Page 98 - Speedhorse November 2019

T he Spirit of Giving
By John Moorehouse
“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
-Maya Angelou
Lots of people choose to give back to their community in some way at the end of the year. Donating to a cause that helps animals is a truly selfless way
to show that generosity because you are providing assistance for animals unable to help themselves. and the horse community this holiday season.
Here are some ways you can give back to horses
DONATE SUPPLIES
Every organization that deals with horses, no matter how big it is, has supply needs. You can help! Here’s a great way to contribute; if there’s a horse show or racing meet scheduled in your area, reach out to event organizers and volun- teer to gather discarded supplies. Those supplies can be donated to an organization such as the ones listed above. You also can organize a dona- tion drive for supplies. Reach out to a rescue or other organization that helps horses, see what they need, and then ask your friends and family to contribute. If have your own farm or ranch, this can be as easy as donating some excess hay to a group in need.
FOSTER OR ADOPT
Maybe you have access to a farm, stable, or ranch. In that case, giving a horse a home
is one of the greatest gestures you can make
at this time of year. It’s estimated that there
are 100,000 to 150,000 unwanted, domesti- cated horses in the United States. Meanwhile, research shows approximately 1.2 million households possess both the interest and capac- ity to adopt a homeless horse. Even if you’re not interested in making a horse a permanent part of your family, there are fostering opportuni- ties available. The Allaboutequine.org and soundequineoptions.org web sites have good information on fostering horses.
Speedhorse Magazine would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.
MAKE A FINANCIAL DONATION
There are several existing organizations working to improve the lives of horses or providing care for all animals. Making a donation to one of these groups helps them, and these donations often are tax-deductible.
Some organizations that provide aid to horses in need include:
• The American Quarter Horse Foundation (www.aqha.org/foundation)
• The USED Equine Disaster Relief Fund (www.usef.org)
• American Association of Equine Practitioners (www.aaep.org)
• Horse rescues (www.ahomeforeveryhorse.com has a directory with information on rescues throughout the United States)
LOOKING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE HORSE WORLD?
The Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (www.pdjf.org) provides financial assistance to jockeys who suffered devastating injuries while competing.
PATH International (www.pathintl.org) connects horses – many of whom are retired competitors – with handicapped individuals for equine-assisted therapy. Often, donors seek to contribute in honor of a departed loved one.
VOLUNTEER
Is there a horse rescue located near you? Why not reach out and donate your time, rather than your money? This may entail riding horses, helping feed, or cleaning stables. Every little bit helps. Many of these horse rescues operate on small budgets with little to no money available to pay for employees. If you’re an experienced horse professional, you can use your expertise to assist others working for the rescue who may not possess your firsthand knowledge. Volunteering also can be a great opportunity if you’re already involved with a community organization like 4H or the Future Horsemen Foundation.
SPREAD THE WORD
An organization or rescue may be doing out- standing work, but they can only do so much if no one is aware of their efforts. Help get the word out about their contributions. Contact members of the media in your area to see if some TV or newspa- per coverage could be a possibility. You also can spread awareness by posting on social media like Facebook and Instagram.
ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISER
This is a great way to spread awareness for a worthy cause while also helping them accumulate the funds and/or supplies they need to remain
in operation. The first step is to reach out to an organization in your area, see what they need. Is
it money? Supplies? If it’s a rescue or sanctuary, “both” is a likely answer. From there it’s time to put your efforts and connections to work to gather means of assistance.
96 SPEEDHORSE, November 2019