Haters

It has been quite a while since my last posting and I am so happy to be back!! 

I was temporarily knocked out of service due to haters.  Yes, I said haters!  The haters reared their ugly heads in waves of unwelcome and very distasteful messages and emails.  The commentary ranged from "You should be shot," to "You obviously don't care about horses or rescues!"  Such hatred can usually deter people from their original goals, but I am not just anyone.  I admit, I was knocked down for a moment, but I quickly realized that I could not allow such monstrous responses to halt my work.  My work... An amazing phrase.  My work was started to bring light to the good and bad of the horse rescue and rehabilitation world.  I fully intend to do that. 

So, for those of you that cannot find more productive things to do, please continue with your hateful messages.  It does not bother me anymore and I know that I can move past it.  The mediocrity of your mundane and uneducated bombardments is amusing and a poor attempt at an efficacious effect.  Bless your hearts!!!

RVR Horse Rescue Review (Pre-Visit)

 

          RVR Horse Rescue is located on a 48 acre property at:
                      12611 Hayes Clan Rd.  Riverview, FL. 33579
They can be contacted via email or by phone at 813-280-9299.  They are a Guidestar Exhange Gold Participant, a 2014 Top-Rated NonProfit, as well as the honor of being the first horse rescue announced in Dynamite Specialty Products Blog for their Year of the Horse Project!  All are very impressive achievements, and I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

          RVR can be found on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.  Go follow, subscribe, like, and keep updated with all of RVR's latest pictures, videos, news, and rescued animals!!

          RVR became a 501(c)(3) in 2013.  The following is their tax information for 2013:

Revenue

Contributions	>	$118,600
Program Services	>	$0
Membership Dues	>	$0
Special Events	>	$20,000
Like Kind, ( barn donation, medical stall, land survey	>	$109,000
Total Revenue		$247,600

Expenses

Program Services	>	$0
Administrative Costs	>	$0
Fundraising Costs	>	$10,196
Payments To Affiliates	>	$33,497
Total Expenses		$118,479

Assets & Liabilities

Total Assets	>	$125,000
Total Liabilities	>	$1,600
Net Assets or Fund Balance at the end of year		$10,000

As you can see, this rescue is financially sound and seems to be quite capable of providing for the animals they take in.  That is always a good thing when you are trying to determine which rescue to utilize.

          RVR does allow visitations, but they request that visitors make an appointment to come see them.  This can be done via email or by phone.  Please, respect their wishes and only visit if you have made an appointment.  Many rescues have this rule in place to protect the safety of not only the horses, but you as well!  We all need to do our part to make sure the people and horses at RVR, and all rescues, stay safe!

          This rescue currently has 9 rescues that are still being rehabbed and 16 that are currently available for adoption or have an adoption pending.  RVR seperates their animals into 3 categories; Rescues, Sound Horses, and Pasture Pals.  This is a very nice effort put forth by them to allow potential adopters know what they are getting into when they adopt from them.

          RVR also boasts two sponsorship programs.  The first is a Sponsor to Adopt program geared toward those wanting to adopt a horse that isn't fully ready to be adopted out yet.  This is a great way for the horse to be spoken for before it is ready to go and it's always nice to know that you have a forever home waiting for you after a traumatic experience.  The second is a Sponsor a Horse program which allows a donor to provide a monthly monetary donation in exchange for knowing they are helping one the rescues, as well as spending time with their sponsored equine.  Both options are awesome and provide a way for the community to take part in the rehabilitation and adoption of the animals that come in to RVR.

          RVR Horse Rescue, despite their best efforts, cannot always save the animals that come in to their facility.  The rescue has taken the time to add an "In Memory" page to their website.  It is quite sad, but it is the plight of a rescue to have to deal with some loss.  Their "In Memory" page can be found here.

          Back to the good stuff, RVR does need and accept volunteers.  I would need volunteers if I ran a 48 acre property as well!!  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Allison Lee via email by clicking here OR you can always give her a call at 813-280-9299.  Volunteer hours are 7 days per week from 8am-1pm and from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.  The rescue also hosts business and organization volunteer days, so if you are looking for something for your business or organization to help with, contact Allison and she will get you all the information you need!!!

          Speaking of providing help, RVR Horse Rescue has a small list of supplies that they could use at this point in time.  The list is as follows:

Barn Supplies

• Wheel barrels
• Brooms
• Water hoses, long and short

Lumber New and Used

• 2 x 4
• 4 x 4
• Plywood
• T 1-11
• Horse fence

If you are able to donate any of these items to them, please contact them via phone or email.  You can also be directed to their "Donate" page by clicking here.

          RVR has gone a level above and beyond by collecting information for C.L.E.A.R..  C.L.E.A.R. stands for Care, Learn, Educate, Act, Rescue.  C.L.E.A.R. is simply a list of contacts and other information that is helpful in saving horses in a poor situation.  This information includes a description and proper usage of the Henneke scale.  It also provides a list of contacts, should you happen to come across an animal in danger.  This information is extremely useful, especially if you are away from home in a different county and don't know what to do!

          I cannot wait to visit RVR in person, as I am thoroughly impressed with what I have found.  I don't see any reason why they should not be considered in your search for a great rescue to be associated with!  Keep up the good work RVR and I look forward to seeing your work in person very soon!!!!

Howey Horse Haven (Visited)

         

          Howey Horse Haven Rescue is a horse rescue located in Howey in the Hills, Florida.  They were contacted a couple of days ago by me, and have graciously responded with the information I requested.

          First, let me say CONGRATULATIONS to them for being awarded with one of the first Top-Rated Awards of 2014 through Great Non-Profits.  That is a huge achievement and I applaud them for it!

          Now, down to the nitty-gritty.  Howey Horse Haven Rescue aka HHHR is located at 22109 N Buckhill Rd Howey in the Hills, Florida 34737.  They are currently open to the public on Saturdays from 8am-2pm, unless it is posted differently on their page.  You can contact them via email or by phone at 352-223-8761.  They also boast a very active Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn with numerous updates and information about the day to day activities at HHHR.  

HHHR has an Adopt-A-Pet and are an approved shelter through them for 2014.  If you are looking for their current adoptions, however, I would recommend checking their website or their Facebook first.

          As far as facilities go, HHHR maintains their grounds very well.  They are always looking for ways to make the horses more at ease.  Add that in with the fundraising events that they hold for the rescue and I am willing to bet that they take great pride in their facilities and the way they are maintained.  

          If you are looking for somewhere to volunteer in Lake County, this is a solid option.  HHHR's volunteers work diligently to provide the proper love and care required to give their intakes a fair chance at a good life.  To volunteer, click here to inquire about their requirements and volunteer availabilities or email them by clicking here.

          Currently, HHHR has 6 horses/ponies available for adoption that I can find.  Smarty, a palomino gelding, is my favorite by far!  He came in to HHHR severely underweight and went through a long recovery process, but he has bounced back and is now the sweetheart of the rescue.  To review a copy of their adoption contract, please click here.

          At this point in time, I am waiting for the rescue's 990 (tax form) showing their monetary income, donations, and operating costs.  However, I am fairly certain that they are going to get this information to me as soon as possible.  In the meantime, if you would like to donate to HHHR, you can do so by clicking this.  Also, the following is a list of items that HHHR could really use:

Alfalfa Cubes 

Alfalfa Hay 

Beet Pulp Bran

Care and Compassion

Commitment

Donations 

Feed Buckets 

Fly Masks 

Fly Spray 

Halters 

Lead Ropes 

Love

Senior Feed 

Sponsors 

Supplements 

Volunteers 

Dewormers 

Wound Care

If you are able to donate any of these items, please contact HHHR via email or phone and let them know you would like to send them some supplies!  I'm sure the horses and the staff would appreciate any donations made!

          Overall, HHHR checks out to be a very attentive and helpful rescue.  They seem to have the horse's well being in mind in everything they do and they go the distance to ensure that the horses in their care do not go without.  If you have time to volunteer, are looking for a new member for your herd, or just want to plan a good Saturday outing, HHHR is one of the places you have to choose from!  

More Reviews Coming Soon!!

I have been contacted by several rescues offering as much info as they can or the links to get to it!  YAY!!  Seems, despite the efforts of some ill-willed persons, the rescue community is all for helping!  This warms my heart and reminds me that not everyone in the world is out to get you.  Thanks to those rescues offering to help me get my page going in the right direction.  It means a lot to me and I promise to be as unbiased and factual as possible (aside from an opinion here and there)!

Right of First Refusal, Don't Trust Anyone!

 Horse sellers, horse rescues, and those who give away horses are at risk of encountering a serious headache of a problem.  What is it?  The seller (or one who parted with the horse) expected a "right of first refusal" on the horse that would allow him the chance to own the horse in the future.  Instead, the buyer violated the agreement by wrongly giving away or selling the horse to someone else without first offering the former owner the chance to re-purchase the horse.  This turns into a back and forth of phone calls, arguments, and eventually can lead into a courtroom. 

This article discusses the right of first refusal clause within equine sales contracts.

 What is a Right of First Refusal?

A "right of first refusal" is a right that is granted under a contract that requires that the one who has bought or received the horse, under certain terms and conditions, give the seller an opportunity to own the horse again if or when the buyer wants to part with the horse.

Here is one example of how a right of first refusal clause can be worded:

Seller retains right of first refusal if, at any time in the life of the horse, the Buyer is unable or unwilling to keep the Horse.  If Buyer desires to sell the Horse, Buyer agrees to contact Seller and allow Seller the first opportunity to purchase the Horse.  Seller also retains right of first refusal to take the Horse back should Buyer wish to place the Horse in a new home, but does not wish any money back.

The example above is by no means appropriate for all situations.  In fact, right of first refusal clauses can be much more complex and detailed.  For example:

Some contracts impose time limits on how long the right of first refusal can be offered to the former seller.

Some contracts more clearly specify how much must be paid to re-purchase the horse and when payment must be made.

Some clauses provide that if the horse owner receives a good faith offer to buy the horse, and if the horse owner is inclined to accept that offer, the owner must first allow the former owner a chance to match or beat that offer within a limited period of time.  If so, the former owner can re-purchase the horse.

What if the Agreement is Not Honored?

What happens if a horse was sold subject to a contract with a right of first refusal, but the horse buyer failed years later to honor it and, instead, sold the horse without giving the former owner an opportunity to buy it back?  Surprisingly, the law generally allows few options.

As one option, the holder of the right of first refusal can sue for damages (money).  The claim would be based on the argument that the person who was wrongly deprived of the horse and, as a result, he or she has lost a sum of money.  Proving a claim of this type could be very difficult.

 Another option, if the problem is caught before the horse is sold to someone else, would allow the holder of the right to bring a lawsuit to halt that sale from taking place.  This would be a lawsuit seeking an injunction and/or temporary restraining order so that the one with a right of first refusal can exercise his or her rights.  This author has written about injunctions in past.

Avoiding Disputes

Right of first refusal clauses require careful drafting and attention by parties to the transaction.  For your protection, consult with a lawyer.




***This article does not constitute legal advice.  When questions arise based on specific situations, direct them to a knowledgeable attorney.***

Thoroughbred Retirement Of Tampa, Inc. Initial Review (Pre-Visit)

         Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa, Inc. commonly referred to as T.R.O.T. is an organization based in Tampa, Florida.  Upon contacting them, I was given, in my opinion, a basic and fairly short response.  They made it quite clear that they do not want to be labeled as a rescue AND that they were going to give out the least amount of information as possible.  So, I kept digging (with a little bit of help from our correspondence).  After all, how are we supposed to know the truth, or any semblance of it, if nobody does the research?

        TROT may say that they are not a rescue (they define themselves as "a breed-specific equine welfare organization,"), but according to the guidelines published by the University of California, Davis says rescues or rehabs "house and care for unwanted, abandoned, neglected, abused, or injured horses. Those that prepare and release sizable numbers of animals for adoption are defined as rescue or rehabilitation operations."  So, despite what they want to believe, based on the work they do, they are classified as a rescue or a rehab facility.  This isn't necessarily the worst classification to be in and I believe that they should be proud of the work they do.  They only take Thoroughbreds from the their racing connections during the live meet at Tampa Bay downs.  They are not currently taking Thoroughbreds from non-racing owners.

        Currently, TROT has 9 horses available for adoption.  The adoption paperwork can be found HERE and the list of available horses can be found HERE.  Their horses may be registered, but the actual registration stays with TROT while the adopter receives a copy.  Horses that are adopted out from TROT are given a 60-day trial period with a one year contract and a two year Right of First Refusal (Please see the post on Right of First Refusal).  Horses that are adopted from TROT  are also followed up with on a regular basis by the staff of TROT.  If you have any further questions for the people at TROT, please feel free to email them by clicking HERE.

        This organization is currently housing their horses with a boarding facility, so they did not divulge an address to visit.  In lieu of this information, they did let me know that in order to set up an appointment to come see the available horses I need to contact them, which is what I did (though I did not specifically request a visitation appointment).  So, Facebook or their website (hyperlinked in the first line of this review) would be a good start in contacting them.  If you are just not feeling up to all the clicking on the computer, you can revert to old school methods (my preference when speaking with someone) and call them at (352) 356-8768.

         If you are looking to assist TROT in caring for their horses, they do have a volunteer page, but the application page itself is currently not working.  Also, I do have their current wish list for their horses.  If you have anything you would like to send to them, please give them a call or visit their FB or website for more contact information.  It is always nice to let an organization know when you are sending supplies to ease the difficulty of their work.
Here is the list:

Shapley's Original M-T-G

Vetrolin Shampoo

Any type of anti-fungal shampoo

Mane & Tail Shampoo and Conditioner

Sore No-More® Cooling Clay Poultice

Sweat Scrapers

Iodine or Triodine-7™

Vet Wrap

Size 3 Baby Diapers

Fly Spray

Halt or any other waterproof fly/mosquito spray

Swat Ointment

Corona Ointment

Show Sheen Spray or Gel (or any type of mane and tail detangler)

Epsom Salt Poultice (Green Gel)

Leather Halters

Lead Ropes

Waterproof Turnout Sheets

Double-Ended Snaps

Large Black Salt Block Holders (we use these as ground feeders)

Bleach

Antibacterial Dish Washing Soap

Scrubbing Items for Buckets

         Overall, their information seems legitimate.  TROT also carries a large amount of sponsorships with companies like Tenney's Custom Saddlery and Stockyard Feed and Western Wear., they keep updates posted of their adopted and available horses, and they have a lot of legal safety nets in place for the safety of the horse.  Essentially, this organization looks like a good one!

FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) rendered the following information:
Thoroughbred Retirement Of Tampa, Inc., Tampa, FL
Also Soliciting as:  Trot

Registration Number :  CH17965

Expiration Date : 10/18/2015



Revenue Source:  DCS Statement of Support/Revenue (07/31/2014)

Total Revenue:  $54,397.08

Program Services Expenses:  $58,272.92   96%

Total Expenses:  $60,436.99

Administrative Expenses:  $2,164.07   4%


Surplus/Deficit:  -$6,039.91

Fundraising Expenses:  $.00   0%

Statement Of Purpose:
The funds will be used to care for the horses in the program. This includes board, feed and hay, supplements and other horse health products, farrier care, veterinary services and equine dental services.

Also, I obtained the company's IRS 990 for the past 3 years from HERE using their EIN (Employer Identification Number) 57-1194100


**All legal information was received through public domains and can be accessed by anyone seeking the information.  It is not my intention to harm, slander, or dismember any organizations.  Any photos used are not mine and I do not hold the rights to them.

Slow to Start

As with any process, the search for truth and honesty within the horse rescue world is not moving quite as quickly as it could be.  Many rescues are not responding and those that are either don't want to help, or they need more time to get information together.  I'm all for the correct information being gathered, so I will gladly wait for those that are trying.  As for the rest of the rescues, time to get on the ball!  Let's do what we can to make the rescue world a better place!

**By the way, if you have donated, visited, adopted from, volunteered for, or surrendered to a rescue, I would love your feedback!!!  Please contact me at k.warren32656@gmail.com