As I perch here, at "Command Central", struggling to find the words, several things are apparent. One is the amazing passion that we all share for horses, and the equine realm. The other is how much "brain power" we have available to us collectively. The routes we choose to reach a common goal may vary some, but from the comments, it seems that most are willing to "share" the end goal of increased owner education, and a local network with equine rescues.
Fantastic. Just... fantastic!
Everything from Can Drives with your community, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, college kids, 4H kids, and FFA kids, to contacting AQHA (and other breed registries), FEI, USEF, and feed companies has been brought up.
I love it. Absolutely Love It.
It also occurred to Dear Husband and I that Oh HorseFeathers! is just a tender six months old. Six months- that's all. Somehow though, it feels like it has been a part of my life for a very long time. I'd love for it to continue to be a part of my life, for a very long time. In just six short months, I have "met" some really fantastic equi-bloggers, and had such a great time getting to know all of you... (And I am not even going to name names here, as I KNOW I will forget someone accidentally!!)
If things have grown this much in six months, I can not wait to see what the next six months brings!
Everyone who commented on the last two posts brought forth ideas and effort. Now I am going to ask, please, contact your local rescues and follow up! I used to ask on here, for folks to donate $5 - to give up one coffee a week for a couple weeks, and donate that to a horse rescue near you. Or drop off one bale of hay, if that was all you could spare. Or a bag of feed. Or any extra halters, leads, buckets, blankets, brushes, tack etc that you did not need. Or volunteer your time.
The results of that effort taught me a couple of things:
A) I needed more readers, and
B) I had asked the wrong question.
I am not going to directly ask you to open your wallets, or have you go ask anyone else to open their wallets any longer. Nor your hay loft, tack rooms, or feed bins. Instead, I am going to ask that you do something that will take no time from your life, and no money from your wallet- and set aside your cans.
Canned soda is guzzled by the gallon. If you are in the Northeast (AKA: Tundra Country,) and have bottle and can returns (usually .05 per container,) set those aside and call your local rescue about cashing them in and making a donation.
If you are in a state where there is no return, set aside your cans to take to the local recycling plant, and turn them in there. Or again, call your local rescue to turn them in. Explain to them the effort, and see if that can help.
I am not asking that you ride around, vigilante style, and peer into pastures and paddocks, looking for trouble. Trust me- trouble will surely find YOU that way, and it won't be pretty by any means. However, contact your vet, farrier, feed store, hay man, riding club, and any horse folks you know, and let them know what you can offer if they come across a bad situation. Transportation, foster care, pasture space, spare halters, leads, etc. Encourage them to pass the word to other area horse folks, and let them know there are people who can help.
Not a one of us asked that fuel prices skyrocket- that was entirely up to the jagoff speculators who began taking advantage of us when Hurricane Katrina hit. Now if someone looks like they need a band aid, the price jumps another dollar a barrel for crude. (The B*stards.) Not a one of us asked that we have drought. No one asked for flooding.
Nope, I am pretty darn sure we did not ask for the fussing, cussing, and fighting, finger pointing and Blame Game to take place either. I understand that it is human nature to just looove drama. Fine- if you want Drama, watch Soap Operas! (Man does that tick me off. How much energy is wasted bickering and having a knock down drag out, that could have been used to save a starving horse? How many starved to death while they were all b*tching and moaning?)
I am not asking much. Just to step up, and offer what help you can to who you can, how you can. If all you can do is save your cans, that works! If you have the skills to contact big feed companies and lobby for help to your rescue, that's fantastic! If you can talk someone into loaning out a pasture space for a hungry horse, and help bring that horse back to health, GO FOR IT!
Once again, everyone- EVERYONE- here has amazed me with their passion and skills.
Stay tuned y'all. Email me, if you wish, anytime for help, ideas, or support. (swequine@yahoo.com)
I promise you all- Dear Husband and I will do all we can to help, in any way.
Friday, June 27, 2008
My Head Is Spinning....
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11 comments:
Here is another idea Mrs Mom-a couple of months ago I cleaned up a bunch of scrap iron around the ranches-just loose tin and other stuff that had accumulated and hauled it with me when I was headed by the recycling place. That single pickup load of junk put $96.70 in my hot little hand. Not only is aluminum cans money makers but clubs could organize cleanup parties for people's properties and just by removing loose iron, tin, rims, batteries, pretty much any non-biodegradable crap-they can make double money-charge a little to the owners and get the fee from the recycler.
Make up flyers that say you will pick it up for free if they set it out or for a small fee if they want you to clean it up. A lot of people don't know what to do with this stuff and either put it in the garbage or just pile it up.
Its a deal you just can't beat-beautifying the neighborhood, recycling and making a little cash to donate toward the cause.
Our cleanup binge was put on hold for the year because the rattle snakes like to hang out amongst the junk-I'll be waiting until a bit of a cold spell this fall-LOL.
BECG that is so right - scrap metals are at a premium and a lot of farms have their share, as does my suburban backyard with leftovers of dear sons' car projects. Great idea to dedicate that money and work to a worthy equine rescue cause. That might just inspire me to load up the junk this week!
That is one inspiring post! I did some research and was only able to locate one official horse rescue in Nevada. I contacted them to offer my help in fund raising, but have not received a response yet.
I did some more research on the fate of the two horses that were abandoned near me, and discovered that they are now well-cared for. The lady who found them was awarded legal guardianship over them, so that they wouldn't have to go to an estray sale. There was an outpouring of help -- everything from free farrier services to money jars to physically monitoring the horses during those first few days when things were touch and go. Their hay, medicine, and grain were paid for through donations. Someone has already shown an interest in adopting the horses. So, there's one less thing to worry about...
I like the idea of simply making contacts and letting everyone know that you are a resource if a horse owner finds himself in dire need. People like to hang out and chat at our local feed stores, so that's definitely a hub of information.
Mrs. Mom I just love what you say and how you say it. Get er done.
Tj
Today myself, and two of our young volunteers headed to the recycling center and made $48.00. One thing I have learned today is make sure you have a big load to make it worth your while. We had the truck loaded, but the center was about 22 miles away and we drive diesel. Ugh! The center closer to us doesn't take steel yet so we had to go out of our way.But again, it is $48.00 we put towards the horses feed.
By doing this we are also cleaning up our other property that we lease. We are helping her keep the place clean while we make the money for the horses.
Remember that someone is opening a can of dog food or soup, and tossing it away. That is money.
Hug your horse!
BECG is right about recyling old items that people are just leaving sitting around. Done here you can recyle tires, batteries, scrap, tin, trampolines, swing sets, anything just about. It is a great idea. I have been checking in to rescues in our area to see what they are needing. Thanks for encouraging and inspiring us!!
And I have meet some great horsey bloggers as well!
Yep, here too BECG... rattle snakes are a worry (along with me seeing phantom gators everywhere...lol) The scrap drive idea is EXCELLENT. Just, totally, excellent!
GO FLying Lilies!!!
Nuzzling Muzzles- that is great to hear. I had been wondering about the fate of all of the horses mentioned, so I have to say a HUGE Thank YOU! for letting us all know they are now doing well.
Thanks TJ... dont really know what to say to that... :) But I am darn glad that you are here with us!
GOOO KDW!!!
Debbie- I am going to get in contact with a few other rescues up by you, and also down here and see what we can get rolling. ;)
Will keep everyone posted!
I was shocked to learn that in our area in Central Florida,( in the Deltona, Orange City, Deland area to be specific) that all cans, bottles, or whatever are picked up by the recycling company and there are no outlets that I could find who purchase cans, etc. I was very disappointed.
Same with newspapers and magazines. Seems like our town has a monopoly on this market.
So what I will continue to do in the meantime, is donate to rescues, and continue helping to sponsor a wonderful horse in Pa. who was rescued from the kill pen. So badly affected with Laminitis, he could hardly get onto the rescuer's trailer. Fortunately he was able to be loaded. AND he is doing great.
What I am considering is getting together with someone who wants to do this, and try to get some donations of fancy products or whatever the theme might be, and hold a raffle for a rescue. Several have done this really with great results.
So I am up to doing that, and would love to hear from anyone that wants to help.
I can be reached at hpmiou@aol.com
Take care,
Jo
Awesome, thought provoking post! With good ideas. And great ideas from the comments. We're going to be cleaning out the garage in the next couple of weeks, might be able to something about that and raise a buck or two, or even find useful old halters and tack that could be donated.
Since I said it late in the comments on the last post, I'll say it again here.........don't forget getting involved in your local equine organizations. Volunteering your services to their projects can turn into them helping you with yours.
If more people got actively involved in the equine community instead of sitting on the sidelines complaining about the "they" who run things, the community would improve tremendously. The stronger the community gets, the better equipped it will be to deal with whatever emergencies that arise whether it be horse rescues or fires, floods or other castrophes.
I agree that we can step up and help and that it is quite simple to do with small efforts on all out parts. Right now, every last penny I have goes to feeding and fueling.
I do have 2 horses that are not mine that I keep for a friend's girlfriend that lost her home and had no where to take them. We have had these horses for a year and 1/2 and we feed, trim and care for these lovely barn mates. Only thing we have not done is floated their teeth.
oops, it is feeding time and the horses are yelling... LOL
As always it is a pleasure to read your posts.
happy horsin' around!
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