We made it!
Just got back from Iowa Horse Fair in Des Moines. I will post pictures later from Zach's Photography (told him I'd give him credits again!), but most importantly wanted to let everyone know we arrived home safely.
Blizzard conditions hit yesterday morning and continued on during the day. We stopped by to see Jody Lyons and watched John Lyons at his 2:00 clinic. Jody said they had planned to leave Sunday, but were certain with interstates closed they were going to be staying until Monday. I actually got tears in my eyes, feeling sorry for the horses having to be in stalls for yet one more day and me not getting home to see the dogs. After a little grumping around I decided to check emails at home from the hotel computer and found one crisis pending and one crisis resolved.
You see, I say time and time again that ASAP is a family of people who work together, expect nothing in return, but are owed God's richest blessings. We have a mare placed into the ASAP program many years ago who had foundered on her adopters.
They didn't know why or how, since her diet and lifestyle were always the same. It could have been a high fever at some point that was undiagnosed. Still, they were not in a position to continue dealing with "whatever" it was that was wrong with her and asked for permission to euthenize her, as she had not been out of the barn in quite some time due to pain. Now, you know that little voice the creeps up inside you sometimes and gives you a little "unrest" in your spirit about things not being just right? I gave it long hard thought and meditated on it. Realistically, we do not have the room at the ASAP farm right now for yet another fairly unadoptable horse until her condition improves. We do not have millions of dollars sitting around for diagnostics and treatment. We have many many many needs coming at us daily. I needed to reach out and ask for help and explain the situation. That is where Andrea T., once again, came to the rescue. She offered to take the mare and pay for her boarding at Shannon's place in Minnesota. ASAP paid the vet to go out and draw coggins and do an interstate health certificate. Shannon, bless her heart, went without expecting pay to pick up the mare and take her to her farm. The vet and farrier have both been out, and pictures are going to be posted here that are not pleasant to see. Still, I want to show you all what we are doing when we aren't readily available for an email or phone call right on the spot. We are not an organization with nothing to do - we are always responding to a need to the best of our ability. Without Andrea and people like Shannon, or Lori who just donated 30 doses of vaccine for horses at ASAP and some foster horses, we could not exist. Horses like the mare you are seeing pictures of would not have a second chance at life. AS it turns out, this mare is going to be okay. She does have problems, most of which are severe abscesses and horrific thrush. Have you ever seen infection come through a coronary band? It isn't pleasant to see................but the vet and farrier working together have greatly improved her quality of life even today. So in the last 72 hours this has all been taking place, while we were in Des Moines demonstrating and advocating for the breed and fighting blizzards. We are a huge network of compassionate people, including people like Trudy S., Marie K., Julie P., Cindi J., Bonnie F., all in Wisconsin, and Denise in Iowa, Wendy in Iowa, Tammy in Iowa, Lori in Iowa, and so many more I know I am leaving out. You see, I think that sometimes people reach a point in caring for an animal where they financially cannot afford to do it any more. For those with the means, adoption horses DO have a chance to be treated and helped above and beyond the measure an adopter can do at times. This horse has a hopeful prognosis, but it would not have been possible without the aggressive veterinary and farrier care provided by Shannon and Andrea. Hats off to you guys............and thanks also to the same people for helping Windswept Glory recover after being hit from behind by a car while pulling an Amish cart in December. Glory is now being ridden and has been adopted by the same family who adopted Spirit the Paint from ASAP. Thanks to Pam and Chris for their love for this horse as well.
I'll share more about Iowa Horse Fair later, but wanted to tell you we are hoping to diplomatically solve the horse issue with the Janesville area people shortly. We are in the communication stage, and we are trying to be adults and work through issues together. I hope to have this completely resolved by the time of Midwest Horse Fair and I know many of you have asked questions that I hope will be answered by that time and hoping that the ASAP horses in their care will continue to be cared for and loved in their present situation.
Praise for another day!
Susan
