Despite an ongoing global pandemic, faculty and students in the West Virginia University Equine Studies Program are determined to host the beloved Halloween with the Horses event.
Halloween with the Horses is scheduled for 2 – 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the J.W. Ruby Research Farm in Reedsville. The event will be drive-thru and touch-free while still providing a safe, educational experience.
“We didn’t want Halloween with the Horses to be another event that was cancelled in the wake of COVID-19,” said Crystal Smith, teaching associate professor of animal and nutritional sciences in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. “I challenged our events management interns and student leaders to come up with options for a drive-thru event. They worked out the details to ensure local families had an option for a family-friendly, fun and safe trick-or-treating experience.”
Event attendees will receive a packet of educational materials for horse enthusiasts of all ages and participate in a drive-thru, smartphone-guided scavenger hunt.
“We’ll have stations set up around the farm with clues related to horses, their costumes and WVU,” she said. “Contact information and scavenger hunt answers will be submitted through an online survey accessible on your smartphone.”
One detail remains the same as previous years – the horses will be dressed in a variety of costumes. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume as well and submit a photo to participate in the costume contest.
Prizes for the costume contest and scavenger hunt will be mailed as a family prize pack following the event.
Also, treat bags will be prepackaged and given to children in each vehicle as they leave.
The event is free and open to the public; however, cash donations will be accepted with proceeds benefiting WVU Collegiate Horsemen’s Association and Reedsville Volunteer Fire Department.
The fire department will be directing traffic and have a fire truck available for attendees to see as they drive by. Treats and prize packs are sponsored by the Equine Studies program and winners of the Miss Valley District Pageant.
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bb/lw/10/7/20
CONTACT: Lindsay Willey
Interim Director of Marketing and Communications
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
304-293-2381; Lindsay.Willey@mail.wvu.edu
Photo Caption: Student volunteers and one of the WVU teaching horses dressed as super heroes during the 2019 Halloween with the Horses event.