Located at 315 S. Main St. Ext., Sky Walker Stables will be hosting “Fright Fest On The Farm” on Oct. 26 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The stables are owned by Tracy Erickson, who rescues horses that have been abandoned or sent to kill pens. The stables were opened in 2011 and the Stable Home Foundation that it is a part of began about five years ago.

Volunteer with the stables and foundation, Sue Tilley, said that at the stables the goal is to rescue as many horses from bad situations as possible, bring them back to health, and find them forever homes, or some are kept at the stables. The stables also run equine therapy programs for organizations that help people in need including the Jamestown Community College Occupational Therapy program, Chautauqua Adult Day Care, foster children, adults with disabilities, and more.

The upcoming event is to help continue to fund those programs and build new stalls for two new horses the shelter has incoming from a kill pen.

“We have two new rescues coming Sunday (Oct. 20), so we are raising money for two new stalls to give them a warm and safe place,” Tilley said. “Other funds will go towards our programs, and hopefully we raise enough for both.”

Sky Walker Stables houses many different programs, including some for children. Submitted photo

The stables did hold a previous fundraiser about two weeks ago and raised $1,400, but Tilley said the overall costs of the new stalls can reach $4000. She added that the programs held at the stables are loved by all participants, and that until someone steps foot in the stables they cannot fully understand what it means to those involved.

Sky Walker Stables is also a woman owned farm, run by volunteers with the help of places such as Cummins along with grants and a current Go Fund Me page that has been made for the new stalls.

At the upcoming Fright Fest, Tilley said there will be horse rides, bounce houses, games, a haunted house in four of the stalls, decorated horses, candy, face painting, the ability to meet some of the horses and more.

“You can come meet the horses, have fun, and help build the stalls and fund the programming,” Tilley said. “It has been proven that equine therapy helps many people.”

The most important part of both the event and the stables and foundation, Tilley said, is the ability to rescue horses that need it and help various parts of the local community through the provided programs. Additionally, Tilley said people in power such as state senator George Borrello, County Executive PJ Wendel and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell have all visited the stables and have said more people should be aware of them and what is offered.

Pictured is Sky Walker Stables owner Tracy Erickson, and one of the horses housed at the stables, Atlas. Submitted photo

“The foundation does a lot to help rescue horses and the community,” Tilley said. “We are associated with a lot of different communities and they all say that we help them.”

Tracy Erickson rides one of the stable’s horses. Submitted photo