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Hey, they're tied! 42.22%

Lexi from IL
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6:06:16 PM

This isn't about humans vs. horses. It's about trying to help our favorite charity. I support SBR because I have seen firsthand the tremendous difference they make with the resources they have.... and our SBR adoptee Agape's Legacy is also very grateful SBR was there for her and her 2 week old colt last year. And every single dime they get goes back to the horses.

Lou from Kentucky
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6:06:11 PM

I would like to thank "Lou" from Florida on the compliment on MY farm (North Wind), that houses Saddlebred Rescue. That said I also would like to say how WRONG you are in thinking ONE cent goes into that farm from any money given to Saddlebred Rescue. Both my husband and I work full time jobs to pay for that farm. Saddlebred Rescue does not have the funds to stand on their own. North Wind Stables and Mark (my husband) pay all the utilities (which this winter just the electricity alone went up over $1000 a month to keep the water tanks from freezing), all repairs on fences, roads (over 1/2 a mile total),and barns. Saddlebred Rescue does not pay any fees and that includes NO RENT on the use of the farm. No money towards maintance for use of trucks and horse trailers (those are North Wind's)used every Monday to pick up horses (five hours of driving per trip). No money for any equipment used to work these horses or care for these horses. No money to help me pay for the tractor and manure spreader used EVERY DAY to keep the stalls clean. No insurance, Mark and & I pay for that. Nothing and I mean nothing to me in ANY way for many, many hours every week I put into the rescues. NO money not a dime to our Executive Director who puts in more than a 40 hours a week, 7 days a week to place the horses. Every dime we get goes into buying more horses, hay, grain, bedding, vet bills, farrier bills, medicines and two people to help care for the sometimes 30 horses on site any given time. You know what? two people are not enough to care for for this many horses, so MY(North Wind) STAFF does about 1/2 to the work required to care for this many horses, and you know what else? I pay for that NOT Saddlebred Rescue. My husband and I do not go on trips and vacations, we do not spend money on expensive clothes, jewery, or evenings out in the city, because our extra money goes into Saddlebred Rescue, we feel it is the right thing to do.

As far as our fees, Saddlebred Rescue has to BUY every horse we get, we have to pay more than the kill buyers or we can not save them. If you go to almost any dog or cat rescue you will pay up to $200 to get a pet and most cats and dogs are found or given to those rescues. I wonder if you know the difference in cost to feed the average size dog for a month compared to the average size horse? I know it is at least 10 times as much and lately, thanks to Bio diesel it is even more. Corn prices have gone through the roof.

I am not complaining, but if I was to say something, I would trade (in a heartbeat) the money that Saddlebred Rescue may or may not get here at Searchkindly, for a spokesperson like Mary Tyler Moore to be on OPRAH (as she was) the week of this contest.

One last thing, the horses we buy are usually old used up Amish horses. You know the ones who have worked like beast of burdens (cars and tractors) for as many as 20 years and when they can not work any longer, without us their only use is to feed wealthy people in Europe or feed zoo animals. The worst part of the slaughter industry is the cruel and inhumane way these wonderful servants of man are treated before they die, they are hung up by their hind legs while their heart is still beating (yes they are alive), so the blood will be pumped out of their bodies(the meat tastes better that way) As someone who has a wonderful life because of the horses I feel we owe it to these horses to help them live out their final years. The rescue horses are not even at this stage in their lives able to retire. We retrain them to help homes where they can be used as teaching horses in riding programs through out the country, many have gone on to be used in handicap programs. I would like to make it clear my show horses want for nothing and live a VERY pampered life, and are allowed to retire when showing is not in their best interest, unfortunatly this is not the case for every horse.

I ask everyone to not throw negitive comments at other people when you do not know the whole story. I would advise everyone to spend your time learning about all the other not for profit agencies instead of wasting your time posting half truths and false facts about those who are competing against each other for the much needed funds.

Nealia from Blairstown New Jersey
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6:06:51 PM

Hi Lou from Florida!
I just want to extend my empathy and compassion to your 16 year old with JD, I know that must be so hard! One of my best friends has a 15 year daughter who was diagnosed just last year, and like your child, she wears an insulin pump.
You know, I was thinking about your saying that your child cannot play football because of the pump, maybe you could find a wonderful therapy program in your area that uses horses?
Many of our rehomed/retrained/re-FED horses become wonderful therapy horses for children with disabilities. I've raised four children (one of whom has disabilities), am raising the fifth, they all have/had exposure to horses in their lives, as well as music lessons, soccer, ballet and so forth. The very best life lessons for our entire family? they came from our beloved horses, it's an awesome family activity to be enjoyed by people of all abiltiy levels.
Thanks to SBR, there are numerous organizations with horses they'd not have, had it not been for SBR.
Diabetes research gets national media attention, as do some of the other charities here up for votes this month.
When was the last time you heard about horses literally being 'thrown away'? Every single, solitary dollar goes to horse feed, farrier work, vet bills to care for animals tossed aside because they no longer worked as originally intended....just cast off to a horrible ending. A life that was once noble and majestic, packed into a tractor trailer headed to who knows where.

We are all passionate about our charity of choice, maybe this could be an opportunity to add a charity to the one you are passionate about as well. I invite you to join our forum www.saddlebredrescue.com, great community of people who support others (human and equine) with whatevevr befalls them whether related to horses or not. Believe me when I say, horse people are some of the greatest people on earth ;)
Best of luck to you and your family.
Amy

Amy from Over The Rainbow
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 5:05:22 PM

I would love for you to consider the North Centraol States Chapter of the National MS Society. Or the National MS Society itself. I am 25 years old and was diagnosed with MS 2 years ago and my mom was diagnosed 1 year ago! All money raised goes toward research so one day people will no longer know how helpless you feel when you hear the words "It's MS"

Amber Schoenborn from Fargo, ND
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 4:04:42 PM

I'm also choosing to support the SAddlebred Rescue group. I am a nurse and see many patients on a daily basis who suffer from terrible diseases including Diabetes, but I have to agree that the plight of the majority of those people is more well known and supported than that of our animals, SAddlebreds in particular. I've seen several comments about racing...Saddlebreds are not the breed of horses used in either harness or saddle racing and therefore gambling issues are not a factor for them. They are one of the initial breeds created in American and fabulous creatures that bring joy to many. I used American Saddlebreds in my therapeutic riding program which catered to those with Autism and Cystic Fibrosis among others. Vote where YOUR heart lies, and always remember that each of us can choose to support these groups over and above this site.

Amy Jacobs from Texas
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 4:04:38 PM

I apologize if my "comments" about horses and the nice looking farm insinuated that SBR would use the funds for the nice farm. I agree 100% with Michelle from FL and Shannon from Colorado. I do not raise horses, I don't watch horse races and I don't gamble on horse racing. My wife and myself do have 3 teenagers that we raise, we watch as many of their events as we can that they participate in (with or without us involved) and we don't won't to gamble on their lives so we teach them values such as 1. wear seatbelts. 2. Study and do your best in school 3. As for the diabetic (16 1/2 middle child), he can't do things like football because he wears an insulin pump, he has to check his blood sugar 4-7 times daily, change his injection site for the pump every 3rd day and when he was finally diagnosed, his blood sugar was 1244. He would have died as that poor 12 year old did about 4 weeks ago when her parents decided for her that holistic remedies was the best approach. Then they were brought up on charges. He has a "controllable" disease that is also recognized as possibly one of the most expensive diseases. A lot of families would greatly celebrate a CURE for diabetes 9along with a host of other diseases-my wife is a cancer survivor). i just have my boy's heart and longevity of his life at mine and my wife's top interest. Again, what i wrote was not intended to attack anyone. Sorry if it did. Horses are lovely. So is our 16 1/2 year old.

Lou from Florida
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 3:03:16 PM

I just want to respond to Lou in FL's insinuation that SBR is using adoption money to fund the farm and that the adoption prices are high. Neither are true. The farm in question is where the horses are housed but it is a completely separate identity than SBR. The farm is a top-level Saddlebred show barn that is run by the a trainer who donates her time and her one day off a week to go and rescue horses at risk for going to slaughter. She paid for the rescues exclusively out of her own pocket before SBR ever existed. When others learned of what she was doing, they wanted to help and SBR was born. Not one penny from the rescues goes to the care of the farm, which is owned by the trainer in question. She's extremely well-known in the horse community and you're not going to find anyone who can call her a crook or a fraud.

As far as the horse's adoption fees go, they're more than reasonable. These horses often aren't immediately adopted; they require vet care, farrier care, special diets and sometimes training. The adoption fee doesn't come close to covering the organization's expenses per horse.

I'm sorry you don't approve of our choices. But please stop casting aspersions on the character of people you know nothing about. They don't deserve it.

Grace from Kentucky
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 3:03:39 PM

I voted for the Saddlebred Rescue. It is a great organization. Just because I choose to support an organization that deals with animals over another that probably gets plenty of donations elswhere does not make me a bad person. Animals need people to speak for them. If we don't then who will? I support research around Autism and Juvenile Diabetes, etc, but who's gonna support the poor horses.

I have had two Saddlebreds myself and a quarter horse who was rescued from an abusive owner. She used to be so thin you could clearly see her ribs. Now, she is healthy, a little fat, and very happy with 5 acres all to herself and horses on either side of the pasture. I would live to see more animals receive a second chance like this. They need it.

Chelsea from Texas
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 3:03:03 PM

While not true, I understand the passion of the below statement:

"$500 won't matter one iota to the Diabetes Foundation..."

Every single dollar, every penny helps diabetes research tremendously.

I love horses, rode and worked with Arabians for years. I've visited the Saddlebred Rescue site and it's a wonderful organization... God Bless those that help them financially.

But, my 7 yo daughter was diagnosed with Type I diabetes two months ago. Researches are so close to a cure... but in the world of medical research "close" could be 10 - 15 years down the road, if not more. I don't want my daughter to deal with this for one more day than absolutely necessary.

I'm not trying to tell anyone how to vote, just laying it out there for mine.

Shannon from Colorado
Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 2:02:31 PM

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