Today was one of the coldest days in the New Year.  We have received a huge donation of blankets from Wendy Artz.  I have started washing them, numbering them, and mending.  It will be a big job but so well worth it.  I wonder what it is that makes people give so much while others give nothing.  The only way the equine world can exist is by a certain segment of horse people giving more and more.  The numerous rescues show just how sad the state of affairs have become for our equine partners.  The huge battle over slaughter vs rescue rages on and on.  The wild horse and burros are now being herded up and sold for slaughter.  The very heritage of our modern horse will soon pass into oblivion.  And for what reason?  Greed of man.  This is the only way I can explain it.  We are a society of people no longer concerned with the existence of nature.  We are tuned in, connected to, and logged on to technology for the better part of the day.  An animal in trouble is just not on our agendas.  That is except for those of us who get up everyday, feed and water our horses, brush and care for them.  We give them proper vet care, vaccinations, the right diets, and we do our best to MAKE A CONNECTION with our horses.  Those of us who work to make life better for the horse have seen the depths of despair and the joy of seeing a horse recover simply because they had a warm blanket on their backs.  I think the "tuned in society" must surely be lacking in compassion.  You do not love an I Pad the way you love a horse.  If people would get out, enjoy life on the back of a horse, the world would be a better place for both equines and their companions. 
My own horses are in the barn tonight. The thirty below zero wind chills make it difficult for horses in training to be without a blanket even in the barn.  So we layer and we watch our lighting so they don't shed early, and we try to feed more hay in the middle of the night.  This is what we do because this glorious species has meaning and tremendous value to us.  There is NOTHING like the love of a horse.  So...keep warm out there and try to disconnect earlier and ride your horse ins

Today we hit 40 below zero windchill.  Actual temp was 20 below.  My horses were stressed even though they wear blankets in this cold weather.  I kept thinking about a horse who lives near here who has no extra fat on him.  He's just a young boy and already knows how cruel life and the weather can be.  He needs a blanket but there is no way the person owning him would be safe to approach.  I think about him often and all the others cold tonight. 
We raised some money today to buy some blankets at a tack store that is going out of business.  I'd hoped to raise a bit more but with times so hard, I'm blessed people donated at all.  I think we will have a time with fund-raising but I am up for the challenge.  In our Blankets I group we had a good time today. A lot of joking and that was good.  Sometimes this business of saving horses can be so sad that a person can lose their way without some laughter.
This cold weather has made me realize how much we need to concentrate on getting coolers and blanket liners donated.  We have some waterproof sheets that are a bit warm, with a cooler under them, it would be nicely warm.  So this summer I will make coolers and beg people to donate them.
It is not easy to ask people for money or even blankets but it is what I must do.  I can do this because I can't bear to think of all the horses suffering out there.  If we can save some, well that is good enough for now.  My barn is full.  We can't take on any more rescues or even any short-term patients.  At least not until we get stalls built for Rowdy and Black.  Rowdy will be our first stallion ever so it will be interesting.
Tomorrow I will be working on our tracking aspect to our web page.  I want everyone to know where their blanket is going...that it is going to help a horse....and then if the person receiving the blanket wants to thank the donor, they could do that easily.  I think it will be interesting for a person to follow where their blanket went....to what horse.  I hope I am not invading a person's privacy...but I don't think I will use a last name for the recipient.
I'm tired now and have to prepare for a long trip to Georgia.  At least the weather will be warmer.  Bless all of you out there....for all you do for horses.

It is now mid-January and so cold outside...at least here in Minnesota.  My own horses are warm in their blankets but I think about all those horses that are sick, injured, or old who can't handle the cold.  Our blanket donations are doing well.  We had a week were all the blankets except for the draft sized blankets were sent out to people who needed them.  This week we have more donations of blankets.  It is wonderful to know that people are good and generous.  With so much bad in the world, at least this has inspired me to think about the positive.  We now have a waiting list of blanket requests.  I'm hoping w
Sheri Wilcox and I (Mary) had our first formal business meeting to talk over our fast growing non-profit.  In February we will begin the difficult test of filling out IRS papers to make our organization a legitimate non-profit in the eyes of the government.  We always knew we were legitimate but we do have donations and must fill out tax forms.  This non-profit status is a daunting task.  we've been told we should hire and attorney to have papers filled out for us.  An attorney?  Probably not likely because we barely have the funds to ship out blankets.
We had our meeting in pajamas at the kitchen table at my house.  It was the perfect business meeting.  Sheri and I agree so easily.  We are both determined to make this organization grow and just as determined to do this together.  Two friends with a cause.  We refer to ourselves as the bleeding heart sisters.  The fact is, that fits us well.  We AGONIZE over every starving horse photo we receive and try so hard to get the right blanket for the horse in need.  We think alike, so most of this is easy for us.  It is asking for money that is difficult.
We are going to try to get a booth at the Minnesota Horse Expo in April.  We figure it will cost about 260.00 to be in the main area.  We don't know much about having a booth...as to what we might need but we will get the information.  We will use photos of some of our own rescue horses and will bring blankets to the expo to demonstrate how they can be repaired and re-used.
We will be opening a new checking account in the name of Blankets for Horses In Need.  That will help for those who want to send checks instead of pay with Pay Pal. 
As I write this, snow is drifting across the drive way.  The horses are snug in their stalls with deep straw.  They have grain and lots of hay.  Wish I could do this for EVERY horse that is in need.

Today we started a new group for Blankets.  It will be used for fundraising and to discuss new ideas.  I am hoping there is no bickering or criticism but I have no way of knowing what will develop.  It might be okay to let things play out, give everyone a say....and not censor the posts.
We have six blankets to send out today (on my end) and hopefully we will get some more donations very soon.  We are so low on inventory and it bothers me that there are horses desperately in need of warmth. 
Looks like we might have a silent auction.  That would be so helpful for postage money.  I'm thinking we will have to do something because Sheri and I are almost broke sending out blankets.  Still, I'd spend my last penny if it meant another horse would be warm this winter.  People have been so good to us so I'm sure the blankets will keep coming and the donations will help.

It is the start of a New Year and it couldn't be more challenging for our equine partners.  The economy has not strengthened enough to compensate for the overwhelming population of unwanted horses.  Rescues are jammed with horses, unable to take another starved equine.  The weather plays a factor for a horse who is sick, injured, or underweight due to age.  As it gets colder, the horse in need must use more calories to keep warm.  Often the feeding situation does not match the need and the horse loses weight.  A horse blanket helps to keep the horse warmer and thus he/she uses less calories and can heal faster.  We are not advocating every horse should be blanketed.  This is just not the case and perhaps is not an option for a healthy horse who has shelter.  We are talking about horses standing in the cold, rain, and snow without shelter and without adequate food.  Blankets for Horses was our answer to this dilemma.  We believe we can save horses on the edge of lfe and death if they have a warm blanket.
Blankets have been sent out and we have very few left.  We need donations more now than ever before.  If you have a blanket you'd like to donate, it is critical that you do so now.  If you can donate a few dollars, anything would help us with shipping costs.  Please.  Please. Please.  Help if you can.  We can save the life of a horse.
.