Last and Final Decision Re: Board Meeting

The semi-annual board meeting will occur on Friday evening at the Red Lion Pub and Eatery in Victory WI at 8:00 pm.
This decision comes after discussion between board member Susan Wellman and significant individuals whose schedules ASAP tried to accommodate to make attendance possible. A decision has been made to convene with these people and any other persons who are interested in forming a strategic task force for ASAP. The meeting for the advisory board who want to establish this committee will occur in August, and will, most likely, meet in Winona, MN. Focus of the strategic task force is to address the budget, plan for fund raising and public awareness, and form specific committees to address specific areas of need. More details to follow. So, to finalize.........meeting of the board will take place
Red Lion Pub and Eatery
Victory WI
Friday, July 31
8:00 pm
Sorry for all of the confusion!
Susan

CORRECTION

Dr. Jan Hofer has made herself available for the urgent situations that arose with two horses this year. She did donate a few of her services - thanks to Andrea T. for making most of the veterinary care possible by paying for their treatment and board.

I apologize for the miscommunication in an earlier blog.

The board meeting for July 31 has been tentatively moved to Friday, August 6, 2009 in Winona. This is to make sure that all people wishing to attend can be present.

Susan

One More Day

Hi Friends,
Well, one more day of voting..............actually today was the last day........we will pray for even a little monetary gift, and thanks to all of you for voting for ASAP. We did get quite a few vote for being a little ol' organization with a big heart!

I drove about 25 miles today with a former student (since our truck is getting new u-joints) and his truck to pick up what I thought was 50+ bales of hay at $1.50 a bale.
We came home with 12 bales - what would fit on the back of his pickup, because we had no wagon to bring more home with. The ball on Mitch's hitch was too small to fit the wagon, so we were SOL. Sigh.........after I paid Mitch and paid for the hay, that 12 bales came to $31.00. OH, well, let's hope we can find some hay a little closer at a good price this week.

Nothing really bad or good to report. We did place a couple of horses this week, and we were excited to be invited to Running Aces Race Park in Minnesota today to take part in their festivities. Thanks to loyal Carmen who was there with enthusiasm to represent ASAP. We tried to meet yesterday so I could pass over the banner and lots of promotional activities, but between Zach's ball tournaments, grandma's needs (she wasn't feeling well this weekend), and the needs of the animals at home, it was not to happen. Carmen was at a family reunion and I sure didn't want to tear her away from that either.

We received one adoption fee of $300 this week, and a $300 donation last week from a wonderful woman in Niles, Illinois who felt compelled to give. Also I want to thank Pam Galein for her gift of $400 in June - somehow that was left out and I sure don't want to forget her. She is so extremely happy with Frank N Hank. Also got pictures of Mc Dominant with a young gal who finished first in several classes last weekend.
Hopefully those will make it up on the site if they aren't there already!

Our board meeting on Friday night in Winona should prove to be quite productive, as we search for more ways of bringing badly needed funds and hay/supplies to ASAP. Putting our heads together with the owner of a corporation who sponsors ASAP and a veterinarian who has gone out of her way to donate each time ASAP has asked will make us a stronger and wiser organization.

Many kids over on Friday night until Saturday for Rachel's end-of-the-season softball sleepover. One of the highlights was riding horses on Saturday. Chief, Tex and Fargo were three favorites. Everyone felt sorry for Chevie, who is still recovering from his horrible injury on the 4th of July. Having Chevie in need of good care has proven positive in some ways, however. Chevie and I are spending quite a bit of time together. I am finding out that he is ornery when he eats in his stall at graining time, and respect his wishes for personal space. He loves quiet walks around the farm now with me. He is snoopy and nosy all at the same time, stopping to sniff flowerbeds, ladders, car trunks, mailboxes, signs, and an occasional cat or dog. His curiosity demonstrates his intelligence. He listens to me very well on the ground, and is easy to guide without a rope or chain over his nose. He is trusting and kind. He does have a tendency to step on his lead rope if you aren't careful, but doesn't panic too much when he goes to try to pull his head up. I love Chevie, and hope for the day that his very own person comes along.

We are starting a business venture in a nearby small town. We are going to have a booth similar to what flea markets do, and sell ASAP items which have been donated to us. The proceeds of all tack and equipment will go to the horses at ASAP. I am pretty excited, but holding my breath. We have to have the booth space set up before next Friday night, so Friday morning will find us getting the truck (hopefully it's fixed!) loaded and organized. If you have any tack or items you think might be appropriate for resale, don't forget us if you wish to make a donation.

Had quite a little shock again on Friday when I learned that an ASAP horse had been sold to a young gal in Michigan for $1,000. This gal claims she did not know the horse was an ASAP horse, but now that she can no longer afford his board, she assigned "ownership" of the horse to ASAP and this is how we discovered he should have never been sold. So, the adopter adopted the horse at a fee of $350, then quite handily turned around and sold him for $1,000. I AM OUTRAGED, but thankful that this gal has contacted us so that the horse can come back to ASAP. By the way, the original adopters WILL BE CONTACTED.............ahem...............(trying to remain calm). It never ceases to amaze me at least once a year that people forget what they sign when they sign it. For example, I had a gal come to the farm in March and wanted horses for a camp. She was gifted two horses. Within a month to two months one of the horses came up on the internet FOR SALE, and we were alerted by a wonderfully alert and observant person. I contacted this gal, and reminded her that we had stood and talked and gone over each contract rule before she signed the placement agreement. She initialed every place and agreed to terms. Why, then, would she try something like this? Maybe something that should be on the board meeting agenda. Some organizations give adopters ownership within five or six years, yet I am hearing from some organizations that the horses are disappearing before that time! So how do we get people to hold to what they sign? I wonder....

I'll leave on a good note, though. I continue to read Helen Keller and her book, "The Story of My Life". The things she writes puts me to tears. For example,after meeting an animal communicator by accident one day while putting fuel in my car, I realized we had spent about 30 minutes talking. I went away from that meeting refreshed and with a sense of wonder. This is what Helen said about this:
"There are red lettr days in our lives when we meet people who thrill us like a fine poem, people whose handshake is brimful of unspoken sympathy, and whose sweet, rich natures impart to our eager, impatient spirits a wonderful restlessness which, in its essense, is divine. The perplexities, irritations and worries that have absorbed us pass like unpleasant dreams, and we wake to see with new eyes and hear with new ears the beauty and harmony of God's real world. The solemn nothings that fill our everyday life blossom suddenly into bright possibilities. In a word, while such friends are near us we feel that all is well. Perhaps we never saw them before, and they may never cross our life's path again; but the influence of their calm, mellow natures is a libation poured upon our discontent, and we feel its healing touch, as the ocean feels the mountain stream freshening its brine." WOW
Susan

Ouch and Other Things

I have often wondered how people get hurt around horses, which is a pretty stupid thing to wonder about when I look down at my legs. I have one bruise that was deep enough in 2008 that it appears it may be with me for life. That one happened when Remmie had the "incident" with the light-weight cart that almost took my daughter's life and shook me up pretty badly. In fact, if there is a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for driving horses, I think I now have it.

Then I have the broken toe from Sportsbar, the other broken toe and bruise from Equinox (both my fault........when they spooked and I wasn't exactly wearing boots).
As of today, I now have a nice shiner on the inside of my right knee. How did I get that, you might ask? Well, there's a first time for everything........

Last Sunday Craig and I took a ride to the top of our hill behind our home. The trails are nice and wide, but overgrown with tall weeds and grasses. I decided to take R Colelateral - after all, I have been having a great time riding Cricket and also Times is getting a good start - why not take Cole? He was quiet enough for saddling and quiet enough on the ground. We ascended the hill like we had been doing it every day, with Fargo and Craig behind us because Cole really wanted to almost lope up the hill! We got so far, and there was a huge log down. I ended up holding Fargo and Craig and Cole contemplated what to do with the log. All of a sudden, Fargo began acting like he was being attacked by a swarm of bees. I thought he was going to come over the top of me by lunging forward. Cole began the same behavior. They stomped, they kicked out their hinds, they wanted to lunge or run, and there we stood trying to hold them from it. I grabbed Cole's reins as Craig tried to calm Fargo down - I looked under Fargo and behind to see what was there and saw nothing. Cole, meanwhile, began reeling and wheeling and stomping and striking. Craig said, "It's these weeds - they are nettles!". Well, they were nothing like the common "burning weed" or "burning grass" I am so familiar with. Their leaves are wider and lighter green, but their sting is almost worse. I brushed against Cole's bridle and got a handful of the burning stuff and could instantly understand what the horses were feeling. We turned around lickety-split and walked down the trail to where there were less nettles. The horses continued to reel and strike and kick. Somehow in the lunging out and turning with Cole, I got too far back. He cow kicked and, BAM.........got me square in the inside knee. Instant pain, then realizing I could not feel my leg, I couldn't handle Cole's antics. Craig took two horses and frantically got halters on both of them so better lead them. I barely hopped onto the side of the trail but was in writhing pain.
I started cussing and yelling and feeling sorry for the horses, then myself.........

Craig got the horses down to trees and tied them both to the trees to come back and help me. Cole, who has not had much discipline in this area this year, was still crazy about the weeds or nettles and mad about standing still. He backed up against the bank of the tree and started kicking at it. I just stood there and wondered how I could ride such a spirited steed but, understanding what they had just been through, could not judge him. I wasn't even angry that he kicked me. It just wasn't his fault. We made it down the hill that day, but I wasn't in very good shape this past week. I could not bend my knee for a few days and still can't bend it all the way. It's pretty swollen and there's a pretty ugly bruise, but every day it gets better. Did I go to the doctor? Nope. Don't think anything is broken. I was very very blessed to not have gotten hurt worse than that. So.........that was our adventure last weekend.

Since it hurt worse to walk on the leg than to ride in a saddle, I naturally had to go to Duck Egg County Park the following day for a ride. It was one of the most beautiful days we have had this whole year (we haven't had many)........and I will always remember the blue of the sky, the clarity of the air, and the berries that Craig and I picked that day. Was I riding Cole? Nope.........took Remmie!

Someday I'll probably be an old lady that has a story to tell about every scar on my body. Maybe I'd never have it any other way!

Jordan is still home, and his girlfriend Sofie is here from Germany. Grandma is living here this month, so our home and our hearts are full.

Don't forget to vote on the animal rescue site, please please please - vote every day!

Susan

Chevie and the 4th

I want to post some pictures of Chevie Silverado and his injury. I have taken some over the past five days. The vet was out again yesterday to inspect. Thankfully, Craig doesn't have to give penicillin any more - that was a lot of penicillin over four days time. No more bute, either, and Chevie is feeling great about that. He has a view two ways from his stall so he stays in tune with what's going on with his herd mates.

We want to sincerely thank Mary D. of Iowa and Eunice D. of Minnesota for their donations to help us pay for hay and feed and unexpected vet bills recently. Also Lori W. This is a big help and without you we would not make it right now. Also Evelyn C. sent a gift. Her husband recently passed away - they had donated a horse by the name of Inside Straight years ago.

As things happen on the farm, the children who come home to celebrate the holidays with us also get involved. I will post some pictures of our 4th of July around the campfire here at our farm. Thank God for our wonderful children.

Jordan helped me two nights ago and I was able to get on Timesareachanging!!! He was a real trooper as I rode him around the yard bareback. He hardly flinched. We will be riding a lot more soon!

Again, if you are able to give, please consider it. Right now the harness racing industry is not supporting us financially in any way - we are praying for their quarterly contribution to come soon.

Vet Report

The vet left at about 7:30 last night. Chevie required extensive treatment. Some of the skin that had been torn off and was hanging had no blood supply left so had to be cut off.

Chevie received a good dose of tranquilizer and for awhile I had to have my big son, Jordan, hold Chevie because of my fear that he was going to fall on me. The vet was not a happy camper about having to come all the way down here after 5 pm, but he did a very thorough job of stitching together all of the muscle tissue - I can't say how many stitches but it was about two hours worth of vet work. Now Chevie has to be on complete stall rest and 35cc of penicillin twice daily, and 3-4 grams bute twice daily until he feels a bit better. What a horrible experience, but we are ever so thankful that Chevie had no fractures! He will heal with time, and there will probably be a scar..........?

Again, I ask for your support!
Susan

4th of July Crisis - Chevie Silverado

As I write this, we have Chevie Silverado in a stall and are waiting for the veterinarian to arrive.
Tragically, Chevie received a severe injury to a front leg and we know he will require many stitches. The skin is hanging down and the injury is deep - we can see the bone in one spot.

We have steel gate panel fences, and do not know how he would find a spot to hurt himself. We believe he was spooked by some fireworks and ran, and a horizonal piece of the steel panel popped off the weld and poked him with great force.

I know this is going to be quite a bill - with the holiday and being after hours. I can assure you that Chevie Silverado will be alright and the vet is on his way........but the financial strain is too much for ASAP to bear. If any of you who know Chevie or remember him racing feel compelled to give - even $5 or $10, every cent will go towards his vet bill. Please help us help Chevie!

Susan

IMPORTANT MEMO ON SHELTER CHALLENGE

APPARENTLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE TYPING IN THE WHOLE NAME OF ASAP INC, THEN THE STATE, THEY ARE GETTING A NOTICE OF
"NO RESULTS FOUND".
IT IS IMPORTANT TO JUST REMEMBER TO TYPE IN AMERICAN, OR AMERICAN STANDARDBRED, THE STATE WI, THEN SEARCH.
YOU WILL GET 4 RESULTS FOR SEARCHING JUST AMERICAN, AND ONE RESULT FOR TYPING IN AMERICAN STANDARDBRED.
REMEMBER TO VOTE EACH AND EVERY DAY PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - WE ARE GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE!!!
THANK YOU AND HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
SUSAN