-- Silent Auction! Ends April 15th --

Hello Everyone!

It has been a bad week for getting pictures to you. Unfortunately, the CD that was supposed to come with my one-hour photo was not included. I phoned Shopko, then went there personally, and they all remembered the CD but didn't know where it got put. The last time I went in to ask, they just looked at me as if to say, "SO what?". So I guess my pictures of Squire One and Cut Loose being ridden are lost, but I hope to get more. I apologize to those of you who wanted to see them.

Erv Miller and his son helped out again this year.

Yesterday was my birthday. In a way I wanted everyone to forget about my birthday, but my husband took the day off to treat me special and my wish was his desire (not bad, huh?). The day began in a strange way, with unexpected visitors and it seemed as though we would never leave the farm. At noon we finally made our escape and went up to get my licensed renewed first. Then I asked Craig if we could drive out to Amish country to see a gelding that a family had written me about. I think Craig would have rather done something else, but without complaint he taxied me through hill and dale until we found Knapp Valley Road and the Amish farm.

As a child I always accompanied my father during our summers in Wisconsin to buy strawberries or chickens from the Amish. I was in awe of their lifestyle, as they were of ours. My dad always got along well with them, and I remember dreaming of spending a week or maybe a whole month with an Amish family if they would allow it.
This never became a reality, but for the past fifteen years I, too, have established a relationship with the local Amish community. I didn't ever dream that someday I would be helping horses leave the community to find a new life, but with my own Standardbred having been with me for 15 years after I purchased him from the Amish I realize that this, too, is another area of ministry that needs attention.

So many horses race and then are loaded up on a horse jockey's trailer to make the windy trek to become buggy horses. Many are treated well, cared for, fed, and not pushed, but many are also not fed well, treated as disposable property, and driven in to the ground. Such was a horse I saw yesterday. I cannot properly put into words my impression of the Amish woman I met. She was kind and personable, and by the end of our conversation had bonded! She is about my age (never gonna tell!) and has nine children! She is beautiful and smart, and she told me she LOVES horses. I told her that if I had been born into an Amish family I would be chastised for neglecting my household duties and always in the pasture and she laughed with me, understanding.

She, I believe, would also secretly love to be with the horses all the time! She knew every horse by name and breed and spoke of them all very fondly. She said she believed that horses needed to be treated kindly and spoken to, coaxed and rewarded. She promptly put on her rubber boots and walked from her immaculate yard to the sunny pasture where the gelding was that she wants to sell. From afar, the gelding seemed to be "okay" , but by the time I arrived at the gate with her to take him, I could see he was in trouble. Every bone in his body was apparent. She said he was 11-12 years old and that his name is Ranger. He has been with them for years, and is unflappable. Her kids ride him, they drive him past snow plows and semis and he doesn't flinch. He stood motionless, eyes closed, being held by the halter. He is a solid bay, no white markings, about 15'3, and in bad condition. His legs don't look swollen but he had recently gotten over a bout of "distemper"..........

I looked at my husband but he said we did not have the money to purchase him, so I am once again turning to all of you to see if you might be interested. Ranger needs a home... and I believe $450 would take him today. She said she could keep him and try to fatten him up and get more money for him so I believe we have some time... let me know if you can help. As far as this whole Amish/ASAP connection, I am not sure where God is taking this. Craig told me to be careful, since we have so many nice sound horses needing homes and I shouldn't be changing my focus. It is just that it is hard to ignore the ones that need rescuing before they end up in the kill pen at a sale... so can we combine both endeavors? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated!

Squire One continues to make leaps and bounds of progress under saddle. He went more than a mile the other day... and Shifty Swoosh? Well, let's just say he was a handful! He is going to need a firm hand and some HOURS... and possibly less feed! He was rather unfocused and very shy in the beginning, nervous, and broke a sweat just being tied to the hitching rail. We are going to begin working with Look Della and Little Tyrone in the next week, which will be exciting! I think Look Della will look great as an English horse, but that is just her type of build. She is quiet and calm and so willing!

I have the Iowa Horse Fair this weekend so am off and running to get ready for it. Farrier comes at 10 am and then off to St. Paul to meet my future foster daughter (excited to have her join us at Iowa Horse Fair!!)................so crazy as usual. Emails are encouraged as I am never near a phone, and special thanks to the following people for all their support:

-Chris for her donations of supplements and medicines (Chris lives in Florida)
-Lynette for her donation of bedding and feed supplement
-Deeann for all her volunteer work riding horses that are coming in!
-Mollie for her dedication to ASAP and riding horses here at the farm
-Leah for doing such a great job with DT and Squire One when retraining to saddle
-Ken K for his money to help get horses rescued
-Barb C. for writing Big Dee's Tack and Vet Supply and getting us a huge box of blankets, leads, halters, and all other great stuff donated!
-Thanks to Big Dee's Tack and Vet Supply!!!
-Mark and Denise Stuber for their continued love and caring of horses in need

I'll have pics of the horse fair next week!

Hugs,
Susan

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