Bend horse rescue Equine Outreach explains financial pinch

Equine Outreach needs to raise more money to continue with its horse rescue operation.

NewsChannel 21’s learned Wednesday the money is going to an increased rent, but the landlords are actually some of the rescue group’s board members.

The property is owned by the nonprofit’s founder, Joan Steelhammer, and her husband, Gary Everett.

After 10 years, the mortgage payment on their property is going up.

The horse sanctuary leases the property from Ric-O-Chet LLC, which is run by Steelhammer’s husband Gary Everett, who also sits on the nonprofit organization board as treasurer.

Steelhammer said there is nothing fraudulent going on. They’re are asking the community to help them establish a foundation to keep the horse sanctuary afloat.

The organization is asking for more than $62,000 to keep the gates open.

“The money is going towards the general fund and to make sure accounts are set aside so that all payments are met,” Steelhammer said.

She said the money also will help with purchasing hay and paying utility bills.

The organization uses electricity during the winter to keep the water troughs from freezing over.

Equine Outreach has offered to make refunds to any donor who feels their money is not being used as they wish for the horse sanctuary.

Steelhammer said the nonprofit organization has nothing to hide from the public.

“We will be glad to show them any records, books, tax returns,” she said. “Basically , all they are going to find (is) we’ve been subsidizing the mortgage payments for a number of years, and the board said, ‘Enough of that.'”