Horses and Hope: My Year at the Auction- a 2012 calendar for the Cyber Monday blues…

This summer, I teamed up with the generous folks at HoofPrints to create a 2012 calendar, titled Horses and Hope: My Year at the Auction (click here to order).

The calendars are $14.95 plus shipping. 100% of the profit is being donated to One Horse at a Time, a 501(c)(3) organization. One of my favorite aspects of OHAAT is the gelding grants that they write. My hope is that a good part of the funds from the calendar can help with gelding grants and clinics.

The calendar contains over 100 photos of horses, and represents almost two years of volunteer work. Since the Camelot Auction volunteer effort began, over 2,800 horses have been given another opportunity at new homes through a massive social networking effort.

Every week, I photograph all of the horses who have been sold to the feedlot, and the photos in the calendar were many of my favorites. The purpose of the calendar is to inspire people to look at horses in need in a different light. Although the photos were all taken at Camelot Auction, my hope is that it encourages other people to think about their own local efforts to help horses. In addition to photography, the calendar contains some positive quotes and information about how to help in your local equine community. We worked very hard to give the calendar a “can-do” theme, instead of a gloomy one.

You can click here to order the calendar: http://www.hoofprints.com/organizers.html

Thank you so much for all of your orders so far. They make great gifts. People have begun receiving their calendars, and the response has been wonderfully positive. Here are just a few of the fantastic comments that we have already received:

This is the nicest calendar I have ever seen. It’s not just a calendar, but a wonderful testament to the love that so many people have for the horses and donkeys that have run through Camelot. So many hours and hard work have made it possible for so many wonderful souls to find love again. It was a great idea to give a little bio on each person that is so actively involved each week. I bought several for Christmas gifts! I can’t think of anything more meaningful

The “quality” of the calendar, itself, is superb. The pictures, descriptions and stories are heartwarming and would be appreciated by anyone with a love of horses, animals, or photography!!! I’ve received six so far and I STRONGLY suggest these calendars be put on your gift list!!! It’s three-fold: the gift recipient gets a fantastic calendar, the calendar educates people, and the calendar helps horses, too!!!

“Just got my Horses and Hope 2012 calendar today – it is even better than I had imagined. The photos were sublime and your quotations are the icing on the cake! Anyone who has been on the fence about buying one – BUY IT! It’s well worth the price and is the kind of calendar you hang on to after the year is over! Thanks to you and Ms. Andrew for your great work! PLEASE consider doing again for 2013!”

I ordered two, they are lovely. I’m at a stage where most of the gifts I give to friends are double duty, a gift and a donation to a rescue. My friends appreciate getting that kind of gift.

I think the best way to describe it is it is like a coffee table in calendar format. The quality of the calendar is great… good sturdy paper, very well printed. The layout and quotes are spot on. Then Sarah’s photos are breathtaking… Sarah’s lens captures the heart and soul of the horses. I remember looking at it and thinking…… I’d love to see the reaction of a pro slaughter person after looking at this calendar… they’d have to be a cruel and heartless person to not be moved by the calendar and I would think they would question their beliefs.

To those in favor of ending slaughter… this calender answers without a doubt “why?”

In addition the calendar helps to answer the question “how?” because proceeds go to horse rescue. The calendar is simply amazing… I’m not a person who buys calendars, but this was WELL worth the money!!!!! THANK YOU, SARAH!!!

Received my calendars and sat down to look it over…laughed and cried and loved every minute of it. Soulful…remarkable…Hopeful!

I ordered this calendar because I knew the money was going to a good cause. But I was bowled over by the quality. Everything about it is lovely — the photography, the text and the printing. I’m so glad I ordered extras for gifts.

They are breathtaking. I usually do not buy horse calendars: the horses are ugly and shot from goofy angles, in fields full of nasty weeds. This calendar is different: the photos carry a weight and depth you just don’t get in 99.9% of the photos taken and produced today.

They’ll ship quickly and are packed professionally so no dents and dings if they will be given as gifts.

I encourage everyone to consider these beautiful calendars.

I have ordered and received 4 so far and couldn’t wait until Christmas to give them away. I looked through all 4 of them and cried and smiled as I recognized so many faces. The quotes and stories are heartwarming and Sarah’s pictures are breathtaking, as always. For anyone who loves horses, or wants a great gift for the horse lover in their life, this is it. This calendar emanates love and hope- there is no comparison- all the calendars at the mall during the holidays cannot hold a candle to this one. A big thank you to Sarah and Hoofprints! Now to order myself and my mother-in-law one this week!

I read the calendar from cover to cover and was blown away! I am also a photographer and love photographing horses, but could never come close to Sarah’s work! Every horse and burro comes through as an individual, and the true value of each shines through. After I was done, I asked my husband if he would like to see it. He was very quiet for a long time, and I realized that he had also read to cover to cover. He really likes it, too! I wish I could afford to give one to every single person on my Christmas list this year (as you mentioned, shipping costs slow me down on that front some)… The quotes are also lovely and inspiring. More!!!!

A lifelong horse lover, I have had many horse calendars in my 47 years. This is the best one! Best pics! Love the stories (even though they bring tears) and quotes!

LOVE them! Not just the simple one photo per month type horse calendar.

Just got my calendar and it is beautiful. I find Sarah’s photography to be so inspiring, and the work done at Camelot helps so many.

I think it is absolutely beautiful. So much work went into the design, the quotes, I can’t wait to hang it up!

It not only brought tears to my eyes but it brought hope to my heart to those out there that are so dedicated and willing to help the helpless

My calendar is absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait for 2012 to start so I can proudly display it. My husband and I spent an evening just gazing at the beautiful photos and reading the fantastic stories….wonderful!!!

I got mine – and I gotta say couldn’t be happier! The photos are beautiful (like they could be anything else) and the sayings are also great. Wonderful investment!!

The calendars are extraordinary! Sarah’s photos are amazing, as always, and the quotes and sayings are perfect. I can’t wait to hang mine up in 2012!

I got mine, they look great, even more quality than I expected!

This calendar is both beautiful and inspirational. As soon as I got one for myself, I immediately ordered several more as Christmas gifts!

Love my horses & hope calendars..they’re so beautiful and well done. love all the little anectodes too….many brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for a job well done. Will be ordering more!

I ordered 3 and love them! This calendar is educational and heartwarming, every picture gives you a good feeling. Sarah K. Andrew along with HoofPrints have done a marvelous job! I can’t wait for the 2013 calendar!