Crossroads Trading in Ballan, 80km west of Melbourne, have arranged for a truck to head to Bairnsdale on Monday to provide feed for horses in the region

By Carl Di lorio

A Victorian-based farming supplies retailer has launched a campaign to assist the bushfire-affected equine population in East Gippsland.

Crossroads Trading in Ballan, 80km west of Melbourne, have arranged for a truck to head to Bairnsdale on Monday to provide nutrition aid for horses in the region.

Asha Shanahan, co-owner of Crossroads Trading in Ballan, with a pellet of Allrounder horse feed

“Horse feed, hay and especially mineral blocks are important to get to the equine population down there," said Asha Shanahan, co-owner of Crossroads Trading.

"Horses currently cannot graze or get the nutrients out of the ground so the mineral blocks are a substitute for that.”

The distribution of aid from Crossroads Trading will be coordinated through the CFA depot in Bairnsdale who will provide to those who most require assistance.

Racing.com have financially supported the efforts of Crossroads Trading after being made aware by broadcaster Adam Crettenden.

“We’ve been staggered by the community response here in Ballan," Shanahan said.

"We’ll have a full truck going down to Bairnsdale - even the truck has been donated to us for the day."

Cash donations towards Monday's delivery of horse feed can be made by contacting Crossroads Trading.

Crossroads Trading’s Facebook page can be found here.

Crossroads Trading’s website can be found here

This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission. To find out more about Racing Victoria's Off the Track program, visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track.

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