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SeaSmoke
09-13-2010, 10:53 AM
Over this past weekend, Buffy Shapleigh, a local morgan trainer (Springvale, ME) took a bad spill at a horse show. The horse landed on top of her and she broke three bones in her left leg. She received surgery this morning and should regain full mobility. Unfortunately, as is often the case with trainers who also run their own barn, she does not have decent health insurance. She will be unable to train or work horses for at least two months. With winter coming and heating bills to pay this is an especially ominous situation.
As a little background information, Buffy went to UVM for their apprentice program and then went on to work with established trainers. She was finally able to start up her own place and has really worked to promote the morgan horse in our area. She runs both a morgan youth group and helps with a 4-H group as well. Her lesson and youth group students represented the barn in two Morgan Youth contests this year. She brought 12 to compete at the Maine Morgan Youth contest! She has also had numerous open-barns with demonstrations for the public to promote the morgan breed.
I would like to put together a benefit of sorts to help with the costs of both the surgery and the upcoming loss of income (She just had three horses come in for training a week ago who will have to be sent home). I'm just not sure how to go about it. I know I have seen fundraisers and benefits before for trainers, but I would like to get information on what works, the best way to set up the fund, and how to keep people informed on her progress. I would really appreciate any help or suggestions you all could offer!

Thanks in advance!
Cait

kross
10-08-2010, 12:34 PM
I'm sorry to read this.

Check both the national and local UPHA, I believe both have a program for exactly this type of situation. Make use of both the local UPHA and Morgan assoc. to help w/what you want to accomplish. (emails, fund raisers at shows, etc.)

I haven't done or dealt w/anything like this so other than that bit of advice I'm pretty useless w/structuring such a nice and caring idea.

Cynthia
10-20-2010, 12:45 PM
I have to wonder if perhaps there are some skilled amateurs and/or other trainers in the area that could volunteer some of their time to help keep her horses in training? She could supervise and coach while others are riding/lining/driving for her? If a rotation of people could be found, then perhaps each person could end up donating several hours for just one day a week...

Could help keep her bill-paying training horses in shape while she has time to recover.