Taser Gun vs. John Lyons - A Partnership Waiting To Happen!

The light bulb has finally come on!!!

What better horse to have John Lyons work with (one of two horses scheduled for that day) than the infamous Taser Gun?

On Saturday, July 19 Taser Gun will come face to face with internationally known horse trainer, John Lyons on Taser's own turf at the ASAP farm near Genoa, Wisconsin.

Taser Gun retired in 2007, and has been living the life of luxury for the past ten months at the ASAP farm. He was slowly acclimated to a small herd of pasture mates, and director Susan Wellman now feels that it is time for Taser to learn a new discipline, as a saddle horse! Taser Gun is known around the world as a harness racer, breaking all kinds of speed records and having lifetime earnings of over 1.3 MILLION dollars! He experienced many career wins in Chicago and other Illinois race tracks, and traveled to win races in many other places.

So what better person to retrain Taser to saddle than John Lyons? What might Taser Gun present to John as a challenge? Mr. Walker, longtime trainer of Taser Gun, spoke with Susan over the phone. "Just be careful when you go to cinch him up. He used to come straight up on me when we put his harness on!" Mr. Walker also spoke in hind sight when he said that if he had known what a race horse they had and how much he would make, they would never have gelded him. "On the other hand", he stated, "Taser might just have killed me if we hadn't gelded him!". Susan has taken Taser on walks down country roads and has done ground work with Taser. He appears to be a spirited, yet obedient horse. He loves attention, but for so long, then he has had enough. To see his speed as he races around in the paddock brings about a desire to

be on his back, as long as he can be controlled!

So who will present who with the challenge? Are your bets on Taser? Or John Lyons? On the other hand, I have never seen a horse John Lyons could not build relationship and compliance with. In 2006, John Lyons had Candy Speed, a 12 year old Standardbred mare who had never been raced or ridden, under saddle and doing sidepasses within 45 minutes!

Please consider donating towards the cost of this spectacular clinic. We need to raise funds to pay John for his time at ASAP - which is going to be at least $5,000. Without increased ticket sales or donations, the amount will not be raised to pay John. In the name of Taser, think about a donation today! Pay Pal is gladly accepted!

Susan

Kittens, Storms, and Everyday Life

Stylish Sharon after treatment and good food

Sharon at feed pail and trotting

Remmie the fat boy now!

Beautiful black bay Remmie after months of good food and deworming!

Remmie at fence

Kitten, Stormy, with Rachel and Zach

Such a hungry kitty! Wet, too!

My thoughts and prayers are with our friends in Iowa right now. One of ASAP's greatest foster farms for Ebony and Josie, two of our older mares, has been hit hard since they are right smack dab by Cedar Rapids. I have not heard anything in the past two days, but did receive an email saying they were okay at the time. Please keep Wendy and her family and the horses in your prayers as well. We were hit again, with flooding deep into our basement and our rather new roof did not hold up to the rapid rains which seeped through the ceiling in two rooms in our house. The seepage into the basement did not stop for days. The damage was so great that carpet had to be ripped completely out of one bedroom. The other carpet is stained and moist. The insurance adjuster was out a few days ago and we are keeping our fingers crossed. Thankfully, the lightning and thunder touched no horse or other creature around us. They are all present and accounted for and we have much to be thankful for when there are no casualties!

We have had some changes in our family with new foster children coming and others leaving. Change is always extremely difficult and adjustments are hard. I started a new job at a residential treatment center and day program serving students with special needs, specializing in programs for children with autism or on the autism spectrum. It has been a thrill to help them find work in the community and see how our local businesses extend themselves to give these youth the opportunities they are desiring to succeed in life! Some of these students are the same that we serve at the ASAP farm using horses!

The clinic in July is a worry to us, as we continue not to have a lot of advance ticket sales. Thanks to Mary Ellen M. of Madison, we have submitted two grant proposals for sponsorship! Thank you thank you thank you Mary Ellen! Let's see what happens ......... and I also submitted a sponsorship plea to Kwik Trip stores. Major companies have been contacted, as well as groups affiliated with the racing industry. Thanks to the USTA, who has committed $250 towards the John Lyons clinic! Any other ideas are welcome at this point.

Last week during the storm there was a torrent of rain through our valley. My husband and kids took a ride in the truck to see which roads were closed and survey any washouts. As they passed by a small Lutheran church with windows down, they heard a horrific "MEOW" and saw a small kitten dart from the church to the high weeds by the cemetary. Craig immediately stopped the truck and they listened -- more frantic "MEOW"s. With the urging of the kids, Craig parked the truck and they braved the thundering and clapping and rain to pursue the tabby and white baby. The kitten retreated deeper and deeper into the weeds, but still was crying out for help. With another lightning storm present, and rains increasing, they left the kitten to come back home and get some supplies to lure the kitten out, if possible. I took the wheel of the truck and took Keath, Zach and Rachel with me back to the scene. We could hear the kitten really screaming for help now, as the rains soaked her fur. We got out and slowly approached the area. I got on my hands and knees and Zach and the other two kids parted the weeds on the other side. Zach swore he saw a snake and jumped back. I was getting attacked by "burning weed", or nettles. The kitten desperately cried out but retreated and hissed. Soft voices, hands reaching out, the kitten finally considered her choices and took the chance for a large strange hand to scoop her up and take her to unknown places. We took her back home and dried her off and gave her warm food to eat. Zach and Rachel named her Storm. I have asked around the neighborhood and no one had a kitten, so she must be feral. Now she knows nothing but warm soft beds and good food and is learning to trust. Enjoy the pictures!

I thought it was also time for you to see updated pictures of the mare who, a couple of months ago, had no hair over most of her body, was skinny and forlorn - a return to our program from adopters who chose not to keep her. She is turned out with Remmie, our rescue, of sorts, from a local Amish man who still wanted $500 for the horse despite his emaciated, wormy condition. Remmie today is a horse who has so much energy that he may not be suitable for beginner riders any longer! I rode him at Duck Egg and Yellow River the past couple of weeks, and he wants to go go go go go go go. At 20 years of age this little guy has speed and agility like no other trail horse I have been on for awhile. What is even better, he does not spook easily so confidence levels taking him to many places make riding him a pleasurable experience. Pleasurable, that is, until last Friday when I got the bright idea to hook Remmie up to a cart to give a 15 year old young man and my daughter, Rachel, a nice easy cruise down the road. Harness on - horse didn't flinch. Bridle on - horse stood literally ground tied for the whole yawn-provoking experience. We walked the cart around the horse - didn't even blink. Unflappable, immovable, bored with the whole thing???? We took the cart and snapped the quick hitch into place. Nothing. Dead calm. Walked around. Nothing. Rachel and Keath got in - Jon and I up front to hold the bridle, "just in case". Keath took the reins. Walk......walk....hey, WALK!!!!!! Remmie did not want to walk. Remmie did not want to go slow at all. I tried to hold him back by the bridle and told Keath to pull back on the reins. NO RESPONSE. Remmie goes wild. I can't get his head turned to slow him down - the bridle is ripped from my hands.........he BOLTS. I am screaming for them to bail out of the cart if they can. Keath jumps. Bad idea. Rachel still on the cart and the horse is a runaway. Rachel looked back at me with that helpless look as I ran to catch up, screaming. Luckily, Remmie dives for the barn. Unluckily, the cart clips the side of the entrance and tips, and Rachel is thrown up against the doorway and bounces behind the seat, caught by the driving reins. Remmie takes out a post trying to get into a stall, bending the cart. I screamed for Keath to go in and grab Remmie and we tied him to a post in the stall while I despeately struggled to release Rachel from the grip of those hard leather reins before Remmie panicked and tried to back out. That surely would have killed Rachel. She is screaming and I am screaming - it is a scene like nothing I have ever experienced and all I could think of was how I did this to my little girl!!!! Thankfully Keath and I are able to free Rachel and I carry her away from the cart with her sobbing and holding her knee and arm. I checked for injuries........and those two angels of Rachel must have had a migraine headache, but the blessing was that Rachel had nothing broken. I have bruises and tears in my skin and a sore neck and back, but nothing else. Keath is unharmed. Remmie was shaking in the stall, still caught by a cart that won't budge and an extremely tight harness cutting into him. So Keath and I decide to unbuckle the harness on both sides and lift the shafts off of Remmie and lift the cart straight up. Remmie was tremoring all over his body. I knew he was scared too, for whatever reason. Part of me wanted to kill him and part of me wanted to find out what I had done wrong. I think the biggest crime I committed was trying to hold him back to a walk once he was hitched. It was like his brain went mad, not accepting a walk as an answer. All speed ...............great speed..........powerful speed........which I denied him and he was beside himself. Well, the cart was off and we surveyed the damage, which included a bent shaft and quick hitches bent..........but that is about all.

Enough for one day. Enough for a lifetime. I am a gal that belongs on a horse's back! Maybe in time I will revisit driving...but it had better be with a horse with three legs!!!!! I am just so happy that Rachel is alright.

We are trying to get to South Dakota this week on Thursday. If there are no crises we just might make it! Oh, also wanted to send you pictures of our latest excursion with Grandma Lee to see Daniel O Donnell - enjoy!!!

Susan

Need Help for John Lyons!!!

Thought I'd ad this blurb - we desperately need major sponsors for John Lyons which will be Saturday July 19. We paid John $5000 in 2006 and had 175 people in attendance. ASAP ended up with about $100 after it was all said and done......and we had hoped to sell over 300 tickets this year, which is NOT happening. I know fuel prices are hurting everyone. I am offering free tickets to anyone who collects pledges for the horses or to sponsor a child from our community that would not otherwise be able to come. I am also encouraging businesses to sponsor, or those of you who have connections with major businesses to rally their support in order to be able to pay John for his time. How about Wrangler? Farm and Fleet? Tractor Supply Co? Local businesses? Anyone who can offer an hour of their time to help us rally support would be appreciated. I will also be contacting the race tracks and asking for their sponsorship but unless this is a group effort I am horribly afraid we will fail to meet our goals. Also, if you plan to come but will buy tickets at the farm, please RSVP and let me know so that I can get a head count of who is coming. Time is quickly approaching - help if you can! So far the Lions Club is serving food, Tabby Town and other local animal rescues will participate. The jury is still out on the 4-H clubs in our area.........as there is a horse show that day...........Also Flying Horse Stables will be here! SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS

Kodak Blues

I have been trying unsuccessfully to transfer and select pictures to my computer so I can share them with you. I have a call in to the Kodak Support Center and the Live Chat Line for help - after all, I have about 120 pictures that must go here and there and it sure is a helpless feeling when I cant make a machine do what I want it to!

In the meantime, I want to tell you that we have lost three very special horses this past week.

Two of the horses had been in their new adoptive home for a year, and another one had been with his adoptive family for eight years. The emotional pain was very great for each person I spoke with, and I want to remember them all in my thoughts and prayers.

Last weekend on Saturday night, there was a horrific storm on the east side of the state of Wisconsin.........well, I am not great on direction but I think most of southwest, southcentral and sountheast Wisconsin was experiencing thunderstorm activity. A blast of lightning came so brightly it lighted up everything like noon, and there was no space between lightning bolt and thunder strike. This dear adopter knew it had hit on their property, and woke up her husband and together they grabbed a flashlight and ran outside into the storm. There, lying in the pasture and not breathing, was Painter's Choice.............a beautiful red Standardbred gelding with long flowing mane and tail. Immediately next to him almost touching him was the mare he had been partnered with for a year. She took four last breaths and was gone. As if that wasn't hard enough, there was one horse missing. Desperately they looked around with the flashlight and were relieved to see their precious Popeye standing off in the distance, very frightened, but alright. The call to ASAP was a hard one to make, and we share their grief.

General Sam is another famous race horse that had been in long term foster care with his family near Ettrick for almost two years. General Sam had a great and easy life with this family, who had a young son and was very loved. Unfortunately, he became weak and two veterinarians ruled that Sam had cancer. As much as they longed for something to do for him, the decision was made by Craig and the foster family to have him humanely euthenized. Deepest sympathy and may General Sam always be remembered for the mighty race horse he was and the great family friend he became!

After eight years Bold Egyptian succombed to a very sudden attack of colic and intestinal rupture. He had been the best horse ever owned by the Millers, and the son called me to tell of the incident with tears in his eyes and a wobble in his voice. He said that Bold was the best horse a person could ever ask for and had always been healthy. He loved his life and they loved him. They had the vet out two times and the vet recommended transfer to Town and Country for emergency surgery. By that time the horse was not strong enough to stand. Before they could get a trailer into the driveway he passed away. One of the most beautiful things I have ever heard a man say is that he was carving a cross and engraving Bold Egyptian's name in it and he would always keep this close to him as a remembrance. Bold was only 12. It is even harder when they are young.

Please keep these people in your thoughts, too, and pray for peace the passes all understanding. You would think after a long hard winter the horses would be in the clear for problems or life threatening illness........I guess we never know.........but it is never easy.

I have a paddock full of Quarter horses!!! And nice, well trained horses, too! Four horses are at Ursula's happily eating grass, and by the end of June I am happy to report we will have an additional 40 acres adjoining our property for horses to graze! What a blessing!

I will try to post some pictures and my camera should be back in action soon - hang in there!

Susan