Wish us well! We are off on a well-deserved horsey vacation to the wild wild west. Tonite we plan to stop at Chamberlain and take a load off and get to know a family who has an equestrian campground and lodge. They kiddingly said, "No Standardbreds allowed - only Quarter horses!" Then he began asking a lot of questions about the breed and you never know - I think I might have him sold on trying one at his ranch! I'll try to get pictures.
Anyway, we are in the red again at ASAP. Adoptions are slow and there are so many horses waiting to come in. Now hay prices here are just fine and we have an abundance of hay in our neck of the woods, but other people do not have it so easy. Many foster families are stepping up to keep horses at their place until they can be adopted, but some simply cannot continue with the extra expense. We are in need of more foster families and also donations to help us continue to provide for the horses at our farm. Would you believe Spirit is still here? Pearl??? Lyric?
I am hearing countless stories of people who initially applied to adopt a horse but went ahead and took a FREE horse or a really "cheap" horse. Now that horse is not turning out and they are asking to place them into our program in order to adopt a horse through our organization!!!
The BEAUTY of ASAP is that we guarantee your satisfaction when it comes to adoption. If the horses do not work out for you you are entitled, within 30 days, to a FREE EXCHANGE. We stand behind our horses. We are also not a rescue. Horses coming through our adoption program are generally sound and well-trained. Occasionally we do rescue - we won't deny that - but adoption programs do differ greatly from rescue programs so if you study this you'll know you can't go wrong with one of our horses. If you do (I can't see every horse personally and evaluate them before you do so can't recommend one horse over the other if it is not at ASAP), I will do my best to make sure you are happy.
We are in a tight bind right now and need your financial help. The following horses require extra care. If you remember them and want to help sponsor them, it is greatly appreciated:
Stylish Sharon - needs much feed to keep weight on - needs blood work for thyroid function - needs skin care for hair that is just now starting to shed when it shouldn't. This mare raced and made over a quarter million dollars - we owe her our best! She is 22 or 23 this year.
Steelin Apples - ongoing monitoring as he gets sore in the shoulder area. Needs closer supervision
Strawberry - aged mare - hip problems - still gives great rides around the yard to kids but is not being adopted due to age and hips
Bob Cook - made over $100,000 as a race horse - still limps when he walks but has been enjoying a summer full of pasture and leisure - will come back to ASAP in fall - needs monitoring
Arne - made over $50,000 as a race horse - fractured his hock - been a companion horse since coming to ASAP. Needs close monitoring but has done well in summer pasture turnout!
Brandy - Quarter horse cross - 25 years old this year - sidebone - does well with regular trims by natural hoof care farrier and good food. WE LOVE THIS HORSE but she is not adoptable due to biting issues in the past (not at ASAP) and her age. Please help us support her!
Colonel Meacham - a recent return to our program - has been adopted by two families in the past seven or eight years. He came back very thin - trying to put weight on and giving bute for an injury that must have happened on the hind leg in the past year. We have been having to pull him out to feed extra and give bute. He is fairly fragile right now and needs dental care.
There's more but I won't continue due to time contraints (grandma and daughter Rachel are out catching horses to go out west and I am sitting here at the computer!!)..................but please give - use Pay Pal if you can - or send us whatever you can spare. We are feeling the effects of the anti-slaughter and know that horses are a dime a dozen right now - problem is people are not thinking and taking free horses has resulted in many people who wish they would have gone through the adoption program.
Upcoming events:
Vernon County Fair - Remmie the STB debuts as a 4-H show horse!
Super Night - Balmoral Park - Sat. September 20!!!!
Hugs,
Susan
