START A RESCUE

Except for the subject of adoption, the questions the ERL receives most often are those concerned with starting a new equine rescue group. We have compiled a list of some resources available online for you to research before diving in.

There are several online resources available to start collecting information on running a rescue organization. Please, please take the time to do your homework and lots of research before diving into a full-blown rescue shelter. Its not just a "job" but a whole new life-style. The horses must be cared for every single day, and if you cannot be there, you must have someone to fill in. Rescued horses often need more care than healthy horses, sometimes needing to be fed as many as four times a day.

Please check out the following web site that is specifically dedicated to equine rescue: Equine Rescue Network (http://equinenet.org/ernet/er.html#toc) It is a lot of reading, but it is very important, so please take your time and read as much as possible.

If you are considering making your organization a tax-exempt, non-profit, take a look at this link: IRS Information for Tax-Exempt Organizations (http://www.irs.gov/bus_info/eo/index.html)

For another resource, see our list of links to other rescue organizations which is off our links page. This is a list of dozens on rescue groups on-line. Look at all the sites. Many groups have some of the same philosophies, but different methods of executing those beliefs. Some have very different adoption policies and procedures than others. Some of that depends on the area you are in and what works best there. You can look over everybody else's procedures and piece together what you think will work for you. You'll probably have to change some things as your organization evolves, but at least you'll have a starting point.

The biggest single piece of advice would be to start small and build slowly. Unfortunately, some people get in over their heads too quickly, then can't care for the number of horses they've taken in and have to "disperse the herd" in less than ideal circumstances.

There is a tremendous need for more equine rescuers, but please, please, please make sure you've done your homework.

And remember that no rescue is too small. If you can only handle two horses at a time, you are making a tremendous difference to those two horses!

The Starfish

Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach
before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore.
As he looked down the beach, he saw
a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think of someone
who would dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a
young man and the young man wasn't dancing,
but instead he was reaching down to the shore,
picking up something and very gently
throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,
"Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you
throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea, past the
breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference to that one."

There is something very special in each and every one of us.
We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference.
And if we can become aware of that gift,
we gain through the strength of our visions
the power to shape the future.

We must each find our starfish.
And if we throw our stars wisely and well,
the world will be blessed.

attributed to Loren Eisley