Written by Sarah Jackson, Sport Nova Scotia Communications Coordinator  

Some of Nova Scotia’s most loyal teammates have four legs and can be found trotting right in the heart of Halifax. The horses who reside at the Halifax Junior Bangel Lancers (Lancers) stable are not only loved by city riders of all ages; they also provide daily joy to passersby.  

Whether you’re looking for physical activity, comedic relief, or therapeutic benefits, the Lancer horses deliver. In my role as communications coordinator at Sport Nova Scotia, I was looking to write stories about sports who found innovative ways to tackle the pandemic blues and decided to stop by the stable to witness the horses of Halifax work their magic. Given my lack of experience with the animals, I walked into the stable slightly nervous, but after meeting the four-legged friends, I left more relaxed than I was when I arrived, with a new adoration for horses and a collection of photographs.   

We know that all sports come with mental health benefits and this couldn’t be truer than for riders. Happiness and horses go together- its science. “It’s proven in studies that even passively standing next to a horse for a limited period of time reduces human heart rate, providing a very therapeutic benefit” said Claire Halstead, operations manager for the Lancers. “They do provide some comedic value as well.”  

During the months of lockdown, the stable got creative and took to social media channels to maintain a community connection and help keep the benefits coming for their audience. “We found it was really important to share the horses with our members and people who don’t necessarily ride with us, so we ramped up our social media, posting photos and videos of the horses up to their antics,” said Halstead. Social media provided the Lancer riders with a new way to stay fit, together. “Our executive director and head coach decided to do daily callisthenic exercises and live stream them on Facebook every single day for six weeks. That was really important for the riders to stay physically connected.” 

The staff’s commitment to the stable during tough times didn’t go unnoticed, and the tight-knit membership stepped up to support the club through the financial hardship. “As a non-profit that is responsible for the care of 29 horses, we require a flow of income,” said Halstead. “During lockdown our members were very generous, continuing to financially support us even though we didn’t have our regular programming. We are very thankful. It made a huge difference and shows the importance of community support.”  

And when the riders were safe to get back in the saddle, the Lancers also raised money by hosting a no-stirrups fundraiser in November 2020. “Riding without stirrups is a physical feat for sure, it helps with balance and muscle strength,” said Halstead. “Every rider at Lancer pledged to do some components or a whole month of riding without stirrups if they could. In doing so, our riders made over $35,000 in less than a month.”  

The Halifax Lancers continued looking for ways to give back, and during the holidays they recognized that many wouldn’t be able to have much of a celebration due to restrictions. “With our understanding of the value horses bring in terms of companionship and mental health benefits, we invited the people of Halifax to come to the fence line and spend the Holidays with the horses,” said Halstead. The Halifax Lancers Junior Executive youth-led council also made almost 200 holiday cards as part of a community outreach project that included cards for the residents of Northwood.  

In January 2021, the Lancers continued to keep the community relationship strong when they launched the Name Your New Neigh-Bour contest to select a title for a gentle nine-year-old thoroughbred. The winning submission was Doc (Dr. Strang for shows), in honour of Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health who kept Nova Scotia on track through a rocky year.    

The Lancers embody their friendly character and as they mark their 85th year and we celebrate all they have done for their community over the years. Since 1936, the Halifax Lancers have made equestrian accessible for all participants, and their club remains unique as they are the only urban non-profit riding stable in Canada. For more information about the Halifax Junior Bangel Lancers, check out their website.