The smell. That’s what hit you first. Many people have seen the pictures and heard descriptions of what happened here, the condition of the animals and farm when they were discovered, but to smell it leaves something with you. Even after the dead animals, piled up manure and other debris were removed, the smell was like a black fog that filled your nostrils and clung to your memory.
The farm is located in the rural community of Stouffville, Ontario, and owner Michael Cheung purchased the peaceful, sprawling property as a weekend home, an investment and a way to relax from his business interests. Knowing nothing about animals, never mind horses, Michael was a handy mark for David Lee, Jason Leroy and Victoria Small, who offered to run the barns and also sell him shares of several racehorses they owned in the name of SpeedSport Stables. He was on his way to becoming a country gentleman! However, the Smalls soon began to show up infrequently to care for the horses, and neighbours became concerned when they noticed what looked like starving and unkempt animals in the paddocks. They reached out to Michael, who had yet to move into the house, which was under renovation. Attempts by Michael to contact the Smalls resulted in little action. When a neighbour’s dog dug up the remains of several horses buried right in the paddock, the OSPCA, animal control officers and the police became involved. Horrifically, the bodies in the paddock were only the tip of the iceberg. As many as 13 dead horses were unearthed from the paddock, the manure pile as well as a trailer parked on the property and the 15 horses trapped in the barn for an unknown length of time were emaciated and covered in their own filth. Once the extent of the abuse was known, it was hardly a surprise to Michael to also find out that the “racehorses” he had purchased shares in were fictitious. The Smalls were charged animal abuse and cruelty causing death and are awaiting trial.
When news broke of the devastating and gruesome find on a local horse farm, Krista Pollack, a grand prix dressage rider and trainer, from Stouffville, Ontario, was heartbroken and could not understand the cruelty that lives in some people. Like the rest of the horse community, she wanted to do something, to help in some way to try to make it right, to bring some peace to the poor souls that had suffered in unimaginable ways. Krista reached out to Michael, who was horrified at what his dream farm had become. Through this initial offer of support, a friendship grew and Michael knew this was the person who could bring the property back to life. Krista was not deterred by the farm’s dark past. She had a vision, could see past what was, to what it would be. This was her opportunity to finally strike out on her own, and create something positive from a tragedy.