By David Purtell

david.purtell@salisburypost.com

Workers and volunteers with a program that offers therapeutic horse riding are mourning the loss of three horses killed in a lightning strike last week.

Two therapeutic horses, Arwen and Sissy, and a foal, Barney, were killed when lightning struck the tree they were standing under Friday night, according to Janna Griggs, executive director of Saving Grace Therapeutic Programs at Chandelle Farms, located off Old Mocksville Road, north of Salisbury.

Saving Grace offers “equine assisted activities for people with special needs, disabilities, youth at-risk, seniors, veterans, and those who have experienced trauma,” according to its website.

Griggs said people involved with the program are trying to take it slow and that there has been an outpouring of support from the community. People have been offering their thoughts and prayers, she said.

“We have to push forward,” Griggs said, adding the horses will not be forgotten.

The program had five horses before the death of Arwen and Sissy.

“They were very good,” in the program, she said about the horses.

In the interim, a friend of the program is letting Saving Grace use two of her horses, Griggs said.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.