‘Phenomenal’ turnout at annual Frosty the Christmas Horse fundraiser

Frosty the Christmas Horse is well acquainted with being social and being the centre of attention at an annual Christmas fundraising event.

A former racehorse with a competitive career of about eight years at Gulfstream in Florida, the 22-year-old thoroughbred no longer races, but is a “pony horse” at the Fort Erie Race Track, playing a role in helping competing horses from the paddock to the gate for post time.

He’s a bit of a “therapy animal,” said owner Lauren Spada, who told Fort Erie Radio that she has had him for five years after he was also a pony horse at Woodbine.

He was the star of an annual event on Saturday, a fundraiser for Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE) that also has a colouring book focused on Frosty.

Spada said Frosty, also known as ‘Clifford’ in the past, has a mild and friendly demeanor and that there is never an issue with him being outside in the cold and being pet by various children and adults.

“It’s awesome to have a horse I can trust like this and bring him out to be part of our town,” said Spada, a horse trainer at Fort Erie Race Track.

Team Frosty started five years ago and this was the fourth run for Saturday’s yearly event at The Plaice Bar and Grill, which included appearances from Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, and Mickey and Minnie mouse.

Since the ad hoc group was formed, lead organizer Gary Hass told Fort Erie Radio that more than $25,000 in food has been donated to COPE.

This year alone, more than 1,800 1.5-litre containers of milk were also donated to the cause.

Saturday’s event ran from 1 to 5 p.m., and at about 3 p.m., Hass said COPE’s van that was brought to the site had to be taken back to the food bank to unload to make room for everything that was coming in.

“It’s been a phenomenal turnout,” said Hass. “The community has come out in huge numbers today.”

Hass said this community is a special place that generosity runs throughout.

“Fort Erie supports its own and that’s what this is all about,” he said.

The ‘Frosty the Christmas Horse’ colouring book, which has been distributed around town, including at local schools, was put together by Samantha Meli, a local artist who has also authored two other children’s books.

Meli is proud to be part of an event that involves “a lot of people coming together to help others,” said the 24-year-old graduate of Sheridan College’s visual and creative arts program.

Her other books are called ‘Horseshoe’ and ‘Monty Leads the Way.’

Meli currently works as a graphic artist and has a number of clients.

Frosty wasn’t the only four-legged celebrity at Saturday’s gathering in the parking lot of the Garrison Road restaurant.

Lacey, a jersey cow, as well as Luna, a calf, were brought to the party by J.P. Beauvais, a Fort Erie Radio broadcaster and the owner-operator of Maxsym Small Engine Repair on Ridge Road North.

“It’s great to see the kids smile and have their faces licked by their sandpaper tongues,” Beauvais said.

Hass said he is thankful for everyone who has shown support since the event started.

“It’s the community that’s making it grow,” he said.

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