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