October 2, 2005

Thanks to Nanette N. Denise K. Linda T. Mike H. Terry and Katie, Pam N. for all the foster care they provide for our horses waiting for homes! Also to the foster family for Albert Knight in Michigan.

Thanks to Jennie D. for her financial contribution of $200 for the horses this week!

This past week has been exciting. We had a college student here putting in hours for a Vet Tech class in Madison. Tiff actually became familiar with ASAP years ago as a young teenager when she adopted three horses from our organization. She still has all three horses, though they are a bit older now! Tiff worked with Broadway Buddy and Rondancer last Saturday, then assisted with some office work. Hats off to Tiff! We look forward to her return on Friday.

I am thrilled to have a new student for lessons. A 12 year old boy had his first horseback riding experience last Wednesday at the ASAP farm. This boy is autistic and we were unsure of whether or not he would enjoy riding, but his face told the story! Chief was tied to the hitching rail when he arrived with his worker. Chief saw him approach and, I do believe, sensed there was something different and special about this new student. We walked into the arena and assisted him in mounting Chief. From that moment on the giggles began! We had the most rewarding lesson and Chief was the star of the show! He walked and trotted through obstacle courses. Our new student sat solidly in the saddle, proud and strong, and... liberated! When the lesson was over, he did not want to get down. That was one sure way of knowing that therapeutic riding will be a favorite activity for the weeks to come! We are so happy to have this young man as a new student and look forward to every Thursday for the next several weeks!!

We also are looking forward to two young ladies who will be joining us weekly from a local Girl Scout Troop. They are going to spend time with the horses and working at the farm in order to earn a Silver Award Medal. We welcome Amy and Rachel!

I happened upon an interesting book that I have been reading lately. I wanted to quote a few lines from it, which describes so many people I know who are involved with ASAP. I want to make it my goal to be like this:
This is a letter the author created that is supposed to be from God to His people:

"The Greatest Miracle in the World" by Og Mandino page 99 states:

"The law is simple. Young or old, pauper or king, white or black, male or female . . . all can use the secret to their advantage; for of all the rules and speeches and scriptures of success and how to attain it, only one method has never failed . . . whomsoever shall compel ye to go with him one mile . . . go with him two.

This then is the third law . . . the secret that will produce riches and acclaim beyond your dreams. Go another mile!

The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. Therefore I saith the surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work for which you are paid.

Think not ye are being cheated if you deliver more than the silver you receive. For there is a pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver, if not rewarded today, will swing back tomorrow, tenfold. The mediocre never goes another mile, for why should he cheat himself, he thinks. But you are not mediocre. To go another mile is a privilege you must appropriate by your own intiative. You cannot, you must not avoid it. Neglect it, do only as little as the others, and the responsibility for your failure is yours alone.

You can no more render service without receiving just compensation than you can withhold the rendering of it without suffering the loss of reward. Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, these cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists the means, and the fruit is always in the seed.

Go another mile.

Concern yourself not, should you serve an ungrateful master. Serve him more.

And instead of him, let it be me who is in your debt, for then you will know that every minute, every stroke of extra service will be repaid. And worry not, should your reward not come soon. For the longer payment is withheld, the better for you . . . and compound interest on compound interest is this law's greatest benefit.

You cannot command success, you can only deserve it . . . and now you know the great secret necessary to merit its rare reward. Go another mile!!!!

Where is this field whence you cried there was no opportunity? Look! Look around thee. See, where only yesterday you wallowed on the refuse of self-pity, now you walk tall on a carpet of gold. Nothing has changed . . . except you, but you are everything.

You are my greatest miracle.
You are the greatest miracle in the world.
And now the laws of happiness and success are three.
Count your blessings! Proclaim your rarity! Go another mile!!!!!"

Susan