Hi Everyone,
This is going to
be short and sweet, since we are scrambling to get ready for
the Illinois Horse Fair in Springfield.
The main thing I
wanted to do is share some pictures of our new puppy with you
since we got him. He has doubled in size, from 12 pounds to
24 pounds as of March 2!!! He is going to be a whopper. Now
he is in the teething stage, and has discovered my muddy work
boots. If I can find one and not the other, I can only assume
it is outside in the flower bed! The cats no longer want to
play with him - I wonder why? And.........poor Cookie, our disabled
Jack Russell! When we first got the pup he was as big as Cookie,
and now he towers over her, and she has no time for him at all.
The pup chews on Magnum's ears and he cries. Add to this, the
fact that Magnum got shot on Monday while taking a little jaunt
through our woods, and you have one sore Short Hair!! Luckily,
Magnum escaped with no broken bones or no torn muscles - the
bullet came in one side and out the other and only got skin.
Miracle! Now Magnum is scheduled to be NEUTERED.........and
hopefully stop running around!
We will have Spect's
Solution demonstrating along with one other adoption horse this
weekend, along with the Illinois Standardbred Owners and Breeders
Association's two Standardbreds. If all goes well, we should
roll into Springfield by 9 pm to set up the display. I'm already
tired, but have managed to pack the kids ahead of time and am
happy to be taking our one faithful day camp assistant and horse
enthusiast (and great babysitter!) Heather Rasmussen along with
us. I will bring back plenty of pictures.
It is great that
Son of Greek and Bo can go to their new home together. It is
amazing to me to meet so many wonderful people while being a
part of ASAP. I am humbled by the opportunity to place these
wonderful, valuable, sweet, deserving horses with the right
family. Sometimes I do not know how things will work out for
the horses in their lives, and I have to go on faith. Sometimes
it is very hard to let go, especially when occasionally things
go bad for adopters or the horses and you don't know how the
fairy tale will end. Everyone wants a "happily ever after"
- that is what we believe for.........most of the time this
is what happens, but there is always a pit in my stomach each
time a horse is placed, hoping beyond all hope that this is
the best possible family for a horse, or horse for a family.
All the reference checks and all the talking and face-to-face
encounters in the world can never be a 100% sure guarantee,
and much of my job is based upon my gut instinct. It is truly
a privilege to be working with these horses. The people I meet
teach me much as well. In the past week I have met one person
who lost a child within the past year in a tragic accident,
and heard of one of my dear friends who lost their son, 34 years
of age, in another car accident, leaving behind a family. These
two individuals shared their stories with me with such strength
and determination that their journey through life and its hard
times have made them stronger, wiser, and has given them a vision
to pursue their dreams and not let the devil take their joy
or their zeal for life. Through their tragedies, they are striving
towards the goal of making this world a better place, and their
strength is an example to us all. So many of us whine about
our lives and we have nothing to whine about in comparison to
what some people are going through, yet they can still be kind,
still be loving, and can still smile. Yes, I learned a lot this
past week, and these two wonderful women are an example to me
of Godliness!
Take care and I'll
send you pictures when I return! Don't forget to sign up for
the new and revised plan for our clinic, to be held at the ASAP
farm on Saturday, March 20. The clinic fee is only $50 per person
and the trainer will be here to answer all your questions!!!
Bring your horses to just ride and have fun that day or come
and watch for $25.
Susan
