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(Lexington, KY) - Starting Thursday, September 8 you can donate both equine and human goods which will be trucked to hurricane victims in Louisiana and Mississippi. Items which are needed for horses include feed, grain, bedding (shavings and wood chips), Bute, Banamine, Gentocin, Dormosedan, first aid supplies such as Furacin, wraps, standing bandages, hydrogen peroxide, Vetwrap, cotton sheeting, antibiotic cream, etc. They also need lead ropes, halters, stall webbings, hay bags, buckets, hoses, double-sided snaps, duct tape, fly spray and bottles, pitchforks, muck buckets, grooming supplies, hoof picks, etc. (For the convenience of those who would like to donate sweet feed and grain, it can be purchased from Dever’s at the Kentucky Horse Park and loaded directly on to the truck., or you can bring your own feed donation.)

Donated items for other pets will also be accepted, such as dog food, cat food and cat litter.

Items being requested for horsemen include helmets, boots, flak jackets, exercise saddles, bridles, saddle pads and girths, so they can get back to making a living. In addition, toiletries, baby items such as baby food, diapers, blankets, bottle liners and non-perishable food items, household supplies, bathroom supplies and cleaning supplies are needed. They have also requested linens, clothing, folding chairs and cooking supplies.

Donations may be dropped off at the Kentucky Horse Park, on Iron Works Parkway (exit to park is marked on I-75) in Lexington beginning Thursday, September 8, from 7am to 7pm every day until two semi trucks are filled. Lexington Cartage (owned by the Young family of Overbrook Farm in Lexington), C.H Robinson and J.P Services have generously donated the use of their trucks, drivers and fuel to get the items to Louisiana and Mississippi.

Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron will be on hand at various times throughout the day to meet with the media and the public. The donation drive was spearheaded by the National Horseman’s Benevolent & Protective Association in cooperation with the USEF, the Kentucky Horse Park and the many horse organizations located at the Park.

For more information, contact the Kentucky Horse Park at 859-233-4303.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE

USEF Operating NEW Equine Emergency Hotline for Mississippi;

Equine Supply Depots in Mississippi Now Operational

Lexington, KY – Mississippi horse owners affected by Hurricane Katrina now have a new lifeline to help through the United States Equestrian Federation. As of Thursday, September 8, USEF will have a dedicated phone line to take emergency calls from Mississippians in need of emergency assistance for their horses.

The USEF Mississippi Emergency Hotline number is (859) 225-2051, and will be operational daily from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., until the need has subsided. This emergency hotline number will be for emergency calls regarding needs for horses only. Operators will not be able to assist others inquiring about volunteer or donation opportunities. Please understand that it is essential to keep this line free so those needing help will be able to get through. Information gathered from the calls will be forwarded to various rescue and assistance organizations now in place in Southern Mississippi.

For equine-related emergencies in the Louisiana area, please contact the LSU Vet School Hotline at (225) 578-9501.

Those wanting to donate supplies to Mississippi, including feed, vet supplies, and especially hay, should drop them at the following locations:

Multi-Purpose Facility

952 Sullivan Drive; Barn E

Hattiesburg, MS

(863) 697-0410

This is just off Highway 49 on the south side of Hattiesburg. Donations of supplies can be dropped there if they are in large, semi tractor trailers and in large boxes or on pallets.

Smaller loads in horse trailers or smaller trucks should go to:

Jackson County Animal Shelter

4400 Audubon Road

Gautier, MS

(228) 497-6350

This is in the Gulfport area.

Those wishing to make monetary donations may still do so by logging on to www.usef.org, and clicking on the Hurricane Katrina link on the right side of the homepage.

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Help Spread the Word:

Hundreds Offering Disaster Relief for Equine Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Details on www.usef.org

Lexington, KY – Hundreds of people in the southern states are opening their barns, their hearts, and in many cases their homes, to assist horses and their owners affected by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. To date, the response has been overwhelming, with more than 5,000 people willing to offer assistance nationwide. The next step in this massive effort is to spread the word to those in the equine world who have been hurt and stranded by this national tragedy. Please help us in this effort.

A list of volunteer caregivers and farms can be found on www.usef.org, by clicking on the Hurricane Katrina link on the right side of the homepage, or by going directly to http://www.usef.org/documents/relief/HurricaneRelief.pdf. (Do not include a period after pdf) Volunteers are listed by city, state, and ability to provide veterinary care and a trailer for transportation. Because we have been inundated with volunteer requests and because we want to make relocation as easy as possible for these horses, we have limited our list to include Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.

While we are doing everything possible to share the news of these pledges of assistance with those in need, the more hands and voices we have to carry this message, the more help we’ll be able to provide.

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For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager, on (859) 225-6974 or via e-mail at sarah.lane@usef.org. USEF press releases can be found on our website, www.usef.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 31, 2005

Safe Havens and Veterinary Services Needed for Hurricane Katrina’s

Equine Refugees

Place Your Facility on the USEF Hurricane Equine Relief List

(Lexington, KY) – As Americans view the newscasts of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina it is clear that both humans and animals require immediate emergency relief from not only official agencies but from the generosity of individuals.

If you have a facility or pasture which you can offer to house refugee horses and ponies, victims of Hurricane Katrina, please email your name, address, phone number and email address to kcadams@usef.org , or at 859-225-6993, (please email if at all possible as we expect a heavy load of calls.) If you can volunteer veterinary services please submit your contact information. The USEF is posting a listing by state of these safe havens for horses and ponies on our website. The list will be accessed by going to www.usef.org, on the right side of the homepage click on Hurricane Katrina Equine Relief. It is expected to be operational by tonight, August 31st and will serve as a master list to help horse owners in Katrina's path find help. Other equine organizations wishing to assist the effort and link to the list should also email kcadams@usef.org.

We urge the participation of anyone who has the space, veterinary expertise and tenderness of heart to help these equine refugees.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications on (859) 225-6941 or via email at mpartlow@usef.org. USEF press releases are available on our web site – www.usef.org.