GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS
The publication of the “2009 Unwanted Horses Survey” by the Unwanted Horses Coalition energized Equamore to focus on the problems the survey revealed, one of which was the fact that 69% of existing rescue facilities, including Equamore’s, were near or at capacity given what was then current funding. The survey results also foretold a likely increase in the number of unwanted horses in 2011 and 2012. That sober reality motivated Equamore’s board of trustees and donors to prepare to meet predicted needs.
Abandoned horses dangerously close to traffic on an Oregon road.
To that end, we created the Buy-A-Bale program, thinking that if 1000 people pledged just $12 per month, we would have the $12,000 per month it took in 2009 to provide monthly care for 35 horses. In 2011, the monthly donations through the Buy-A-Bale program covered about 50% of our daily costs for horse care. Annual donations covered the rest.
That’s the good news. And now for the bad news that followed:
As predicted, the demand for horse rescue increased dramatically, and from the end of 2011 through March of 2014, our herd increased from 35 to 53 horses. At the same time the cost of horse care increased significantly. Even though our overall donations also increased significantly, the additional horses and cost increases mean that monthly donations still cover only about 50% of our basic costs, requiring even more commitment from annual donors already stretched to the limit. That’s where the Friends of Equamore enter the picture.
Did You Know?
*If half—just HALF—of subscribers to this newsletter gave $20 a month, we would cover our basic costs of providing sanctuary for our entire herd; and
*If more than half of our subscribers contributed or got a friend to contribute $20 a month, we could “fence in” more horses desperately awaiting sanctuary.
