May (above) is being fostered by Ken and his family. She is blind, and this kind family provided a home for her when she most needed it. Her foal, Mayson, is nearly a year old now and 15.2 hands!
Perhaps you've read this story before, but it reminds us all of the power and beauty of horses like May and Mayson.
A beautiful story ...
Author Unknown
Just up the road from our home is a field, with two
horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other
horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by,
you will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose
that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to
have him put down, but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing.
If you are nearby and listening, you will hear the
sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of
the sound, you will see that it comes from the
smaller horse in the field. Attached to her
halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know
where she is, so he can follow her.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see
how she is always checking on him, and that he will
listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she
is, trusting that she will not lead him astray.
When she returns to the shelter of the barn each
evening, she stops occasionally and looks back,
making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear
the bell.
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not
throw us away just because we are not perfect or
because we have problems or challenges. He
watches over us and even brings others into our lives
to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our
lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping
others see.
Good friends are like this... You don't
always see them, but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.
Thanks for checking
in!
If you have adopted a horse from ASAP, please send your own "farm
updates" to Susan at asapinc@mwt.net
|
April 25, 2006
  
Please see the special notice from Susan below her update!
____________________
MIDWEST HORSE FAIR - RAVING SUCCESS!
I just have to commend Theresa Pendleton for her superb job of coordinating the Midwest Horse Fair again this year!
This was her third year, and we don't know what we would have done without her. In addition, the adopters who brought their horses to demonstrate each was a valuable piece of this event. I don't think we have ever had the level of dedication that I saw this past weekend, willingness to man the booth, talk with the public, and share their horses with onlookers. The costumes were well thought out and carefully designed, stunning and eye-catching!
We want to thank
Katy and Trudy who drove The Sky's the Limit, Maggie and Larry Fehrm and Springtime Beauty, Patty Mirsky and her daughter along with Hizor Amos, Carol, Linda, and Carol's horse Fleur de Mal (aka Griffin), Adrienne and Kathleen de Master and Victory Buck, Dondi Polzin and Christine and Christopher Too - N, Theresa and Stephanie Pendleton and One Bad Bob, and Rachel Wellman with Janimal and Zachary Wellman, along with Randy aka Alternative. Together we represented the countries of Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, and Germany. The costumes ranged from sombreros to medieval dress, to bunads, to St. Lucia crowns. Danielle Strom was also on hand to volunteer for the weekend to groom, clean, man the booth, help everyone get dressed, mounted, dismounted, and pack up materials. I don't know what I would have done with Theresa and her trailer expertise and Danielle and her generous helping hands and heart. I think we made a fabulous presence this year!
I came home late Sunday night and dropped into bed. I barely made it up to get the kids off to school with eyes half open, and when they were all on their way I collapsed into bed until 11:00 am!!!!! That hasn't happened in a long time, but it must have been needed. What a beautiful weekend we had and all worked so very hard!
The reality check came on Monday afternoon when my husband sat down and, once again, talked about bills. We have gifted the following horses, thus generating NO adoption fees to feed horses waiting for homes:
Sadie
Lady
Odds On Tom
Buddy
Ozzie the Paint
Josie
Too Good To Be True
Rosedale Denise
Missile Mike
Egyptian Lace
Sharp Sister
Quinella Bilmac
BA the Mule
In part these animals were gifted due to the generous offer of foster families to pay to have a horse shipped to their facilities, and to provide necessary immunizations and care for each horse while in care. It is only right to reward the people who make ASAP what it is.
On the other hand, we have still not received our yearly stipend from the Illinois racing associations, and can only rely on donations and adoption fees to cover expenses related to the horses here in care.
We recently had a horse who required over $1300 in medical treatment. We had to put this on a personal charge card, since we had no resources within our ASAP account to cover this. Since it is unrealistic to expect that we will get an adoption fee of $1300 on this horse, we know that we are very much in debt with just this one case. Our most recent hay delivery was $2,800. This bill has yet to be paid. Our most recent farrier bill was $140 last week alone. Thankfully, we have recevied 30 doses of vaccine from Lori Wedemeyer of Iowa (we are forever grateful for her kindness and compassion for the horses here in care) so we will not have to purchase vaccines in the immediate future. Lori also gifted two horse blankets and a tail wrap for Precious KC along with halters. Thank you Lori! She is also committing to $150 a month to help provide for sanctuary horses Arne, Precious KC, Bob Cook. What a blessing!!!
The long and short of this is that we are in danger of bankruptcy if we do not get some financial support. In addition, we MUST get the word out about John Lyons to make this clinic a success in July. Please let us know if you are able to contact any horse publications or radio stations who may be willing to do a press release. Without all of you I am unable to continue!
I try very hard never to complain. There are so so many great things happening as well. May and her son Mayson are flourishing under the care of foster family the Kressins in Minnesota. Mayson just was gelded and is already over 15 hands at just over a year of age!
Brandy's former owner is sending funding for Brandy's regular hoof trims in order to keep her ringbone at a minimum. Thanks to Sara Brandy is getting very regular care and is a very happy mare. Girls scouts and day campers ride Brandy on a regular basis and enjoy her willingness in the indoor riding arena - she has even jumped over the cavalettis!
Chief and Will (who is autistic) continue to come together one day a week for therapeutic riding instruction. Last Tuesday Will got to ride all by himself in the arena, and is learning how to turn his horse independently! Thanks to Scott and Mollie for coming out to assist. Today we will try to put Chief on a longe line and see how his balance progresses when trotting in a circle. Chief remains steady and patient throughout the lessons - a horse worth more money than the world has to offer!
Soft Stall Inc. donated a stall for Precious KC this past weekend at Midwest Horse Fair!!!!! We are working on a way to promote Soft Stall at our farm and also on the web site and we can hardly wait to see the benefits for Precious as she stands on a therapeutic foundation!
Clark Foam, Equifoam mats, made by Dupont Company, has offered to donate 5% of proceeds of any sales generated by information shared at Midwest and Minnesota horse fairs to ASAP Inc. What a gift!
Also, Dairyland Power has donated $50 in sponsorship for the Minnesota Horse Expo.
Barb and Scott E. of Michigan donated a few thousand dollars in order to help youth who would like to attend the John Lyons clinic in July, and also to help purchase vaccines for horse and a helmet for a very special three year old who will be taking lessons here later this spring.
We are so very grateful! See? How many blessings more that I have not reported? We could not do it without each and every one of you, yet we are facing hardship right now and don't know quite how to recover if ws cannot place horses.
If you are able to help us haul, we need horses shipped from Springfield to Wisconsin, Chicago to Wisconsin, and Minnesota to Wisconsin. I know with fuel prices the way they are it would be difficult to volunteer, but if you could it would be great. We also have a horse in Michigan who desperately needs transportation. He is currently at Northville Downs or area.
If you are able to foster, please step foward this Saturday to help get horses moved from our farm to yours. No waiting if you are in state - if you are out of state we need to arrange for IHC's and current coggins (most of the horses have this already).
I hope you enjoy the pictures of our fantastic weekend in Madison. Thanks to Colleen Reetz and the MHF board for their goodness to ASAP and we look forward to next year!
Hugs,
Susan
_________________
Dear Friends,
Due to our financial difficulties, we are forced to offer this Saturday as a day for you to have the opportunity to adopt the following horses.
If you are willing and able, we are offering the following horses free of charge to all who are willing to come and bring them home.
Zerkel Todem - 18 year old sound sorrel Standardbred.
She has been a brood mare and is used to cattle and other horses. She is partially sighted in one eye due to an injury in years past. She is sweet and loving with people - stands and ties well. I have handled her a lot and she is going to be a great horse for someone who has the time. She is about 15 hands. She deserves someone who will give her a permanent and loving home.
Kokinos - red sorrel Standardbred gelding. He is only five and came to us with a sore stifle. It is progressing in its healing and he is able to walk trot and canter. He loves Zerkel. He is submissive in a herd. He will be a great light riding horse and is healthy and current on all but needs spring shots which we can give here before he leaves.
Dealer Donnie D - he is current on coggins and is sound.
He is big and black. He is definitely DOMINANT. He is not a beginner horse. He is spoiled and tends to pull when you lead him but is not flighty in the least. HE has tons of potential. He is over 16'1 hands.
Lone Oak - I hate to gift this horse but due to so many coming in needs to go. He was originally set at $550 on adoption fee. He is sound and black and small - but growing and is now 15 hands. He has had lots of ground work but still needs to be trained to saddle. He tends to be lippy due to months of being turned out.
TJ's Miss Double Mak - this sound five year old mare is fat and sassy. Dominant in a herd. She is sweet and obedient on the ground. She is bored from having sat at our farm for so many months and not getting the home she deserves. She has really come into heat. She would be an awesome brood mare and riding horse.
Broadway Buddy and Rondancer - both are broke to ride, but Buddy has been ridden for years. Current on coggins. Buddy is a roan. He is dominant in a herd. Rondancer looks to him for his confidence. Rondancer is neurotic without Buddy and since they have been together for 15 years I hesitate to separate them.
All are at ASAP farm.
Please come and help us out on Saturday if you are able.
Susan
|
