High insurance costs leave therapeutic horses looking for new home

FALMOUTH, Mass. - A local horse farm set to close, and it will leave several therapeutic horses without a place to stay.

For the last seven years, Annmarie Corey has used her land to run a horseback riding program for children with disabilities.

"This gives them an opportunity to be able to accomplish things, not only here with the horses, but then carries over into their life," Corey said.

In January, she had to sell her house and the land, after losing her property insurance.

"I received a letter from my insurance carrier that they were no longer going to continue, due to the high costs," Corey said.

Many other Cape Cod residents face the same problem. Like them, Corey's only option for keeping her land was a pricey new insurance policy, which she couldn't afford.

"I put the house on the market, and it sold in 10 to 14 days. So now, we're scrambling. Where's the program going to go?" asked Corey.

This is one of the last times Annmarie Corey will feed her seven horses at her stable in Falmouth

For now, the horses will stay with a neighbor, but have no permanent home, and the horseback riding program that has helped dozens of kids doesn't have a home either.

Corey isn't giving up hope, though. She's asking for the public's help.

"I have to think positive in the sense of this is such a needed program for the challenged community, and someone will step up to it... they have to," said Corey.

7NEWS spoke to Corey's insurance company, and they said the reason so many homeowners on Cape Cod are losing their property insurance is because, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, coastal properties have become high risk and are too expensive to insure.

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