Congrats and a big thanks to Linda Bair and the volunteers from northern Minnesota. They were able to raise nearly $1,400 for ASAP at their second annual trailride. Way to go!

May 26, 2005

Where did I leave off? Was it already three weeks ago since I have written to update what is going on here at ASAP? I am a bit crispy.........but here goes with the latest...

Remember the people who flew out here from Washington state to look at horses several weeks ago? Well we had a great time, and Elizabeth fell madly in love with Man Maid and Chocolate Choo Choo. After a visit at the farm we "mosey-ed" over to the Iowa side to get pictures of the state line sign and get magnetics (these gals needed to cover as many states as they could) and then made arrangements for how and when the horses would get to Washington.

After checking the high prices of shipping horses, my wonderful husband Craig decided that he could beat all the hauling rates and just a couple of weeks ago he hooked up the trailer and traveled the 1800 mile trek to Washington with Manny and Choo. Wow - that was the second longest haul we have ever done, and Craig was a bit tired when he returned after his trip. While he was gone the kids and I were in charge of chores and everything seemed in order. Everyone was happy and healthy so things went smoothly but I was very happy to see Craig get back again. A few days later, Craig left for South Dakota for his turkey hunting expedition with two of his best buddies. Yes, self-employment has its advantages, doesn't it?

I was again the stay-at-home mom taking kids to school and doing chores and loving it. Craig, in the meantime, hit a hard rain his first day out in the Black Hills while hunting. He and his friend Kevin had parked the truck along a gravel road and it was approaching dusk when the rains really started pelting down. Unable to see well, they decided to call it a day and proceeded to try and find their way back to the truck. They were unable to make out one path from another and the rain came down harder. Looking back, they saw a mountain lion, which trailed them, staying about 80 yards back the entire time. Anxiously, they searched for how to get back to the truck but gave up for lack of visibility. They picked up Centennial Trail and followed it back to the cabin, leaving the truck on the road. By the time they got back several hours later, Craig's third friend had enlisted the help of our friends at Nemo Guest Ranch and they were out searching for Kevin and Craig. It was quite a story to tell about how the cougar trailed them. The next day they woke up to frigid temperatures and six inches of snow in the Black Hills. Needless to say, their hunting trip produced no turkeys.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... I was busy on a Saturday showing horses to people who came for our open house. I thought I had done quite well keeping things together but was feeling a tiny bit of stress because my foster children were still sleeping on this particular day at noon and I could have used their support as I was here and there, trying to saddle this horse, then that horse, and all the while thinking about the water tanks needing filling and the feeding that needed to get done......

Someone came to see Little Tyrone. Well, Little Tyrone is a wonderful gelding. He is a chunky little bay horse with inquisitive eyes. He is a bit head shy (haven't figured out why yet) and doesn't like to be caught when he is turned out. I went out to see if I could get him without grain, following him at a walking pace from one end of the paddock to the other without him giving in. My little dogs Cookie and Tina decided to get in there and stir things up, and before long Tyrone and the donkey and Brittany were running from one end to the other. If anyone has ever seen Cookie, she has a disability that is genetic and she cannot stand upright on her front legs. She bounces around on those crooked legs and thinks she can eat horses. Well, I yelled "Cookie, get out of here!" and picked Cookie up, resigning myself to the fact that I would have to go and get grain in order to catch Tyrone. I put Cookie down ever so briefly to scoop up a can of sweet feed and before I knew it the horses buzzed by along the fenceline and Cookie went under to try to eat a horse and bark at it and was hit full force by Tyrone's back legs. I dropped the can and stared in disbelief at Cookie, lying on her side with her legs still moving. I scooped her up from under the fence and she appeared to be gasping for breath. She couldn't breathe, and was doing the very thing that all animals do right before they die as they gasp for breath. I started screaming "OhmyGod, OhmyGod, please help me" and I walked swiftly towards the house with Cookie, talking to her and praying desperately. I walked into the house and spotted one of my foster kids staring at the television, oblivious to anything that had gone on that day and began yelling for him to help me. As I was explaining what had just happened Cookie took one last gasp and struggled with her legs and then her eyes rolled back, she went limp in my arms, and her tongue came out. She stopped breathing. I had lost my Cookie.

You know that deep-throated moan that comes out of people when they are in extreme grief and mourning? I just couldn't believe what had just happened... I kept saying, "I lost my little dog" "I lost my Cookie" "ohmyGod please help me, please don't take my Cookie..." I walked out of the house with Cookie still limp in my arms and lifeless and dropped to my knees behind the tree to the side of our house just moaning and grieving... I got up and began walking down the sidewalk towards the driveway and as I walked, crying out, the people who had come to look at Tyrone walked towards me, one girl in tears. I cried out, "I have lost my little dog, I have lost my Cookie, ohmyGod, what do I do? I have lost my dog". I pleaded with the Lord for a miracle - to bring her back to me - I prayed out loud and I cried out from the bottom of my heart. The women stood helplessly, watching me. Then, the miracle happened. This is a witnessed miracle, as I stood crying out in the driveway, I saw Cookie's eyes open. She began to breathe. She didn't move, didn't stir, but she came back to me. I cried out for joy, and called my in-laws, screaming. They came flying from a town about 10 minutes away, my mother-in-law crying, tears streaming down her face. Cookie slowly began to gain consciousness. I called the vet, and miraculously (this was a MIRACLE) there was no skull fracture, but she did have a huge welt on her head by her left ear and a large hematoma on her back. Cookie had to stay under watch for 48 hours to be sure she would live, and she was put on steroids and another medication. I am here to say that Cookie is back with us, and is as good as she was before the accident. I am so thankful for God's tender mercy - how He heard little ol' me and had compassion for Cookie on that day. I told God that I needed Cookie as much as Cookie needed me - whatever the reason for why the Lord touched us that day it shows his infinite love for His people and His creation. As long as I live, I will praise the Lord!!! As for the women who came to see Tyrone, I apologized for the commotion and they came back two days later to ride Tyrone, but I have not seen them since. Perhaps they were "angels unaware"?

The rescue of Ranger could not have happened without Terry and Katie, to whom we are so indebted. Ranger is now in his new home after a full dental workup and vet check and bloodwork. He went with Holly the swaybacked STB who looked more like a buckskin than a bay... so far Holly won't let anyone get near Ranger - maybe he needs that extra bit of protection right now? He is one lucky boy, as the kill truck pulled in directly behind Terry's rig as he pulled out.

Then there is the joyful story of May, the blind Standardbred mare who was rescued several months ago. She spent the winter on the ridge, and had great initial care by a foster family in Cannon Falls before going to long term foster care with Ken, adopter of Touch of Greatness. We are happy to report that May gave birth to a beautiful bay colt on May 22, and both mom and baby are doing fine. If I could grant her one thing, I would ask God to give May brand new eyes to gaze with upon her new baby. She gets worried when she cannot sense the baby near her, but is doing well and hasn't stepped on him or anything so we can be very happy about that!

Day camps continue two days per week here at the farm, and we still haven't gotten enough money together to pay for immunizations for horses waiting for homes, but I do want to thank Chrisoula in Florida for her recent donation of Potomac vaccine! Also Barb Cunningham for her donation and Linda Bair for her donation of a bottle of Ivermectin. Sheryl P. in Colorado - we appreciate your monetary donation too! You are all wonderful to know. I am proud to be a part of such a caring horse family.

This week finds me crispy-fried. I just finished a three-credit graduate course through Cardinal Stritch University (yay) and just in time, as my oldest child graduates from high school tomorrow night. She is going to UW in Madison this fall, hoping to become a pediatric cardiologist. She is salutatorian of her class, and I am anxious to hear her speech tomorrow evening. I have to drive to the Twin Cities tonight to pick up a wonderful 15 year old girl who will live with us later this summer . She is horse crazy and we look forward to a Memorial weekend that includes riding ASAP horses in the local parade. If you want to join us let us know!

I remain, humbly yours,
Susan