November 2, 2006

Some friends have been writing me and asking why I have't sent pictures of my grand BABY Julien. I haven't taken any digital photos of him since he was a newborn and he is already nine months old!

Well I wanted to share that I remain very active and involved in this little guy's life. I guess we will "grow up" together! He is still as bald as a cucumber but I had a dream last night that he was magically growing tons of thick brown hair so maybe it is on its way? I had him stay two nights last weekend and was kind of pooped on Monday since he had a cold and didn't sleep well (neither did Craig or I!!) and I remembered just six short years ago going through it with Rachel. How time flies! But I will get pics for you to see!!!

Sue hangs out with Candy Speed, Kokinos, and Bob Cook.

Now my time to whine. We received an unpaid bill on JD the Pintabian from last April that the former adopter chose to have sent to us. I believe the bill is for at least $200. With a horse that we had an emergency haul on due to his emaciation (if you saw the pictures you would absolutely cry) and the foster family in Iowa picking up the bill for good nutrition and vet care.....it is a wonder to know where we will come up with the money for that. And then people wonder why we don't want to release ownership to adopters? I think part of the problem here that we run into is veterinarian's fear of being sued for giving a bad vet reference and having it traced back to them. I always assure vets that their recommendations or lack of remain confidential...but I think there is still that fear there. I believe that we are in a true age of fear of liability in every environment. It makes professionals and lay people alike afraid to take a stand either for or against someone's integrity and character.

Then we have the cases of neglect or starvation that are dangling out at me both locally and regionally that need attention and not enough people willing to foster. Right now we have had one call on a 20 year old Quarter horse mare who was spared from the kill but the people needing a place for her to come. Until more horses here who are healthy and sound find homes, we are unable to accommodate her. I have been reaching out to whoever I can to bet for assistance before she truly does starve to death. I have heard that right now she is getting discount bread store bread.......and hay......she is a gentle old girl who doesn't need a death due to someone's insensitivity.

Craig and Cricket

Meanwhile down the road we have a man who "collects" horses. Now he had at least three to four two year olds that looked like weanlings with metal chains wrapped three times around their upper necks out the other day in a pasture with large healthy stallions. After I spent some time crying over their situation I phoned the man directly to ask him if I could assist in helping place some of these horses and he said he'd like to keep them all. He said the chains were his way of training them - that he pulled them up into the woods in the summer time behind a four-wheeler and then tied them to aspen trees and they ate the leaves off the trees up there. They had rain rot all over their bodies and looked like they came out of a kill pen. ON the other side of the road were mares with babies. They looked to be in good flesh except for one......and I got a call later that day from a concerned citizen that one of the foals was lying dead in the pasture. Now....I have to do something....and I will... GUARANTEED. But who will be there to help when the sheriff says to take them away and I have no where for them to go? Will you be there? Let me know if you can help!!!!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are busy paying off the $1,900 bill on Apples. He will never leave here, though - he is the love of my life next to my hubby and kids and my other horses who have been mine for 20 and 17 years!!! He looks for me in the morning, nickers for me, whinnies for me, and expects to be let out to "play" and be ridden each day. That, along with Tillie the donkey...keeps me feeling pretty accountable to them both. Now, that leaves about 18-20 other horses who also would like the royal treatment. I wish for 18-20 people who would come out and "adopt" one of them while they are here and give them the special attention they all deserve! Ciao Baby has proven to be a very gentle and quiet 3 year old. I have had the saddle on her now and been on her back - both things made her yawn.....

Uncle Skippy managed to get a scratch on his knee that we are treating but he is also a love and yesterday we literally played kissy-face for about five minutes before I thought he actually was nuzzling me back intentionally and thought we must look ridiculous!! He has been ridden briefly a number of times now and is just a lumbering sweet boy.

Candy Speed came up lame yesterday - now there is no evidence of any traums to her front legs or injuries. She just is sore on both fronts, so back to the bute and feeling for heat in her legs which I could not detect. We saddled her yesterday but I didn't even have the heart to climb on her.

It is a sunny day and I look forward to actually taking pictures today for all of you who are waiting! Don't forget we have the following horses available and waiting to be adopted who already have years of riding experience under their belts. Most of these horses are in the Whitewater area or nearby...on the Illinois line:

--Fox Valley Festus - small bay trotter - good riding horse
--Hononegah - tall bay trotting mare - pleasure driving!
--Legacy Lin - 15 hands - bay - nothing fast or crazy about him - just
likes to walk and trot along....great race horse at one time but
now a riding horse (can you tell I am fond of him because I
just keep writing and writing about him?)
--Margie's Bunny - don't know much about her but she is with Lin and
she is very tall - about 17 hands - and trained to ride for a
number of years.
Please help me find homes for them!

Things happening:

Getting people signed up to demo at Mid West Horse Fair for 2007

Winter newsletter!

Riding lessons and pony club ongoing

So far Pat Parelli and John Lyons are not touring in Wisconsin in 07. Shucks... so now we are continuing to work with Monty Roberts and Richard Shrake and maybe Gawani to see if they are willing to come!
Monty Roberts has already said "yes" but we need to negotiate rate because ASAP cannot currently afford him...keep your fingers crossed!

Susan

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