Our wonderful volunteer Liz S. and I are in Seattle today for the 51st annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners -- all the horse vets in the country. There are about 2,500 at the convention. We're here to communicate our message about blind horses ... that they can have a wonderful quality of life if only they're given a chance. We have a beautiful exhibit display featuring blind horses and also handed out our brochure called Blind Horses: Top 5 Tips and Top 5 Myths.
One of the sanctuary's friends, Amber C. from Seattle, came by to take some photos of us at the exhibit. In the photo we're talking with two vets who stopped by. Interestingly enough, the vet on the left with the cowboy hat told Liz he had a client who was given a blind horse. He admitted he'd told the client she should just put the horse down. (That's exactly why we're at this convention.) As it turned out, his client refused to euthanize the animal and is insisting on training and riding her blind horse. So he stopped by to talk with us and pick up our brochure, and seemed genuinely pleased to get the information. He said his client would be delighted to hear about us and our BlindHorses.org Web site.
In the exhibit you see behind Liz and me, the big photo is one that Amber took of our beautiful blind mare Lena this past summer.
Also today, the Seattle Times carried a great story about blind horses and our presence at the vet convention. When we were doing the interview for the article while still in Montana, the Times reporter said they needed to have a local blind horse from Seattle in the story. Did we know of one?
Well, we had just found out that a local rescue group in Seattle, the Cowgirl Spirit Rescue Drill Team, had saved a blind horse from slaughter earlier this year. To make it even better, the Cowgirl Spirit gals were going to be at the vet convention, too, with a table right across from us. So we put the reporter in touch with the Cowgirl Spirit team and the Times sent a photographer out to get a photo of their blind horse. As you'll read, they got some great publicity, too.
You can read the Seattle Times story here. In the print edition, the headline read: "A clearer view of blind horses: A couple who run a Montana sanctuary hope to educate veterinarians at a convention in Seattle this week about such animals' value -- and dispel a few myths about their care and disability."
Liz and I will be at the vet convention through Tuesday, returning to Montana on Wednesday.
All in all, the first day turned out great, and we are very glad we decided to come.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
Absolutely excellent. What a great way to reach alot of people, and save many horses. These old myths are what need to die! Great job RDRanch.
I have had an indea in the back of my mind for a while; you have quite a facility, and an incredible need for an on-site, full-time vet. Perhaps you may meet one new out of school and/or one in need of a place to practice. Your vet bill is about getting to be a good annual salary for someone, plus cut down on so many runs to town?! Just an idea to ponder.
Posted by: Karen SA/TX | December 05, 2005 at 06:45 PM
That's great you're spreading the word. The big photo of Lena will certainly get everyone's attention. Thanks for all you do.
Posted by: Roz | December 05, 2005 at 11:59 AM