Hi Everyone,
Here we go - so
much has happened (not a surprise, right?) in the last week,
and a whole new chapter of ASAP history is in the making for
me and for my family as we participate in the personal placement
of two very special horses going to new homes: Bold N Rare and
EV Mack.
Ev is first off
the trailer - when we reach Billings Montana somewhere around
the 21 of this month. From Billings it is off to San Jose, California
to finally have Cathy and Bold N Rare come face to face after
months of waiting! We will go through South Dakota and Montana
and Idaho and drop down into Utah and hit I-80 on the way out,
but on the way home we plan on going through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming,
etc. and reliving the days when my parents and I drove from
California to Wisconsin at least once or twice a year in my
growing up days.
I am scared to
death - been doing a lot of meditating about this fear and know
that most of it is leaving my comfort zone and leaving my ailing
wolf-dog. I don't want to regret this trip in any way, shape,
or form. I have covered every base in having people stay at
our farm (wonderful volunteers Terry and Katie will feed horses
and sleep here), paying the neighbor to feed the small animals
and give Wolfie his medications twice a day, and having mothers
and mothers-in-law check in daily to make sure everyone is okay.
I even bought two vinyl posts and will mount them tomorrow at
the end of the driveway and extend a chain across the driveway
to keep people out so Wolfie doesn't get run over! I have come
to the conclusion that I am going to ruin a beautiful vacation
for me and my family if I don't stop this worrying..........so
please - everyone out there - if you think of it sometime during
your equally busy days - whisper a prayer that my fear will
disappear and that there will be a hedge of protection placed
around all creatures great and small at ASAP, and especially
Wolfie as he struggles with this terrible cranial infection
he has. I have seen signs and wonders galore in the past 12
years of being involved in horse and animal rescue and adoption,
and know that the ear of God is open, and the hand of God is
not shortened in relation to His creation. Even if I am not
acting like it because of the fear, I do believe it!!!
The last two weeks
have brought opportunities for ASAP that are encouraging and
speak to the credibility of Wisconsin's oldest horse rescue
and adoption program................
- riding lessons
for children using both Gray Van Kandy and Asha - one girl learned
how to collect herself and her horse at the canter - Asha was
the perfect horse to give lessons with!
- two youth spent
time working off community service hours and ASAP got its second
hitching post up at the tack shed!!!
- I had a personal
conversation with the executive manager of one of the largest
non-profit service organizations in the country today - they
phoned, asking if I would be willing to work with them in setting
up a horse camp that is in the works for children with disabilities
in Wisconsin! This horse camp has been in the planning for 15
years, and there is a board meeting in November which I hope
to attend, presenting our organization and considering me as
a consultant to their administration. The horses at the camp
will be..........from ASAP!!! I think it helps that I am a licensed
special education teacher and have experience in therapeutic
riding programs as well as with the horses. I am pleased and
honored with this opportunity.
- We have rescheduled
the retraining clinic for STB's for March at Spring Grove arena.
In the meantime, if you wish to join the general horsemanship
clinic scheduled for November 15, contact Ray Waters at 563-568-4590.
The March clinic will feature a silent auction as well as a
personal appearance by Celtic, the Freisian stallion whose owner
is donating a breeding to ASAP!
- A group will
come from across the state from a Wisconsin high school class
to evaluate Standardbreds for a project they are completing
for credit. They will also volunteer and help out with horses
while they are here. Watch for pictures!
- I recently signed
on as a FASTRACK distributor. My veterinarian was very pleased,
as she firmly believes in the benefits of probiotic supplements
for optimal digestion and health. An 80 day supply for one horse
is $23.80. If you want to order, please reply to this e-mail
and I will be happy to mail you a bag! The hard keepers at our
farm or the horses in need of special feeds and rations have
responded so well to FASTRACK - it is palatable (only one to
two ounces mixed with feed) and horses eat it right up!
- Okay, so I cannot
just be happy being a stay at home mom and helping the horses...
while at the Vernon County Fair in September a woman approached
me and asked me a few questions. Before I knew it, I had signed
up to become a Mary Kay Consultant!!!!! I have not had to work
to sell the product, because as soon as I mention that I am
a consultant people want to order items! I have been amazed,
but it is not surprising because I have been using Mary Kay
for 15 years. Sooooooooooooooooooo, if anyone is interested
in placing an order with me for skin care, fragrances, or other
items, please know that I am willing to give my ASAP friends
a little discount for placing an order with me! Of course, if
you already have a Mary Kay rep, stay with them, but if you
don't, it is a great opportunity to order product at less than
retail!
- Taste of Wine
was adopted and went to his new home tonite in Blue River. Congratulations,
Natalie!!! Couldn't ask for better people.......
- T-Bone finally
got turned out in the sanctuary paddock this week and is loving
his freedom, although he still pines away at the corner occasionally
for his friends Janimal, Randy, Sheba, Chief, Cricket, Brittany,
and Star Cheetah. Sigh............but that injury is so well
healed it is miraculous!
- WE have a horse
who was adopted and shipped to the UP in Michigan that is having
a few adjustment problems. I think that the adopters really
need someone that is experienced with Standardbreds to work
with the adopters to mentor them until they become familiar
with the mare. The Standardbred is not behaving badly - just
miscommunication between horse and adopter is making this complicated.
If any of you are in the UP and are willing to help them out,
give me a call or e-mail.
- A Wisconsin
congressman's wife phoned awhile back and paid us a huge compliment
as a premiere Wisconsin horse rescue and adoption program. She
stated that there was none in comparison to ASAP, which makes
us feel so very proud (and humble at the same time!!). A woman
in Florida phoned to let us know she has been watching the site
for two years, and feels that we are work horses for the cause
and thanked us!
- We are going
to be setting up a display for the Christian Harness Horseman's
Association at the track each month in conjunction with our
table. We are happy to help represent this organization, as
they have done much to help us in times of need!
- Now for the
horrific news.........which I saved for last. We want to take
this time to remember Spirit - the 18 year old registered Quarter
Horse who came to us after a lifetime with his owner Laurie.
Laurie trusted us to provide the best of care for Spirit, which
we did. He truly loved his time at ASAP, and always watched
me from the arena and would answer my calls to him with a hearty
whinny. Spirit was adopted and last Sunday his adopter came
to pick him up. He had spent the afternoon in the barn with
us, watching us ride and enjoy the sunshine. He was upset that
he was separated from his buddies, but tolerated the stall after
a time and settled down. Around 5 pm the truck and trailer pulled
in and it was time to say "so long" to Spirit. He
would not load for love nor money - he reared and broke lead
ropes, he ran, and almost hurt people around him. He just didn't
want to go in. After allowing him a lot of time to get used
to the trailer and us, we began to gently encourage him in.
After a lot of time passed, and a blindfold was applied, Spirit
went in the trailer and
away they went towards Mankato, Minnesota.
The adopted stopped
in La Crosse, about 20 miles north of us, to get a sandwich
at Subway. When he opened the trailer side door to check on
him, Spirit had clambored up on top of the trailer manger with
both front feet. His adopter went in to release the lead rope
and instead of allowing him to help, Spirit panicked and reared
upwards, breaking his halter and throwing himself completely
backwards, landing on his back. He began to thrash. The adopter
shut the door and drove 20 miles back to our farm with Spirit
down. When he got here I was just accepting R Tru Majority from
his owner who had come from Indiana to place him. They came
and got me, and I became immediately hysterical. My husband
and neighbors and son and foster son all came to help get him
out of the trailer. I ran to call the veterinarian and the former
owner Laurie to tell her what had happened. R Tru Majority's
owner aided in getting some bleeding stopped and putting a blanket
on Spirit. Unfortunately, the horror of what we saw told us
what the night would probably bring, despite my denial. Spirit
had snapped his leg at the hock, with muscle tissue hanging
out and profuse bleeding. The bone was protruding. His eye had
been damaged in the panic, and he had numerous contusions. The
other leg looked as though it may be fractured.
The vet arrived
and was relieved to know we had administered Bantamine for pain.
Spirit was suffering, and in shock. I could not bear to see
him this way, but continued to help by making phone calls and
taking care of Major. The vet called UW in Madison - the only
place that could help him. After a major consultation and the
reality that Spirit would have to go through surgery, spend
five months in a sling in a stall, and have a 10 per cent chance
of survival given his age with a $6,000 estimate, Spirit was
humanely euthenized and is today buried at the ASAP farm. Craig
and I have been unable to talk about it, as the pain is too
great. I gave the adoption fee back to the adopter, and the
vet sent us the bill without remorse. We will have to find a
way to pay for the emergency vet call... without the ending
we had hoped for. I really want to say that I was willing to
take Spirit to Madison and take the chance to save him... but
a committee of people including my husband, two vets, and the
former owner, brought me to the reality that it would be unfair
to Spirit and a time of intense suffering and a long road to
recovery. At best, he may only be a pasture ornament. I guess
it was the right decision, but there is no one to blame and
nothing to say - just the silence of tears and a fond memory
of Spirit and his brief time with us. May we never forget him!
I'll write from
the road - take care!
Love,
Susan
