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Thank you to Elaine and Stephanie, who voluntered their time at the Northern Illinois Horse Fest. Here's what they had to say:

Hello! I could probably write all night about our experiences at the horse Fest with Hidden Treasure (Delaney Rae). Stephanie spent many hours lunging her and riding her in open grassy areas to get her calmed down enough to do anything that looked controlled. Stephanie did a GREAT job. I was very impressed with her handling and riding skills. She only had two months of riding lessons last summer and her own hours of retraining and riding Treasure. Did I tell you she has her cantering under saddle like an old pro? I bet you can't tell that I am the proud mom.

We set up a small table at Treasure's stall with a binder of pictures from the web site of the adoptable horses; business cards; application forms and a large sign. Because of the way Treasure was acting we weren't sure if Stephanie would ride her in the arena or just lead with the halter. She was scheduled to present in the outside arena. Friday night that arena was being used for barrel racing so she didn't get a chance to get in there. Late that night it stormed. Early Sat morning Stephanie worked with Treasure in the indoor arena and they did great together, riding and all. We decided to go outside to work in the outdoor one where she was to present later that morning. Others were in there even though it was total slop, not one solid spot in there. As soon as Stephanie rode in with Treasure, we realized we had made a mistake. Treasure does NOT LIKE slop. She tried everything she knew to get out of it as fast as possible and find solid footing. Stephanie rode her wonderfully, trying to get her to calm down. I ran in and grabbed the bridle and snapped the lead on and it took both of us circling and weaving, to get her out the gate to a grassy area. By the time we got her out, all the other horses had left and gone to another dryer arena a distance away. That didn't please Treasure at all. Through this weekend we learned a lot about our horse. She could not be spooked by any loud, unusual or sudden noises. She didn't flinch when they did mounted shooting or driving a cart nearby with a whip cracking or anything else. We did discover the two things that caused her to react. Unsteady footing in soft wet sand, and other horses. As long as we were in the same area as a few other horses just riding around she did great. If she happened to see a lot of horses somewhere that she wasn't- like another arena- she went hyper trying to get there also. I know that a lot of that is because of the herd instinct and the fact that she has no pasture mate here with us. She is such a wonderful horse and just needs a friend. I was so proud of both Stephanie and Treasure with how well they did this weekend.

It was a great experience for us all. They were the only ones at the Horse Fest not only representing the ASAP, but the Standardbred breed also. There was only two other Standardbreds there and they were clinic horses that didn't do any of the breed demos. Before Stephanie did the first presentation we had only one person that asked us about Treasure and I told her about ASAP. They did end up doing the presentations at the inside arena because of the bad conditions. After her presentation, I let Stephanie walk around with a friend for a few hours. She called me an hour later and said that all the business cards were gone that we put out (about 40). About 45 minutes later she said to bring more applications also because they were all gone. I had printed up only 5 of those. Sunday went much better as we now knew where and how to handle Treasure, though she was still a little excited as to be expected. About 32 more business cards were given away or taken. I had an opportunity to talk with quite a few people about ASAP and they appeared very impressed with the organization. I pray that there will be some fruit from it all. Thank you for taking the time to "listen" to me ramble. I was really excited about how things went and enjoyed myself greatly (when I wasn't a wreck being nervous!). Stephanie and I both learned a lot. Thank you for inviting us to be a part of the Horse Fest.

-- Elaine Book

September 13, 2004

Hi Everyone,

"Holiday Ro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oad, Holiday Ro-o-o-o-o-o-oad!!!!!!!"

Remember the song from the movie "National Lampoon's Vacation"? That is what I sang every day while I drove our rented mini van from La Crosse all the way to San Jose, California recently! Four kids, grandma,and two dogs and I made the trip, and what a great time it was! After the initial tantrums on behalf of my teen age daughter, who was leaving "all her friends", and the last detail was given to Craig on how to care for Raffi and the horses, we piled in to a van full of Little Debbie snack cakes and juices and munchies that we had purchased at Wal Mart the days before.

There was hardly room for all of us as we left, but it didn't take long for the pile of food to be consumed, especially by a 6'2", 185 pound 15 year old son named Jordan. We stopped our first night at Chamberlain, South Dakota and stayed at Al's Oasis, a favorite place of all of us. We couldn't resist stopping at 1880's Town (again), and then on to a brief stop at our cabin in South Dakota. It just didn't seem the same there without Craig and our horses! After eating a bit of a meal, we climbed in and hit the road from Hill City, South Dakota and a two-lane highway that dropped us down into Wyoming. We stayed the night in Cheyenne, where they had a great pool and we got the royal treatment. In our rush in the morning we left my precious wolf fleece jacket on the bed... more about that later. We had to stop at Holding's Little America to relive some childhood memories that I had and get a picture, then off again on Interstate 80. It seemed like forever to get through Wyoming, but it was beautiful.

Utah is short and sweet on the I-80 route - Provo was something else - I haven't driven across country and seen the ski resorts before so the progress there was impressive. The road wound down into Salt Lake City, and on the other side we entered the great Salt Flats. We stopped at a rest stop on the salt flats and took off our shoes and socks and ran across the flats. We collected salt to save for a scrapbook, and back into the van we went (there was a truck driver there and no others besides one man and the truck driver was a bit too "friendly" and followed us around a lot and talked to us. I kept telling Jordan to "stay close" - he was my big bouncer for the trip, and I felt much more secure with him along! The view from the van and the sun set was unbelievable, so I had to snap a picture of that to share with you.

The weather became drier and sunnier the further we got west..... we crossed over into Nevada and looked for Wendover Will, the waving cowboy, but didn't see him, so kept going to Elko, Nevada and the High Desert Inn. My hopes of sneaking off with grandma to play some penny slots and have a look around town were shaken - the kids wanted to swim and the dogs wanted to find a good bathroom out doors! Sigh..... that was okay..... to bed by 11:30 and up again the next morning. One of the most beautiful stops we made was Donner Pass at Donner Summit. Do you know the story about the immigrants who didn't make it to California before a big snow storm came into the mountains in the 1800's, and had to resort to cannibalism for some of them to survive? It is a sobering place to stop, but the beauty in the summertime is indescribable. We walked out to the lake and all of these really cute fish (looked like sucker fish) came swimming up to the surface of the crystal clear water begging for crumbs or food. Zach was in heaven and we had to take pictures! Even the birds landed nearby as if to beg, so we gave them some McDonald's hamburger buns, which they appreciated.

The exciting part of the trip began, as we wound slowly and dangerously down the other side of the Sierras. There were many accidents along the way, and one semi actually had slammed into a pickup and both were in a mangled mess on the side of the mountain and emergency vehicles were everywhere..... the day before we witnessed a black Mustang in Wyoming during a rain storm that spun out of control and ended up under a semi truck with the roof completely taken off. We dialed "9-1-1" and we were the first people to communicate what had happened for the troopers. I was comforted by my teen daughter, who emphatically said, "You guys, everybody right now just start praying!!!!" I was so proud of her.

Once into California I began going down "Memory Lane" and my mother, too, so the kids tuned us out with CD players and TV/Videos. We arrived at Los Gatos Lodge at 6 pm and checked in.... and began the most wonderful five days we have had. Cathy P. from San Jose and I got together one day. Her husband and she were kind enough to come and pick me up and drive me to where their adopted horse, Bold N Rare, is stabled. Bold remembered me! And..... her paddock and shelter overlook my hometown neighborhood on Graystone Lane, and Bold has a full view of the city lights of San Jose each evening. It was so good to meet Cathy and her husband and to see Bold again! I also got together with family and childhood friends and friends' parents. We shared a lot of laughs and some tears at parting, but I know we will be back next year, God permitting. My friend Perri and I got together most every day, and I even got to go to church with her dad and uncle along with my daughter Cherie. I got to share my testimony with Al, Perri's dad, crediting their family with a lot of the reason why the Lord is now such an important part of my life and why I love horses so much - learned both of these things from that great California family!!!!

We got to see Cannery Row at Monterey Bay and, of course, spent hours at Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk. My boys were deaf after we got off the Great Dipper Roller Coaster on the Boardwalk - when I get nervous I laugh and scream at the same time! They were so embarassed..... oh well..............

On the way home we went a different route through I-80 and Nebraska and made the trip home in two nights! We stopped once at Wendover, Nevada, which looks like it would be a lot of fun for adults, and when I bought the local paper there I discovered that Wendover Will, the waving cowboy, had been taken down but was being re-installed so he will be there next time I pass through - YAY!!!!!!!!! We stopped our second night in Sheridan, Wyoming. The front desk clerk told me she had just come from Prairie du Chien, and it was 13 hours from Sheridan to home. My teen daughter once again let out a huge MOAN and almost had a nervous breakdown, as she had to be back to cheerlead at the football game the following night. My son didn't seem too concerned, but he was supposed to play! So the next day was a marathon to get home and we did it and Cherie made it.... and we are thankful to have had such a great trip with so many rich memories.

There is so much going on with ASAP right now that I can hardly share it all. Wild West Days occurred while I was gone, and thanks to Marisa and Sara Wedwick and Terry Levendoski and Lynette Laska for helping out with the booth and display. We sold LOTS of raffle tickets!

The local television station was here last week to film a segment about ASAP which will air this week on two separate days. It was awesome! Janimal got ridden by the television reporter and was such a cooperative little horse! The cameraman rode Chief and Hannah, Sandee Wellman, and Marisa were here to help and we thank you.

Saturday and Monday of Labor Day weekend found us back at Tractor Supply Company.... they have been more than generous to ASAP and thanks to Adrienne de Master for bringing Forrit Biskit and Blackberry Brandy to show the public and thanks to Marisa for also being there, as well as Glen and JoAnn and Kristin and Kathleen. We couldn't do it
without you!

While all of this was going on, Linda and Kim were in Minnesota at the state fair involved in horse exhibition and had a horse to show. We are grateful that they were willing to take so much time out of their week to transport a horse from northern Minnesota to the Twin Cities and share about the Standardbred with the public fair-goers.

Meanwhile, Elaine and her daughter Stephanie were at the Northern Illinois Horse Fest in Belvidere, Illinois with their adopted horse, Delaney Rae. Elaine demonstrated extreme patience in waiting for the go-ahead, as I was still on my trip and things had to be coordinated between Elaine and Wayne Williams and Marisa. Thanks so very very much to Elaine and Stephanie and Delaney Rae (aka Treasure) for being there to represent ASAP!!!!! We just could never be every place at every time without the close involvement of people like you!

This week we are busy getting ready for our benefit trail ride at Yellow River State Park and hope to see you there.... come camp Friday night if you like!

Next week is the county fair, and we will be on hand to sell raffle tickets.... then speed to Super Night in Chicago for the big raffle drawing on Saturday September 18. If you can help us sell raffle tickets please let us know.... the deadline is fast approaching and we have a wonderful original oil painting and a horse/vacation give-away that are fantastic prizes.

Hope to see you at one of these events!

Love,
Susan