Riding stables facing 'heart-breaking' plight after outbreak of horse herpes forces closure
An outbreak of disease is threatening the future of a riding school which has been running for 76 years.
Pakefield Riding School near Lowestoft has had to close temporarily after an outbreak of herpes among its horses.
Three horses out of the 30 horses have been diagnosed with the disease, which can lie dormant but then flare up.
They are having to be kept in isolation from the other animals and the stables must stay shut until at least April 17.
Owner Tess Hardy, 90, set up the riding school in 1946. She said the outbreak was a fresh blow after the business had managed to weather the Covid pandemic.
"We were beautifully booked up for Easter and all of this has had to be cancelled and my tummy is just churning round and round and I have felt very stressed."
Herpes lies dormant in horses but can flare. When it does it is very contagious, so the horses have to isolate.
The school is still recovering from the impact of Covid and income is down this winter as the cost of living bites and families rein in their spending.
Chantelle Cable, who works at the school, said it faced expensive medical costs to have blood tests for every horse.
She said: "You start thinking where's the money coming from if we don't have money coming in? It would be utterly heart-breaking to lose this place."
The community has now come together to help - with dozens of offers of help and donations.
A fundraising page has been set up and they have raised £5,500 so far.
The school helps those from disadvantaged communities, particularly people with disabilities, to enjoy riding.
Supporter Anne Baxter said: "My daughter has autism, dyspraxia, hypermobility and epilepsy, and the staff at the riding school have always been so very supportive of her needs.
"It would be a great loss to our community to lose such an amazing business."
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