MB update

[trubandloki]

@MHM

I believe you can contact her through Facebook.

Good to know. I did not want to impose on her personal space so I figured starting with the Go Fund Me page with my silly idea might be best.

[DownYonder]

Regarding ideas for using MB’s artwork to help raise funds to help with his legal expenses - is there a risk of those funds being “attached” in the off-chance the civil suits do not turn out in his favor?

Asking because I don’t know much about GFM. Do the funds belong to the organizer, or to GFM, or to the named “recipient”?

[ekat]

@DownYonder

Regarding ideas for using MB’s artwork to help raise funds to help with his legal expenses - is there a risk of those funds being “attached” in the off-chance the civil suits do not turn out in his favor?

Asking because I don’t know much about GFM. Do the funds belong to the organizer, or to GFM, or to the named “recipient”?

You know, I have no idea how that works, but my gut tells me every bit of that money will be used up by the lawyers long before the suit is resolved. What’s been raised already is awesome, and might cover legal fees from the verdict to that Krol hearing.

[DownYonder]

@Knights_Mom

I think many immigrants come from farming communities and backgrounds so this line of work makes them happy as they genuinely love horses and animals. I know it would be my choice and was when I was younger.

Agree. And although even the ones from farming backgrounds may not show up in this country knowing ALL the stuff I listed above, most of them are eager to learn and they take pride in their work so will quickly develop their skills. And as you say, many of them really love horses and animals and “farm life” and if paid well and treated well, will provide many years of excellent service for the BOs and BMs and HOs. The really good ones are an absolute treasure.

[Knights_Mom]

I’ve seen barn owners fighting over a good one and trying to steal him.

I knew of one - a great one - who was getting abused by his boss and I found him a better barn as a friend needed someone.

[Einhorn]

@eggbutt

but that trait is quite rare in an American.

You realize you’re just called yourself and many others on this board lazy with that statement? Since a hard working American is apparently “quite rare” there’s a good chance you aren’t one of them?

Don’t get me wrong, I fully support immigration, and have no issue with the statement that immigrants work hard.

No need to malign US workers to make your point.

[Davignport]

She probably does really love her horses, but I doubt she has the ability to be the sole caretaker and hands on person 24/7 for them. Just does not seem like something LK would be capable of (or have a desire to do). She fits the “pampered boarder” profile much better.

[Einhorn]

@ekat

I wonder if anyone here has knowledge of a practical way to reproduce and sell the artwork?

Red bubble is an online at store, and might be a place to start. Artists can sell their artwork there in various formats, magnets, hats, t-shirts, prints, etc. The buyer chooses what format, and red bubble prints the art on it.

[trubandloki]

@Einhorn

You realize you’re just called yourself and many others on this board lazy with that statement? Since a hard working American is apparently “quite rare” there’s a good chance you aren’t one of them?

I have no doubt that @eggbutt realized what they said.

I work hard but my desk job does not equate to the physical labor done by a good groom.

I do find it interesting that a statement that was meant to be a general positive about a group of people has some how been twisted and made to be something bad.

[Einhorn]

It was not twisted, in addition to the positive statement, someone stated a broad, negative opinion about Americans’ work ethic. I took exception. As I said, there’s no need to cut one group down to bolster the other, is there?

[ekat]

@Einhorn

Red bubble is an online at store, and might be a place to start. Artists can sell their artwork there in various formats, magnets, hats, t-shirts, prints, etc. The buyer chooses what format, and red bubble prints the art on it.

Good to know! Thank you!

[smoofox]

@Knights_Mom

@DownYonder

@MHM

@Knights_Mom

It is really hard to do the barn work for 5 horses on your own in FLORIDA. So there would have to be RG stableboy and at least 1 immigrant type.

I will bite. Why does it have to be an “immigrant type”?

Because (in my experience) those are the folks at horse facilities who:

1. Work the hardest - sunup or earlier to long past dark, and usually at least 6 days a week;
2. Are the most dependable - if they are to start work at 6 AM, they will be there at 6 AM (and will show up even when they are sick as dogs), and will feed the right feed/hay/supplements to the right horse at the right time and perform other chores according to the schedule they have been given;
3. The most observant - they will notice who has a missing or sprung shoe, who has a scrape or wound that needs tending, who isn’t eating or drinking or peeing or pooping, whose urine or poop doesn’t look right, who is beating up his/her pasture mate (or getting beat up), whose attitude or demeanor has changed, even who feels hot to the touch;
4. Don’t have to wait to be told what to do when they notice something is amiss - they know which injuries they can attend to and which ones need a more experienced eye, they know how to take a temperature and how to interpret it, they know to hand walk a colicky horse or a horse that came in from the pasture hot and blowing or that took a blow to a leg and needs to be kept moving, they know to cold hose various injuries/conditions that need cold-hosing, they know how to put on a poultice and when, and they know when to call the barn manager/trainer/vet/horse owner.
5. They know how to stay out of barn politics and avoid barn drama, and which individuals they can level with and which ones they can’t.

In short, they are the oil that makes a good barn run smoothly and allows barn managers and horse owners to sleep at night, knowing that someone dependable is staying on top of things.

IMHO the 2nd most valuable person at the barn who cares for your horse. The first is the trainer or barn manager - whomever decides feeding, turnout and the day to day decisions.

… and some of us Out Here are both of these people/positions!

@Knights_Mom

Americans have great work ethics but I don’t come across many who wish to have barn and horse maintenance as their career. Which is fine, everyone should find where they feel good.

My “mid-life crisis” came early - I decided to quit my job as a graphic artist and do horses 24/7. That inevitably led to a severe drop in income and a massive increase in stress, worries, hours, bruises etc.
As someone mentioned up thread - 24/7/52.

And yet - almost 30 years later to the day - I am still at it!

[smoofox]

@Knights_Mom

I’ve seen barn owners fighting over a good one and trying to steal him.

Full disclosure: I stole Miguel (sort of) from another barn to help me with stall and paddock cleaning while my knee heals from surgery. He had helped me at our boarding barn before it was sold and I was also familiar with him at the other barn. He is kind, cheerful, diligent and cleans stalls at the speed of light. He comes here after he is done at the bigger barn - so they are not losing him in any way. And I am gaining - in every way! He texted me yesterday in the 95 degree heat to let me know that Joey (aged stallion) was laying down in the shade but he had never seen him lay down before so maybe I should check him in case he had a colic - he was worried! Joey was fine. Miguel is excellent. He was visibly relieved that old Joey was okay… he said they were good friends.

[downen]

I actually have a Redbubble store, and sell a lot of equestrian designs (search for horseymj1 if you’re interested, I have lots of dressage, eventing and jumping designs).

At any rate, the markup is quite small for artists. You set it yourself, but if the markup is too high the prices for product gets high. I’m just mentioning it because, as a fund-raiser is would be very hard to make a significant amount of money without millions in sales.

A better option would be to work with an online promotional company and take pre-orders so you don’t have inventory you don’t need. Also, mugs, hats, etc. are easier than apparel as you don’t have a wide range of sizes that you need to accommodate.

I’ve been in the graphics/marketing industry for 30 years so I’m speaking from experience. If anyone would like to discuss further feel free to PM me.

[ekat]

@downen

I actually have a Redbubble store, and sell a lot of equestrian designs (search for horseymj1 if you’re interested, I have lots of dressage, eventing and jumping designs).

At any rate, the markup is quite small for artists. You set it yourself, but if the markup is too high the prices for product gets high. I’m just mentioning it because, as a fund-raiser is would be very hard to make a significant amount of money without millions in sales.

A better option would be to work with an online promotional company and take pre-orders so you don’t have inventory you don’t need. Also, mugs, hats, etc. are easier than apparel as you don’t have a wide range of sizes that you need to accommodate.

I’ve been in the graphics/marketing industry for 30 years so I’m speaking from experience. If anyone would like to discuss further feel free to PM me.

Also good info! Thank you.

[eggbutt]

@Einhorn

@eggbutt

but that trait is quite rare in an American.

You realize you’re just called yourself and many others on this board lazy with that statement? Since a hard working American is apparently “quite rare” there’s a good chance you aren’t one of them?

Don’t get me wrong, I fully support immigration, and have no issue with the statement that immigrants work hard.

No need to malign US workers to make your point.

Being in an area of the country where businesses are shutting down permanently due to huge staffing issues, I meant exactly what I said. My husband has been trying to fill 16 full time positions with a starting pay of $18/hour for over 9 months. On occasion one or more of the positions is filled and within a few weeks the employee begins calling in sick, arriving to work late, leaving early, and have simply disappeared! So yes, Americans have become lazy, undependable, and have no work ethic as a general rule.

As far as immigrant workers, I’ve never had one show up late, leave early, do half-ass work, or complain. They are appreciated and paid well for the work they do and loyalty they show.

Please keep in mind the context of the original subject of immigrate workers and the positions they fill – hard physical work early morning to late afternoon.

[evtrmom]

I appreciate LO sharing MB’s artwork. What an incredible gift he has remembering such detail and the ability to create such beauty with limited resources. These are wonderful updates, I know they take such focus and stamina to create.

[Knights_Mom]

A calendar of MBs art!

[ekat]

@Knights_Mom

A calendar of MBs art!

Yes, please!

[ekat]

@evtrmom

I appreciate LO sharing MB’s artwork. What an incredible gift he has remembering such detail and the ability to create such beauty with limited resources. These are wonderful updates, I know they take such focus and stamina to create.

I agree!