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| From the President's Stall |
You are here: Newsletters > December 2005 > From the President's Stall
by Debbie Frank
Another fantastic year has flown past. For the first time since we began our program in 1994, we got through the year with little left in the red, if only for a month! Thanks to so many of you, we finally cleared debts we owed to those who have helped us float by and continue to care for our rescues regardless of our bank account standings. However, just because we finally covered our cost didn’t mean the bills stopped coming. Our relief didn’t last long.
Part of ERRI’s unique mission as a rescue is to permanently retain ownership of our horses and take them back if ever their adoptive owners can no longer care for them. While situations like this haven’t occurred often in ERRI’s 11 years, we did have several horses returned this year for various problems including aging owners, personal illness, and financial downfall. Some of these horses, due to their own health issues and age will be very difficult to adopt again, and ERRI is preparing to cover their costs for the long haul if necessary – giving them the retirement they deserve. But taking them back has also taken us over our budgetary limits. And while we had no choice but to accept them back, we do have a choice about generating the income necessary to provide for them and keep our rescue running. We must bring in more funds! Additional funds would not only help ERRI cover the 14 horses currently under our care, but could allow us to rescue even more horses above and beyond that. Please let us know if you have any ideas about how ERRI can raise more money for our wonderful rescue horses!
We all hope things will slow down a little over the winter. While our efforts are always tireless, we do cherish the peace of the season and the rebirth found in a fresh blanket of snow. We hope our waiting list will vanish, and that the horses requiring our services will dwindle due to more informed, better-prepared owners and better care.
ERRI encourages everyone to come to the annual Horse World Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium from January 19-22. ERRI will have a booth in the Cow Palace once again this year to help spread awareness about horse abuse, neglect and horsemanship education. We always look forward to meeting new friends! The Expo is a wonderful place to learn about horses or to add to knowledge you already have. For those interested in horse ownership, there are many lectures and speakers who can help you decide if the responsibility of owning a horse is for you. You can also learn about training, trailers, feeding, and tack among many other topics.
As I close, I want to thank everyone who has been, and continues to be, a part of our rescue endeavor and wish you all a joyous holiday season and a blessed New Year filled with family, love, and, of course, horses!
Blessings to All,
Debbie