No, no, this time!!! THIS time I'm REALLY in LOVE!!!

Went riding with my partner in horse crime. Her on her steady little mare and me on my MR. WONDERFUL!!! OMG! What a great ride.

We decided to go riding in the flood area down the road from us.. Gus loaded right on the trailer. Short 10 minute ride to the damn area. Got off, saddled up and headed out. Walked by the jeeps cruising with their tops down and their radios cranked. Walked by the guy sitting in the sun in the lawn chair. Stood patiently while the puppy and the older dog barked at them and even sniffed noses with the puppy. Walked to the river and went in!! (after a little encouragement) and then went first on the trail, through the tight fence... needed a little encouragement there, but did fine, then led the rest of the way back to the trailer. About an hour total time. When we got back to the trailer, he kept on going. Didn't want to stop!!

Loaded back up for the trip home. Got home and went right to his hay pile to stock up on the calories he burnt (yeah, right!)

We mostly walked, trotted a little bit, went by the big dam/waterfalls area no problem.

I'm totally in love with this mush monster! I couldn't ask for a better horse.

He walks right out but listens to your voice, leg and hands. Rode on the buckle the majority of the time. Two small balks at new things, but when I encouraged him with my legs, he just did what I asked of him.

Couldn't be a nicer horse in the world!!

Thanks, Gail and Calvin!! You are NOT getting him back any time soon!!!!

Me, however, I am so VERY OUT OF SHAPE! My legs are killing me. I need to get riding more each week!!!! I can hardly get out of my chair!!!

I'm so excited to ride every chance I get now!!!

I'm in LllllOooooVvvvvvEeeeee!!!!!!

Augustus is here!

I picked him up the other day.

He walked off the trailer, walked over to me, put his head in the middle of my chest and heaved a great sigh.

Ok... maybe he just got off the trailer from a 9 hour trip.. but he walked over to ME!!!

He's such a sweet, gentle boy.

So, watch out Mike... I'm in L.O.V.E. with another guy!!! (Hehehe. Mike knows he has absolutely nothing to worry about!!!)

Pictures and more info later.. Just couldn't resist posting this tonight!!!

Working, working, working...

Working on the kitchen and the house. Seems like I just get started doing something and it's time to make a meal, take care of an animal or go to work...

Working at the library... we are screaming into the 21st century by automating! Which means we have to enter E.V.E.R.Y. book, video, dvd, cd, adult, young adult and children's, into the computer. The stack of cards that are done is impressive. Until you realize we have only done 2 1/2 book cases and have 9 left to go.... wwwwaaaaahhhhh!!!

Working on the barn. The finishing touches are in place for Gus to come... picking him up near Rutland on Friday afternoon!!!! Wooo hooo!!!

Working on cleaning up the pool... hubby decided it was time to take it down. Guess I'll take him up on his offer to help me before he gets too interested in hunting to help me..

right now, working on eating dinner... then pick up, do barn chores, put the boys to bed and go to bed early.... very tired, all this working!!

Whew... almost done...

I did it. Pulled off the surprise party/cookout for my hubbys 50th birthday. There were a few that were invited that didn't show, but we had 55 people here! What a day. I'm now done cleaning up - ok, maybe not totally, but all the food is put away, the dishwasher is doing its thing and there is only one load of dirty dishes left in the sink.

I'm sitting down with some ice tea to rest my feet for a few minutes then out to the barn to put the boys to bed.

Then I'm off to bed!!

On countdown now... Gus will be here on the 3rd. We are picking him up on Friday night. I so can't wait for my new horse. I would love to just be able to get up in the morning and go for a ride... not too long now.....

Grace - The Little Horse With The Big Spirit...

For those of you that thought Tommy was a skinny horse when we got him, there is a horse on fugly.com and facebook named "Grace - the little horse with the big spirit"....that makes Tommy look just a 'little' skinny.

This horse has HEART! (That would be about all she has... these pictures are not for the faint of heart...)

Not only does she chew with her mouth full (totally excused, by the way) nickering while she is eating, -saying her prayers and thanks while she is enjoying calories-, but she is giving the farrier a run for his money and prancing around her paddock.

Big Thumbs up for the Animal Control Officer who came to her rescue and is doing all he can to prosecute the ah,hem, 'woman' who was her owner. (And you all realize that I use that term as loosely as I am able). Maybe, by his example, and many like him, there will be more Law Enforcement and Animal Control that will stand up for the animals and prosecute those who do wrong by them.

Join her on facebook to see her amazing recovery and find out what happens to the disgusting, inexcusable waste of a human being that put her in this condition.

Hurry Up and Wait!!!!

Working on the house. Automating the library at work. Waiting for my horse to get here.

Cooling my heels was NEVER my idea of fun. Too many things to do and have to wait for other people/ time to get here is killing me.

Worked more on the house today. Took down two cabinets, painted a wall, rebuilt one cabinet, put up the other one, tore down a section of old wall, the house is in shambles, the dishes and laundry is done.... now, waiting, waiting. It's worse than a disease. Almost.

Going back to work on the cabinet. Almost have it all put back together so I can hang it on the wall and put my books in it.....

Not wishing to wish life away, but hate waiting for the clock to tick and the calendar to turn to get to the fun things.......

I LOVE MY HUSBAND, I Love My Husband, i love my husband... i love my husband....

I truly do love my husband to pieces. About 35 would be good right now. Partially joking.

We are working on the house. Still. Will be for probably the next 28 years. He's being a grouch. It's a good thing I have already planned what I wanted to get him for his 50th birthday as I probably would have changed my mind by now.

He's being a grouch. I'm in a blue, dreary mood. Not a great combination any day of the week. It will all work out.

Didn't make it through 24 years together to wish him away now.

I do LOVE my husband. Don't know how to live without him. Don't even want to imagine it. Just wish he would get his sense of humor back and stop being such a nudge.

It's almost done!!!

All the wiring is done in the new kitchen. All the insulation is done! All the plywood is up and has a coat of primer paint on it!!!! Cover switches are on. All we need to do now is level the floor, put down some veneer and start moving appliances!!!!

My kitchen is coming along.... I only need one more rain day to get it done!!!!

Don't usually ask for rain, but now I want it to POUR!!!!

It looks so great!!!

Playing chicken, with a chicken with an attitude...

That did it. Mike and I spent a few hours changing around the chicken house so everyone would have a much better set up. Tried to keep everyone happy and laying eggs.

One of last year's chickens was having an attitude with this years batch of chickens (the 'teenagers'). Wouldn't stop picking on them. Kept chasing them out of the hen house. Wouldn't let them in the fence. I finally had enough. This has been going on for days. Guess last night was the limit to the nerve that she was dancing on.

Caught the chicken. Chopped her head off. Boiled some water. Hung some bailing twine from the rafter in the kitchen and plucked her. Mike did the gross job of gooping her out. Then I baked her in the oven. She's a little scrawny, but will taste good for lunches tomorrow.

The other chicken, the one that was picking on the 'teenagers' too, was on better behavior today. Maybe she is worried she will wind up in the fridge next to the trouble maker.

I like chicken soup. And chicken salad. And chicken/cheese fajitas. Chicken and rice.

Guess that's what a chicken gets for playing chicken with my last nerve.

Insulation, wiring, walls!!!!

Mike and I worked on the new kitchen yesterday.

The pocket door between the pantry and kitchen is installed. We decided where the next light was going to go in the ceiling and wired it in. We put up plywood on the walls. We even got out some paint to do a sample to see if we liked the color!!!

So, the next step is to build the cabinet where the sink is going to go and get the plumbing all ready. Then to put the wall in behind the new stove/range hood-microwave... it's moving along. Slowly, very slowly, but progress none the less!!!!

I can't wait to have my new kitchen in!!!!

My hubby can be so wonderful some times!!!

Also, got the divider put back up in the stall. Have rubber mats down. Just need to hang the bucket hooks and I'm all ready for Gus!!! The 3rd can't get here fast enough!

We have Babies!!!

I was walking out to the barn to do chores yesterday when I heard all this peeping and squaking. Peeping??? Peeping!!! Yes, we have 4 baby chicks. Mom is doing a great job! (I know, I know, for all you naysayers out there that said incubator hatched chickens won't sit on a nest and raise their own chicks.... I have 4 examples of how much that is NOT true!!!!)


So, Jeckyl, my little rooster man, who came all the way back from South Carolina with me two years ago is still strutting his stuff! He's a banty mix... the girls are golden comets, buff orpington (pictured), and silver laced wyandotte - a pair of each - there were 5 eggs out of 8 that hatched, but only the four made it.... so.....

We have babies!!! Yeah!!! It's so much easier having mom raise them than me doing it... and if they lay a batch each year in the spring ( I know, I know it was kinda late, but we have enough facilities to keep them warm and they will feather out before the cold weather gets here) we will have a whole flock!!!!

So, I went from 2 roosters; to 1 rooster and 6 hens; to 1 rooster and 11 hens; to 1 rooster, 11 hens and 4 BABIES!!!!!! My little flock is growing and we are getting about 6 eggs a day .. the teenagers will be laying by October so I will have about 9 - 12 eggs a day... wow.

We have babies!!!!!

Another day on the range...

I miss riding. I miss the quiet rustling of leaves, the soft thump of the horses hooves on the trail through the woods, the quiet squeaks of the leather of the saddle. The sun, sprinkled on the trail, through the leaves. The gentle breathing of the horse. The deer flashing through the woods. The quiet, quiet woods. No cell phone. No teenagers. No housework. No work. Only the spiritual communion between me, the horse and nature.

Sigh.

Just under three weeks.

I made a deal tonight with a friend for her horse that she is looking for a home for because she, sigh, has too many horses and has to sell one before she buys another one. Her over abundance is now my dream come true!

My new guy is a thoroughbred named Gus. He is between 10 and 13 years old. Only 15.2 hands. He is a quiet ride and they have used him to shoot off the back of for their cowboy mounted games! He goes out alone, he rides bareback, he gives HUGS!!!!!

Oh, I can so hardly wait!!!!

And my partner in crime, who I have been texting tonight, while growing and gathering my courage to let my wonderful, caring, loving, supportive husband (yes, I was buttering him up!!!!) said "You need a horse to ride. You are too stressed." may be going with me to pick him up.

YES!!!! YES!!!! Woooohooo!

So, in less than three weeks, Gus will come into my life. I can't wait. I've seen his pictures. He is such a sweet soul!!!

SO, now getting things ready and chomping at the bit until September 3 gets here, lol. Mike's birthday and I get a new horse!!! I'll have to convince him to ride with me now!!!

Hay, hay, hay....

The local hay guy stopped by today and left a note on my door... ?want hay?

Two phone calls later (my husband to the hay guy, my husband to me on my way home from work) we have hay showing up tonight. So much for working on the house. :(

We picked up our new stove and range hood/microwave last night and were going to install it in the new kitchen tonight. Not.

Instead, hubby got the hay elevator down from the hay loft and set everything up. Hay guy came, unloaded load of hay, got paid, went home.

At a bale a day, I now have 4 months of hay in the barn. So far. Thursday night, more hay!!!

Wonderful!

It's hell getting old...

Helped my sister, Sue and her husband, Dan, build a new porch on their house. The only casualty was my husband, Mike... who tried to catch some sliding sheets of plywood with his ankle. We iced him down and made him elevate it. This is 24 hours later. He's fine.. just left a great bruise on his ankle. It's not swollen today, even though he was on it all day long. He did listen to me and wear his boots to help with support and I had taped it with vet wrap to help support it. He's walking fine, today. He says the reason he's bruising like this is that he'll be an old man in a few months... 50 years old, lol!!!

Another 'Rescue' Up On Charges :(

Another email. Another newspaper/news article. Another horse rescue gone 'bad.'

How did it all go wrong? I'm sure it all started with a needy horse and someone who thought they could take care of it. I can see taking in one or two, maybe 4 or 5. But 33? 24? 11? 77? 112?

I, personally, don't know anyone that can afford more than 10 horses, max. The one couple who come to mind have grown children (out of the house), both have very good jobs (off the farm) and half the horses on their farm are boarders or are there for training. Usually it is only two or three horses or ponies, with at least one being a geriatric who is spending their last days in luxury.

How does it all go wrong? Do they just get up one day and loose their job? Their credit starts sliding with the farrier, the vet, the grain store? And, once it starts slipping, just keeps snowballing down a huge hill toward destruction? Don't they have anyone they can ask for help? Do we make it too hard for them to ask for help? Are we so busy counting the forests that we forget to take care of the trees?

I realize that all the rescues are swamped. Dogs, horses, cats, rabbits, birds, you name it. The economy - for some people - truly sucks. And they don't have the skills or resources to apply to another career to take up the slack for what they are missing.

Or, their donations dry up, again, because of the economy, or they don't have their 501c3 and they aren't a 'legitimate' rescue in the eyes of the IRS. Or they start skimping on things and the volunteers and people who support them bring their money elsewhere to someone else who does do the things that are necessary and required for their horses.

Maybe some of them do have illusions of grandeur and think that they are as rich as Bill Gates.

I would absolutely LOVE to have 10 horses. And a groom. And a barn manager. And a big new truck with a big new aluminum stock trailer with a dressing room in it. And a rich Daddy Warbucks who can pay for it all so I don't have to work, clean the house, take care of the kids, run the business and pay all the bills so I can just play with the horses all day long, every day.

I do what I can. With what I have. I work for my horses. Literally. My horse needs something? I do a few extra hours of work every week to pay for it. My husband, luckily, has a steady job. Not always working for the same person, but always seems to have enough work to keep the house and home afloat. Only one teenager left in the house. The oldest two are grown up, graduated and going about the business of their lives.

It would be very easy to take on three or four horses in desperate need and get in way over my head... not only financially, but emotionally and physically. I try very hard to keep my head and my heart in time with each other so as not to do that.

Ok, you don't remind me that we have Amos and Andy here. That is a very small scale compared to a horse. And Andy and Amos have had all their vetting done - with the exception of their dentals and neutering - before they came to me. And that will be done as soon as they have enough weight gained to make it safe for them. And that is only a matter of a few pounds, as opposed to a few hundred pounds with Tommy.

Taking on an emaciated pug is much cheaper and easier than taking on an emaciated Quarter Horse. I've done both in the last year. I have the vet records to prove it. The grain bill. The farrier bill. The hay bill. The worming bill. Amos and Andy are a cake walk. I can feed Amos and Andy for 4 days what it cost me (on average) to care for Tommy for one day.

But what makes these other rescues wait so long when they are in over their heads? And the animals start to suffer because of it? Do we make it so shameful to say "I need some help" that they wait until they have animals so neglected that they die??? Do they ask for help, and, because we are all in over our heads (or just treading water) that we tell them just to hang on because extending our hand to them or taking on another of their horses will pull us under, also?

I don't think we will ever have an answer to this question. I don't think (very sadly and unfortunately) that this will ever end. As long as we have animals, we will have rescues. As long as we have rescues, we will continue to find animals who are not being cared for properly and need to be saved. From a rescuer, from a regular joe, from a hoarder.

Not just horses. Not just dogs, cats or birds. It happens, continuously, with the human race. We can't even take care of our own children. Our neighborhood children. It's a very sad, sad world we live in these days.

Is it the fact that we don't necessarily have MORE problems happening or just more PEOPLE are willing to say that what they are seeing is wrong and needs to be fixed? I think the mentality of 'what happens at your house stays at your house' has changed (for the better) in the past 10 to 20 years.

Thank God for my snoring pugs under my feet, the ones that got another chance at life and love and happiness.

Now, off to bed so I can work, again, tomorrow!

Equine Shuffle...

The boys seem to be adjusting to the huge loss. They were able to put their noses on him while he was in the other pasture, after he passed. It was kinda nice to see them in a semi-circle around him before we covered him with the tarp. They stood there a few minutes and then seemed to nod their heads and go about the business of being horses.

Sultan needed a little encouragement to go to his new stall and Abner and Smokey just fell right back into the old routine of their stalls.

The Precious cat graced me with another rat today. She is so very proud of herself. She was just loving and purring to me while she was showing me her prize. Yep. It went out in the compost/manure pile. Yuck.

The barn seems much smaller without the big, large presence of Tommy.

It's therapeutic, though, to have to go back out there and do chores and hang out with the other horses. Yes, life is loss, sometimes. Then you have to hug the friends you still have and move on. Not forgetting, just making room in your heart for their forever presence.

Glad that tomorrow is the last day of the week. I don't have to set the alarm tomorrow morning.

I hope no one calls early. As Gus (my very large black lab) comes and lays his very warm, heavy head on my feet. They know I still need therapy. It is so nice to know I am loved.

It's very quiet in the barn...

Even the chickens are quiet. It's like everyone is holding their collective breath to see what comes next.

It always happens after we loose a creature.

For those of you who don't know me, I despise 'playing' God. It's one of the reasons I am no longer Constable for our town. While I always defer to the professionals advice, it is still my signature on that piece of paper. It is not something that I have ever done with lightness of heart.

So, my dear boys, rest in peace. Gallop through the pasture in the sky. Think of me fondly. You all hold special places in my heart. Shiloh. Windstride Abacas. Chris. Buddy. Elias. and, latest, Tommy. You will never be forgotten.

Rest in Peace, HotRoddin' Tommy

Our last walk, our last hug. He was in such pain from his front foot and back hock. The only thing that made this morning any easier is the fact that I know he had a great year and he isn't suffering any more.




He was in fantastic shape (other than his arthritis and ringbone and bone chips, lol) and had gained twice his original weight. He had just turned 14.



If you want, look back to 'Hello, Tommy' on April 4, 2010 to see the progression of pictures...



Or, back to May 4, 2009, the day we rescued Tommy....

I'm off to bed. Tired. Sad. Wishing this day didn't happen.

Responsible Animal 'Ownership'

Warning ~ this post is not for the faint of heart or those of you who are sympathetic animal lovers. It discusses certain subjects that can bring about sadness, tears and make you want to eat lots of chocolate and take naps to avoid yourself and the world. That is what I am going to be doing during and after this post.

Responsible Animal 'Ownership'

First, I must say that I don't feel like I 'own' my animals. Most assuredly they think they rule my house and own the chair I like to sit on and, begrudgingly, vacate it so I can sit down and let them drape all over me. I use that term because, well, it's the one that is mostly used and clearly defines my responsibility. I own my car, I pay for the gas, I get the oil changed when it needs it and give it a tune up or new tires when necessary. Similar to my animals. When they need something - their shots, deworming, food, baths, trips to the vets - it is what I do. They are under my care and I do care for all of them.

Now for the hard part. Get your box of kleenex and a trash can and sit it beside you.

I am NOT a morning person. For those of you that know me, I rarely, without good reason, like to creak my way out of bed in the morning, stumble down the stairs and fumble my way through making the first pot of coffee for the day. If coffee is made (thanks Cameron!!) then my world is already looking up. I like to putter around the house, feed the dogs, let them out, feed the horses and chickens and let them out, check my favorite blogs, get something to eat for breakfast, read my email, all before I start responding to phone calls or emails or talking to anyone. Not that I am necessarily a bear, just a slow, quite starter.

This Monday morning, however, I am awake before the phone rings at 8 am. Its the backhoe guy. Telling me he can be here in 1/2 an hour to excavate a hole in the field.

Tommy took a turn for the worse late Friday afternoon. He must have stepped wrong or just over extended his bad leg. He's been on stall rest all weekend but he is in serious pain and unable to hardly put any weight on his front leg. His rear hock is also very swollen and he's spending most of his time lying down.

My second call was to the vet to make arrangements to have him euthanized.

I was worried I wouldn't know when it was time. That I wouldn't be able to tell when I was keeping him here more for me than for him. There is no question as to that decision now. Even with an overabundance of Bute (horse aspirin) he's in serious pain.

I've been rotating the boys in the stall next to him so he won't be lonely. I'm giving him all kinds of treats. I've stopped going in the stall with him as I am afraid if he falls he will pin me between him and the wall/floor. He's that unstable.

So, if you think that getting up Monday morning, early, to make plans to euthanize your horse doesn't ruin your week, then add to that you have to get up early Tuesday morning to have the vet come to do the required medical intervention.

And my boss is gone this week on vacation. Good for her! She works hard. She is such a sweetie. I know she's planning on going to the beach at least two days. It might be a blessing in disguise that I have to work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At least it will keep me busy and get me out of the house. It will keep my mind occupied.

My heart is breaking. Tommy was my rescue last year. He was doing so very good. Then the reoccurring lameness. The good news is that he gained back all his weight and had a wonderful year filled with love, clean stalls and plenty to eat. The bad news is that he gained a whole bunch of weight which aggravated the condition in his legs.

I will take one last picture of him tomorrow morning, eating grass, enjoying the sunshine. He is only 14 years old. Way too short a life to have it end this way. At least I am comforted by the fact that he was happy. He was fed. He was loved and groomed and fed treats. He got to enjoy a large stall with clean shavings and plenty of fresh, cool water. Lots of hay. He became greedy for affection and scratches and pushed everyone else out of the way to receive the most attention. He got to be a happy horse.

So, now, he will lay out in the pasture, under Shiloh's favorite napping tree, company with Shiloh, Aba, Chris, Buddy and Elias. I can see them all, together, running through green grass, no pain, no worries, the wind in their manes...

Can't stand it any more... headed for a nap to dream of happy times and to rest my arms from running wire for the new kitchen yesterday and cleaning up the manure pile this morning.

:'(

Andy and Amos...

Here's Andy, singing for his supper...
Here's Amos, thinking he's a kitten... lol

Sitting on the back of the couch, watching the construction on the new kitchen....

Supervising my husband, Mike...

Open mouth, insert foot.. heel... calf... knee...

Hmmm. I'm quite sure I said I was full and couldn't take on any more at this time. That was why we got Yurik. To take care of that 'I need to have a new animal to care for thing...' and figured a kitten would have the least impact on the household. Yeah, sure, whatever.

Enter Amos and Andy. Two pug boys rescued from wandering the streets of New York. They were kindly taken in by Hedy in NJ after they passed their 'do not pass go' day. Sweet boys, around 6 to 8 years of age, their only offense is that they were dumped by uncaring human beings. They are emaciated. OMG skinny. Sores between their toes. Rotten teeth in their mouths. All their 'manliness' hanging out there for the world to see. Sores on their feet and bottoms. They look just like and act just like the dogs we get directly from the puppy mills. These boys are nothing but skin and bones.

So, in a moment of sadness (I was headed to a friends memorial in Connecticut) and lack of response from any other group that was willing to take them in for their lengthy rehabilitation, I loaded a large dog crate and cried my way to the memorial. The memorial was special and I bawled my eyes out. Poor Stephanie. I was a wreck when I met up with her to pick up the boys. So much so that she walked around her car and gave me a huge hug. Thanks, Stephanie, it was just what I needed. Then the boys got out of her car. It has been a long time since I have seen a dog that thin. These poor boys. They are definitely in desperate need of a dental and neutering. And a bath. (And not necessarily in that order.)

So, back to my house we went, me still crying. Not only for my friend Richard (who we lost) or his wife, Beth, but now for these poor pug boys, too.

So, off to my house, did introductions (everything was fine!!!) and let everyone out in the fenced in back yard to mark to their hearts content. Then the introduction to a belly band!

If I would ever have been able to read an animals mind, I would have that night. Andy was the more outgoing of the two. Andy walked up to the couch, sniffed the side of it, turned, lifted his leg, did his business and then turned back around. Amos did the same thing. I swear, they looked at each other in bewilderment that it wasn't dripping and smelling, so they turned and repeated the process again. Then they looked at each other, more bewildered! Then they kinda turned their backs, scratched the floor with their back feet and walked off. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at them.

After their baths they became much more pleasant smelling. They still need dentals. Phew.. and they definitely still need neutering, but, with the assistance of the belly bands, they seem to be marking less and less in the house every day.

(For those of you that don't know, a belly band is a piece of cloth - usually held on with velcro - which is placed around their abdomen and a sanitary pad is between the belly band and the belly. That way, if they lift their leg to pee, it gets trapped in the sanitary pad and not on the couch, floor or wall. They don't like the wet feeling on them and it helps - most of the time - to break them from marking indoors.) Andy usually has to change his 'pad' a few times a day, but Amos has been dry almost from the second day he was here.

They have become quite content, sleeping with Maggie, my other pug, or finding out that the couch is a comfy place to sleep. Sometimes, it is the towels in the laundry room that get their snuggle time. They don't seem to be as bonded as I first thought as Andy chooses to sleep in the crate at night on his pillow and Amos sleeps with Maggie on her bed.

Their sores are gone on their toes. They have fur growing back on their legs. They have come out of their shells. They do LOVE feeding time. If they hear any crinkling bag, they beeline right for the person who has the bag and woof at you until you are all done eating. lol They sure do love their meals!!!

Andy is the more vocal of the two. If the water bowl is empty, he will woof at it until someone comes to fill it. If the food bowls are left on the floor he will stand over it and woof, trying to convince someone, I suppose, that they haven't been fed in so very long and will someone please come a feed them now. He woofs if you walk out the door. He woofs if you walk in the door. He woofs if the phone rings. If he isn't woofing, he's licking your legs. If he would do that all day (and was a bit taller) I would never have to take another shower again. lol

It is a bit interesting cooking dinner. We wade through the pack to get to the fridge and Amos, Andy and Yurik all climb into the fridge together. It's quite hard, sometimes, to find what you are looking for. They love to help. Then you wade back through the kitchen to find a knife in the drawer, wade back to the stove, Andy woofing the whole while, just to be sure that you know he is there in case something, please make something, fall so they can scarf it up.... and while you sit at the kitchen table, eating, he's standing there, woofing and licking your legs, just to be sure that you don't miss the fact that he might, just might, be able to clean up anything you might possibly drop.

They have gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks. I have been feeding them three small/medium meals a day. Lots of hugs and snuggles. They will now come up on the couch with us and ask for pats and hugs. Adorable. Throwaways. People do most definitely suck. Glad Amos and Andy got another chance. At the good life!

Hippotherapy

hhhmmm. The first time I heard about this, I though - therapy with hippos'???? What in the world will they come up with next. Nope. Nothing to do with water, either.

Hippotherapy " is a physical, occupational or speech and language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. Hippotherapy literally means "treatment with the help of the horse" from the Greek word 'hippos,' meaning horse. Specially trained physical and occupational therapists use this treatment for clients with movement dysfunction. In hippotherapy, the horse influences the client rather than the client controlling the horse. The client is positioned on the horse and actively responds to his movement. The therapist directs the movement of the horse; analyzes the clients responses; and adjusts the treatment accordingly. This strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. " (whew... what a mouthful!)

Why the Horse? The horses' walk provides sensory input through movement, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the patient are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis when walking. (and the description continues on in more dictionary/medical terminology).

They even have an Association that specifically relates to all aspects of this therapy....
American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. (AHA Inc.) promotes the use of the movement of the horse as a treatment strategy in physical, occupational and speech-language therapy sessions for people living with disabilities. http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/

Imagine that. I thought that maybe it was named that because someone looked like a hippo lying on the back of a horse???? Who was watching me flounder around on the back of my horse a while back??? Was it YOU!????!??! Hiding in the bushes???

I certainly know that I don't need a dictionary, or a therapistfor that matter, to convince me of the therapeutic properties of a horse. Not only does my back always feel better after going for a ride on my horse, but my spirits are lifted, I breathe easier and I always have a feeling of contentment when I get done with a ride.

Some nights, just being able to stick my nose into my horses neck, comb his mane or brush his body as he is munching on his hay, all settled into his clean stall for the night, is enough to help me shed the tension and emotional exhaustion that life normally brings into my days and weeks.

A warm, sunny afternoon, in the field, with my arms wrapped around their neck, my nose wishes it could bottle the scent of fresh, warm horse, fly spray and grass that immediately puts a smile on my face.

When my wonderful therapist, who I love, gets done putting my brain on it's weekly puree cycle, there is nothing quite like barn chores to help you sort through shit while you sort through shit, if you know what I mean. I sleep well at night after hearing the contented nickers, the munching of hay and night noises as the geldings settle in the barn, happy and safe.

For a time, about seven years ago, when things were very, very bad, and I was in and out of the hospital over a 4 month period of time, it was my horses who kept me going. The girls will grow up (blessedly) and move on (and out) with their lives. My husband has his work and his love of hunting. My horses were there every morning, whinnying for me to come feed them breakfast and let them out to pasture. That is what got me out of bed. My morab, Aba, would bang his foot on his stall door until I would drag my butt out of bed and get up to let them out.

There is never judgement. They never, once, didn't come to greet me when I went out to see them, no matter what time of the day or night. They didn't care if I was still in my pajamas. They didn't care if my hair had been combed or my teeth brushed. They just knew I needed them to lean on, to brush, to talk to. They never offered their opinions. They knew how to hug. They couldn't tell others what I had told them. They can't be subpoenaed. They don't lie. They always listen carefully and never interrupt. They were there for me just as I was there to care for them.

There is never a more honored feeling to have than knowing that your horse trusts you and cares for you, that he will carry you on his back, keeping you safe, watching out for your well being. There have been few things in my life that give me that feeling. And once you have felt it, you want to feel it all the time.

If this does't make you want to go right out and get a horse of your very own, then I don't know what will! My dogs do the same thing for me. And so do the cats. But horses are my first choice (after my husband and my girls. OK. Sometimes even before my husband and my girls...).

You should try it some time. Visit a local barn. Try brushing a rescue horse. Help with stall cleaning and throw some hay in the loft. But the caution is this - once you get going, it's darn near impossible to stop.... :)

Just one of those days....

Woke up late this morning - like 1 1/2 hours late. My tailbone is killing me. I missed my morning appointment. It rained, it poured buckets. I'm tired. I need to go to bed. My tailbone is killing me. I worked an extra hour at work. Emma had a soccer game (they won, 3 to 2). The kitten won't stop climbing on the computer keyboard. And I still need to go out in the barn and clean stalls and fill water buckets before I can go to bed. And my tailbone is killing me. Blah, blah, blah...

I injured myself about 10 years ago. I tore all the muscle off one side of my tailbone. It was absolute torture. It took about 6 weeks before I could actually go from sitting down to standing up (or vice versa) without feeling like I was going to pass out or throw up from the pain.

It's bbbaaaacccckkkk. I don't know what I did last night, but when I woke up this morning I couldn't even get out of bed. And today, working at the library, getting up and down to the copier, the books, the check out desk... ohy, vey.

So, now I'm headed out to do barn chores. In the rain. :( I just want to sit down and cry.

Talking about crying, I have a funeral to go to this weekend. A very good friend of mine found her soul mate. They are both older in life, having been college sweethearts and then going their separate ways, only to find each other and that romantic spark, again....

Then he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. And he beat it. Got a clean bill of health. Got married :) and at his 6 week follow up was diagnosed with cancer in the liver (if I remember correctly). They gave him 4 to 6 months to live. He lived almost a year after that. He just passed away last weekend.

I've been humbled by many, many things in my life, but when R and his wife, B, wanted to come to our monthly cookout - as one thing he wanted to cross of his 'bucket list' - I was overwhelmed and honored.

It was a wonderful cookout. And, not knowing, we even had his favorite dessert, strawberry shortcake. He was gone less than two weeks later. I wanted to stop by and see them the week after the cookout, but I just couldn't make myself stop. I've been to too many funerals already this year. I really can't do another one. But I will. Because B was there for me and my girls when I went through a difficult time a few years ago. Because even though R didn't know me very well, he was always inquiring about how I was, how things were going, encouraging me, treating me as if I were a long lost friend that he truly cared about. Caring about me, my family, my animals, my girls... and truly sharing his love, life and self with my friend B.

R will be missed. I still can't believe he's gone. I'm so glad he is no longer in pain or suffering, but am so sorry for the loss for B.

Ok. Now if I go out to do barn chores in the rain, no one will know if it is rain or tears running down my face. Off to snuggle with my equine shoulders to cry on.

Horse "Training" at its very WORST, Parelli style

I did not see what I just saw. I'm literally sick to my stomach. I was catching up on my blog visits and, once again, Cathy at http://www.fugly.com/ delivers. There is a YouTube link of Pat Parelli "training" (and you don't know just how loosely I use that term) a horse named Catwalk at the Royal Festival of the Horse in England.

This poor horse. This is not training, it's pure out and out abuse. The lady who did the YouTube clip said she was so upset by this that she walked out after a short while but this abuse went on for TWO hours. In front of an audience.

Now, I don't know about anyone else, but if I had my name associated anywhere with the Parelli's, it certainly wouldn't be any more.

Shame on them. Not only do they do a great disservice for all true horse trainers in America, but in the world. If I were a 'horse trainer' I wouldn't be announcing that too loudly these days.

If I had a horse in training, you best be damn sure I would be on my way to visit my horse at the trainers and camping out for a few days watching them work - not only with my horse but with a few other peoples as well.

Shame on you, Pat & Linda Parelli. You should apologize. Not only to the horse (he should be allowed to kick both of you in the head) but also the horses owner, Robert Whitaker. This horse is going to take years - even if it is at all possible - of patient, gentle, consistent work to get over the abuse and trauma you inflicted upon him.

You should apologize to every single person in that audience. You should explain to them that you are inadequate and incapable of training a horse in a humane, gentle, non-forceful way.

Eeeewww. You just both make me want to puke. You both are so very lucky that this horse had a slightly more sane brain in his head than the two of you and didn't explode on the both of you and kick the ever loving crap out you.

If you think I'm over doing it, go to YouTube and search for Catwalk and Parelli. I will warn you that if you have any sense of compassion for animals at all, you will have trouble watching this.

Must have been the heat.

It must have been the building heat from the last 10 days that finally put me over the edge yesterday. It's been building for a while. At least the pool is up. How many days do you think it took 3,500 gallons of bone chilling well water to heat up to the point that it was very comfortable when Mike and I went in it tonight to soak away all the heat? Three days. Yep. That was all. The water temperature was in the high 80's when we went in it late this afternoon. Soaking and visiting and absorbing the cool, not to cool water. Bliss. Something to remember six months from now when I are cursing the cold, bitter winter snow and ice.

So I was reading through another blog www.fugly.com who calls it like it is in the horse world (even names names and gives people a big old helping of her usually right on opinion) and I came across another blog that specifically relates to something near and dear to my heart - Craigslist.com... it's where I find the listings for New England Horses under $800 that get posted on http://missyshopeerr.freehostia.com - I've posted about Brandi here before and the work that she does trying to link horses in need of new homes with people looking for horses. She also does Chey/Annie Project For Slings for Horses.

So, anyways, when my insomnia rears its ugly head (and truly, he is an ugly beast that doesn't seem to be able to be completely tamed) I found this new blog.... http://clhorseads.blogspot.com The Worst of CL Horse For Sale Ads. I did a little more digging and found her other blog http://FaraeTailDreamsArt.blogspot.com and found out her name was Beth from Phoenix, Arizona where she does some awesome things with dragons, sculptures and re-models horses!!

AAAANNNNNNDDDD! when I sent her copies of the post that set me off on the tyrannical rant that I posted yesterday, she referenced me in the posting that went on her blog!! SO, Beth, thanks for the spot on your blog and here's a spot for you on mine!!!

I will continue to send you Craigslist ads that drive me crazy about the horse world. There truly are some people out there that shouldn't have a drivers license, be able to breed - themselves or anything else - and should probably just jump off the nearest cliff to be smashed to bits by sharp rocks and drift out to sea to feed the fishes.

So, back to reading blogs and searching the craigslist ads for Brandi to post on her site... it's so nice creating work for other people (grin).. I know Brandi would be lost if I didn't send her more work to do, what with her 4 children under the age of 9 and moving in just a couple of weeks into their very own house! Congratulations!

I've been working on another post and another rant, but need to review and edit before I hit the publish button. Need to keep all the Is' dotted and the Ts' crossed.

Keep cool. Hang out in a nice cold room. Drink a nice drink with plenty of ice in it. Relax in the shade. Don't burn in the sun. More to come....

The road to hell is paved with good intentions...

Ok, I see it every day. It still pisses me off every day. These people that go to auctions (or cruise Craigslist or Horse/Com, the local feed store tack message center or other 'free to a good home' posting places) with a truck and trailer, maybe a few hundred cash, or their friend with a truck and trailer who just happen to have a few extra hundred in cash lying around, or better yet, hire someone with a truck and trailer. Who 'feel so bad' for this poor little, worm-infested, year old stud colt. Feel so bad that they just 'have to buy get it out of there.'

Then they bring it home, full of great feelings of saving this little one from harms way. Out of the meat truck. Out of danger from being used as a stud when it grows older to breed more and more little beings who wind up at auction to suck in the next do-gooder who feels sorry for it.

OK - I'm going to pause here... I'm going to restate something I said a while ago. I LOVE DO-GOODERS!!! The world would not function without them. I am one of them. I have many friends and acquaintances that are DO-GOODERS. I LOVE DO-GOODERS! (ok, we got that???)

To a home that does not have proper fencing, shelter, hay, FUNDS! etc. We rush around, putting up temporary fences that do not hold them in. Fencing that they run right through because they have no idea what tape fencing is. Being bedded down in garages next to the lawn mower and the Christmas ornaments. Robbing Peter to pay the vet, farrier, hay guy, grain store, etc... (who needs electricity, fuel and groceries anyways??)

Then, reality comes and bites them in the butt. HARD. VERY HARD.

It's wonderful to rescue. To take that mangy, flea bitten, worm infested, fur ball and with lots of love, vet bills, hand feedings, cleaning stalls, worming and groceries, turn it into a beautiful animal who is trusting, loved and cared for. For the first three, six, nine months or so.

But when they are feeling better, putting on the weight and getting their energy back, they become biting, kicking, stubborn, time-consuming, fund-consuming, overwhelming, time-sucking bundles of energy.


Then, we get these. These are excerpts from actual ads I've been reading.

- 'I got him from an auction and his paperwork says he is a quarter horse. I just do not have the time to train him. He is not gelded and walks good on a lead. $500 or will trade for a rideable horse.'

And this - 'purchased several years ago for daughter and now she is off to college, so horse must go, too.'

Still more - 'Free Pony or she will be put down. 12 year old mare. Diagnosed with soft tissue damage in right front hoor (i would assume this is to read hooF), needs 6 months to a year of stall rest. will let you talk to vet. she's a great mare, very loving. She did pony hunters in 07, 08. Daughter went on to horses but still rode her constantly. Too nice a pony to be put down, PLEASE help this pony.'

And this - '10 year old palomino quarter horse. Cannot be ridden due to knee injury several years back. does receive msn and joint supplements with her feed. she stood for stud two years ago, but she didn't take. I think she could handle the added weight of a pregnancy as long as you trim her down a bit before winter. She is a mare and most comfortable with women, she leads and loads easily but the farrier has to be cautious, she has a difficult time doing the back feet due to her right front knee injury. I sometimes have her wear shoes to balance her. She can be a bitchy mare at times to other horses, but that attitude comes with being a mare. She is a sweetie, but now that my daughter has left home, at my age having horses is difficult, and I do not ride, so why keep horses?'

And, continuing, this - 'Was a rescue and he was severely underweight. Was told he had come from a huge breeding facility. 17 years old and a prove breeder. He bred both my mares and one is due in a couple of months. He is pastured with my mares and cows. He shows no aggressive tendencies and when he breeds he is very gentle (no kicking or biting). I was told he was broke to drive, but I don't know how to drive so have never tested him in that area. When I put someone on his back he had no idea what was happening so I am assuming that he is not broke to ride. I have gone off to college and can't expect my mother to take care of both my mares and foals, along with a stallion, so a good home is what I am asking for.'

and, this - 'two year old mini horse for sale. He nips a bit but that is because he is a stallion. He comes when he's called and very well behaved. Easy to feed this guy, he's a cheap date. We are sorry to see him go but we have to move and can't take him with us. We can't deliver but he can be picked up in a truck with a ramp.'

THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK. THUNK.

That is the sound of me slamming my head against the wall beside my desk.

I'm at fault for this, too. The knee-jerk, emotional reaction to save a helpless animal. In my defense, I do rescue to adopt out to appropriate homes. Some come to stay, others only stay long enough to get the great start they need before heading out to make another family feel blessed. Some are returned (as per agreement that is signed) and either stay with us or find another suitable family.

I realize, forget, remember, bemoan, forget, that the good feeling often doesn't last for the whole time they are with me. The twice a day cleaning of the wound, the daily cleaning of stalls, e-v-e-r-y s-i-n-g-l-e d-a-y, feeding, meds, worming, hay, turn out, fly spray, fly mask, farrier, blanketing, cleaning and filling stock tanks, buying hay, stacking hay, ordering hay, etc. etc.

And that doesn't even begin to get into the handling, training, grooming, desensitizing, exposing them to the world, the vet, the farrier, the cat, the dog, the other horses, the chickens, the blanket, the lead rope, the bridle, the saddle, etc. etc. etc.

After a while it gets to feeling really, really old. This, my dear people, is called BURNT OUT.

The consequences of taking on an animal, ANY ANIMAL, should be a commitment FOR THE WHOLE LIFE OF THAT ANIMAL.

Not euthanizing them if they can't run and jump and carry around your butt any more. Not discarding them because they start shooting blanks or they continue to breed because you don't have enough sense to separate them and NEUTER THEM!!!!

Eeekkk. Sorry... guess it's kinda late now, but I'll post it anyways...

~~~CAUTION - SOAP BOX WARNING~~~

Spay, neuter, vet, socialize, train, shelter, feed, love your animals.

For their whole life, until it is too painful, too sick, too injured for them to continue on.

Then give your animals the truly most blessed thing you can give them... your arms to hold them as they pass from this world into a world of no pain, no sickness, no injuries. Love them enough to let them go.

Don't dump them off onto someone else. Don't abandon them when the going gets tough. I don't even have a problem with you dropping them off at the vets and you can't stay there until the end. The vet techs I work with are wonderful people and they will be there with a comforting pat, a calming hand. Don't pass them around, like a bad penny, not caring where they might land and who might abuse, misuse, mistreat, abandon them.

Kittens are adorable. Puppies are so very cute. Baby horses are amazing things to watch (wanna see some really cute little girls, go to http://www.hof-mendenhall.com/ OMG! I met their two little fillies yesterday!!! How absolutely stunning their few month old babies were!!!!)

They always grow up. To become cats, dogs, horses - who live for 10, 20, 30 or 40 or more years.

365 days, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, counting on you to do what is best for them to become productive, socialized, well rounded, well cared for beings. FOR THEIR WHOLE LIVES!

Ok, I'm starting to ramble now. Please, please remember. For their whole lives, unless you can find someone (and check up on them) who will care for them if circumstances (situations do occur when you cannot) prevent you from doing so. But if you wouldn't leave your kids when you move, don't leave your pets. And if you practice birth control because you don't want more kids, then please practice pet control if you can't handle any more animals!!

I need more coffee. And I have to bring more water to the chickens. And the teen-ager is whining for something to eat. And the dogs need to go out....

summer days...

This heat is killing us... it was confirmed a 'heat wave' the other day because we had over 90 degree heat for more than three days in a row. Don't know if we broke any records for this area, but I know it broke my patience and a fan.

The chicken babies had to be moved under the shade of a tree. The horses got hosed down with cool water. We put up the pool in the back yard and it only took 3 days for 3,500 gallons of cold well water to turn 86 degrees.

The dogs are lying on the floors in front of the fans, panting. We put some ice cubes in a dish for them to chew on and they were leaving little puddles of water all over the place. Kinda shocks you for a minute, then the rush of thought that says ... oh, a puddle.... then remembering that it's ice cubes, not leaking dogs, lol.

Too hot to ride in this heat, to hot to cook, too hot to work (and my dear, darling husband is putting on a grey metal roof in this heat :( He's been coming home to soak up the cool air of the fan and sizzling the heat off in the pool. Hey, that might be the reason it's warming up so quick.

Now for the update I hinted at the other day. Tommy's on again, off again lameness is bad arthritis in two legs and ringbone in the third. Even with corrective shoes and pads, he is still not pasture sound. And, unfortunately, the other day when Joe was here to shoe the horses (even with 5 bute in a 24 hour period prior to him coming) he was too sore to shoe him again. He wasn't even sound with the pads, bute and glucosamine :( All the work we did to bring him back up to weight has put too much pressure on his legs, joints and feet.

Pisses me off that he is in this predicament. From being rescued and starving a year ago to getting back to good health, and now this. So, no hate mail, no nasty email messages, but we are giving him the summer and trying to keep him comfortable (most mornings we have to make him get up out of his stall and go out to pasture). We will most likely lay him to rest in the pasture next to my old geldings, Abacus and Shiloh, under their favorite resting tree. It's the best thing I can do for him.

On a much lighter note, we do have a new addition. Yurik Ferdinand Byrnison. Big name for a cute, cuddly, little kitten. (Iorek Byrnison is the polar bear warrior in The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman; Ferdinand came from The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf) Ferdinand was my favorite story when I was young. I still have the much loved copy of the book and 45 record (do all of you know what a record is these days??? My girls laughed when they saw it!). For those of you that don't know, I am an Assistant Librarian and my girls and I read and listened to Philip Pullman 'His Dark Materials Trilogy' years ago and I loved the name Yurik (Iorek)... so, my youngest daughter and I have been having a skirmish over which name is going to win (I pulled rank, which is always an option when you are the mother) and we came up with a combined name.

I will post pictures of the little bundle of scratching fur ball as soon as I confiscate my camera back from my husband. lol

Speaking of fur balls, he just climbed up my llllleeeeegggg. Ouch. Those little toenails are sharp... gonna go feed the little monster!!! He's trying to catch the words as they type on the screen. Very difficult to type as I have to keep correcting words as his little feet are typing along with me....

summer heat is here....

Things have been so very busy. The chicken babies are now almost 2 months old. Tommy had his appointment with the vet and the news wasn't good. We caught 2 rats under the hen house, now they aren't stealing our eggs any more. We just got a new kitten last night and I named him Yurik. The pool is filling slowly, ever so slowly, with very, very cold water from the well. It's almost half full. We put the cover on it today to keep the bugs out and help warm the water.

I'll post more later as I'm eating a hurried lunch before I go to work at the Library!!!

How Time Flies....

and speaking of flies... it's only supposed to be 25 degrees tonight. On May 10th. Talk about weather that needs adjustment. Hopefully all the little blood suckers are going to freeze tonight. They were horrible the other day.

Poor Tommy. He didn't know what was worse... having the little black nats biting him, having me put fly spray on him or the smell of the citronella fly spray... poor, poor Tommy, my butt. He's in heaven and he knows it.

Still off and on lame... next step is x-rays to rule out anything other than arthritis. Put front shoes on him with shock-tamer pads and he's strutting his stuff all around the pasture, tearing around the barn, chasing the ponies and making everyone's mane and tails go flying... it's so nice to see him happy and wanting to run!

Chicken babies will be here next week.

The construction on the house has begun. We are tearing out all the interior walls, re-wiring the whole house, insulating (we have NO insulation now... ) and replacing ALL the windows!

It's been hectic around here and will continue to be through the middle of June with our 2nd daughter graduating high school. Our nephew is, also. Ordered all the goodies for the party the other day.

Off to bed, appointment in the morning... I know the grass is green and the sun is shining, but I still have my wood stove on and I'm freezing in the morning. We had 50 degrees in January but 25 degrees in May??? What is wrong with that picture... LOTS!!!!

Spring, glorious spring...

The sun is shining, the grass is growing, the wind is blowing... and it was FLIPPIN' snowing out this morning. What's up with that??? I know, I know, it's still spring time in Vermont and we haven't even gotten to May yet. Last night Hubby and I were out to dinner, discussing what we were going to do in 2 years when the youngest was out of high school. Too many decisions and not enough moollah.

So, out to the barn I go. Gotta get rid of some grain/shavings bags, going to do a dump run, pick up hay, and post more notices about our rabid raccoon problem.

Gotta love Vermont... 90 degree weather, pouring rain and snow all within 3 days of each other..

Spring CAUTION, everyone...

Know it's warm weather, the sun feels so nice on our frozen bones, but we need to be careful while in the woods and outside.

We had our first ever confirmed case of a rabid raccoon in Weathersfield, Vt.

This is in an area that we walk, ride our horses, exercise our dogs, etc.

Please, please be careful. If you notice any animal that is acting strangely, please notify the local police or animal control.

Here are a couple of links with a wealth of information about rabies.

One for adults: http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/rabies/Rabies.aspx

One for kids: http://www.cdc.gov/rabiesandkids/

Stay safe, everyone, and make sure ALL your animals vaccines are up to date.

Vermont Horses in Immediate Need

There are some Vermont horses in desperate need of help. And a couple of ladies, also. These are the Quesnal Horses - Vermont Slaughterbound Horses No More in Lincoln, Vermont. (They are on facebook, too, with pictures!)

KC and Kathleen (don't know the whole story, so I'm sure it's a little blurry from my point of view) rescued these 16 horses from going to slaughter. They are now healthy, fed, and some have been evaluated.

They are in immediate need of Foster Homes, Adoptive Homes, Donations (hay, shavings, workers, money...)... Donations can be made for these horses through Spring Hill Horse Rescue (www.SpringHillRescue.com) and can be done through paypal and can be tax-deductible - please specify the Quesnal Horses when you make a donation.

Here is a list of a few of the horses that are available NOW...

Duchess: 23 year old red roan blanket appy mare. would do well with a considerate adult trail rider, exercise would be beneficial, she is a nice mare, I think, but cranky in the way of appy mares and she cribs. Not for a beginner but may be fun for someone who understands her. Further info after I ride her a few times.

Serra: 13 year old Arabian cross mare, chestnut with narrow blaze. In your pocket and rather pushy on the ground. Intensely focused when you present her with a challenge like loading on a trailer. about 15 hand, slim build, decent confirmation and movement. Assumed to be unbroke. Obviously needs an experienced handler.

Gabrielle: Arabian mare, appears to be purebred, chestnut with large star, a little smaller and slightly less pushy than Serra, but all of the above would apply. Approx 13.

Samwise the Brave: Approx 18 year old Arabian gelding, dark mahogany bay with small star, about 14 h, very cute, compact, somewhat straight in the hind legs but otherwise decent
confirmation. Shy, nervous, unbroke, but still seems to like people. Experienced handler.

Aliyah and Artax: Arabian mare and gelding, approx 18 and 15 years old, appear to be mother and son. in need of pet/retirement home. Mare is easy to handle and very pretty, tall. Gelding is tough to catch and handle. Both greys.

Phoebe: 7 year old dark palomino paint mare. appears to be broke but green. decent confirmation but a little downhill, good movement. about 15-15.1 h. very pretty, nice temperament. She is being further assessed and may be available for adoption or sale to an approved home for a higher fee to help pay for the others. She can be seen at a barn with an indoor.

New pictures available upon request.

You can contact KC at 802-310-7776 or ponygirl@gmavt.net
You can contact Kathleen at guchpony@aol.com

Check This Out...

Hi, all. If you have ever received an email from me, you might have noticed a web site below my blog and web site. It is this totally cool site, made for a totally cool reason.

Brandi does not know I am doing this - yet... in a few minutes she will!

If you are ever looking for a horse or a donkey or a mule, or even looking to find a home for a horse that you might have that is under $800 (I think that is the cut off... if I'm wrong, I'll repost!)

Go on, check out the site. I'll be here waiting when you get back...

http://missyshopeerr.freehostia.com

Brandi started this site three years ago when she was looking for a companion for her mare who had just lost her baby. She realized a need for a place for people who might need to find or rehome a horse to get together. It has now gone international!!! Way to go, Brandi!

I have been working with Brandi for a little while now, forwarding horses on to her, where she sends out a post almost every night of the year. She did get a few days off when she delivered her latest little one. She has FOUR children under the age of 7.

Visit her site. Spread the news. Read her stories. See how YOU can make the difference in the life of ONE animal. If we all just helped save ONE animal, just think how many animals would have their dreams answered!

Keep up the great work, Brandi!!!

:)

Hellooo, Tommy!

This is my success story! This horse, HotRoddin Tommy, was purchased on May 1, 2009 with an emaciated black quarter horse mare for $400 (for both horses). This is how he looked the day we picked him up. We took them both directly to the vets before they were taken to quarantine. Tommy is a 15.3 hand, 12 year old, registered quarter horse gelding. In this first picture, he is taped at around 580 pounds. It's hard to see through the unshed winter coat the true condition that he is in, but believe me when I say you could feel every bone in his thin body.


Here is Tommy in June 2009. He has had his feet trimmed, been wormed and fed LOTS of groceries...



This is Tommy on September 12, 2009. He has been wormed a couple more times, had his feet trimmed, again, and still getting lots and lots of groceries.



These pictures were taken today, April 4, 2010. Not even a year after his 'rescue.' To his dismay, he is being fed a regular diet - no more extra meals to help with his recovery and weight gain. He tapes out at just over 1100 pounds. He has gained almost his whole body weight all over again. He is on a regular worming schedule, a regular trim schedule and getting his spring shots this month for the first time in 5 years. He is also getting a dental check up and having his sheath cleaned.

AND... we went for our first ride today. He was a little apprehensive and wasn't quite sure what was going to happen to him, but he did great. I'm going to keep working with him so he doesn't think he has to go 100 miles an hour every time someone gets on his back. All I did was walk him around the pasture. He is a very smooth ride.

So, it only takes a little time, some commitment and lots of groceries, but horses can be rehabilitated if you have the commitment. There were NO underlying reasons for his emaciation. All his blood work came back within normal limits. The only reason for him being so thin was lack of FOOD.

Nothing he has to worry about these days, though!

:) The reason why I do all this...

Last night, when I went out to put the horses in, the buckets in the stalls were running low. So I cleaned them and ran the hose to fill them. While I was twiddling my thumbs, I got the curry brush out and started trying to take a layer of two of hair off from Tommy. He REALLY likes to have his chest brushed. So much that, when I was done with the water and was turning to leave, he leaves his food to come to me and nudge the brush with his nose so I will continue brushing on his chest. I had the biggest, goofiest smile on my face. This is the horse that was starved and neglected and he paid me the biggest compliment in my life. He leaves his food... this is what makes it all worth while....

Responses and Questions to my Venting

~This is the most wonderful, profound, eye opening post I have read in a
long time and I am sending it to all my animal friends. Thank you so
much. A

~People have been getting their heads beat in for not doing enough & and now their getting their butt(s) chewed & being told THEY are the problem for doing the best of their ability to help a suffering animal!!!" - Really!!.. I do agree not to cry wolf, but that's about it!! There has to be a better solution then allowing an animal to suffer until AC can get around to checking on the welfare of neglected animals.. I've seen some cases where its taken up to a week & some where AC was a NO-SHOW altogether because Mr. AC was a relative of the abuser, rented property to the abuser, or had other cases to deal with & didn't have time to check on the abused & neglected animals.. SEEMS TO ME THE SYSTEM NEEDS FIXED!! Discouraging anyone from coming to the aid of a helpless animal is wrong, JUST PLAIN WRONG!! BTW- it's not the DO-GOODER who cemented their fate, it was the abuser., That comment takes away from the real problem!! It's appalling when one shifts the focus off the abuser in any form!! CF

(Lynn back in - here was my response to her email...)
I see your point. That is a failure in the system and of law enforcement. They need education, too. And for those out there who do nothing because it's their 'buddy' should be ashamed of themselves and retire. It's not the do-gooders fault. The person owning and abusing/neglecting the animals is the one to shoulder 100% of the blame ALL THE TIME. However, helping someone or their animals ties the hands of the law enforcement that IS willing and able to do something permanent for the animals.

It's not a matter of not doing enough, it 's a matter of doing enough in the RIGHT WAY to help the animals and change their situation permanently and legally. That is the only way this is all going to work. If your AC doesn't show and isn't interested, then call the Department of Agriculture. There is one in every state. Then call the State Police. Call the media. Call the sheriff's department. Call the state rep. Call the governor. Call the HSUS. Call the mayor/town manager. Call everyone you can think of and then email your friends to view the situation and MAKE A REPORT and call, too. Remember the squeaky wheel part?

I agree, there are many places where the system needs to be fixed. It's not perfect but it can't work if we don't do it in the proper way. And it won't get fixed until someone, anyone, stands up and demands that it be different.

I am in NO WAY shifting the blame from the abuser to the do-gooder. I'm just offering some guidelines from a legal and AC perspective that others may not know and maybe it will help out at least one animal who is in dire need of someone to rescue them.

I NEVER said not to help. I said to help in ways that the animals would NOT get back to the abuser, no matter what. DON'T give up. ALWAYS keep on trying for the animals. It's all we can do.

Yes You have no idea how hard it is to see an animal continue to suffer because some AC doesn't want to upset their 'friend' about their underweight, wormy, starving horses. If you think I don't know about it, then search for Tommy on my blog. I bought him to get him out of there for $300. He weighed 565 pounds. He was 12 years old. He's a 16 hand registered Quarter Horse. It's now been a year and he's gained 500 pounds and has a forever home where he's fed twice daily, has his own comfy, shaving filled stall, and never has to go without water again. I called multiple agencies. I did file a statement and signed a report. The others were eventually seized/relinquished. It doesn't happen in a matter of hours. It takes a matter of days to do a proper investigation. To connect to the right agencies. To assemble the resources. I'm just trying to show helping - sometimes - does more harm than good in the long run.

I'm really glad you brought up these points - but the blame ONLY sits on the shoulders of the abuser/hoarder ALL THE TIME. I would like to think there is a special place reserved in HELL for just them. (No, no, don't go all religion on me...)

~Just my two cents. It doesn't help when the animals linger in borderline conditions, which when questioned can be explained [lied about]. It also doesn't help if they are tipped off every time someone is coming to inspect. Again, just my 2 cents. Gee, now Im broke. D S

(me back in...)It's sometimes that case with any kind of investigation, whether it involves an animal or not. But if you can document the continued conditions, sometimes it's enough to be able to help the animals when they know someone is always watching, because, eventually, no one can keep up the charade without fail ALL the time... it's an imperfect world and we can only do the best we can do...

(gasp) guess I shouldn't have said it all on one breath!

~You GO girl! JJ

~You and me both... and let us not forget the people who call the cops to report your horse is dead in your field and he's just laying down sunning himself... B

Big, BIG Soap Box Warning....

Ok. I've had it. I'm sick to death of it. My email has at least ONE email every day telling me about horses, dogs or cats being neglect/abused/starved to death. I hear so many sob stories about how these people are 'overwhelmed' and 'lost their jobs' and how they just 'acquired' too many horses, dogs or cats (or any combination of those or more).

Hell-O!!?!?! How do you just 'acquire' too many horses? It's not like they just showed up on your doorstep, looking for a bowl of milk, like kittens.... these are HORSES - they are usually Trailered... by a TRUCK! If you feel sorry for a horse and the condition that it's in, donate to your local rescue. Don't bring it home. Because you are then the next story that is going to be posted on the email list.

And for you Do-Gooders out there - please, please, please... STOP HELPING THESE PEOPLE! All you are doing is prolonging the torture of these animals. Here is a portion of the conversation you are having with animal control, dept. of agriculture, local law enforcment, etc. (for those of you who do report and will file a statement):

Do-Gooder: "Hello. I am calling to report some neglected horses (animals). Their owner isn't feeding them or cleaning their stalls (pens) and they never have water. Can you check on them?"

Animal control goes and checks on the horses (animals). Their stalls (pens) are CLEAN and they have HAY (food) and water.

Animal control: (calls back the Do-Gooder): "The horses (animals) stalls (pens) are clean and they have hay (food) and water. We didn't find any problem. We have to close the case."

Do-Gooder: "Well the only reason the stalls (pens) are clean is because we cleaned them and the only reason they have hay (food) and water is because we bought it and fed them."

Animal Control (BANGING HEAD ON DESK CONTINUOUSLY AS HARD AS THEY CAN): "Then I can't help them until you stop taking care of them. In the EYES OF THE LAW THEY ARE BEING CARED FOR!"

Yes, I will speak for those of us in Animal Control because I have been there - for many years. (I am no longer as I can't stand the anguish any more, AND I have found someone who is much younger and less jaded than I am to do the thankless, painful job.)

If you know of abuse or neglect, you CAN'T FIX IT and then ask us to step in and do something. We have no proof.

How do I know you don't actually have an agreement with the owner and the horses belong to someone else and you are leasing the barn? How do I know it's truly you that is doing the work? How do I know it's you that is doing the work and that you aren't (ILLEGALLY) TRESPASSING on their property? In that case, I have to report you and YOU GET THE TICKET! How do I know that the owner is not doing the care? Just because "you" said so? Maybe the neighbor - even though you are the one mucking stalls, buying hay, filling stock tanks - thinks he just found the perfect neighborhood to live in? Want to come live next door to me? I would LOVE IT if someone else did all my chores, paid my hay bill, took care of my horse and I could just sit back and watch them because IT WON'T GET ME IN TROUBLE AT ALL! How do I know that you don't just have an itch to scratch because they play their music loud every weekend until 2 am?

Please, please, please. DON'T HELP the horses, dogs, cats, etc. REPORT THE ABUSER. If I get a report and I drive by/visit the animal and it has food, shelter and water, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN LEGALLY DO.

You, dear Do-Gooder, have SENTENCED this animal to MORE TIME in their HELL HOLE.

DO report to animal control, department of agriculture, local police, state police, etc., etc..

BE an advocate for the animal.

DO support your local rescues and shelters.

DO NOT give up because your first call wasn't answered. Sometimes, the squeaky wheel gets the most grease, sometimes just to shut it up.

DO take pictures.

DO NOT TRESPASS TO GET THE EVIDENCE. We can't use it in court.

DO NOT help the animal before law enforcement, department of agriculture, animal control, state police, etc., etc., get there as it WILL NOT STICK. (Even if it means the animal is still being neglected. Yes, this is hard to say, even HARDER to do.)

DO NOT CRY WOLF. Just because the neighbor horse is standing out in the rain when it has a perfectly good shelter to go into with hay and water, you will not be taken seriously the next time you report one who is truly in trouble.

I'm seriously pulling out my hair (what little I have left) because of so many stories of "I tried to help, but they wouldn't help themselves or their animals..." because people who neglect their animals DO IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! They don't stop. It's like a disease. And those who 'help' the animals or the owners are only sentencing those animals to longer confinement in those conditions.

Ok. I'm still steamed. I'm outraged. My blood pressure is going through the roof. It makes me shake my head with wonder every single time this happens. It makes me want to bang my head into the doorframe for hours straight every time I read a new email....

Oh, what did you say? You just can't stand there and do nothing? You can't let those poor little animals suffer any more? Well, YOU just CEMENTED THEIR FATE by stepping in. You are ENABLING THE HOARDER/ABUSER and PERPETUATING THE ABUSE of those neglected animals!

AAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!

When - and it will only be a matter of time - Animal Control, Department of Agriculture, Local Law Enforcement, State Police, Etc., Etc. step in, then be there and be prepared to help the animals out. BUT NOT UNTIL THEN!!!!!

Ok. ok. I'm done for now, but I'm still stomping off my soap box, stomping my way into my boots and stomping out into the barn to clean my horses stalls (otherwise known as throwing $hit around) .... grumble, grumble, stomp, stomp .... fading away >:( >:( > :( >:(

Rain, rain and more flippin' rain...

I know, I know. It's good to have the rain. Yep. So much rain that half the state is floating away and some people are bailing out their basements. The horses are growing webbed feet and the chickens are growing gills. At least we don't have to shovel rain.

The horses were in today - again. Without protest this time. They like being inside and sticking their heads out the doors long enough to get their ears wet and then come inside and snuggle in their shavings in their stalls. I will let them out tomorrow when it slows down a little.

I let them out earlier when I cleaned stalls. They ran around for a few minutes, rolled in the mud (my eyes are rolling) and then came charging back in when I called them. They were out long enough to be totally saturated with mud. So much that I used the scraper on them. Now they are nice and fluffy and dusty. (shaking my head)

Hopefully everyone survives the floods and no one gets washed away. South of us is really getting hit hard. I'm so glad that I not only live very, very high above the river, but I also sit right on top of a gravel pit. Seriously. We don't have hardly any puddles anywhere! Except the impromptu manure pile the guys have made in the pasture.

Stay dry and warm... it's supposed to be 80 degrees on Sunday! I can't hardly wait!

Looking for a Horse?

There are a couple of ladies I know in Northern Vermont who rescued 16 horses off the slaughter truck. Yep, folks, it even happens around here. Now they are looking for foster/forever homes for these horses. I know two of them are geldings, the other 14 mares... whew. That takes my chances down by a long shot!

So, if you are looking for a horse and truly want to save one who was a breath away from being killed - literally - this is your chance. I don't know all the details, but if you have a facebook account just do a search for Vermont Slaughter Bound No More and there are quite a few pictures of the horses on there. And Kathleen will be the one to contact about them...

Now for the crew. I have had to put Tommy on a D.I.E.T. Yep. Mr. Chunky thighs. I can't hardly feel his ribs through the fat on them. What a difference a year makes. As soon as things get down to a dull roar around here and the weather warms up just a little bit and the wind stops blowing, I will post pictures of before and after. It's been almost a year since I first saw him. We are getting ready to ride. Gulp. No, no, he is doing fine... I'm just a little yellow chicken... b-gawk..... I've only ridden twice this winter and he is BIG! He's grown- I swear he has- not just around, but tall. So, when someone is home, I'm riding him in the pasture for the first few times. I'm sure he will do fine. Had the saddle on him the other night. Thank god it was a western saddle because the girth for the English wouldn't fit around him. Even when he wasn't sticking out his gut.

Too many bad news stories out there - in the past few days, I have heard of three, with more than 75 horses involved, combined. I know I don't have deluxe accommodations, but they have what they need and plenty of attention. I don't know how people can sleep at night or eat knowing their animals are suffering and dying.

I make sure all mine are fed and in usually before I make my dinner every night. And it's something I've drilled in my girls heads since they were little. The animals don't eat? Then neither do you. If you can't afford to feed them, then don't have them.

Ok. Sorry. I'll get off my soap box now. Do some deep breathing exercises. Calm myself down. Kinda ran away with myself there for a few moments.

Ok. Chickens are enjoying their pen - they are staying home - where they belong - and still getting some exercise. The ponies are liking the warmer weather - so is Tommy. The dogs are doing great, as well as the cats and birds. And my hubby is working harder than ever. Two of my girls are playing softball - one a senior, one a sophomore - so on Tuesday, the games begin... so glad the snow is mostly gone. And even though the wood stoves are keeping us very toasty tonight I will be glad when I can have a break from feeding/cleaning them on a daily basis.

Happy thoughts out to the barn, boys... stay snuggled up warm.

:)