July 29, 2007

Hi Everyone!

Try not to faint! Here is a long overdue farm update.

We are having the time of our lives this summer, and last week finished a day camp for the children of Chileda (see pics) enrolled in the summer school program.

This weekend we will be that Kickapoo Country Fair in La Farge to share our love of the horses we serve, and Broderick or Forrit Biskit and Steelin Apples will be showcased to the public.

Next weekend we will be at Hawthorne Race Course for Night of Champions. We will ahve some Illinois bred racing champions of the past on hand.

Later in August we will be at the Walker Standardbred Yearling Sale and the Illinois State Fair. It is a hectic time but we love every opportunity!

I have been riding a new STB this spring and summer - R Colelateral. Last month my hsuband and I made a 1,500 mile trek to Springfield, Chicago, Lansing MI, Flint MI back to Chicago and then back to ASAP. We picked up Sunny Forecast and Lilly Long, and also Bad Boy Adam who is currently in saddle training. I am madly in love with Lilly - her spirit and sweetness is like no other mare I have had here lately. I hope whoever gets her gives her the life she so deserves. That goes for all of them!

Sadly, Gentle Ben had to be humanely euthenized recently, as well as JD. We want to memorialize them by putting their pictures up on the site. They were both such wonderful spirits of survival and faith in humankind despite their pasts which were not so kind to them. Also, Siouxland Reward died rather suddenly this past week. Those of you who have been long-standing supporters of ASAP will remember Siouxland Reward, as he raced and made over a quarter million dollars before coming into our program. I believe he was over 20 years of age.

Just as the horses' lives that we touched are leaving for their heavenly rewards, new lives are coming in that are not always expected! Rocking Standout gave birth two weeks ago to a beautiful little golden colt with big white blaze . Hopefully you see his picture here!!! There wasn't a stallion in sight..............12 months ago...........or WAS there? It was a much accepted blessing to adopter Trudy!

So life is good. We are flooded with ball games for my son Zachary and doing as much riding as we can. We hope to make it to the Black Hills in August. Our web masters, thank goodness, are hanging in there! If you get a chance, send them an email to tell them how much we are lost without them and how much we appreciate all that they do for ASAP at standardbred@whathelps.com Kim and Bryan surely deserve generous thoughts sent their way!

As always, we are experiencing a heavy flood of horses being referred. We have four horses at Chicago who need fostering at this time. Please let me know if you are able to help.

I will write again very very soon. Thanks for waiting for this long overdue letter!

Hugs,
Susan

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