If you think that horses and romance novels don't have a lot in common you are right. You might even wonder how Black Velvet Seductions became involved in the effort to save abused, neglected and slaughter bound horses.

It all began early this year when Black Velvet Seductions launched a new initiative to support the non-profit organizations near and dear to our author's and cover artist's hearts. All of the Black Velvet Seductions authors were asked to name organizations they wanted to support. The authors and cover artists named a number of wonderful organizations which we will be partnering with throughout the balance of 2007 and into 2008.

However, when Sherry James, the author of Studs for Hire: Woman on Top was asked what organization she wanted the company to support on her behalf her response was instantaneous. “Something dedicated to saving abused horses.” The choice was a natural for Sherry who is herself a horse lover who started riding when she was 2.

Though supporting an organization that recognized and protected the magnificence of horses was important to her, Sherry wanted to be sure that the funds raised would indeed help the horses rather than their human caretakers. She did a great deal of research into organizations devoted to rescuing abused, neglected and slaughter bound horses in her home state of Nebraska. After much research she settled on Epona.

Though Epona is smaller than some of the other organizations she researched Sherry was impressed by the number of horses the organization had helped and that, more than anything else, swayed her decision.

Once Sherry had firmly settled on Epona Black Velvet Seductions CEO Laurie Sanders contacted the organizations director Lin Beuane. Two pictures and Lin's explanation of why she rescues horses cemented Laurie's belief that helping Epona was the right thing to do.

"I rescue horses because there are thousands of horses that need to be saved every year. Back yard breeders, large breeding farms, pmu farms and the many horses that did not turn out to be the desired product are the cause for our surplus market," explained Lin.   "I took part in one of the largest rescue operations in the state and we jointly saved over 50 horses, over 200 went to slaughter. The one vision that will forever haunt me is the feedlot full of horses and the next day the empty pens where the horses were housed before the slaughter trucks came to get them."  

The pictures below show the horses in the pens before they were hauled away. They, more than words, show why Sherry, Lin, Laurie, and all of us at Black Velvet Seductions decided to work together to raise needed funds so that Epona can continue to save horses.

Though our partnership to raise funds for Epona has ended now, the number of horses that need to be rescued continues to be high and the costs associated with that work high. Epona continues to welcome direct donations from Black Velvet Seductions readers. You can donate directly to Epona by using the button below that says "donate to Epona."