Great Ideas!
Using Your Talents to Help Horse Rescues
By Diana Tuorto
points of view. When I was 12, I was inspired by a River, is now a therapy horse and continues to
television documentary to write My Desert Sun. inspire adults and especially young children with
The novel follows the story of Cayuse, a young, his story of courage and survival.
free-spirited mustang who is captured and strug-
gles to regain his freedom. Four years later, I be- I’ve been contacted by several rescues about
gan working on Janie’s New Legs, the story of an writing about their horses in the past, but gener-
abused pony who, after being rehabilitating by a ally didn’t have time between freelance projects
rescue facility, is adopted out to a handicapped or wasn’t as inspired. This pony’s story just had
riding center and befriends a lonely, paralyzed to be told, and I’m writing the book now in the
girl. A year later, I started a draft of Luck of the hopes of donating the proceeds to PEARL.
Draw, which was based on my own Thorough-
bred ex-racehorse, Donate Your Talents
who had a less-than-
“Since 2008, I’m happy to
Whether you’re a writer, artist,
stunning career and
tried many “hats” be-
report that the proceeds
or simply want to volunteer in
some way, donating your time
fore finding a fit.
have helped a lot of
and talents to a horse rescue
is one of the most rewarding
My common goal in rescues and charities. experiences. If you’re able to
each book was to edu-
cate the public about
Over $2,500 has been
sell something that will finan-
cially help a horse rescue, it’s
abused and neglected
donated from my book
incredibly gratifying- both the
horses using a “Black rescue and the people buying
Beauty” style, or hear- sales.” your work will appreciate it.
ing from the horses
themselves. I decided early on that if I published However, even if you don’t have an item to sell
these books, I wanted the proceeds to benefit dif- for a rescue’s benefit, don’t let that stop you from
ferent equine charities, since their work was truly becoming a volunteer, sponsor, or donating in
making the most difference to the horses. some way- without your support, the rescues
cease to be, and the horses who need help most
After working with a writer’s group and several would not have it.
editors over the past few years, I self-published
all three novels between 2008 and 2009. I imme-
diately started donating a portion of each book
sale to several charities directly, and expanded
my efforts by donating up to 50% from each sale
Diana Tuorto is in the process of writing
to any charity that hosted a book signing. Since
her fourth children’s book, Spirit of the
2008, I’m happy to report that the proceeds have
Saluda River, with proceeds benefitting
helped a lot of rescues and charities- over $2,500
Palmetto Equine Awareness & Rescue
has been donated from my book sales.
League (PEARL) in South Carolina.
Spirit of the Saluda River
In early February, I was contacted by Palmetto The book will include full-color illustrations, it
Equine Awareness & Rescue League (PEARL) will cost $850 for the book to complete the self-
from South Carolina. In 2007, they rehabilitated publishing process. If you’d like to contribute to
a blind pony who had been stranded in the Salu- making this book a reality for PEARL, funds can
da River. He nearly died, but made a miraculous be sent via PayPal to
lunar_aradia@yahoo.com.
recovery. The pony, named Spirit of the Saluda
For more information on Diana and her books, please visit
http://www.cayusecanyon.com.
www.equineconnection.org- the website for global equine stewardship - Equine•Connections
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