|
Post by jodycat on Jul 5, 2008 22:56:31 GMT -5
I wasn't much help at the booth, but got to see Monicabee ride (and jump) in the arena, which was fun. Monica had on a very cool headress - or is it headdress - and Andy made all the jumps but the last one (he was a little nervous, I heard).
Oh, and I got to meet and love on Chief (a Nokota Mustang stallion I still remember from Horse Around Days last year), but didn't get to see him perform this morning. He is small to have such a big presence. (And there seemed to be quite a number of visitors at the table.)
|
|
|
Post by jaybird on Jul 5, 2008 23:27:31 GMT -5
our booth:
|
|
|
Post by monicabee on Jul 6, 2008 0:01:40 GMT -5
Andy knocked the rail down on the last jump - that was my fault of course. The main thing is he didn't pay much attention to the crowd.
After some mad barrel racing chick dashed through the practice area at full gallop with no warning, and we wove amongst people doing spins and roping and just everything else under the sun, the indoor arena was a bit of a relief to him.
Unfortunately I didn't have much time to look around and check out the other exhibits or breeds, but there was a good buzz at the event and lots of brochures went out into the world. Sometimes you don't know what impact it all has until later.
The SAFE booth looked great and was in a good spot for traffic.
Tomorrow the sun is supposed to shine!
|
|
|
Post by coconut on Jul 6, 2008 21:29:56 GMT -5
I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked to at the booth today as I got in town a little on the late side but I found it very interesting to talk with both the SAFE volunteers and the people who stopped by the booth.
My most interesting encounter came after we rolled up the lavender carpet, so to speak, and I was keeping an eye on the booth in front of us as requested while they had their demo. I was chatting with the Hoof Grid Guys when this couple came up to the empty safe table and looked distressed. Maybe it was the little hint of purple sticking out from under my sweatshirt or perhaps it was my inquisitive glance but they came over and asked me if I was with SAFE. When they found out I was there on behalf of SAFE they just poured out about 40 minutes worth of questions, pleas, rants and suggestions. It turns out they were looking for information on a black Mini-stud that they found wandering the streets in Pierce County (and I'm thinking...hey, that sounds allot like the mini that was found in Mukilteo....). They had been told that SAFE was in Snohomish County and wanted to know if we had any connectins to AC in Snohomish because they heard that same horse (long story) was found wandering the streets of Snohomish!!!!
I told him to go to the BB to find the press-release on the horse we knew about to see if it was possibly the same Mini. Anyway, they are interested in starting a rescue facility in the South Sound area which was kind of a recurring theme from many folks that I heard from the short time I sat at the booth. I do hope they find their way to the BB and will be able to learn as much as I have from ALL OF YOU!
I tossed around the idea of coming at such a late time wondering if it would do any good and I think I got my answer....every little bit helps! If I hadn't stuck around just a little bit longer, these folks would have been dissappointed. As it is, they are quite frustrated with the AC system in their area and need/want to learn how to go about making better working relationships with AC so they, too, can help horses out. I got the impression that while they know the system isn't perfect, they want to do SOMETHING...I think we all want to do SOMETHING...and that's why we come together as a community.
So...Jim and Carrie: If you make it to the Message Board, WELCOME and I hope you find the information and support you're seeking! To everyone who participated in Celebrate the Horse in any way, YOU DID A GOOD THING and the Horse Community is better for you having done so!
I hope SAFE gets the opportunity to participate in other events like this in the future!
on a little side note: I talked to a little girl at the booth who says she loves horses but doesn't have one. I told her that she can make a difference just by knowing about the rescued horses and telling other people about them.
We can all make a huge impact just by opening our mouths and talking about it. You never know who's life you'll touch and/or who they'll tell in-turn. Not everyone can take a horse into their life but everyone CAN touch the life of a horse in some way just by being educated about them.
|
|
|
Post by mswan on Jul 6, 2008 21:45:38 GMT -5
I wasn't able to make it to the event. I had planned on going today but woke up with a Migrain and spent the day in bed. I want to THANK YOU all for doing a great job! Education is an important part of preventing neglect. I would have loved to see Monica's ride too.
|
|
|
Post by jodycat on Jul 7, 2008 8:20:52 GMT -5
Sounds like you made a difference, Coconut, I'm glad you could spend some time there!
I feel that talking about horse rescue and SAFE are good methods of outreach, no matter where you are. Most "regular" folks have no idea that there are so many neglected horses, believe racehorses are all retired to good lives, and think horse slaughter no longer exists. And most animal lovers include horses in their affection, even if they weren't lucky enough to ever have had one or haven't had a horse in decades.
|
|
|
Post by mymercedes on Jul 7, 2008 10:36:35 GMT -5
It's also unbelievable how many HORSE people think those same thoughts. I was talking to a co-worker who was asking me about slaughter, and honestly thought all slaughter horses were shot in the head or euthanized. When I explained the process, she nearly cried. If people only knew...
|
|
|
Post by cat67 on Jul 7, 2008 12:56:29 GMT -5
People are CLUELESS about the truth about slaughter.
All you can do is keep talking about it!
I just heard meat is up to 36 cents a pound and that a whole bunch went to kill at Enumclaw yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by jaybird on Jul 7, 2008 13:28:33 GMT -5
We had a pretty decent showing at the Celebrate the Horse fair. We took in $70 in donations, gave away about 80 brochures and at least 100 magnets, handed out entry forms for the show, and talked to a lot of people about rescue.
I was surprised by the number of people who had heard about SAFE already, as well as the number of people who told us they visit our website on a regular basis. It was not uncommon for someone to walk up and say how much they loved Honeycutt, or how happy they were that Rhythm was recovered from his injury. It was pretty cool.
We met a woman and her daughter who told us about their Arab gelding, still going strong at the age of 30, teaching kids to ride. They'd had him since he was two, and we expressed our joy and appreciation for being such responsible horse owners. The little girl told us quite sincerely that even if you can't ride your horse, you can still keep it around and love it.
I want to thank Leah again for the signage she created for the booth. It is beautiful and I am sure we will get a lot of use out of it in the future. And thank you to Leah for spending long hours both Saturday and Sunday working the booth. Thanks also to the other excellent booth workers and ambassadors for SAFE who took time out of their weekends to be there: Met, Jet, Amy K, Allison, Jaime and Colby Taft. Thanks to Monica for stopping by with her bird and her husband. And thank you to all the people who took an interest in what we are doing, shared their own rescue stories, and gave us the precious encouragement we need to keep this going.
|
|
|
Post by cardicorgi on Jul 8, 2008 15:00:38 GMT -5
Thanks, all of you, for giving so much. I wish I could have been there too. It is great to hear that more people are learning about slaughter, and also the necessity for horse rescues.
I hope more responsible-type people will continue to form horse rescues - there sure is a need for more of them!
|
|
|
Post by jodycat on Jul 8, 2008 17:53:09 GMT -5
|
|