So Much To Share

Merry Christmas! We are in the middle of another storm system dumping snow on us. Yay - already talking to the kids about home schooling for one quarter of their school year next year so we can blow out of here to warmer pastures! (Of course it's a dream)........

Many many thanks to Judy and Jessica King for coming last weekend to help feed horses and enjoy some riding. Strawberry, Chief, and Steelin Apples got some well-deserved attention by Jessica, Judy, and Jordyn Edge. Judy and Jordyn's aunt Robin put their heads together and thought up a great fundraising idea for ASAP. We are meeting on it this week and hope to have a shindig put together at the Stoddard American Legion for either late March or late April! It will include kid's activities on a Saturday afternoon, leading into food, a live band (Joe, we're hoping you'll say "yes"!), and beverages and dancing for the adults at night. We'll have a silent auction, so I am already putting out some feelers to see if any of you may have items for this that you would consider gifting to ASAP?

Many many thousands of thanks to Andrea and Comfortex for their large donation to ASAP. With this, we were able to completely pay up our hay bill and feed bill, vet bill and wow!!! First time ever. We are meeting with Andrea and her business partner very shortly to discuss consistent, solid fund raising ideas that they have. Ultimately, I am seeking a way to run ASAP full time and continue our mission of 17 years.

Thank you to Lori for your recent donation! You are such a gift to the horses! Lori is a consistent donor and with this gift we will be able to get a head start on Illinois Horse Fair which is in a few short weeks.

We were able to pay our stall fees for Midwest Horse Fair and now are working towards the motel rooms fees which will run $70 a night plus sales tax for three nights.

Flaunting It went to her new adoptive home to join Morena Hanover and Dueling Fox on Sunday. Sadly, and no one's fault at all, Flaunting It suffered CHOKE after arrival. The vet had to be called and they did attempt to tube her, but it was not effective. Flaunting It SHOULD be okay as long as everyone believes good thoughts and says a prayer. She is 20 this year and was looking forward to ten or more years of just being a well-loved pleasure horse when this happened.

Spect's Solution is still on the mend and his bandage is only being changed once a day, which is encouraging - vets are hoping for a full recovery. Thanks to Andrea for making this possible, Shannon for boarding Spect, and Jan for doing the surgery.

It's official - Girlie is going to have pups. Well the bright side is that they may be worth something if they are TT Brindles! Never had pups on the farm before, so any hints would be helpful. Vet says it may happen within a week - geeezzzzzzz......

Four bunnies found homes Sunday! Thanks to Don Martinson for coming and helping us sex the rabbits and taking, hopefully, all of the males!

Well, that's about it for right this minute. They just canceled school so I am off to work. Have a great rest of the week!

Hugs,
Susan

February News

SOOO glad to be out of January - feel like we are rounding the corner - 27 more days until March 1!!!
The cats and dogs all fight to be inside and we find ourselves guarding doorways when company comes to keep animals from invading our home. I feel badly for my sister tonite as her dog of many years is facing her final days - it is like losing a child when a dog passes - so whisper a prayer for their family and for the dog that it will be peaceful and that the Lord will comfort them.

As for our Tennessee visitor, Girlie...........ahem................I am HOPING she is gaining weight cuz she is eating well................if not, my friend Andrea who may decide to bring Girlie home with her may be in for more than she bargained for!
I will take Girlie to the vet for a distemper booster and find out for sure at that time.

Mom left today for her month with my sister. It is so empty when she leaves - so hard to have her go, but this past month I believe I made it a point to spend all possible free moments with her, to treasure her, listen to her stories, and just "be still" and let thoughts of all I should be doing be put on hold. I don't want any regrets. Still, some of the stories were hard to listen to - stories of her family during WW II in Norway when she was growing up - stories of losing her mother to tuberculosis when my mom was only 11, having to be raised by step mothers and grandmothers and grandfathers and being so very poor. Stories of later years after marrying my dad, and summers in Wisconsin. The worse part was hearing of her anguish, knowing that when we left Wisconsin to go back to California my dad kept our family dog chained to a doghouse for literally 4-5 months, alone. The neighbor came down to feed and water, but he was no animal lover. I can't imagine what that dog must have gone through - the feelings of abandonment and loss of his family's love. When I was 15 my father went back to California to sell our house in order to move everyone permanently to Wisconsin. Over the years my mother had built a family of many cats - all were outdoor cats - but she had a name for all of the 15-20 that were ours. She just told me this past month that when the house in California sold my mother wanted to bring the cats, or at least a couple of her favorites. My dad forbid her to take them, and promised to "take good care of them". She never knew what he had done until later, when he shared that he had put them all in a cage and taken them to Svedal, a public park outside of San Jose near Morgan Hill, and let them all go there. My mother has kept this hurt inside for many years, and I am sure she was relieved to finally be able to talk about it. It shocked me, but then again, why should it? Maybe this is why I ended up in animal rescue............or maybe it was in my DNA before I was born. Here is a poem I'd like to share:

I Am An Animal Rescuer

My job is to assist God's creatures
I was born with the desire to fulfill their needs
I take in helpless, unwanted, homeless creatures without planning or selection

I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid

I have fallen in love a thousand times
And I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body too many times to count

I have animal friends and friends who have animal friends
I don't often use the word "pet"

I notice those lost at the road side
And my heart aches

I will hand raise a field mouse (I have a great story about this when I was 12!)
And make friends with a vulture
I know of no creature unworthy of my time

I want to live forever if there arent' any animals in Heaven
But I believe there are
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind?

Some may think we are master of the animals
But the animals have mastered themselves

Something people still haven't learned
War and abuse make me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind

We are a quite but determined army
And we are making a difference every day

There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
Nothing more rewarding than saving a life
No higher recognition than watching them thrive

There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
Who only days ago, was too weak to eat

By the love of those who I've been privileged to rescue
I have been rescued

I know what true unconditional love really is
For I've seen it shining in the eyes of so many
Grateful for so little

I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done
My home is never quiet
My wallet is often empty
But my heart is always full

-Author unknown

As we think about the poem, I want to reach out to those of you who may have a place at your home for the following in need this week:

Flaunting It - was going to be adopted once and fostered once, but the connection
has not yet happened
A Team Hall
Honey Fitz
King's Royal Fella - if not placed by Thursday this week, they will be brought to our farm against our better judgment. We do not currently have room for three horses and need to emphasize these three horses are trained to ride and trail safe and please help ASAP if you can! The horses are near La Crosse. We are currently carrying buckets to two horses where there are no heated tanks - three more would take us way over budget and we do not have adequate water supply for this many horses so please help us!

We had one new tank heater go bad last Friday (good thing there was a 3 year warranty on it!) and another one is not working at 100%. Our electric bills are skyrocketing, and we are headed into horse fairs where we will need money to travel, for motels, and for food and stall space. Sponsorships are badly needed!

Our board meeting was held last Friday night because we had at least 50% of our board present - notes to follow.

Have a GREAT WEEK!
Susan

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION

THE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 7 PM THIS EVENING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED DUE TO ILLNESS.
WE WILL NOTIFY YOU WHEN THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE SHORTLY.

January Thoughts

I just came in from daily chores. The wind is howling, snow is blowing, and temperatures are dropping. Ice is everywhere, and I manage to carry buckets without falling. Stalls are cleaned, fresh bedding placed, and my mind races.

I feel as though we have reached a point where decisions must be made. Decisions about our bi-laws as an organization, and how long we can protect and serve the horses placed into our now-lifetime placement program.

I look around me and recall histories on the following horses. Horses that we have cared for for so many years now:

Arne-donated by owner MO/IL area. The hauler arrived several years ago at the barn where both Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds were being trained. The two horses being donated were easy to spot. They stood in dark stalls, with manure literally up to their knees in some spots. Arne had fractured his hock. No longer raceable, he was left in the stall with the owner being faced with few choices as to his future. It was both a blessing and a curse that Arne came to be at ASAP. The owner offered no money to help with shipping or future care. Arne was unmistakably lame, his hock the size of a melon. The TB gelding was emaciated, but didn't appear to be struggling to move around. For the sake of memory, I cannot recall his name, but I know he was given a great home by a local farmer and his girlfriend and lived there in green pastures until he died this past year.

Arne and the Thoroughbred made the seven hour ride back to our Wisconsin farm. I often say that there is little that time, love, and good nutrition cannot help, and such was the case for both of these horses. Arne was adopted out to a teacher in northern Wisconsin. She even rode him around the yard, and he was docile, obedient, and kind. Yet, as life goes, she found herself in the middle of a divorce and no longer able to care for Arne. He came back to ASAP and has lived here ever since. He has had two brief sponsorships in the years since re-placement. Yet, ASAP continues to love and provide for him unconditionally. There are days when his hock clearly aches, and he holds his leg up. On the other hand, he is the clearly established herd boss among Chevie Silverado, Stylish Sharon, Strawberry Jacki, and Brandy.

Brandy
We all know the fond tale of Brandy - appropriately at the time labeled the "killer horse". Her mouth could open so wide you would think she'd be trying to bite a dinosaur when she was aggressive! Ears pinned, she meant business! She went from one failed foster placement to the ASAP farm. Many interested individuals came out to give her a chance to show her soft side, if there was one? ASAP might have known she had "issues" when she was donated - we knew about the sidebone in both her front legs, but we didn't know she had her own tack trunk, complete with a sign from her former stall that read "BEWARE OF HORSE" and a muzzle!!!
Since that time, Brandy has adopted ASAP as her family. She has been successfully used as a therapy horse (without sidewalkers, which makes her very claustrophobic!), and a great little riding horse. Last weekend, afer not being ridden in literally months, Amy A. jumped on her bareback as we all went down the road a couple of miles. Brandy loves Amy, and many others who have "adopted" her over the years. Her former owner still keeps in contact, but support for her has been limited.

Strawberry Jacki
This old mare was donated as a 13 year old. Her former owner was interested in adopting a Standardbred, which she did. Strawberry has had two brief homes, but financial hardship at a farmer's residence and a two year stay at a doctor's farm proved to be temporary. Strawberry came back, and her hips tell us that all of those years as a brood mare in her younger days are taking a toll. Strawberry now pins her ears when saddled, and even will pin her ears when first mounted, but she always tries to give her best. She is ridden lightly but, for the most part, is loved and fed well without having to give back.

Stylish Sharon
This great old mare had a great racing career. She made over $250,000 as a race horse! I believe she may have been a brood mare, but ultimately needed at home by the time she reached 19. A loving owner donated her to ASAP in hopes of finding her permanency to live out her days. Initially Sharon was adopted by the same family who currently has K Macaroni. She suffered from some sort of metabolic disorder which caused her to lose most of her hair by the spring of 2007. She came back to us looking like a hairless horse! We had blood drawn and that showed no anomalies. We put her on thyroid medication and fed her well. She was virtually unadoptable due to her thin condition and skin/hair problems. The past two summers we have been blessed with donated pasture, which has helped Sharon's overall condition so very much! She is now 25 years old and still needs an eye kept on her to insure her intake is sufficient, but she has kept all of her hair! The racing industry and former owner have both been contacted for support. Still, times seem to be tough all over, and the support does not come.

Chevie Silverado
Chevie's former owner cared about Chevie so very much that they paid the shipping for him to come all the way to Wisconsin afte retirement out east! He arrived at foster care in Illinois along with Cryptic Star, a retired Thoroughbred. I should say that he arrived first, and seemed a bit neurotic right from the git-go. It was evident he had never been an only horse before, and he did not like it even one little bit! He paced fencelines and called for a horse that wasn't there. Thank goodness Cryptic Star came along to be his companion.
Soon it was time for Chevie to be moved. He went into foster care with Marie, who kept him through a few hard winter months. There were other horses there, which comforted him. Marie brought him to the ASAP farm and he has been adopted one time.
This was a failed adoption, as Chevie did not seem happy in his home with Race for Home, Bart's A Bad Boy, and a jack donkey. We thought the problem may be that the jack was causing some "hormonal" issues.........but nevertheless nipping at people and charging the gate just weren't acceptable behaviors. Chevie returned to ASAP and is continuing to be worked by ASAP volunteers. Amy has started him under saddle and he has been impressive! He still has some hours to be put on him, but his main issue is that he needs another horse around and to feel confident and secure in his home. Chevie is very very emotional but tends to love women and stands as still as a rock when we go to tack him up. We are hoping and praying that his former groom or trainer will be able to adopt him this spring when she buys her dream farm!

Steelin Apples
Apples came from a very caring trainer in Pennsylvania. Tom knew this horse was so special that he deserved a dignified retirement. Tom was right. Apples shipped in to Springfield during the Illinois Horse Fair in 2006 (going off memory again). Dondi agreed to foster him, and took him to her farm for a time. An outbreak of strangles occurred, and Apples contracted it! Dondi took him to a vet hospital and dropped him off, asking ASAP to please take over from that point on. I drove to the vet hospital, facing a vet bill of $1300.00. ASAP did not have the funds to cover this vet bill, so my personal credit card was used. To this day, I am paying off his vet bill. At any rate, we brought Apples home and continued to care for him until he healed. A neighbor offered her pasture and shelter until Apples was completely well (thank you Renata). Apples clearly had some leg issues - he had suffered a reaction to injections while racing, and had sustained nerve damage in his front legs. His rear leg also centered underneath him when he walked, and we knew he was not going to be adoptable until we could figure it out. IN the meantime, Apples didn't mind people sitting on him, and I even rode him bareback down the lane to eat in a lush field about 1/4 mile down the road. He has given a lot of little ones hours of joy, as his gentle nature makes him a safe horse, but his body is not 100%.
ASAP now bears the full amount for feeding, vet care, trimming, and all the rest of what goes into caring for a horse. There is no regret for taking Apples in, but the reality of the cost of care cannot be ignored.

Bob Cook
This beautiful gelding stands 17 hands tall. We knew when he came that he would have front foot problems. Bob made over $105,000 as a race horse, but broke his foot and was turned out in pasture by his owner for a time. Seeing his temperament in a pasture full of brood mares as caring and gentle, the owner hoped for a lifetime placement for Bob. He came to us hopping on one front foot. Today, many years later, he is walking on all four feet (thanks to our natural hoof trimmer Mark!). His beauty alone would attract potential adopters to take him home, but the fact that he walks in a labored fashion and cannot be ridden makes him an unwanted horse, or unadoptable. Times are tough, and the former owner and racing industry does not currently support his placement.

Taser Gun
Who would NOT KNOW about this great racing champion? Taser is the object of many's affections. It took him two years to "settle down"! He is now being ridden and is adoptable. Still, ASAP sees him as a great ambassador for our program, so it has been hard to think about saying "so long" after so long!!

Timesareachanging
Ditto from Taser Gun's description! Times is a permanent resident at ASAP. He would be difficult to place in a home due to his stallion-like behaviors which make it challenging to keep him in any kind of herd. Currently he is in with Flaunting It, who is rehabilitating with us after lack of food and care in her former adoptive home.

Flaunting It
An older STB mare, she was placed after her brood mare days were over. She was more difficult to get close to - she ran every time someone came near her. After a period of evaluation, we were faced with the fact that she would either be a potential brood mare or buggy horse for someone, or be with ASAP for the rest of her days. She has had two placements, and the last placement seemed to just stop caring. She was brought back to us in unacceptable condition, and we have been rehabbing her ever since. She is quickly putting on weight and has recovered from her rain rot. It shows ASAP that they just quit feeding her. UNACCEPTABLE!

Spect's Solution
Spect was in his adoptive home with great care for many many years! He had been rather challenging as a riding horse. The only alternative was to be used for driving. While at his home with Dan, he sustained a wire injury to the front leg. Dan's son called me to ask for help, and a vet was called and treatment done. Enough said. ASAP thought they didn't have to worry. Six months later, Spect is returned to ASAP due to his injury not healing. Well, no wonder! The injury had not been followed up with a vet, and the infection had spread into the bone. It is a great thing that Spect was delivered to ASAP in time - thanks to caring people such as Shannon and especially Andrea (who covered his surgery costs), Spect is now recovering from his surgery and has a hopeful future.

Comet
Comet is the product of a Standardbred mare named Silent Pursuit and an Appaloosa stallion. The former owners had given consent for Silent Pursuit to be bred, and this did occur one time for the adopters who had her for ten years or better. Comet is now ten years old and never had training. His adopters relinquished Silent Pursuit and Comet to the program last year and Silent Pursuit was adopted and even demonstrated at Midwest Horse Fair last year! Comet, in the meantime, has been virtually unadoptable due to the fact that he has not had training. He is colored and gentle and a very pretty horse, but in this economy no one seems interested in adopting a ten year old with no experience. Thanks to Marie, he has been able to stay at her place for a ong time - yet no funds are available for Comet and Marie is providing out of the goodness of her heart. It would be so great to see someone step up to donate to the hay fund at Marie's! Better yet, who may adopt Comet or even volunteer to do training?

Marie is also fostering Fox Valley Terror, Sugar, and Allie. Read their descriptions on our web site.

At ASAP let's also not forget Little Jeffrey John,Sandbakkel, Sandbakkels' foal, and horses waiting to come back into the program which also include:
A Team Hall
Honey Fitz
King's Royal Fella
Annaliz Ferdinand
Letsgo Steve
Missile Mike
Superbowl Joe
Get About?
Horses in foster care in other places include:
Jackson
Anxious Larry
Cape Cruiser
Dolly's Delight (thanks to Carmen for caring for all of these horses!)
Thanks to Heather Dix for working with
Miss Molly P
Thanks to Andrea for paying board for JB the Standardbred rescued in Green Bay area in 2009
Thanks to Ninette for ongoing care for Z Tempest, an Arabian mare who has been unadoptable in years past.

Long story short, we face a point where, without support from the racing industry or racing owners, we cannot guarantee lifetime placement with ASAP. There may be a time when ownership will be relinquished to long-time adopters. With the rate of return ONLY DUE TO financial hardship, divorce, loss of interest, or illness or death, and not due to problems with the horses we place since we GUARANTEE them, we cannot afford, as an organization, to take in every horse that is being relinquished.

Until times change, we must come up with a way to fund raise, market our program, or increase adoptions. Our ultimate goal is to provide lifetime placement for horses entrusted to us, but can we, ultimately, afford to do that?

Food for thought!

Great Weekend

The sun was shining on Saturday, and we were hopeful for temperatures into the mid 30's. That brought out friends of ASAP! Remmie, Chief, Lakehills Texas, Brandy, and Fargo were all saddled, and off we went for a road ride in the sunshine!

Chevie Silverado seemed in no mood to go riding, so we left him back with Strawberry and Stylish Sharon. Timesareachanging wanted to go, as did Taser, but only time to ride so many. They still got extra attention from our friends who came to visit. On Sunday we also continued pampering, with Steelin Apples and Flaunting It getting some lovin. Apples was in no mood to be ridden, and would not accept the bit for the young gal who was here riding. I was tempted to help, but know that people who hope to have their own horse have to learn how to tack them up themselves! In the end, Apples won, but he did get the TLC he deserved. We tried to put Times and Flaunting It in with Taser and Bob Cook again, but Times proved to us once again that he was going to remain aggressive towards Taser. I just scratch my head.

Thank you to Robin and Jordin for your donation of $50 this weekend! Thank you also to another friend for sending $40 in the mail. We need funds on an ongoing basis to pay for hay and feed. Adoptions are very slow at this point, and racing organizations are not supporting ASAP with any funds to date. We are continuing to rally for sponsorship dollars to assist ASAP in attending the Iowa Horse Fair and Midwest Horse Fair in March and April. Diesel fuel, motels, and entry fees are expenses that are over and above the operational expenses at ASAP - if we knew that the outcome of our presence at the horse fairs would be greatly increased adoptions we would feel much more justified in going, but the unknown makes our attendance more tentative. Still, my argument is that the Illinois Horse Fair is a beautiful union between the racing industry and harness racing's own charity.........and the Midwest Horse Fair is attended by even more people than Equine Affair, and the adoptions that take place as a result of it make it very worthwhile.

We still have a $260 vet bill to pay. Our hay is almost paid! If only adoptions would happen now, it would help us to have the adoption fees!! As it is, we continue to take in boarders to help offset expenses.

BOARD MEETING: Friday January 29 7:00 pm

Will try to update pictures of Flaunting It so you can see the great improvements in her condition! Have to buy a new digital camera battery today!

Susan

News

Spect's Solution had his surgery, thanks to Andrea T. and the help of Shannon. The infection had gone deeper into the bone than originally seen on xrays. Spect, being the incredible STB that he is, woke up two times during surgery after anesthetization and tried to stand up!!! That made things a bit more complicated. All in all, Spect is on the full road to recovery and we owe so much to Andrea for making this financially possible.

Flaunting It is steadily gaining weight. Thanks to Bob B. and his donation of excellent supplements, and Judy, Jessica, and Emily's help in treating the rain rot and thorough grooming, she is looking 100% better - I'll try to get pictures!!!

We are in the process of trying to place more horses......wish us luck!
Honey Fitz, King, and A Team are the most urgent needs right now.
Girlie continues to do well adjusting to her new life with the Wellman's.

Write more later,
Susan

2000 Miles of Adventure

Sigh........back after a whirlwind trip to Ocala! Six days- two days down, two there, and two days back! Why, do you ask, would anyone choose to embark on such a trek? Well, for one, I miss my son, Jordan, who moved down there to pursue wrestling school at the Dory Funk Conservatory. He spent Christmas alone, and I found myself pining away for him. My oldest daughter had just been down to see him over Thanksgiving, so that made two holidays without my boy. THE biggest deciding factor was my mother's strong intentions to get there to see him as well. There was a reason for that - my own father had moved to Ocala after he graduated from Navigational Flight school in Port Arthur, Texas. He took a job at a radio station in Ocala and settled there for a time. My mother has never seen the south, and wanted to tag along. She offered to pay gas and motel, and who could argue with that? What about the animals? This is where a big thanks goes out to Judy, Jessica, Kelly, and Benjamin King! They are new volunteers, but very willing and kind people. They offered to feed and water horses if we decided to go. That made everything fall into place, and it wasn't long before we were packed up and gone. Three dogs (Tina, Cookie, and Peanut), two kids (Zach and Rachel), Grandma Lee and me going down the road!

I guess nothing is ever an accident, and I have always heard that God will never give us more than we can handle. Grandma was a little tired during the trip, and it took kind of a mental or emotional toll on her. The dogs and kids took it all in and were easy travelers. Then, the second day, it happened.............

The interstate resembled a line of tiny ants from Nashville all the way to Ocala - I am sure heaven's view would be like a couple of million frantic little specks headed to warmer ground! We were in that army of ants - flying at speeds of 70-80 mph - past each other and past, sadly, several abandoned dogs on the interstate. 9-1-1 - I phoned that number twice to beg for assistance for one yellow lab pup on the northbound shoulder in Kentucky, and again in Tennessee. Both 9-1-1 operators were gracious and not angry that I had called the only number I could think of for help.
They promised to go and see if they could save the dogs. I shook my head, finding it hard to imagine who would discard an innocent life like a paper bag out of a window. People like that should be taught a lesson.

Meanwhile, at a truck stop outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, a medium-sized, short-haired female dog shivered in a ditch. Intermittently, in these, the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, she would find the courage to approach strangers in the front part of the truck stop, taking food from the parking lot or from outstretched hands. Quickly, she would dart to the back of the truck stop to devour the food. Later, the cycle would repeat itself. Many locals had tried in vain to catch this frightened little life. It was clear she had not been treated well prior to being abandoned here. A door slammed, and she dropped to the ground, tail between her legs. A soda bottled opened, and she darted from sight. If a man with a cap on drove up in a pickup truck, her hair stood up on her back and she cowered, out of sight. If ten cars went in and out of that truck stop every ten minutes, that means 60 cars an hour stopped for fuel or rest. 720 cars in a 12 hour period...........yet in three days time no one had cared enough to inquire about this beautiful dog with big, sad, brown eyes, who laid cold, curled in a ball, on the grass and mud behind the truck stop. How awful it must have been to see all of these people and yet not trust one enough to approach for any length of time.

Well..............(you know where this is going???)........the second night of our journey I had to stop for gas in this little area outside of Chattanooga, at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. I never saw the little dog, but my children did. They begged me to turn back to look for her, as I was exiting the parking lot to get back on the freeway. Just then, she appeared in the front of the truck stop convenience store. We pulled our car up, and offered her a left-over hamburger. She took it and left quickly. Zach and Rachel jumped out of the car and followed her to the dumpster area, then saw her run behind the truck stop to the dark, cold area. We drove around the back of the truck stop and watched her. She watched us. It was in the 30's by that time, and getting dark. We got out of the car, crouched down by the side of the road, and called her. Rachel immediately called, "Girlie! Come here Girlie!". The dog wagged its tail and slowly approached us, halfway crouching to the ground. She was shaking, frightened, yet anticipating and sensing kindness. We began to shake and ran to the next-door Waffle House to ask them for help. They stated that they had phoned the local humane officer but the humane officer was unable or unwilling to come for a dog that could not be captured. We told them we had the dog on a leash. They phoned again for help, but none came. They explained that in these rural areas..........we just didn't "understand".......people in those parts abandon animals all of the time. It's just a part of life. No rescues around? No humane society? What would we do?

Grandma Lee stated clearly that we could not leave the dog there to starve or die. After a long discussion between the kids and grandma and myself, and a sausage patty served free of charge by Waffle House employees, we coaxed her to the car. My dogs got out to meet her prior to us loading her up - all was peaceful and calm. Once in Ocala we had her scanned for microchips by the local vet, had an exam, and she received a clean bill of health. She also received her immunizations, and a brand new red collar with a name tag - appropriately her name is GIRLIE.

Nothing is ever an accident. She has been a grateful guest and has caused no problems for us. She won't leave my side or Rachel's side - and Rachel has certainly laid claim to her. Still, we hope for the perfect home, as we have too many dogs..........still, my heart aches at the thought of her having to make another transition. The very positive side of this whole thing is that we found out she is a very pure breed of dog, bred in the Appalachians in the 1960's and only recently added to the AKC registry - she is a Treeing Tennessee Brindle dog! Even if she were not a purebred, she would be precious to us. We are very privileged to have once again been hands for our loving heavently Father, who cares about even one sparrow who falls to the earth..........He knew she needed help, and we were happy to help. Now.........we don't know the end of the story yet, but it's all in His hands! Hope you enjoy pics!

Thanks to Many

As we wind down the year, we receive a few more donations in the mail that we are very thankful for. Large or small, each dollar received benefits the horses! More hay is possible, more feed, a hoof trim, more dewormers, extra for the vet payment!
So thanks to the following most recent contributors:
Pat Mouw and Charle RL - Illinois
Lisa and Collin Garvalia and Rocky, Peggy and Ron Garvalia, Kurt and Carrie Begalke Genoa WI
Dawn Meyers and Finale's Fooler - Bangor WI
Bob Armentrout - Genoa
Lynette Laska and friends and Maureen Anastasia - donation of time and tack!
Judy and Jessica King - Stoddard, WI - volunteers!
Amy Anderson and Mc Lock and Lucky - Genoa, WI - volunteering some time and riding Chevie Silverado and R Colelateral
Andrea T for providing the necessary vet care and surgery for Spect's Solution
Bonnie Falkowski for offering to take in Flaunting It
Kickapoo Carriages for offering to take in a horse or two for foster or adoption
Sue LeFebvre for her donation of a carriage!
Ray and Alice for their generous contribution (Penguin Beware, Sunny Forecast, Pistol Pete N and Mini Happi Times mom and dad!) - you guys!!!!
Trudy Mara - Baraboo (Jumbo Shrimp's rescuer)
Lori Hahn Wiedemeyer
Mary Dyroff and Friendly Explosion (this horse deceased but his memory lives on)
Eric Mandelbaum - New Jersey

Without any end of year donation from IHHA, we were concerned about the state of ASAP - but with your support we are able to continue. Thank you all so very much - I will continue to post more donations as they are mailed out!
Other than the ice, all are doing well and eating well. Timesareachanging is up to his usual shenanigans, Taser Gun is looking better after being bullied by Times in November (they are separated right now), Chevie Silverado does not like ice and tippy toes everywhere he goes, and all appear bored but healthy.

Ring in the New Year - I am ready for spring!
Happy New Year,
Susan

PS - if any of you are facebook members, look for ASAP and me and let's become friends!

Update on Spect's Solution and Flaunting It

Hello!
I know many of you are asking the status of the two horses we took back that were in such horrific condition. Thanks to Andrea for stepping up and taking Spect's Solution back for diagnostics and treatment. We did not know the extent of the leg problem until yesterday.
Xrays and tests revealed that the injury that was incurred in May or June of this year had not healed for a reason - the infection is still rampant in that leg, and, unfortunately, has gone into the bone. He will undergo surgery this weekend to remove the infection - please whisper a prayer for Spect for a speedy recovery.

Flaunting It continues to put on weight. She is so cute when she spies us coming out the door towards the barn - she now nickers to us, hoping for more of that good stuff (treats, feed, etc). Bonnie F. who has several ASAP horses has volunteered to foster or adopt Flauting It. We are taking our time to make sure she is dewormed and fully evaluated so that if and when Bonnie takes her she will only have to worry about food and love and nothing more. Flaunting It is really soaking up all the attention and affection!

Two days until Christmas Eve - thank you all for your support.

Susan

Good People

Just a quick update for everyone...........God is good and there are good people in the world who see the damage other humans have done and want to help. Thank you to Andrea and Shannon for taking Spect's Solution to get him evaluated by a top notch veterinarian and treated. He will return once he is on the road to healing.

Thank you to Lynnette and Amy, who came down Saturday. It was fun spending many hours together talking Standardbreds and horses in general........sharing stories, and thanks for helping me fill tanks, muck stalls, and especially thanks for helping me bring Miss Molly P and Chevie up and in stalls for the night. Molly left this morning for the trainer. I cried. She stood, haltered, like a stone in the barn. I felt I had let her down, having her standing around our place for so long without working with her. Still it is selfish to keep her here where we cannot work on her trust issues in a consistent manner. She is a liability for the children that come to the farm - she kicks and strikes. So it was for the best, but Chevie was very upset and it made me feel guilty for taking her from him. Thank you Heather (also has Ain't Nothin New at her place).

Sarajevo is off to foster care - depending on how the family gets along with her she may be adopted. Thank you Sabrina!

Flaunting It is still here. I de=loused her yesterday. Plan to carefully worm her this week. It is amazing but true - she has gained weight since coming several days ago! If this continues, we realize that most of her condition was simply due to a lack of food and shelter - NOT ACCEPTABLE. Emily brought down some spray-on solution for rain rot - will get to that tomorrow. Thank you Emily! Thanks Bonnie and Deb for stepping up to want to help this old mare, too!

Every one of you are amazing. And special thanks to Ray and Alice and Andrea and Deb D. for your donations this week - we've got hay!!!

More pictures to come!
HO HO HO
Susan