Pictures coming, as promised.
From our family to yours, please enjoy the photos of our trip to Las Vegas, and Christmas Eve with Grandma (my mom).............God Bless You All!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Happy New Year!!!
Pictures coming, as promised.
From our family to yours, please enjoy the photos of our trip to Las Vegas, and Christmas Eve with Grandma (my mom).............God Bless You All!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas, Everyone
Presents, running, work, cooking, baking, wrapping...........sound familiar?
I have been too busy to post my pictures, but I do want to share a Christmas story.
If you don't believe, you will after this, that the Lord cares greatly for His creatures great and small. How much more can He care for you and me?
Remember the little seven year old Standardbred gelding who was hit on the highway along with his Amish owners several weeks back? I knew God put me there for a reason, but never knew how it would play out. Despite my tears and prayers, the gelding was taken away per orders of the Sheriff's Department by a local farmer. He was left ABANDONED in his trailer in town because he had to "hurry home" to milk his cows. A wonderful woman who had just taken her kids to school witnessed the accident, and ran up to the ridge to get her neighbor and Amish friend, Joe Miller.
Meanwhile, a vet by the name of Rob Timan from La Crosse Veterinary Clinic happened by on a farm call and saw the severely injured horse. Joe Miller, Marilyn, and Dr. Timan all were in the right place at the right time, and Dr. Timan offered his services at no charge. Joe decided he would like to take the horse to his farm for care until it could be moved back to Cashton, and the horse was transferred to Joe's farm. This is a very compassionate and caring Amish family, by the way!
I was in a state of worry, not knowing what the fate of the horse was. The news channel stated that "the horse was treated for injuries". That didn't tell me much. I called as many Amish as I could (the neighbor's house and listed contact) and left messages. A week later, Joe Miller phoned me. He told me what had transpired and that he had the horse and the vet had been up several times. Praise God! Then he asked me if I would be willing to haul the horse back to the Amish owner, as the boys had recovered from their injuries (miracle in itself). I agreed.
The day I picked this gelding up his flesh lay open in his hind quarter, the stitches having popped out as the healing process progressed. He was limping, but I saw in his eyes the will to survive and a kind of innocence and trust that only an animal can demonstrate. He got into the trailer and I fed him well on the way to Cashton!
The Detweiler family was thankful to receive him back, feeling a bit indebted to him and undeserving of the fate that had become of him. He explained that his boys were doing well, and showed me the shattered cart and the pieces of it that had impaled itself into the horse. It made me feel nauseous. They led the horse into the barn and tied him in a tie stall. I felt compelled to leave my card, begging them to call if they needed anything.
Two weeks later, they did call. They felt as though the horse was not improving and I asked if I could send a vet out to look at him. Cashton Vet Clinic went out and reported that the horse looked better than they expected and to continue the treatment. The Amish agreed to continue.
Then a week or more ago they phoned again. I feel as though they were giving up on their gelding. He just wasn't coming sound. He was limping badly. His legs were swollen from standing in a tie stall. I guess they were asking that if we didn't take him they would have to "dispose" of him.
Well, I know you work, and so do I. This new teaching job has limited days off, especially since I cashed in all my PTO hours for Vetas. I knew I had to put out a plea for help. Posting on some local bulletin boards, two people stepped up to help haul the horse. But where??? I just had another Amish STB hauled to my house and could not take more. Amy B. and Andrea T. stepped up and offered to help. Neither could haul the horse, but both could help rehab him.
If any of you know Andrea, she is one of the most kind angels that has ever been born on earth and a mighty advocate for horses and ASAP. Amy is wonderful too. Andrea has a long history of supporting ASAP, and her company, Comfortex Mattress Co in Winona, Minnesota, has been a corporate sponsor for ASAP for years. We literally could not have survived without them!
Town and Country Veterinary Hospital offered to take the horse in for diagnostic work and treatment. Andrea offered to pay for the entire cost, plus the hauling.
As I headed to work yesterday I had just reached out to a stranger for help. Kelly G. of Sparta had responded to my ad posted on the mwt bulletin board. We put our heads together, exchanged phone numbers, and Kelly rearranged her life and schedule to accommodate the vet hospital's request to have him there yesterday. Thanks to Susan S. also, for offering to help, but time was short and we had to move or lose this gelding eternally.
During my lunch hour we all talked by phone to make arrangements.
By 4:40 pm, Kelly was just reaching the Town and Country Vet Hospital. The trusting, hurting Standardbred gelding was a real trooper during his transport. He was very sore unloading from the trailer, but in Andrea and Kelly's words, he "tried to act like a normal horse, rolling in the bedding in his stall and shaking them off, despite his extremely sore and aching body". The scab on his hindquarters is absolutely humongous, but is healing. The front leg remains the problem. Doctors will perform tests on Friday to determine the extent of the front leg injury, which is believed to be a deep tendon injury.
The story is for today - that the gelding had the Lord's hand on him from the time the accident occurred. We are all vessels, capable of doing mighty things in His name. If you are given the gift, use it to help creatures great and small who need you! And if you have the means, don't be afraid to give, as it will be given back to you sevenfold or more. I know if God ever blesses me with riches, it will be used to help people around the world who need it, and animals everywhere. My father passed away a very wealthy man, but he died wealthy because he never gave. Not to his wife, or his children (clothing, education, cars, nothing), or those in need.
I saw animals die at his hands because of his hardness of heart, and I will not be the next generation to be like him. He taught me quite the opposite, but I love him with all my heart and my prayer for him was that God would be merciful to him and take him to heaven, and I have spent the last nine years forgiving him over and over for the things my eyes did see. But good can come out of bad, and this little horse is going to be okay, thanks to the strangers who are now friends, the friends who are always there for the horses, and to the Lord above for His never ending mercy!
Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone, and we'll send pictures of the gelding when they come!
Love
Susan
I have been too busy to post my pictures, but I do want to share a Christmas story.
If you don't believe, you will after this, that the Lord cares greatly for His creatures great and small. How much more can He care for you and me?
Remember the little seven year old Standardbred gelding who was hit on the highway along with his Amish owners several weeks back? I knew God put me there for a reason, but never knew how it would play out. Despite my tears and prayers, the gelding was taken away per orders of the Sheriff's Department by a local farmer. He was left ABANDONED in his trailer in town because he had to "hurry home" to milk his cows. A wonderful woman who had just taken her kids to school witnessed the accident, and ran up to the ridge to get her neighbor and Amish friend, Joe Miller.
Meanwhile, a vet by the name of Rob Timan from La Crosse Veterinary Clinic happened by on a farm call and saw the severely injured horse. Joe Miller, Marilyn, and Dr. Timan all were in the right place at the right time, and Dr. Timan offered his services at no charge. Joe decided he would like to take the horse to his farm for care until it could be moved back to Cashton, and the horse was transferred to Joe's farm. This is a very compassionate and caring Amish family, by the way!
I was in a state of worry, not knowing what the fate of the horse was. The news channel stated that "the horse was treated for injuries". That didn't tell me much. I called as many Amish as I could (the neighbor's house and listed contact) and left messages. A week later, Joe Miller phoned me. He told me what had transpired and that he had the horse and the vet had been up several times. Praise God! Then he asked me if I would be willing to haul the horse back to the Amish owner, as the boys had recovered from their injuries (miracle in itself). I agreed.
The day I picked this gelding up his flesh lay open in his hind quarter, the stitches having popped out as the healing process progressed. He was limping, but I saw in his eyes the will to survive and a kind of innocence and trust that only an animal can demonstrate. He got into the trailer and I fed him well on the way to Cashton!
The Detweiler family was thankful to receive him back, feeling a bit indebted to him and undeserving of the fate that had become of him. He explained that his boys were doing well, and showed me the shattered cart and the pieces of it that had impaled itself into the horse. It made me feel nauseous. They led the horse into the barn and tied him in a tie stall. I felt compelled to leave my card, begging them to call if they needed anything.
Two weeks later, they did call. They felt as though the horse was not improving and I asked if I could send a vet out to look at him. Cashton Vet Clinic went out and reported that the horse looked better than they expected and to continue the treatment. The Amish agreed to continue.
Then a week or more ago they phoned again. I feel as though they were giving up on their gelding. He just wasn't coming sound. He was limping badly. His legs were swollen from standing in a tie stall. I guess they were asking that if we didn't take him they would have to "dispose" of him.
Well, I know you work, and so do I. This new teaching job has limited days off, especially since I cashed in all my PTO hours for Vetas. I knew I had to put out a plea for help. Posting on some local bulletin boards, two people stepped up to help haul the horse. But where??? I just had another Amish STB hauled to my house and could not take more. Amy B. and Andrea T. stepped up and offered to help. Neither could haul the horse, but both could help rehab him.
If any of you know Andrea, she is one of the most kind angels that has ever been born on earth and a mighty advocate for horses and ASAP. Amy is wonderful too. Andrea has a long history of supporting ASAP, and her company, Comfortex Mattress Co in Winona, Minnesota, has been a corporate sponsor for ASAP for years. We literally could not have survived without them!
Town and Country Veterinary Hospital offered to take the horse in for diagnostic work and treatment. Andrea offered to pay for the entire cost, plus the hauling.
As I headed to work yesterday I had just reached out to a stranger for help. Kelly G. of Sparta had responded to my ad posted on the mwt bulletin board. We put our heads together, exchanged phone numbers, and Kelly rearranged her life and schedule to accommodate the vet hospital's request to have him there yesterday. Thanks to Susan S. also, for offering to help, but time was short and we had to move or lose this gelding eternally.
During my lunch hour we all talked by phone to make arrangements.
By 4:40 pm, Kelly was just reaching the Town and Country Vet Hospital. The trusting, hurting Standardbred gelding was a real trooper during his transport. He was very sore unloading from the trailer, but in Andrea and Kelly's words, he "tried to act like a normal horse, rolling in the bedding in his stall and shaking them off, despite his extremely sore and aching body". The scab on his hindquarters is absolutely humongous, but is healing. The front leg remains the problem. Doctors will perform tests on Friday to determine the extent of the front leg injury, which is believed to be a deep tendon injury.
The story is for today - that the gelding had the Lord's hand on him from the time the accident occurred. We are all vessels, capable of doing mighty things in His name. If you are given the gift, use it to help creatures great and small who need you! And if you have the means, don't be afraid to give, as it will be given back to you sevenfold or more. I know if God ever blesses me with riches, it will be used to help people around the world who need it, and animals everywhere. My father passed away a very wealthy man, but he died wealthy because he never gave. Not to his wife, or his children (clothing, education, cars, nothing), or those in need.
I saw animals die at his hands because of his hardness of heart, and I will not be the next generation to be like him. He taught me quite the opposite, but I love him with all my heart and my prayer for him was that God would be merciful to him and take him to heaven, and I have spent the last nine years forgiving him over and over for the things my eyes did see. But good can come out of bad, and this little horse is going to be okay, thanks to the strangers who are now friends, the friends who are always there for the horses, and to the Lord above for His never ending mercy!
Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone, and we'll send pictures of the gelding when they come!
Love
Susan
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Viva NFR
Hi!
I'm back from Las Vegas and four of the most relaxing yet stressful days of my life.
Thanks for your prayers for our plane - it got us there safely and back, despite my tears (praying out loud that I just wanted to be able to make it back home to my precious family and pets and horses and dear Lord have mercy as I am pinching a hole in Craig's arm).
The NFR was fantastic and we probably saw some of the most beautiful human beings God has ever created on the face of the earth both at the NFR and at our hotel.....what an experience!
I am going to send pictures this week, but in the meantime know that we are sending out newsletters as our budget allows. We are strapped for postage and still owe the printer $400+ for doing them. I think 500 have gone out as of right now.
I have another plea and that is my main reason for writing.
Remember the Amish horse that was hit by a cart when the car hit the two teenage boys? They did call yesterday at 11 am and tell us they no longer want the horse. Although healing, he is never going to be 100% to them again. They want him gone. The problem is, I just took in another Amish horse named Rocky over the weekend. Please please will someone step up to take this gelding if I deliver him? He is so sweet and so beautiful and I don't want him to end up at slaughter. He deserves a chance for full recovery, which I think can happen with proper care. I need a spot for him - please tell your friends and let's help him! Contact me on email at asapinc@mwt.net or by cell at 608-792-5126. Time is important.
I'll write more soon!
Hugs,
Susan
I'm back from Las Vegas and four of the most relaxing yet stressful days of my life.
Thanks for your prayers for our plane - it got us there safely and back, despite my tears (praying out loud that I just wanted to be able to make it back home to my precious family and pets and horses and dear Lord have mercy as I am pinching a hole in Craig's arm).
The NFR was fantastic and we probably saw some of the most beautiful human beings God has ever created on the face of the earth both at the NFR and at our hotel.....what an experience!
I am going to send pictures this week, but in the meantime know that we are sending out newsletters as our budget allows. We are strapped for postage and still owe the printer $400+ for doing them. I think 500 have gone out as of right now.
I have another plea and that is my main reason for writing.
Remember the Amish horse that was hit by a cart when the car hit the two teenage boys? They did call yesterday at 11 am and tell us they no longer want the horse. Although healing, he is never going to be 100% to them again. They want him gone. The problem is, I just took in another Amish horse named Rocky over the weekend. Please please will someone step up to take this gelding if I deliver him? He is so sweet and so beautiful and I don't want him to end up at slaughter. He deserves a chance for full recovery, which I think can happen with proper care. I need a spot for him - please tell your friends and let's help him! Contact me on email at asapinc@mwt.net or by cell at 608-792-5126. Time is important.
I'll write more soon!
Hugs,
Susan
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Special Gift for Taser and ASAP
I love Saturdays! I am off work, and people come by. Last weekend we entertained a wonderful woman and her son from 200 miles away. They came to spend the day looking at horses in hopes of finding "the one". I had had a feeling that they would like Bell Valley Titan. She is one of the sweetest horses we have had here. She never pulls on the lead line when you have her out, and stands and waits patiently alongside you. She is quite intelligent, yet quiet. One of the first things I noticed about her was she seemed unflappable in the barn area when she first came, with cats and dogs and other horses around. Last weekend we introduced her to a large stroller. It was colorful and it had plastic all over it and some was flapping in the wind. It had precious cargo inside, and if I wasn't fully confident Titan would be okay, we would never have exposed her to the new object. Titan, being her wonderful self, sniffed the stroller and its contents. Then, the stroller and Titan and her potential adopter walked side by side down the driveway. Titan didn't flinch. Long story short is that Titan found herself a loving family who will enjoy her for many years to come. She is a true friend and her adopter and her are a great match!
The same day that Beth and her son came, we got unexpected visitors from La Crosse. It was a family of four, all adults, and they had come after hearing about our program. The one gal, Megan, was particularly interested in Standardbreds. She has owned other breeds but has never really ridden a Standardbred. I showed her and her family around the farm, and, of course, I have to tell the story of each horse and how they came to be here at our farm. The family took pictures and "oohed and aaahed" at the many faces that looked longingly back at them. Meg mentioned that she would like to come and donate her time, in addition to adopting a Standardbred. Seeing her expertise and confidence around the horses, I was very pleased at the offer!~ She fell in love with Taser Gun, and within a short while she had him out walking him and lifting up his feet. Taser Gun enjoyed getting out, and even got a little bit feisty (Taser??? NAAAHHHHH!) Megan and her fiance braved the cold and roads during the week to come down, but didn't make it before dark and I had already completed my feeding duties and had come inside. We still got to have a great talk and I got to know them better. They share the compassion for animals and all the pets here at the farm can certainly tell that, as they gravitated to them! Today, they returned in bitter temperatures again. After greeting all of the horses and giving treats, Megan asked to take Taser out. She lunged him in the indoor arena and then got on him bareback. I took Arne out to work on his long, thick mane while she led Taser back and asked me if she could put a saddle on. I was elated! So she tacked him up and, after a bridle adjustment or two, she jumped up and rode Taser around. She couldn't resist, and before long was trotting him QUICKLY around the arena. They looked so great together! She had him doing barrel patterns and almost did some side passes! By the end of the hour or two they spent together she really thinks she would like to adopt Taser and keep him here at the farm. I told her I would agree to it only IF she PROMISES to join us at events like the horse fairs and events at the race track if Taser is showcased! She said, "Yes". So, I think, Taser and Megan are also a match!
Meanwhile, many people are knocking on ASAP's door to place their horse. There are many desperate stories. We are trying our hardest to help. Christmas is coming.....
I'll write more before we leave for the NFR in Las Vegas. IF I don't, I promise to write and send pictures after we return! Pray for me, as I hate flying more than anything in the world!
My best to you,
Susan
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