A horse (Mini) was raffled off here last year, with the draw being done in late March. I had concerns about that because the horse was clipped, and late March is still pretty cold here--thankfully the horse was won by a horse person that knew how to properly care for him--I'm not sure what would have happened if the winner had been a non-horse person that was determined to take the horse rather than a cash amount and if that person didn't know or care that a clipped horse needed extra care. There was some criticism from outside the Miniature world for just the same reason--well, more or less--those people didn't believe a horse should be raffled off at all, clipped or not clipped, at any time of the year.
In the last few months, I haven't had time to check the forum as often as I'd like to. I was looking for ideas on fund raising when I came across this thread. If I had seen it sooner, I could have responded and perhaps shed a bit of light on the raffle here in Manitoba. Holly (minimor) is absolutely right – Manitoba in March is not exactly balmy!!
The raffle is held each year at the Manitoba Royal Winter Fair. Tickets are only sold at the display where knowledgeable people answer any questions visitors have. It has been a fantastic opportunity to educate the public about miniature horses and for them to have a chance to see a miniature horse up close as well as attend the demonstrations we give all week long.
The ticket clearly states – "Children must have parent/guardian's permission to enter the draw. The horse will not be released to the winner until there is evidence of provision for adequate accommodation/care." With the clear conditions, people have realized that we certainly have the welfare of the horse in mind. We have more control over where the horse goes, than where some sale horses go.
Heather & I provide the raffle horse and after the draw we have always kept it here where we have a temperature-controlled barn until the weather is warmer and/or the winner has a proper place for it. If we don't know the winner, (in several cases, we did know them), we delivered the horse ourselves, so that we could see where it was going. In one case the winner never did provide a proper facility and the horse stayed here until, after 1 ½ years, he was sold to a family for a minimal amount to cover his board.
Last year, a 6-year-old boy whose family has a dairy farm won the mini horse and it stayed here until the weather warmed up. Since then, he has taken his horse to school, to nursing homes and in parades. This March, a mom put her name in, and the ticket was drawn on her son's 4th birthday. They are a family who has been involved with big horses for years, and since the draw, they have purchased a 2nd mini for their 6 year old son. We now have more families loving their minis!
Everyone who has shown at our Brandon Summer Fair Miniature Show during the last 7 or 8 years has benefited greatly from the profits of this raffle (over $1000 per year). We have been able to make a considerable cut in the entry fees because of this and other fundraising. Many people don't commit to fundraising, so this has been another way for Heather & me to help in that area.
Rod Hart
