re rescue start up

[magoobear]

Hi everyone,
Im looking for info, Im interested in possibly starting a OTTB specific rescue. I do have experience retraining and rehabing young TBS. I will volunteer to work with them myself and to take care of them. There is no TB rescue in CT where Im located. I can not find any real good advice on this subject. One regular horse rescue (thats not near me) has said that any endeavor is costing several thousand dollars, I would like to sponser and retrain but I can not support the horses 100% financially. Im over qualified to take on this endeavor thru experience but having a hard time trying to find out just how to start it up. Any information and ideas on who to speak to would be appreciated. I have contacted Canter, the TB retirement foundation as well as that small rescue I mentioned.
Thank you
Melissa

[ZenRider]

Can't help with the important stuff like applying for tax free status and stuff. From those on this site that have done it, but it's there are a lot of i's to dot and t's to cross. Once you have it, you have to maintain it keeping very good records of where the money you collect goes.

What I can say is, rescues are a lot of work, especially equine ones. Volunteers can be great, but they can also be difficult, as, well, they are volunteers. The costs of running equine rescues are huge, lest you want to join a long list of failed equine rescues that have made the news of their animals needing to be rescued. Stalls need to be cleaned and horses need to be fed daily. Severely starved rescues or rescues with health issues can require round the clock treatment.
As for facilities, if you don't already have your own, with a little luck you may find a big barn looking for a big tax write-off that will offer you some stalls or an old barn not part of their normal operations. Otherwise, as you will likely be bringing in horses that haven't been vetted in a long time and they have their other horses health to think of. Not trying to put you off from the thought, but it seems to me some of the bigger rescues like the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, started with people with deep pockets to get them off the ground.

Not trying to discourage you, but trying to give you an idea of what you are in for. The first hard thing is getting started. The hardest part is knowing how much your rescue can financially support and not being able to save them all.

[Truth]

Hi Melissa,

Starting aTB rescue is a challenging and industrious endeavor! I've been involved in a non profit organization startup, but not horse. It was an environmental org. So, the BIG difference is you have animals that need to be taken care of -- feeding, maintenance, health, exercise. So you will need a source of income. I don't know your financial situation nor how many horses you plan/can take in, but I doubt you will have enough to maintain a large number. So, becoming a 501(c)(3) will be important. You'll also need insurance. I don't know what the cost is in CT, but it probably isn't cheap. I would recommend finding an attorney VERY knowledgeable in non profits to guide you thru the process. Oh, why do you need 501 (c)(3)? ASKING FOR MONEY, AKA DONATIONS. People are more willing to donate when they can write it off on their taxes! Zen gave some good pointers. She mentioned TRF. They have gone thru some rocky times and have reorganized to get back on track. But they have many wealthy donors.

I came across this place in PA when I was on the PTHA home page aftertheraces.org I thought you might be interested and it would give you some ideas.

GOOD LUCK with your project.!!!!!