Bremen, IN (PRWeb) March 16, 2007 -- Let's face it. It's too easy to get caught up in the daily grind of working, eating, and sleeping and forget about the world's bigger issues that cry for our attention. Chuck Klockow, coowner of HorseSaddleShop.com, knows this as much as anyone. Running his online tack and saddle shop is a full time job. Yet the problem of horse abuse in the equine community he supports was gnawing on his conscience. That's why the Horse Saddle Shop launched its National Horse Rescue Awareness Initiative--a program where website owners and bloggers can link their visitors to particular horses in need.

Horse abuse and neglect is a problem that doesn't get a lot of attention. Horses are often neglected when they have an injury, grow old, or are simply not useful to the owner any longer. Many people buy a horse because they're attracted to the idea without actually counting the cost or knowing how much time is involved. Others simply don't know how to care for their horse. All these scenarios are possible stages for horse abuse and neglect. The country has thousands of local pet shelters to drop off unwanted pets, but what exactly does one do with an unwanted horse? Unfortunately there aren't a lot of good options, and if an equine rescue center doesn't intervene or simply doesn't exist in the area, the horse ends up neglected, abused, or at the slaughterhouse.

The enormity of the problem is overwhelming. Cheryl Flanagan, founder of the Horse Relief, Rescue, and Retirement Fund (HRRRF) at Savethehorses.org, says, "Horse rescue is never ending. The phone calls and emails come in daily asking if we can take these horses, help some others out of bad situations or help pay medical bills. It makes our hearts heavy." Shelters like HRRRF exist around the country, but depend upon volunteers and donations to continue their efforts. Every horse they rescue needs housing, food, rehabilitation, and training before it is ready for adoption. Potential horse owners also need education on how to care for their horse so that the process doesn't repeat itself. All these necessary steps in saving a horse are costly in time and money.

This is why the National Horse Rescue Awareness Initiative is so practical. Anyone who owns or maintains a website or blog can download a code from the Horse Saddle Shop that will display a banner on their site. On a rotational basis the banner will display particular horses around the country that desperately need sponsorship or adoption. This not only helps the shelters housing these animals that are without funds for national advertising; it also puts a face on this growing problem. Every visitor who sees the National Horse Rescue banner will see the face of a horse in need. It's easy to feel helpless toward a national problem; it's not so easy to say no to one needy horse.

Sponsoring a horse in need is the easiest and most practical response if adoption is not possible. A sponsorship pays for necessary shots, vaccinations, halters, blankets, food, and any training that the horse needs to be rehabilitated. But the shelters are also grateful for spontaneous donations of tack and other supplies.

The equine community stands in need of help. Download the banner and fuel the cause.    

For additional information about the Horse Rescue Campaign or to attain a participating banner for your website or blog, visit Horse Rescue.


About the Horse Saddle Shop:

The Horse Saddle Shop first started selling saddles in the small town of Bremen, Indiana in 1986 under the name The Saddle Shop. They served the Northern Indiana and surrounding areas until their expansion to the Internet in January of 2000. Since then, HorseSaddleShop.com has become a major saddle dealer across the nation, expanding to horse owners of many friendly countries.

Contact:

Chuck Klockow, Co-Owner
Horse Saddle Shop
1-866-880-2121
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com