DISCLAIMER: Not meant to be legal or medical advice. Please seek the advice of a professional if necessary. EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics June 15, 1998 to June , 1998 Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 10:32:50 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Okay - let's DO it! A rehash: -- Here's what I thought - we can start off on Monday (6/15) with a general discussion in what's involved in starting a rescue. From that, we can get some ideas about areas that need to have more coverage (becoming non-profits, budgets, etc would probably spin off from that & we've already noted a lot of areas already) and schedule them as classes. I anticipate each class taking approximately one week or so - subject to adjustment if the discussion dies out or if it takes longer than anticipated - we can be pretty flexible here and always can return to discuss stuff later if more comes up. For the first class/session, starting Monday, 6/15 - a basic discussion of what's involved in starting a rescue. What questions do you have to ask yourself? What kind of personality does it take? Money? Where do you go for advice? Do you have the proper facilities? How many horses? Formal (corporation, etc) or informal (rescue one or two horses on your own $$)? We'll go into *details* on money (fundraising, grants, incorporating, etc) later, but I thought that as a start, it might be a good idea to take a look at the very fundamentals of rescue - perhaps some of you can start brainstorming on some of the questions that you asked yourself and why you did or did NOT get into doing rescue. Be sure that your subject line starts with the word CLASS so that folks can distinguish it from the other subjects that we discuss. I'll call this first week's Class: Bare Basics (I was gonna call it just Basics, but Bare has such a nice ring to it and we are just cutting down to the essentials here before we go into more depth.). Remember, I'll make a valiant attempt to save the notes and put them up in text file version on the Equine Rescue Mailing List Home Page for later reference. Please - remember to EDIT. Try not to quote entire posts - you can summarize or just quote the relevant bits. This will probably get pretty busy, so let's try to conserve bandwidth and make it easy on others reading, responding and downloading. Also - this is NOT limited to the "pros" - everyone is welcome to chip in with his/her two cents and to ask questions, make comments, etc - just remember the basic rules of the list and we'll have a great time. Thanks! I think this will be fun and educational for ALL of us! --- So, just to kick it off. Let's say that you are interested in starting a rescue. What questions do you have to ask yourself? What kind of personality does it take? Money? Where do you go for advice? Do you have the proper facilities? How many horses? Formal (corporation, etc) or informal (rescue one or two horses on your own $$)? How about family? Do you need their support as well? Has that been a problem for anyone? Did I miss any other basic questions? -- GO! Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ----- Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 13:09:20 -0500 From: kaecey Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics > > Did I miss any other basic questions? > Yes, one of the most basic and the reason so many people get into trouble HORSE KNOWLEDGE/SENSE do you have it and if so how much. ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 14:41:57 -0400 From: Mike & Chris Smith Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Pat Calloway wrote: > What questions do you have to ask yourself? > What kind of personality does it take? > Money? > Where do you go for advice? > How about family? Do you need their support as well? Can I recommend a short article at the "PIGS:a Sanctuary" site? Its a pot-bellied big rescue group; the article is called "Thinking About Starting a Shelter or Rescue?" The basic thoughts behind the article would apply to any animal, I think. (This article comes from a group that had to take in several dozen animals when someone else just walked away from a rescue they could no longer handle. Eek!) Please go to: http://www.pigs.org/info_guid.html Chris -- Equine Rescue League, Inc Leesburg, VA http://equinenet.org/erl/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 15:01:17 +0000 From: Fairwind Organization: Ohio Hooved Animal Humane Society Subject: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics What questions do you have to ask yourself? 1. How much time can you dedicate to the rescue. 2. Can you support the rescue or does the rescue have to support you, or does the rescue have to support itself? 3. Do you have, or have access, to the skills necessary to promote, manage, hands on run and build the rescue? 4. Do you know your laws? http://www.law.utexas.edu:80/dawson/cruelty/cruelty.htm for state laws on animal cruelty. What kind of personality does it take? You have to have "people skills" although we are here to help horses, you have to deal with people to get the job done, unless you are independently wealthy.... You also have to have the intestinal fortitude to "ASK, ASK, ASK" for help, donations, information, for volunteers, for foster setups in the early stages. You need to be able to set goals, long and short term, and stick to them. Doesn't mean you can't add some, just don't let things get in the way of working on the primary goals. Money? Not to disillusion folks, but yes it is about $. I had a lady tell me " I hope you aren't one of those who's after the money?" Well folks if you don't get money coming in, YOU can't feed em, vet em, or even transport em. MAKE SURE everyone you bring in in the initial stages has the same views you have as to what the priorities are, paychecks for the employees can't be! Where do you go for advice? Call you local version of the better business bureau, they should have a local chapter to help people start their own business. Someone in that organization should be able to help you with the setting up and running of a not for profit, then Non-profit in your state. http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/bus_info/eo/ is the IRS link for Non-profit info. Check with your local animal control , dog and cat humane society, county extension agents and other forms of "environmental or animal" agencies in your area, they can often point you in the right direction! Do you have the proper facilities? http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/2887/foster_LIF.htm Is OHAHS form for inspecting foster homes. As a start up, you will basically BE the foster home! Try to develop a foster network to help ease the burden on your Rescue until you can generate the funds for it to build it's own facility. How many horses? Can't answer this one, have never had the heart to turn one down, have had up to 24 arrive at once, talk about a scramble! Formal (corporation, etc.) or informal (rescue one or two horses on your own $$)? Better to get some "hands on " experience as a small operation and build, I rescued on my own for many years before beginning to work with other shelters and large animal rescues, then became the president of OHAHS. BUT the non-profit status does allow us access to grants, donations, etc. that the personal rescue is denied. Just make sure you can afford to do it on you own! The point is to be able to improve the animals situation, not pull yourself down to where you can't help them or yourself or others! How about family? Do you need their support as well? Has that been a problem for anyone? Family support would be great, I haven't had any, all my family is out of state. So you CAN do it on your own, or at least without family support. Did I miss any other basic questions? I think you need a: this I have, this I can get and this I can do with out and this I need attitude. Make a list, if the don't haves and can't gets are too long, volunteer instead. Horses rescue is a long and arduous process, we need as many people involved as possible, but make sure where your niche is! -- Beverly Whittington President OHAHS URL http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/2887 You can respond to this e-mail online. If you have ICQ my ICQ# is 6077317 If you don't have ICQ you can page me through: * My Personal Communication Center: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/6077317 (go there and try it!) ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 15:11:58 -0400 From: Cris May To: equinerescue@MyList.net Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Disposition: inline Sender: owner-equinerescue@MyList.net Reply-To: equinerescue@MyList.net, Cris May Yes, that one is more important than any other. Loving animals and wanting to help them isn't enough. If you don't have the knowledge and/or organization to properly aid animals in need, they may end up just as bad or worse than they were in the first place, and good intentions don't count when there are lives in the balance. While it is impossible to foresee every direction you may want your rescue to take you really need to think through and put down on paper a good outline of what your goals are for your organization. Doing this should guide you and whatever professionals you may employ to set up your organization as to what type of organizational structure will work best. ~Cris May ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 12:33:01 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics At 03:01 PM 6/15/98 +0000, Fairwind wrote: >How about family? Do you need their support as well? Has that been a >problem for anyone? > >Family support would be great, I haven't had any, all my family is out >of state. So you CAN do it on your own, or at least without family >support. > A point on this - I've seen/heard of relationships (marriage, etc) ending because one party could not deal with the other party's rescue. If your spouse/partner is NOT supportive of your rescue efforts - and by supportive, I'd say that s/he supports you at least emotionally, if not physically & financially, then either the relationship or rescue is doomed. With those who have children - I'd say that the question would be - do you have the *time* to both parent and deal with rescue operations? Remember, there's only 24 hours in a day - some folks are good at managing time effectively and some are not - and even if you are, there's still only 24 hours. Are your kids to be *trusted* with animals (there's a situation on the Dog Rescue List now where the kid is starting some "minor" abuse of the family dogs)? How about the kids' knowledge of animals? Would you expect them to help out - can they do it? Do you have a good support network in place to have someone watch the kid if you're in the barn with a sick horse? --- Also, how's your health? Can you physically take care of the horses? If not, can you afford to hire help or will friends/family members do it if you cannot? Good friends who are just a phone call away can be wonderful. Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 17:57:14 -0400 From: Cindy Smith Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Do most rescues operate out of their homes or do they have separate facilities? Which methods are better and why? What would you think would be the minimum facilities to start a small scale rescue? Cindy -- Cindy Smith ICQ# 2668845 Kantu Cavaliers http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1725 ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 20:14:00 +0000 From: Fairwind Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Cindy Smith wrote: > Do most rescues operate out of their homes or do they have separate > facilities? Which methods are better and why? Can't answer the "most" but OHAHS operates out of a volunteer network, scattered throughout the state of Ohio. The ability to have your own facility for a 501 (c) 3 rescue would be best, donated materials, time and $ are easier to come by when they are installed on a facility OWNED by the rescue, deeded in the rescue's name.Almost ANY lumber company can be approached successfully to donate lumber and supplies to build run in sheds, barns, offices etc. with the facility being owned by the Non-profit. The write off they receive makes the "giving" easier! A plaque that states "this facility built through the generosity of John Doe's Lumber company, Susies Florist, etc.. helps make the proposal easier to swallow by the company who wants a return on every dollar they spend. A "return" of public exposure for their good deed can be used to help make them more generous! > What would you think would be the minimum facilities to start a small scale > rescue? A two stall barn with a paddock. Rescue one or two at a time! Beverly Whittington President OHAHS URL http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/2887 ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 23:31:00 EDT From: ABEBCB@aol.com To: equinerescue@MyList.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics In a message dated 6/15/98 12:40:01 PM Central Daylight Time, epona@concentric.net writes: What kind of personality does it take? loving caring hard worker, never give up attitude Money? yes, lots, even the 2 ponies I bought for $200 have cost $70 in the first 2 days, and stil havent even talked to the vet.. and I had most of the feed/supplies allready here! Where do you go for advice? YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!LOL vets, knowledgeable horse people. Do you have the proper facilities? make sure you have enough room /shelter for thenumber of horses .Fences, (the little mini stud has broken through 2 fences twice allready! ... I cant imagine if he had been a full sized horse!) How many horses? NO MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE!!!!!! I *am* at my limit now...If they were healthy and required training etc.... whew! I would have no time at all. I have to work/groom feed a horse for teh man I board my horse at in exchange for free board. I have my unrideable lawn ornament(Blue) she requires just ffeeding grooming. And my mare LAdy who needs working training riding, feeding bathing I could go on and on with teh dutiesinvolved. MUCKING STALLS!!!!! Oh Lord! Formal (corporation, etc) or informal (rescue one or two horses on your own $$)? I would prefer to do it privately to take what I want ot take (for example I dont have people sendig me horses, leaving them in my pasture. If I have the time money I can look up a rescue at an auction etc... Because I cant say no! How about family? Do you need their support as well? Has that been a problem for anyone? >> This is my major problem here. I have to say whoever stated the relationship is doomed or the rescue is doomed if the partner is not supportive, was totally right! I am having a hard time with my husbadn over this. I try to tell him this has been my goal in life & I can achieve it now, and I have had this dream ever since I can remember. I can afford to pay someone to feed and care for them if I have to leave or cannot etc... I could go on and on on this issue, but it is too emotional for me as I have been hashing through this one ALL WEEKEND! There are alot of things to consider, but I cant imagine "turning your head and letting them go" as has been suggested by my SO .... Christina in AL ------------------------------------------------------------ From: "Bill Adams" To: , "Fairwind" Subject: RE: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 06:49:08 -0400 > Cindy Smith wrote: > > > Do most rescues operate out of their homes or do they have separate > > facilities? Which methods are better and why? > > Can't answer the "most" but OHAHS operates out of a volunteer network, > scattered throughout the state of Ohio. The ability to have your > own facility > for a 501 (c) 3 rescue would be best, donated materials, time and > $ are easier > to come by when they are installed on a facility OWNED by the > rescue, deeded > in the rescue's name. I agree with Beverly that a facility owned in the rescue's name would be the ideal way to go. Unfortunately, that is not an option for me at this time. I would have to wait 20 years until I can afford to buy property of my own that is suitable for horses or I can start now and board my horses at a nearby facility. I chose to do the latter so that I can start making a difference now. This can also be problematic, though, if you have horses that need to be quarantined due to possible infectious disease. For that reason, it is advisable to have a list of people in your area that have land that is not in utilization for keeping other horses or livestock and will let you use their facility for quarantined animals, or at least until you can ascertain for sure whether or not they do have any type of infectious disease. Not everyone will want you bringing possibly diseased animals onto their property whether or not they already have animals on it, but don't give up; if you are diligent you will find someone. It is also possible that you may find a farmer who doesn't have any use for a certain field and will let you use it indefinitely for free or for very low rent. Be brave! Just drive right up and ask people for what you want; you'll be surprised how often they will comply. Elizabeth Adams Lexington KY ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 11:45:32 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics At 10:32 AM 6/15/98 -0700, Pat Calloway wrote: >etc) later, but I thought that as a start, it might be a good idea >to take a look at the very fundamentals of rescue - perhaps some of >you can start brainstorming on some of the questions that you asked >yourself and why you did or did NOT get into doing rescue. Did any of you opt to NOT get into rescue or have to stop doing it and why? If it's very personal and you don't want it to go to the list under your own name, post me privately at epona@concentric.net and tell me that you want the information to be confidential and I'll post at my discretion. Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 11:48:53 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics At 03:01 PM 6/15/98 +0000, Fairwind wrote: > >Better to get some "hands on " experience as a small operation and >build, I rescued on my own for many years before beginning to work with >other shelters and large animal rescues, then became the president of >OHAHS. BUT the non-profit status does allow us access to grants, >donations, etc. that the personal rescue is denied. Just make sure you >can afford to do it on you own! The point is to be able to improve the >animals situation, not pull yourself down to where you can't help them >or yourself or others! Also, a thought here based on Beverly's response and a few responses about having horse sense and knowledge... If you don't have much experience/knowledge, you can always volunteer to help out existing rescues - I would guess that they would be appreciative of someone who honestly wants to help and can put in *time* whether it's cleaning stalls, helping with bookkeeping, posting fliers, manning an information booth, you name it. How did some of you that are running a "formal" rescue get your start? Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ From: Ohrevlon@aol.com To: equinerescue@MyList.net, epona@concentric.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics In a message dated 98-06-16 14:47:20 EDT, you write: << How did some of you that are running a "formal" rescue get your start? ER got started because our county did not have any organized group that would take in horses. There are alot of grass roots type of orgs here, but, all have to be choosy since they have limited funding. I started the Rescue, with an enormous amount of support from my husband - golfer turned mucker. We had a case about 5 years ago involving a collector and 20 draft horses - being fed old bread. Being a true NYer, and terrified of the possiblities of lawsuits - we didn't take in any horses until we had the Corp. in place and 501 status granted. We are only 2 years old - in July. We have taken in 14; placed 6 in new homes; 1 died and 7 are currently at the farm. It has amazed me in the past 2 years how many people will give us money because they don't want to do what we do (don't misconstue - still money is *very* tight). Everyone agrees that 'something must be done' yet so few are willing/capable of actually doing. Mike and I have learned that we are 'special'. It's funny - we knew we were special - we just didn't realize that was a good thing We have gotten the most of our horses through the area veterinarians referring; one came through a cruelty call and one - the guy got tired of. If you are thinking about starting something - let me assure you - you will work you butt off. This is not easy - this is not fun - this is serious stuff (whether the temp is -25 or 125 those animals need you - no rest for the weary). I have over 30 years of horse experience - from 'A' circuit showing hunters and jumpers to vet tech work and back, and I can profoundly state that I have never worked so hard. These animals NEED, constantly, love, nurturing, feed, hay, shoes, shots, wormer, salt, halters....(you get the idea) And we are small. If you can not profide these things - volunteer somewhere until you can. Like Beverly said - (paraphrasing here) don't jeopardize the animals or yourself. After sounding so negative you may wonder why I do this??? All of my life since I was 5 and introduced to horses - no matter what task I asked - they stood humbly beside me always trying their hardest to make me happy. When something that size is so humble - after so many years - seeing it over and over again, my own humility began to kick in. And although I am exhausted at the end of each day - I wouldn't change anything for anything. Stepping down..... Lynda ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 16:46:56 -0400 From: Cris May To: equinerescue@MyList.net Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics The folks who began Days End started by rescuing a horse who had been abandoned at the same facility at which they boarded. No one believed the horse would survive, but he did, and after his recovery they realized there must be other horses in need out there. I believe the operation snowballed from there - that was 8 years ago. On a separate issue, I'll be gone for a week starting now. Hope to see some of you at Equitana - stop by the Days End booth! Cris May Days End Farm Horse Rescue ------------------------------------------------------------ From: Imajiner@aol.com Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 12:21:59 EDT To: equinerescue@MyList.net, epona@concentric.net Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics How Did I get my "call" and "experience" Well, I was exposed to equines from a very young age, and had a lucrative business as a young teen landscaping for a man, and cleaning his stalls and caring for his horses was part of my job ( at 14 yrs old) Riding these TWH's was just a perk. Several years later (1986) A dear friend bought an Arab breeding establishment. Since we were 7 hours apart Loon Lake WA to Portland OR) I went up there by bus every other week to donate my weekends and some of the weekdays I was not working. 1994, I donated my time to Lorerli Arabians as a handler, groomer, and Equine massage tech. None of this time was payed time...merely a sandwich and several cups of coffee....But I left there with a huge amount of experience. Lori took in rescue horses, and half wild horses....and Boy was I in need of a teaching trainer On my own, in 1991, I rescued the stud from Eastern WA. He did not start out a rescue, but shipped in at 750 lbs at 16.2.....I was not ready for this, But both of us survived. ( especially after he was gelded! ) The rest is history....I began saving what horses I felt needed the most work. ( loss of weight,scared,and destitute ,,,,,and FREE) And began finding Foster homes as well as screening potential buyers for "forever homes". At this point, I feel a 501.C 3 Is more than a necessity! I do not own land, except my house in the city......and pastures for rent are becoming scarce! and neglected horses.....VERY common. This is how NeedFull Beings got started. Donna From: Pat Calloway Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics At 12:21 PM 6/17/98 EDT, Imajiner@aol.com wrote: >How Did I get my "call" and "experience" > >Well, I was exposed to equines from a very young age, and had a lucrative >business >as a young teen landscaping for a man, and cleaning his stalls and caring for >his horses was part of my job ( at 14 yrs old) Riding these TWH's was just a >perk. And you got PAID on top of being able to ride the horses, Donna? ;-> Anyone else want to add how they got into rescue or decided not to get into it? Seems like this particular class is sputtering along now, but I hesitate to close it down too soon, since I know a few folks only read their mail on the weekends. Any other questions that you should ask yourself before going into rescue that haven't already been covered? I've been saving the notes and even have most of 'em edited to this point and will try to put a little outline out of what was discussed and the highlights/important points that we've hit on it. What would you guys like to cover next and who would like to lead it? I figure the next class can start on Monday, June 22nd and go for at least a week. Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ From: "Jill Starr" To: , "Pat Calloway" Subject: Re: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics > > How did some of you that are running a "formal" rescue get your start? > I started Lifesavers on a whim. Admittedly not very well thought out, but that seems to be my M.O. in all of my life. My SO and I (now ex) were always rescuing something or other on our own anyway. A light bulb went on in my head one day and I decided that we had 16 acres and weren't doing anything with it. Bingo - "Animal Rescue". We started our rescue efforts open to various animals, whomever was in need, but quickly got inundated with dogs and could not find homes for any of them. So we re-grouped and decided to narrow our field to horses. This is where our expertise lies. Soon after making that change we decided to narrow our field even further and become breed specific for Mustangs. Several reasons for that, but mainly because we knew we couldn't take on the entire horse population and was much too difficult to try to choose which we could help and which we couldn't. We had an intense fondness for the wild ones, and I realized that they were the low horse on the totem pole and really needed someone to focus on their welfare. So we evolved to Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue. It is amazingly difficult to maintain. Even with a small herd of 7 at a time. Now that I'm single and doing this basically solo, it's even harder. It has become a full time committment. If you're not actually doing hands on work like cleaning stalls, feeding, meeting with vets, meeting with adopters, or repairing fencing, then you're writing newsletters, or writing programs that will generate contributions, or begging for donations from everywhere. And when your day is through, when you lay your head on your pillow, you are planning the next day. You may or may not escape in your dreams. My tv time is usually spent folding brochures and stuffing and stamping envelopes for my 10,000 name mailing list. A constant duty. Volunteers are hard (at least out here in the boonies) to find that are willing to do what is needed on a consistent basis. Be prepared to do most of the work yourself, at least until you can build a solid base of volunteers who truly believe in what you're doing and are willing to pitch in. I have found that the single most important aspect of rescue is raising money. Your hands are virtually tied with out funds, and they're not as easy to get as you might think. Sure don't mean to sound like a whiner, but it is hard, hard, hard work. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Now, some of you might be getting cold feet after hearing how tough this job really is...let me just say that the job is well rewarded. Of course, we won't be able to save them all, and you will shed many tears of frustration when you have to walk away from a horse that you don't have room for, or that you can't afford to pay for (we have to purchase most of our rescuees from the auction to keep the killer buyers from getting them), but if you can manage to save one, then you are making a differance and you will feel it in your heart everytime you look at that one horse that is alive and well because you went out of your way to save it when no one else would. Please read "So You Want To Rescue Horses...?" at http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/starrsad/soyouwa.htm Jill Starr Lifesavers, Inc. http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/starrsad/index.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics Summary This will summarize most of the main points made in the Bare Basics Class that ran from June 15-21 on the Equine Rescue Mailing List. The focus on the class was what questions should you ask yourself before getting into doing rescue. There are many more details shared in the notes that were posted to the list that flesh out these questions, but the answers varied on some of them. Well worth the read. I'll try to get the Bare Basics FAQ up in the next week or so on the Equine Rescue Mailing List Home Page. url is in my signature. ***If you have anything that you'd like to add to any of these, please do it TODAY (Sunday, 6/22) before Midnight EDT, since that's when Beverly will start the new class session. *** Main Questions to Ask Yourself Do you have enough knowledge of horsemanship AND horse sense? What kind of personality does it take? Money? Where do you go for advice? Do you have the proper facilities? How many horses? Formal (corporation, etc) or informal (rescue one or two horses on your own $$)? How much time can you dedicate to the rescue. Can you support the rescue or does the rescue have to support you, or does the rescue have to support itself? Do you have, or have access, to the skills necessary to promote, manage, hands on run and build the rescue? Do you know your local (state, city, county) laws? Is your family/significant other behind your efforts and will they at least supply emotional support to you? Is your health up to it? Any current or foreseeable serious health problems in your family that you would be responsible for in the future? Folks also shared anecdotes on how they got started in rescue. Volunteering and hands on horsework are the best ways to get into it and gain the skills that you will need. --- Some links to good information to read about the topic: "So You Want To Rescue Horses...?" at http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/starrsad/soyouwa.htm and http://www.pigs.org/info_guid.html ---- Thanks to all that participated in this class. The next class will start 6/22 and is a class on ADOPTORS - how to screen, paperwork, forms and applications involved. Beverly Whittington will be moderating/leading this class and will start up the discussion sometime after Midnight ET on Monday, June 22nd. Hopefully it'll help folks who are planning to adopt to get an idea of what is involved in the process as well. We're postponing the class on Incorporation/Non-profits for 1-2 weeks since we have a chance that an attorney who majored in this who may be able to lead the class. --- Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm ------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 21:12:42 -0700 To: equinerescue@MyList.net From: Pat Calloway Subject: EQ-ResQ: CLASS: Bare Basics - CLOSED! Okay, the Bare Basics Class is now closed. Beverly will be leading a class in Adoption Procedures starting today, Monday, 6/22 and running until Sunday, 6/28. Just a few points - we did real good with the Bare Basics Class, but in the event that folks may have joined us after that, here are a few things to make stuff easier on us all and a few reminders for everybody: **Remember, I'll make a valiant attempt to save the notes and put them up in text file version on the Equine Rescue Mailing List Home Page for later reference. (An FAQ type file.) **Please - remember to EDIT. Try not to quote entire posts - you can summarize or just quote the relevant bits. This will probably get pretty busy, so let's try to conserve bandwidth and make it easy on others reading, responding and downloading. **Also - this is NOT limited to the "pros" - everyone is welcome to chip in with his/her two cents and to ask questions, make comments, etc - just remember the basic rules of the list and we'll have a great time. Thanks! Hope to see lots of you participating on this one! Take it away, Beverly!!! :-> Pat Calloway, Equine Rescue Listowner epona@concentric.net http://pages.prodigy.com/equinerescue/home.htm