Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] Charity Begins at Home (Part 1) - Linda B. Merims

This announcement (see boldface) and my reply is relevant
to all "Saddle Clubs," so I am forwarding it to Ridecamp.
 
The topic is a "culture" that prevails in most equestrian
saddle clubs that has become outdated and which now
actively hinders the effectiveness of horsemen in
the modern political world.
 
 
> From: <list-administrator>
> To: <Members of HERD--Southeast Chapter of Bay State Trail Riders>
>
> Subject: Poker Ride - Hingham MA
> June 22nd 2003
> Wompatuck State Forest
> Hingham MA
>
> Proceeds to benefit the Middleboro Animal Shelter.  <<<=======
 
 
Hi, All;
 
I could not attend Wednesday's meeting and therefore I do not know
the reasons that were given for applying the proceeds from the
Wompatuck Poker Run to the Middleboro Animal Shelter.
 
It is my observation that horse clubs in Massachusetts and
around the country have a "culture" problem.  "Saddle clubs,"
as they used to be called in the 1920's, were formed primarily
as social clubs to facilitate putting on events where people
who love horses could come together and have a good
time.  When the show or trail ride or hunt actually made
money, the money was usually donated to a worthy charity:
a hospital, an animal shelter, research for childhood cancers,
any good cause.  Horse people were the bestowers of
charity.
 
Every horse club that I have been a member of has worked
in this way.  Indeed, I believe that every horse club that
any of us has belonged to has worked in this way.
 
So, naturally, when a new local horse club like HERD forms
and we join it, we act and think in the same way as we have
always acted and thought as members of a horse club.
We put on events.  We have fun.  We give the profits to
a good cause.
 
This has got to change.
 
We can no longer afford to be the bestowers of charity.
 
We need to realize that we, ourselves, horsemen are the
party in greatest need of funds to support the activities
that we need to survive!
 
Remember that Bay State Trail Riders Association was
re-incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit
organization just five years ago when Becky Kalagher
realized that the "social club" incorporation that BSTRA
had had since its inception in 1974 made it ineligible
to receive any state Recreational Trail Funds.  Becky
understood that the time had come for horse people
to get serious about acting for their own interests.
 
My understanding is that Bob Orkin formed HERD for
the same purpose:  so that horse people in Middleboro
could organize to protect their interests against threats
such as over-zealous conservation agents.  He affiliated
HERD with BSTRA as its southeast chapter because he
understood that BSTRA had the same mindset:  horsemen
organized to defend and promote the interests of horsemen.
 
(continued in Part 2)