Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is giving us at NVTRP an unprecedented opportunity to live out our core values: safety, well-being, excellence, community, and joy. So that we can protect the well-being and safety of our riders, volunteers, and staff, we suspended services for two weeks, starting yesterday. We will continue to monitor things closely and adapt as needed. We recognize the potential for a longer term response and are planning for such scenarios in case they become necessary. Our small staff remains hard at work to ensure that our tradition of excellence continues. The horses still need care and program administration must continue, so that we are ready to reopen to our riders the moment this crisis passes. Our expenses—the mortgage payment on the farm, payroll, and horse care costs--also continue. However, income—particularly the significant income we receive related to community groups who ride weekly—is not continuing as normal. We receive private grant funding to underwrite the participation of service members from two local military installations, low-income 4th-6th graders from Second Story, and other populations in need. When we do not provide services, we can not release that funding to cover our on-going operating costs. Based on this initial suspension of services, we have already confirmed over $30,000 in funding that will be delayed indefinitely. A suspension of services to our weekly riders—the backbone of our clientele—beyond this initial two weeks will have an even more significant financial impact. | 
