Hopefully your horse situation is a positive one where your animal has plenty of food, shelter, basic care and love. But not all horses have what they need. In fact, some horses are abused, abandoned and neglected. Those sad circumstances can leave the rest of us feeling powerless as we watch or hear about troubling circumstances. We may even want to do something, but it’s easy to think there’s not much we can do.
The reality is, there are things you can do to help horses in need. In fact, you might be surprised at the actions you can take to help turn a very sad situation into an upbeat one. SaddleBox is proud to support horse rescue facilities every year with free boxes, monetary donations or promotional support. Here are some things you can do personally to help horses in need!
Donate/sponsor
Monetary donations are one of the fastest, most conventional ways to assist. There are numerous charitable organizations like the Equine Assistance Project and Save the Horses, just to name a few, whose missions are to rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for neglected horses. Of course, donations don’t necessarily have to involve money. You can very easily donate your time and services if an organization is near you.
Sponsoring a horse is another way to help. Here your donation is directed toward a specific horse, and it’s not necessarily a one-time thing. The dollars usually provide regular monthly help in the form of feed, board and necessary care. Sponsorships can make fun gifts for birthdays and holidays.
Fundraising
If you’re in a riding group or 4-H, you may want to consider a fundraising event. The benefit here is that you’re not only raising money, but you’re bringing other like-minded friends into the fold, and raising awareness among the general public. You could consider doing bake sales or car washes, and even involve your horses on the day of the event to give it extra attention and publicity, depending on the location.
Volunteer
If you live near a horse shelter, there’s a good chance it can use a helping hand. Whether your talents lie in horse handling and care, ranch chores and repairs, or even internal office work, you can make a major impact through small, daily work. Using your gifts can have double the impact, especially if you help them navigate through fundraising or event coordination. If you’re computer savvy, think of the work you could do assisting with website development or social media.
Advocate
Speaking of social media, advocating for horses is another solid way to help. Not only can you operate all the social media channels, you can also reach out to media, legislature and other viable groups who influence and are in positions to make a difference in horse care.
Adopt/foster
Adoption is a rewarding way to take in another horse and offer it the same care and love you already know how to give. Not only will adopting give the horse a true home, it also frees a stall for the rescue so they can take on another. You’ll typically find a nice variety of breeds, sizes and ages for adoption, not to mention ones that are rideable in all disciplines, and non-rideable ones, too. Fostering a horse allows you to take on another temporarily until the rescue can find a more permanent fit.
Report
If you think you see a situation of abuse or neglect, it’s best to report the case so that someone qualified can check it out. Sometimes situations aren’t what they seem, so tread lightly. Remind yourself to do what’s in the best interest of horses since they need advocates to speak for them.
