Donating to CANTER

[loshad]

Ah ha! Now we have it!

My original point was that CANTER does more for the volunteers than the horses, partly thru tax deductions and partly thru getting first crack at the best horses.

Which horse did you not get, Taxi, that some “uppity” CANTER volunteer may or may not have snagged out from under you? Or is it that you went through the process to foster and/or adopt and were found to be a complete and utter whackjob to whom NO ONE in their right mind would entrust a hobbyhorse, let alone a real one? Inquiring minds and all that.

[Jasmine]

First crack at the best horses? Really? I think we’ve found the source of Large Yellow Dingbat’s undie-bundle.

Back when figuring out how to get first crack at the best horses was a full time job for people, the market was such that it was possible to make a living flipping TBs. Not so much anymore. Besides, I know there are several horses owned by, fed by, and cared for by CANTER who are not ever going to be the second coming of Gem Twist. Or even be sound enough to show.

Get over yourself. Don’t donate to them. Or better yet, VOLUNTEER! If the volunteers get first crack at all those diamonds in the rough, become one. Do some good to save a horse or ten, and find your money makers while you’re at it. Then maybe you’ll see just exactly how many six-figure horses CANTER is secretly holding for their chosen few.

[magnolia73]

Thats my point. Its a charity. But the people working it are pursuing a hobby. I like old cars. Can I call my garage an old car rescue charity and write it off for tax purposes? nope. But if it was a barn full of horses I got for free its a different story.

Yup- you sure could- call it a museum, open it to the public. You could probably take in donations to help you preserve more history.

I think it sucks that you would anonymously accuse someone who works very hard and helps a lot of horses and cleans up a lot of messes of doing it for the tax write off. And if tomorrow, Fairweather said, “Yeah, I just do it for the write off” I’d still respect because she has helped a lot of horses find really good homes.

[ivy62]

I have not read every response but
BYT- What about the ASPCA? What makes them any different? the have tax deductions and donations and fosters…Should all rescues be called the ASPCA with different divisions. The other thing is have you EVER donated time, money or even gotten a horse from one of these rescues? I know my guy is happy living with me and god only knows that without these rescues where they would all end up…I wish I could do more!

Do you really like horses? What is your beef? I am not an upper class wealthy chick but a horse lover and owner who decided not to get a European import but get a good ole American bred horse!

[caffeinated]

@Big Yellow Taxi;4332996

Oh I dont doubt that the wrinkly old guys in their race cars are working the system too. My original point was that CANTER does more for the volunteers than the horses, partly thru tax deductions and partly thru getting first crack at the best horses.

The tax deductions I do get are the same as I’d get for donating time, mileage and money to any other charitable organization. I’m not sure that counts as something nefarious or unfair or why you keep harping on that point.

As far as first cracks at horses - it’s possible that volunteering means you see things before they get on the website. But really that’s about it. I can’t speak for everybody, but the horse I’d adopt if I could is one that’s been available to the public for quite some time (old hind leg fracture. Recovered and just a joy to be around in every way sigh)

[dilligaff2]

MUST.STOP.EYES.FROM.BLEEDING.

Seriously, you have your panties in a wad because someone donates – NO fosters—NO likes–NO Donates … ummm…errrrrr…SCOOPS UP ALL THE GOOD BROKEN HORSES before the meatman has a chance!!!1!!!

You want to buy a horse of the track and flip it???–go to the trainer listings. They are there by the hundreds. CANTER has even done you the hard work of getting them on a website for one stop shopping–no more schlepping around the backside looking for that perfect Sabeeeno filly.

If you are just moaning about the deductions–PM me. I’m in Canuckistan and can’t use my receipts. I’ll mail them to you.

[Moderator_1]

We’ve removed some posts/comments and addressed the repeated drum beating by some individuals re: a personal dislike for the ability of people to deduct legitimate expenses related to charitable organizations.

If there are OTHER questions re: how CANTER handles its donations, per this thread’s topic, feel free to address them.

Thanks,
Mod 1

[Pixie_Dust]

oh no

I’ve been caught. I now have 7 cats living in my house because I get first crack at fostering kitties as a volunteer. And the CANTER volunteers get to help in euthanizing horses, and all that other fun stuff. Wow caffeinated, how many horses do you have now? since you’ve been volunteering all these years? Dodging the IRS too with your gas milage.

[Jleegriffith]

As sort of the lead volunteer of the Delaware Park effort I will tell you exactly how it works. We know how much money we have in the budget for the horses we already have. We can support X number of horses that have issues and need time off. We can support X number of horses that are sound and can be retrained for resale. So far if we have had the stall space available and we feel we can move the horse into a new home fairly quickly we will accept it as a donation.

Since the inception of the CANTER program at Del Park we took a 12 yr that was currently racing, one horse that had to be euthanized, one horse with minor soundness issues, another with a major soundness issues and we just accepted a really nice 3 yr that is sound and should be able to be rehomed very easily. Surely we wouldn’t have chosen a 12yr, a horse with no future, two horses with issues and only one resellable horse if we were only picking the best.

Our volunteers are there every Saturday spending our weekend time not because we are looking for horses but because we are trying to help. I can not tell you the personal satisfacton I get from helping a trainer sell a horse. It is actually quite an incredible feeling. Do I get first pick if I chose to well sure I do because I am actually VOLUNTEERING my time and efforts on behalf of the organization and the trainers. I would probably guess that most of us volunteers are full with horses which is my case. I work with the CANTER horses and don’t buy any horses for myself.

I would further add that I have personally emailed many people that I know are in the business of resale with the prospects I think would be good buys. I am trying to HELP the trainers and if it helps my friends why is that horrible? Trainers just want horses gone ASAP.

Furthermore, I list the horses myself and if you happen to look at the Del Park canter listings those listings go up on Saturday or Sunday at the latest. It is pretty darn fair for those who are looking. Hook up your trailer with cash in hand and the horse is yours.

Yes, I get tax write offs for the work I do but I am sure not getting rich. I retrain the CANTER horses that come to my farm because I love the job and I believe in giving back with my skill set that I have for working with ottb’s. CANTER doesn’t own it’s own farm so the horses are boarded at my farm for a reasonable rate. Anybody who boards horses knows there is no profit there. I use all my own funds to show, campaign, advertise and whatever else I do with the CANTER Horses. It is a write off but that is the nature of volunteering for a 501c group.

I know in the time we have been working out of Delaware park we have helped get around 25 horses into new homes. That isn’t a huge number but we have only had about 45 horses listed so when you see that it is a big figure.

The horses who get donated to our program are not always sound and for the most part we don’t pick and choose between the best horses unless our funds dictate that we only take what we know we can rehome. I would just call that smart and accountable business practices.

I would encourage anybody who may be concerned about how we use our funding to contact Fairweather. I really don’t know how Fairweather does what she does. It is an incredibly hard job and many times the frustrations can outweight the rewards.

I want those trainers to get a tax donation. If that is one more reason to make the want to donate a horse before they end up in a bad place then so be it!

[Big_Yellow_Taxi]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4333002]
You’re just plain wrong.

And everybody knows it but you.[/QUOTE]

Me and all the people dumb enough to pay their taxes…

[NMK]

Big Yellow Taxi.

Seems you’re carting around a lot of baggage. Thank you for the opportunity to let our volunteers tell you how CANTER works. Heck, if you take a look through your foggy windshield you might just see how it can work for you too.

Nancy

[YoTambien]

[QUOTE=Moderator 1;4333139]
We’ve removed some posts/comments and addressed the repeated drum beating by some individuals re: a personal dislike for the ability of people to deduct legitimate expenses related to charitable organizations.

If there are OTHER questions re: how CANTER handles its donations, per this thread’s topic, feel free to address them.

Thanks,
Mod 1[/QUOTE]

Thank you Mod 1!

[kcmel]

@Big Yellow Taxi;4332996

My original point was that CANTER does more for the volunteers than the horses, partly thru tax deductions and partly thru getting first crack at the best horses.

So then where is MY stuff?? I want my stuff!

[caffeinated]

@kcmel;4333255

So then where is MY stuff?? I want my stuff!

Meet me in the parking lot behind the pawn shop.

[Trixie]

CANTER does wonderful work, which I’ve been fortunate to see over the years, and I’m happy to continue donating to them. I have absolutely no doubts from hearing their tales over the years that it’s quite a labor of love.

And yes, most of them love the work that they do - but a great deal of it is not only hard work, but it’s heartbreaking work too.

[foundationmare]

Yes…

…thank you Mod 1! I was going to ask for your intervention many posts ago.

[mistyjewell]

Wow, I’m getting to this late, as I don’t usually frequent the racing fourm, but noticed the title poppoing up, so investigated it.

I can’t believe anyone would have an issue with CANTER. I’ve known people that have followed CANTER and volunteered for several years now, and now that they are DE park I hope to be able to help out myself. I’ve seen/heard first hand some of the gut wrenching stories about what they have gone through to try and save horses from slaughter and put their literal blood, sweat, and tears into trying to get horses safe, sound, and sane enough to compete with the increasingly soft market out there for TBs right now. It’s not to make a profit, it’s so they can save more horses and put them into good homes.

Do they get to ride and show some of these horses? Sure! But does that make up for the weeks or months trying to rehab a horse and give him his best shot, only to have to put him down because he has something you couldn’t see? No. I can’t count the number of gut wrenching stories I’ve heard about horses that could melt your heart, and be glad to know that the horses at least got to know what it was like to be a horse for it’s last few days, and have someone actually love it and teach it to eat treats before it was their time to go. It KILLS these volunteers. You can’t even begin to put a price on their time and emotional investment.

But the fact of the matter is their whole point is to rehome these horses. I would say most of them already have a horse, or several horses, and aren’t looking to buy another, but are looking to get the horse trained to a point where it can be competitive in the market to be placed in a home. Again, they aren’t making a profit on them, they are lucky to break even, which is why they need donations and tax write offs, so they can actually afford to find homes for these horses. Have you ever seen an OTTB when it’s fresh off the track? Many people aren’t willing to take a chance on them without them going to a BNT first. Like you said, many people made their money doing quick fixes and flipping OTTBs. But CANTER is trying to give as many out there a chance as they can, not just those special few that a BNT deams worthy, and makes it afforadble for others out there to find something with a history in training that can be discussed in debth with.

Oh, and did you know that very few actually get donated or taken in by CANTER? Look at the websites, it shows you which are trainer listings, and which are CANTER listings. There are hundreds compared to a few. But the volunteers still go out to the track EVERY saturday (at DE park) to take new listings and keep something tragic happening to these horses.

sorry… ending rant… but compared to some other very not reputable orginzations out there, CANTER really cares about finding the perfect home for its horses, and giving them the best quality of life that they can have, it’s not some glorious thing for the volunteers to ride them and laugh to the bank with their tiny tax deductions.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=Jasmine;4333026]
First crack at the best horses? Really? I think we’ve found the source of Large Yellow Dingbat’s undie-bundle.

Back when figuring out how to get first crack at the best horses was a full time job for people, the market was such that it was possible to make a living flipping TBs. Not so much anymore. [/QUOTE]

Ding ding ding! I think we have a winner! Bitchy Ex-Trainer, is that you in that taxi?

I have extensive experience in NFPs including graduate-level courses in management and accounting for not-for-profits. (Why? Because I have an MA in Museum Studies. Museums are by and large NFPs, donations to which are tax deductible and when it comes to art museums often worth VASTLY more than any OTTB could ever be if his name isn’t Storm Cat.) Nothing CANTER does is illegal, immoral, or in any way unusual. Does it mean trainers and buyers have cut out the middlemen? Also not illegal or immoral.

Makes me wonder how much of a markup my ex-trainer put on my boy for putting six weeks of work and a rubber pelham on him.

[Everythingbutwings]

As far as first cracks at horses - it’s possible that volunteering means you see things before they get on the website.
And as Pixie pointed out, some of those things they are so lucky to see and be involved with are the many poor horses taken by CANTER that can’t be rehomed, the ones that are incurably damaged and are euthanized.

Wow, BYT (love the acronym, it’s appropriate) those CANTER folks sure are fortunate, it’s downright unfair.

When is the next CANTER auction? Since having to euthanize my own thoroughbred, I seem to have quite a bit of tack and blankets to donate.

[magnolia73]

The riding and showing of CANTER horses does a lot for them. They are ambassadors and people see others enjoying success on an OTTB and start to consider buying one.

Fairweather and her merry band of trail friendly, XC jumping, dressaging TB’s was no small factor in the decision to buy a TB vs a QH or warmblood. In fact, I was set against TB’s until I went out on ride with her. Now I own a restarted OTTB who apparently came through CANTER Ohio and was restarted by the gal I bought her from.