “So it’s affecting us not being able to hold riding sessions.”
She said that’s $600-$700 a session not coming in when they must cancel.
With the horses being confined to the stable, Rogan said they are paying a lot more for hay since they can’t graze.
They are going through bedding, and there’s a chore people might not think of.
“Plus, being in their stalls produces more manure, which means more manure pickups, and that’s costly,” Rogan said.
She said the farm is spending nearly $100 a day on diesel to run the pump 24/7 to battle the flooding.