January 30, 2007

Goodness - geez - what is wrong with me? I flit from here to there and everywhere and am so busy flitting that I forget to write you all.

Most of you wonder who the man is who is behind me - here is Craig and Cricket taken last summer at the John Lyons event!

The biggest and best news is the ISOBA banquet and USTA district meetings at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois last weekend. We were guests at the banquet and a silent auction was held to benefit ASAP! Thanks to Dr. Anna Ruman who organized everything, there was involvement at every level, from people who donated items to companies who made donations to harness horsemen such as Terry Hunt from Cottonwood Farms who donated a television (Erv Miller was the lucky winner of the television, which brought $500!!), to the chance to meet friendly faces of horse owners and lovers from all over the Mid West.

The silent auction brought in almost $2000 - what a blessing! I will list the donors and the winners of the silent auction soon!

We also came home to a generous donation made by a woman who saw our article in a recent publication called Tapestry. She was so moved by the article that she donated $1000 to ASAP to help our endeavors. We just could not continue without all of you! Lori Hahn, once again, has donated a healthy supply of Ivermectin wormer, in addition to her donations for advertising in the MWHF program and the financial support she has provided for JD. JD, by the way, has continued to improve on that back leg, thanks to Jana Caldwell and Dynasplint Systems in Texas. He is now almost standing flat on that hoof and the contracture appears to be improving weekly!

I am getting to know each of the horses each day at ASAP. Compromise, who shipped up from Texas, continues to wear a blanket as he acclimates to the frigid Wisconsin temperatures. I want him to put on more weight before I take that blanket off! We have another STB shipping up from Florida later this week- poor guy!!! Gator Chaser has become the dominant boy in the lower turnout, while Hollywood Sam and Compromise are more submissive. R Little Rich Boy may have found a home this weekend with the same family that adopted Legit Too ten years ago this year! Legit is doing GREAT in this home and we hope Little Rich Boy will be happy there as well. I might mention that this family also is trying to sell a STB trotting gelding for $900 - if ASAP had it we could buy him but we simply don't have the funds. He is about 16 hands and oh so gentle - even a child could get along with him. Let me know if you know anyone who may want to purchase him - he is approximately 9-10 years old I believe. Also I heard of a Belgian mare over the weekend who will be sold for $400 - she is about 18 years old and has a sore shoulder but is still used to work on an Amish farm. I would hope she doesn't end up at the Waukon sale for meat - let me know if you can help. I know one woman who wants her but has to wait until April to pick her up and not sure the Amish man will wait that long?

R Colelateral is warming right up to us, as is Sam. Hollywood Sam can be a bit temperamental but as he gets to know me he knows I am only there to feed and love him right now and he is less defensive. He can still pin those ears once in awhile though!

Too cold to work any horses this week - will have to wait for a warm up...don't forget about our annual board meeting here at the farm on January 31st - two more days - at noon. We had to reschedule from 7 pm due to me working a new part time job and having to work second shift that day. I didn't know that until Friday - if this inconveniences anyone please let me know and I can check to see if it is legal to reschedule. IF I don't hear from anyone I will assume all is well and we will go ahead as planned.

Horse fairs are coming up! We look forward to working with Iowa, Illinois, MWHF, Black Hills Horse Expo, and Minnesota Horse Expo again this year. I did something crazy and emailed Aerosmith, asking them for donations or sponsoring us at MWHF where the theme is Rock and Ride. If you see me dressed as Steve Tyler, look out!!!!!
I have also heard "rumor" that Fleetwood Mac music will be part of our demonstration in Madison - it is getting exciting and scary to think about!

Another great announcement is that E and J Gallo is sponsoring ASAP at all the horse fairs we attend this year. They are coming out with a new wine that is "horsey" oriented - has the word "bridle" in it - so look for more news about this as we learn more!

Thanks to Double L for the donations again - and we are pleased to announce the addition of two brand new stalls for horses and a new shelter, all donated, for ASAP horses. We are just moving right along to get things where they should be!

Come and see us, and spread the word about horses needing homes!

Our sermon at church yesterday was about helping the poor. God has called us to serve the needy. I believe that involves responding to the world around us and helping as we are able. He really talked a lot about the poor also responding to help that is given while trying to become less dependent on charity by gaining skills and making attempts at self-improvement on a spiritual and physical level. If I see a mouse being attacked by a cat, I want to run and rescue. If I see a cat in the road far from home, I want to stop and rescue. If I see a baby raccoon still alive but injured, I want to pick it up and get it help. If I see a child without a home, I want to bring them in to our family. If I see a horse, old and unwanted and starving, I want to go and load her up and find someone that will love and nurture her. If I see the elderly in need of assistance, I want to love them and help them with anything at all that they might need. IF I see a child with special needs, it is part of who I am to try to get inside their world and bring their best out. I have met many many people just like me. It is a servant's heart. Sometimes I feel like it's a curse, but God wants it to be a blessing. Most of you are just like this and that is why we are such good friends. Those of you who are less a servant are more in another area that we are not gifted in - and thank God for you!!! So let's all use our gifts in this new year, not be a curse but to be a blessing to a hurting world (wow where did that come from???)

Love you all,
Susan

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