BY JENNIFER WILLIAMS, PHD
2020 has been such a difficult and strange year for most of us: cancellations and postponements, social distancing, mask-wearing, isolation and loneliness. The horse world hasn’t been immune. Events from the biggest to the smallest have been postponed and many of us have missed seeing our horse-owning friends at shows, clinics, or trail rides.
Unfortunately, all this upheaval has impacted the horses we love. Some owners are struggling to care for their horses while many rescue organizations struggle to raise the funds they need to continue helping horses and their owners.
All of these worries and needs were going through the minds of the organizers of the Bluebonnet Horse Expo this summer. The Expo is a one-day educational event that also includes horse adoptions, vendors, a tack sale, tack auction and more. The goals are to educate the horse-loving public about better horse care and training while also adopting out rescued horses. The event also raises about a third of the annual budget of Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society, allowing the organization to rescue, rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome formerly starved, abused, and abandoned horses.
Because the Expo organizers wanted to keep the public safe while still educating horse lovers and helping more rescue horses, they decided to take the Bluebonnet Horse Expo virtual. The benefit is that you can attend this year’s Expo from anywhere—all you need is a device and internet connection!
For the cost of the $10 ticket, attendees can watch presentations by trainers, veterinarians, equine dentists, nutritionists, and other equine professionals on a variety of topics. The ticket also includes access to live Zoom Q&A sessions with some of the presenters, so you can bring your pressing equine problem to the session and get professional help.
The virtual Expo will also include a virtual horse show, videos of Bluebonnet horses, an online auction, and half price adoption fees. Join horse lovers from around the world at the virtual Expo October 10-18. The virtual horse show will accept entries until October 15.
When you attend the Expo, not only will get you the chance to expand your horse knowledge and get professional help with problems you are currently having, but you’ll be supporting the rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming of formerly needy horses. You’ll be making a huge difference in the horse world by being part of this unique event.
For more information, visit http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com, purchase tickets at https://secure.givelively.org/event/bluebonnet-equine-humane-society/bluebonnet-horse-expo, and participate in the virtual show at https://www.facebook.com/groups/BluebonnetVirtualShow
