I went on my blogspot this morning to try to email the page to the United States Trotting Association, and viewed quite a mess. I am not sure why I can type up the blogspot in one format and attach pictures and then have it come out scattered all over the page with huge gaps in between paragraphs. I apologize and will try to resolve it!
On Friday we will host Chileda Institute day program students - most of the students have autism or autism spectrum disorder. There will be 15-20 students with just as many youth workers so we will be a busy place! Pray for us that all horses behave and all students will stay safe and have a great time! I'll be sure to post pictures.
Events coming up:
Wild West Days Parade - Viroqua, WI = Friday August 15 @ 7 pm
Super Night - details to be announced
Vernon County Fair - September - Rachel is showing her Standardbred in Viroqua!!! This is a first for her so wish her well. Also in attendance will be Chief with a 4-h gal named Casey.
I am busy working or trying to get to Cricket, Taser Gun, and R Colelateral each day, training them as I have time. Cole was a bit of a spitfire last weekend - Cricket surprised me with her great behavior, and Taser is getting to be more and more calm all of the time! WE hope to be off to the Kickapoo Reserve this weekend.
Adoptions are slow this year - oh, so slow. I have heard the same from all adoption groups. There is a surplus of "free horses to good homes". The people taking these free horses are now coming to us to see if we want them, finding out the horses have too many vices or are too untrained. That is the beauty of adoption programs - we take in very well trained, healthy horses and guarantee that they will be satisfied or they can trade...........our horses are not throw-aways! They are valuable, loved animals whose owners want the best for them and a lifetime placement program. Check out your rescues and adoptions - there are only a few across the nation who maintain lifetime ownership - and after doing this for over 15 years I can be the first to tell you how much turnover there can be in a horse's life due to divorce, death, illness, and other life events. Isn't it good to know they won't go just anywhere when these events do occur in a family's life? I would rest assured if I died in a plane accident or was incapacitated that if I had an adopted horse like I did with Star Cheetah, there would be an organization who would be there to make sure my horse went to only a qualified family and be tracked throughout his lifetime. It's like having an insurance policy!
A few weeks ago I was having a rough week with Tommy, our long haired black and white cat. He had been attacked by dogs and we thought he would be okay but Craig came up one morning and said, "Something's wrong with Tommy - he can't walk". I knew if CRAIG was worried that there was something seriously wrong, so we immediately put him in a kennel cab and I drove him up to La Crosse Veterinary Clinic. His condition was critical - the bacteria from the bite had traveled into his spine. They diagnosed spinal meningitis and started huge rounds of steroids and powerful antibiotics. I had just come out of eye surgery and was in a great deal of pain myself, but went to work and kept checking in on Tommy. They reported that he was continuing to lose coordination and was not eating or drinking. I asked Jan, one of the vet assistants there, to give Tommy a big hug for me. I think Jan did more than that, but I know she went back and spent time with him. I searched the bible during my free moments, looking for reassurance and also preparation for anything that might happen to Tommy that would bring comfort to my heart. The next morning the vet called and my lump in my throat dropped to my soul as I picked up the phone. Someone was frantic on the other end - the vet assistant was ECSTATIC - Tommy was up and walking and eating! I praised God for what many people would consider a little thing that was such a huge thing for us - Tommy was going to be okay!
After that my eyes started to feel better and every day just got better and better. There are so many bumps in the road along life's path, and we never know what is on the other side of the hills we climb, but I want to be sure to be thankful for each day. I always said after Taser Gun was kicked and he recovered after a guarded prognosis that I could never have another bad day. Each miracle that happens brings me to the reality that God is so close in every situation, and He really cares and will respond if we come to Him with our problems and crises. The verses I found during the trial of Tommy and my post surgery pain were:
Psalm 31:7 "I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou has considered my trouble; thou
hast known my soul in adversities".
Matthew 5:16 Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Don't forget to be thankful for something today!!!
Susan
