Community invited to Halloween with the Horses event on Oct. 26

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Halloween with the Horses, hosted by the West Virginia University Collegiate Horsemen’s Association , is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the J.W. Ruby Research, Education and Outreach Center in Reedsville.

This popular and free community activity provides families and children of all ages with the opportunity to visit the farm and meet WVU’s teaching horses. Children also will receive sweets and treats, including WVU farm-raised apples, in a fun and safe atmosphere.

The annual event is a unique way for WVU Collegiate Horseman’s Association members and equine studies students to showcase their work and the program’s horses.

“Halloween with the Horses gives our WVU CHA members a great opportunity to interact with the community as well as our horses at the barn,” Elizabeth Conley, animal and nutritional sciences major and president of the WVU Collegiate Horsemen’s Association, said. “And we get the chance to share with the community a glimpse of what our club is all about. My favorite part of the event is seeing children, who are a little timid around the horses when they arrive, get comfortable and have the chance to pet one of our teaching horses.”

Horses will be dressed in a variety of costumes, and attendees are encouraged to dress in costume, too. Prizes will be awarded for scariest, funniest and best family costumes.

New this year, the event will include yard games and family-friendly Halloween movies to help entertain younger guests while their guardians wait in line. The WVU Hearts of Gold therapy dogs also will be in attendance to interact with families.

Local community groups that serve the area’s children and families will be on-site handing out tricks and treats. Groups interested space during the event can contact Crystal Smith, WVU Davis College teaching professor, at crystal.smith@mail.wvu.edu.

The event is free and open to the public. Cash donations will be accepted with proceeds benefiting the Eagle Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship Center and the American Collegiate Horsemen’s Association Philanthropy Challenge . Non-perishable food items also can be brought for donation to the WVU on-campus student food pantry, The Rack.

The Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources envisions a world sustainably fed, clothed and sheltered. To learn more about the Davis College, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube by following @WVUDavis.

-WVU-