By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
The horses at the Seven Lakes Stables have some pretty nice digs. The barn, built in the mid-1970s, is tidy and homey with comfortable stalls for all the steeds. But like any home, sometimes systems go a little haywire.
When seven of the 10-horse herd started showing signs of elevated respiratory rates, Stables Director Jenn Wallace had suspicions something had run amuck in the stalls.
The first horse showed signs of distress including a rapid respiration rate at rest and flared nostrils on Oct. 2. But the horse showed no other signs of illness such as a cough or fever.
The following day, six more horses started showing similar symptoms within two hours of coming into the barn.
A call to the veterinarian resulted in thorough testing, including a heart and lung ultrasound, which ruled out a bacterial or viral infection.
All the horses were turned out to pasture as a precaution. With symptoms ranging from mild to more severe, the horses were treated with antifungal medications and bronchodilators.
All horses have fully recovered, including Dixie and Charlie who had the most severe course.
Initial suspicions that the cause of the mysterious respiratory symptoms were environmental were confirmed following an inspection by a remediation specialist, Patrick Tighe from Mold Stoppers. The specialist took samples and measured air quality. While his report did not identify any toxins or black mold, there was evidence of mold and fungal particulate build up.
“While it is normal to have some level of dust, mold, etc. in a 50 year-old barn, it appears significant rain and wind during hurricanes Debby (August) and Helene (September) may have triggered a ‘bloom,’” read a statement to Seven Lakes Landowners sent on Oct. 18.
“The barn was dry this time last year and throughout the early summer. A new roof was installed in Fall 2021 and dozens of decking boards were replaced at that time. We now have several leak areas in the roof. During Debby, we had four to six inches of standing water in areas within the Stables. We believe that damage to the roof during the storm, storm water runoff that breached the interior of the barn, and post-storm damp conditions led to mold and fungal particulate ‘blooms’ in the weeks that followed.”
Hurricane Helene’s rains compounded the problem.
Creed & Garner roofing company has inspected the roof and completed necessary repairs which were covered under warranty.
Bids are now being sought to remediate the environmental concerns for both humans and horses who utilize the barn.
According to the community-wide statement, “Remediation is necessary since the situation will easily repeat itself under similar weather-related circumstances.”
Wallace indicates they hope to have the barn returned to use by Jan. 1 due to winter weather concerns for the staff and especially the older horses.
In the meantime, the horses remain out to pasture. Storage pods have been brought in for the tack, grooming tools, supplies and hay. And port-a-potties have been brought in to accommodate the humans.
Operations and rides have largely returned to normal, though the stables staff has had to make changes to daily routines given the temporary situation.
Importantly, Seven Lakes Stables’ plans for Christmas will proceeded. The Seven Lakes North and South community enjoyed the Christmas party on Dec. 1.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
