New volunteer orientation and open house each month

The 1st Saturday of each month from 11am to 1pm is New Member Orientation. We ask that everyone interested in becoming a volunteer at the rescue, come and sit in on Orientation. You will learn many valuable things about the rescue and animals as well go on a tour of the barn and property learning where things are kept and how things are done. After you may stay and help clean, fill water troughs, wash water buckets, feed the animals at feeding time. Then you are free to come to the rescue any time you like. Volunteer feeding times are Saturday and Sunday's at 8:30am until completed and 4:00pm Saturday and Sunday afternoons until completed. Help is always needed for all feedings.

The 1st Sunday of each month is Open House where the farm is open to the public. Come out and visit all of the farm animals and ask questions. A $5 pp donation is asked for. Open House is from 2pm to 4pm. Volunteers are always needed to meet and greet visitors and show them around.

It's that time of year again, time for our annual Fundraising event; Hay Day. Plan on coming out to the rescue with your family and friends for a full day of fun. The date and time will be announced shortly - please check the HRRRF website for date and time - www.savethehorses.org.

Upcoming event - ARF

Each year Cheryl's sister, Michele who heads up a K-9 rescue under the horse rescue assembles a huge animal rescue event at Wills Park. This year is no exception and sadly with the economy as it is there are many many animals who need a good home. Please join us at the following event:

On March 29 2009, the event will be held at the covered arena at WillsParkEquestrianCenter in Alpharetta, Georgia. ARF has grown to over 4000 attendees, and is the largest pet adoption and educational family fun day in Georgia. Attendees, rescue groups and vendors come from the southeastern United States including Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama not to mention the entire State of Georgia. People stay and spend time learning about the animals, their needs, available pet products and services in the community. Each year the number of attendees has grown and so has the number of animals that have been adopted due to the event. With the Atlanta metro area having one of the highest kill rates for pets in shelters, we hope to be able to reach more people, secure more adoptions and spread the word about animals available for adoption reducing the number of animals killed in shelters.

Event hours are noon to 5pm on the 29th of March. Please come out and support this important event.

For more information: Sign up today. Download forms at www.ARF.SaveTheHorses.org

Questions: contact Sue at suem75@gmail.com

Christmas at the Barn "Angels with Hoofs"

On Sunday December 7th from 1-4pm we are having our annual Christmas/Holiday fundraiser. Please come join in the fun - Fun for the entire family ! Barnyard gift bazaar, photos with Santa Horse, holiday goodies, create your own s'mores around the fire pit, sleigh rides, petting zoo and much much more. Make a horse's wish come true and help us fill their stockings full ! Lots of fun for family, friends, animal lovers....come join us!

HayDay was a success !

Our annual HayDay was a huge success this year and we want to thank everyone that helped make it. With the recent gas shortage situation, the drastic change of the market we didnt know what the turnout may be - the good news is, it was as good, if not better than last year! Thanks to all who helped. This year's HayDay of activities consisted of: a tour of the haunted barn (kid friendly), pony rides, live music, fresh grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, petting zoo, take your own photo with the mini's who were decorated, vending, pick a duck and win a prize, spin art, paint a pumpkin and keep the pumpkin, get a kiss from "Kenny" our young pot bellied pig, hayrides, make a beaded necklace/bracelet....in addition we had bales of hay for sale to be purchased on behalf of the horses, join a fan club, some really nice raffle prizes (thank you to those who collected and donated) t-shirts, artwork, the 4H club had homemade dog treats (my dogs loved them) and much much more. It was a very windy day, sunny and warm - a truly beautiful fall day for a HayDay....look for us to announce next year's HayDay date in the summer of 09'.

Hayday Sunday October 12th 1-4pm

We are now beginning to prepare and plan for our annual HayDay at the rescue. This year's theme will not only be Hay for the Horses but also Halloween since we will be so close to the ghost and goblin day. We will have pony rides, petting zoo, pictures with the horses, a haunted barn with the horses, food, vendors, possible hay rides, (2) costume contests during the day for (2) different age groups and much much more. This is one of the largest fund raising events the HRRRF has each year and it is at the rescue which makes it so much fun for all. We need volunteers to help establish and plan this years event as well as donations, sponsorships from local businesses. We need flyers distributed to neighborhoods, schools, businesses. The price of hay is up even more so than last year and as winter approaches the horses will need alot of hay to help sustain them through the winter months. Our rescue continues to stay filled with horses with so many people losing jobs, homes and their livelihoods as they have known them. We need everyone to pitch in and make this year's event bigger and better than last. Anything you can do to help will be appreciated. Please contact sheelagh@cafferkey.com Thanks again,

Poker Run Success

On a beautiful sunny windy day (being last Sunday) volunteers from the HRRRF showed up at Andretti's in Roswell to begin our first annual Poker Run. Everyone begin setting up by 9:15 and by 9:30 we began to see bikes pulling into the parking lot. Oh boy, it's going to be a good day.!. By 10am registration was set up and signing up the bikers for the ride. By 10:30 more had arrived and the first group left on their 70 mile ride. I was one of the riders as I rode on a bike with a friend who owns a Honda Valkyrie motorcycle. He gave me some very explicit instructions for being a rider on the back of a very heavy motorcycle and off we went with the first group. One of our volunteers had put up a sign at each and every turn which made it very easy to follow the route as no one was familiar with the entire route areas. There were a total of (4) stops where we drew our cards in hopes of having a great Poker Hand. Everyone was due back at Andretti's in Roswell by 2pm. There were many raffle prizes to be drawn for. Many of the bikers purchased raffle tickets the length of their bikes. by 3 pm all raffle prizes were drawn and given away, the winner of the best Poker Hand for a cash prize of $300 was determined and a cash prize of $50 for the worst poker hand was determined. All in all it was a good day for the horses/farm animals at the Horse Rescue Relief and Retirment, Fund Inc. Thanks to all that put flyers out, obtained raffle prizes, planned, purchased items needed, donated their time, stood in the hot sun all day and volunteered for this fund raising event. We especially thank all of the businesses that allowed us to use them as a stop. We also want to thank the businesses that donated items to the benefit of the Poker Run. Without all of the businesses and volunteers we could not have raised the money to help benefit the many horses and farm animals at HRRRF.

Upcoming Fund Raiser

On Sunday September 14th we will be having a fund raiser called a Poker Run. It will begin and end at Andretti's in Roswell. There will be a total of 5 stops whereby each motorcycle rider will be given one card to help create a Poker Hand. Once all hands are turned in, a prize will be given for the best Poker hand and the worst Poker Hand. We invite all cyclists to join us in this fun fund raising event.

At Andretti's there will be mini- ponies, Roy our large Belgian gelding whom you can have your picture taken with. We will have food, t-shirts, raffles with some great prizes, etc for anyone to participate in. Public is invited to join in all of the fun even if you don't own a motorcycle.

Cost is $25 per motorcycle and $10 for each addl rider/poker hand. Register today at our website: www.savethehorses.org and be one of the first 100 to register and be given a free t-shirt.