We had a very productive meeting last night in Winona MN. Our strategic planning group consisted of a sheriff named Dave, a boarding barn owner named Shannon who is an animal advocate and plays a big role in some of our toughest rescue situations, Andrea T., the corporate sponsor and key contributor to ASAP's operations, her friend Judy, a veterinarian Jan H. of Winona who has provided critical vet care to great horses such as Hiawatha Hannah and Windswept Glory, as well as the buckskin mare and foal you see listed for adoption on the site, and myself. I can see clearly that this is not only a team of people who have horses as a common interest, but whose hearts are set on jumping right in and getting involved in whatever way possible to save lives and help horses find homes. I can't say "thank you" enough to all of them!
In the same breath, I had a lengthy interview with Josh Potts for an upcoming publication that will feature Timesareachanging, along with Taser Gun, and spotlight some of the long term sanctuary horses who have been cared for here at our farm for so many years now. Thanks to Josh for giving us a second opportunity to be heard.
Balmoral Park has opened up a great opportunity for us! Super Night is coming up on September 19. We will have a table at the track, as always, and we will be able to play our one minute commercial in between races to generate more interest in ASAP and our mission! The announcer is going to announce our presence, and we have been ased to bring one horse to greet the crowd that night in the Billy Barn area! I am reaching out to all of you that might live a bit closer to Balmoral Park, and asking you if you would like to be that person to bring one horse to Balmoral to an inside stall in the Billy Barn area to meet and greet people? If you think you have that special horse, email me right away at asapinc@mwt.net I have already committed to being there...........but also realize we have the Vernon County fair that weekend, so I am really overcommitting myself without help. Can you help by either sitting at a table or bringing a horse? I'd love to hear from you soon!!!
Please watch the web site, as we will have a great gift collection of horse blankets, throws, pillows, etc displayed. A portion of all purchases will go to ASAP - so be on the lookout for some beautiful items!
I'll write more soon!
Susan
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Always Grateful
Last week we had a special visitor who wanted to bring some feed to donate to the horses. We had never met before, but I had known her brother previously from a church we attended years ago. Small world! We want to thank Jean and her husband for the donation of 250# of feed, and a $100 cash donation which went to Farmers Union Coop!
Then last week's phone call and my blog to you all produced an outpouring of support from people who wanted us to be able to pay for reinstatement of our equine market license. To date, we can thank Andrea T. and Lori H. for their donations of $250 and
$200, and thanks to a veterinarian from Janesville for her $100 donation which was paid directly to the Dept. of Agriculture. We are so grateful to each and every one of you.
This week's urgencies include:
Placement of Allie and Kokinos into adoptive or foster homes by August 30
Placement of a rescued STB mare in Green Bay with new family who can feed her and love her and help her back on her feet - she is currently 300# underweight. Her name is JB and we are awaiting a tattoo number for positive identification of name and age.
Immediate placement of two horses in the Marshfield area - one horse is Race for Home, bred by Iriquois River Stables years ago. She is a mare in her teens and she is sorrel. She comes with Bart's A Bad Boy who is also in his mid teens or thereabouts. He has been trained to ride for years. He is a smaller bay horse.
Chief Pow Hat Ten still in need of foster placement or adoptive home and currently in the UP of Michigan.
Odd's On Tom and Emaline are in Iowa and in a situation requiring immediate removal, but they cannot be brought into Wisconsin without a 2009 coggins and interstate health certificate, so need a place to go to get the necessary items completed. The horses are in the Marengo are of Iowa.
Please - times are tough - if you can help let us know!
I had a great ride on Cole last night at Yellow River State Forest. We went about 6-7 miles and got into a fast trot quite a few times. I did not yet get him to canter, but it is coming! I hope to take Timesareachanging there in the near future. Remmie, Janimal, Chief, Fargo and Cole all made a quiet and stable group.......well........Cole did do a nice spook on me one time, but it was a spook in place sort of thing and I stayed on!
Will post pictures soon. I have had no response to my offer to do an ACTHA ride so will assume we will be unable to plan one this year. Maybe we'll try for next spring?
Susan
Then last week's phone call and my blog to you all produced an outpouring of support from people who wanted us to be able to pay for reinstatement of our equine market license. To date, we can thank Andrea T. and Lori H. for their donations of $250 and
$200, and thanks to a veterinarian from Janesville for her $100 donation which was paid directly to the Dept. of Agriculture. We are so grateful to each and every one of you.
This week's urgencies include:
Placement of Allie and Kokinos into adoptive or foster homes by August 30
Placement of a rescued STB mare in Green Bay with new family who can feed her and love her and help her back on her feet - she is currently 300# underweight. Her name is JB and we are awaiting a tattoo number for positive identification of name and age.
Immediate placement of two horses in the Marshfield area - one horse is Race for Home, bred by Iriquois River Stables years ago. She is a mare in her teens and she is sorrel. She comes with Bart's A Bad Boy who is also in his mid teens or thereabouts. He has been trained to ride for years. He is a smaller bay horse.
Chief Pow Hat Ten still in need of foster placement or adoptive home and currently in the UP of Michigan.
Odd's On Tom and Emaline are in Iowa and in a situation requiring immediate removal, but they cannot be brought into Wisconsin without a 2009 coggins and interstate health certificate, so need a place to go to get the necessary items completed. The horses are in the Marengo are of Iowa.
Please - times are tough - if you can help let us know!
I had a great ride on Cole last night at Yellow River State Forest. We went about 6-7 miles and got into a fast trot quite a few times. I did not yet get him to canter, but it is coming! I hope to take Timesareachanging there in the near future. Remmie, Janimal, Chief, Fargo and Cole all made a quiet and stable group.......well........Cole did do a nice spook on me one time, but it was a spook in place sort of thing and I stayed on!
Will post pictures soon. I have had no response to my offer to do an ACTHA ride so will assume we will be unable to plan one this year. Maybe we'll try for next spring?
Susan
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Licensing Blues
I had a great phone conversation with a Department of Ag agent today. She was concerned that we had not submitted our renewal application for our equine market license. At the time, the cost of renewal was close to $300. That was $300 that we did not have. I called the Dept. of Agriculture and explained to the agent that we did not have the money.
Today we have learned that we will receive a gift from IHHA (thank you so much, IHHA board). Unfortunately, our waiting to renew our equine market license is going to result in almost doubling our fees, since we now have late fees and surcharges. I understand that now we will owe approximately $500. This license is necessary for ASAP to operate. I am so grateful to the agent to have phoned out of concern about the situation, and plan to get the paperwork out to them this week. We are praying for support of any kind to meet the licensure requirements in the amount mandated. Wish us luck!
Susan
Today we have learned that we will receive a gift from IHHA (thank you so much, IHHA board). Unfortunately, our waiting to renew our equine market license is going to result in almost doubling our fees, since we now have late fees and surcharges. I understand that now we will owe approximately $500. This license is necessary for ASAP to operate. I am so grateful to the agent to have phoned out of concern about the situation, and plan to get the paperwork out to them this week. We are praying for support of any kind to meet the licensure requirements in the amount mandated. Wish us luck!
Susan
Friday, August 14, 2009
Summer Is Here
Thank goodness! Summer has finally arrived in Wisconsin! It may be August, but it hasn't felt balmy until now. Heat - bring it on! I love it!
Sad stuff: Had to say "Good-bye" to my son, Jordan, who left yesterday to go back to Ocala, Florida to attend wrestling school.
He didn't want to go, but knew he had to, and it sparked memories of my college days, watching my mom cry as I drove away from that lonely farm in Wisconsin. It was bittersweet for me, as I wanted to stay for her but knew I had to get back to college to finish my teaching degree in Illinois. I guess Jordan must be feeling the same way. I wanted, as a mom, to go with him to ease the transition, but as always my own job kept me here. It makes me a bit angry and frustrated inside to realize that no matter how many years go by, my life is really not my own in terms of what I feel I want to do as a mother for my four children. Money is money, time is time, and the important things often are not given priority.
Speaking of important things, I had not heard from my friends David and Mary Ann Crook of Viola this year. David, Mary Ann, and I go back more than 20 years as horse lovers. David originally worked with my dad in the 80's, installing satellite dishes. I later learned that David was a horse enthusiast and trail rider, and this was the beginning of a long relationship that included endless trail rides, a horse named Bud, later an adopted horse named Jalind Rose, and many nights under the stars listening to music and sipping on Point beer after a good, long ride. Shockingly, today my sister sent me an obituary of David, who passed away on August 2. Yet another blow - another good friend of many years - who influenced my life in so many ways. David, 64, died of esophageal cancer. Hardly anyone knew he had been ill. I will pray for Mary Ann, his wife of 37 years, who must be so devastated at this time. A touching memory I have of David is when his father was sick, in his late 80's. David and Mary Ann lived next to him, and he was a widower. David took care of his dad all the days of his illness, and when he died, David was the man who personally carried his dad in his arms from the farmhouse to the vehicle that would transport him to the funeral home. Such love had this man - such devotion - it was simply amazing. So another great loss too early.
Fun News:
While Jordan was still home we took a boat ride out on the river. Rachel, Jordan, Craig and I enjoyed the evening sunset and the kids threw out a line. Jordan had a good feeling that he would catch something, and catch he did! A five pound catfish!
Rachel caught an almost-15 inch Walleye! Craig caught a catfish, mooneye, and I am happy to say that all fish survived the ordeal and were mercifully pitched back into the river (mom's along, that's what happens!).
We went to Duck Egg County Park to ride over the weekend. Cole, Remmie, Janimal, Fargo, and Cricket made the trip with us. I would like to say I had a great ride, but Cricket (the half-Arab that she is) spazzed out when we arrived over a herd of cattle that were hidden behind trees across the road when we were tacking up. She almost ran me over, head butted me, got herself into a full sweat, shaking and petrified, and was head butting me to avoid the tacking process. Guess I have never seen this kind of behavior out of her before, which made me fearful. Ah, give me the Standardbred! All three Standardbreds were perfect for the entire ride, and we rode back at sunset when the bats were circling around and every trail going through the woods brought pitch-black darkness. Jordan offered to ride Cricket, and I took my trusty gelding, Cole, the rest of the way home. We made a great memory!
I have nothing to report about the ACTHA ride - have had one response that said they would love to go - please give me your feedback?
Upcoming events:
Wild West Days parade - tonite at 6 pm
August 22 - Open horse show - Viroqua
Carriage Classic, Vernon County Fair, and Super Night - all in September.
Thanks to IHHA for their recent contribution to ASAP! Without them it wouldnt be possible!
Susan
Sad stuff: Had to say "Good-bye" to my son, Jordan, who left yesterday to go back to Ocala, Florida to attend wrestling school.
He didn't want to go, but knew he had to, and it sparked memories of my college days, watching my mom cry as I drove away from that lonely farm in Wisconsin. It was bittersweet for me, as I wanted to stay for her but knew I had to get back to college to finish my teaching degree in Illinois. I guess Jordan must be feeling the same way. I wanted, as a mom, to go with him to ease the transition, but as always my own job kept me here. It makes me a bit angry and frustrated inside to realize that no matter how many years go by, my life is really not my own in terms of what I feel I want to do as a mother for my four children. Money is money, time is time, and the important things often are not given priority.
Speaking of important things, I had not heard from my friends David and Mary Ann Crook of Viola this year. David, Mary Ann, and I go back more than 20 years as horse lovers. David originally worked with my dad in the 80's, installing satellite dishes. I later learned that David was a horse enthusiast and trail rider, and this was the beginning of a long relationship that included endless trail rides, a horse named Bud, later an adopted horse named Jalind Rose, and many nights under the stars listening to music and sipping on Point beer after a good, long ride. Shockingly, today my sister sent me an obituary of David, who passed away on August 2. Yet another blow - another good friend of many years - who influenced my life in so many ways. David, 64, died of esophageal cancer. Hardly anyone knew he had been ill. I will pray for Mary Ann, his wife of 37 years, who must be so devastated at this time. A touching memory I have of David is when his father was sick, in his late 80's. David and Mary Ann lived next to him, and he was a widower. David took care of his dad all the days of his illness, and when he died, David was the man who personally carried his dad in his arms from the farmhouse to the vehicle that would transport him to the funeral home. Such love had this man - such devotion - it was simply amazing. So another great loss too early.
Fun News:
While Jordan was still home we took a boat ride out on the river. Rachel, Jordan, Craig and I enjoyed the evening sunset and the kids threw out a line. Jordan had a good feeling that he would catch something, and catch he did! A five pound catfish!
Rachel caught an almost-15 inch Walleye! Craig caught a catfish, mooneye, and I am happy to say that all fish survived the ordeal and were mercifully pitched back into the river (mom's along, that's what happens!).
We went to Duck Egg County Park to ride over the weekend. Cole, Remmie, Janimal, Fargo, and Cricket made the trip with us. I would like to say I had a great ride, but Cricket (the half-Arab that she is) spazzed out when we arrived over a herd of cattle that were hidden behind trees across the road when we were tacking up. She almost ran me over, head butted me, got herself into a full sweat, shaking and petrified, and was head butting me to avoid the tacking process. Guess I have never seen this kind of behavior out of her before, which made me fearful. Ah, give me the Standardbred! All three Standardbreds were perfect for the entire ride, and we rode back at sunset when the bats were circling around and every trail going through the woods brought pitch-black darkness. Jordan offered to ride Cricket, and I took my trusty gelding, Cole, the rest of the way home. We made a great memory!
I have nothing to report about the ACTHA ride - have had one response that said they would love to go - please give me your feedback?
Upcoming events:
Wild West Days parade - tonite at 6 pm
August 22 - Open horse show - Viroqua
Carriage Classic, Vernon County Fair, and Super Night - all in September.
Thanks to IHHA for their recent contribution to ASAP! Without them it wouldnt be possible!
Susan
Sunday, August 9, 2009
September 26?
We are constantly looking for ways to bring money in to the organization to help provide for the horses. The American Competitive Trail Horse Association has graciously offered to assist ASAP with putting together a competitive trail ride this year.
We are considering holding a trail ride on Saturday, September 26. We would have the option of camping overnight at Yellow River State Forest. This is a beautiful place to ride and camp! It is located about an hour from La Crosse, WI and less than an hour from Prairie du Chien, right over the Iowa border. It also is a nice location for us, since it takes us only about 35 minutes to get there.
By this date, the county fair in Viroqua will be over, and the Carriage Classic in Prairie du Chien, as well as Super Night. It seems like a great time to see fall colors and still not be too cold at night.
If we can get at least ten riders (25 would be best) we will commit to the date, but we need to hear from you. The ACTHA ride costs to participate, but you would be eligible for money prizes and ribbons/trophies. There are judges appointed to different places along the trail, who rate each rider on their ability to maneuver through and around obstacles, back up in a figure eight pattern, or open and close gates. It looks like a lot of fun...............would you consider joining?
The entry fee amount depends on whether you are entering as a professional or for pleasure. The proceeds go to ASAP. Please RSVP if you would like more details, or go to the ACTHA web site. If we get enough responses we'll begin advertising!
Chevie continues to get better. As soon as Wawatassi makes it to Iowa we will reunite him with Idlewhile and Miss Molly P. We got a wonderful adoptive home for Irresistable Lou and Lyric!
We are looking forward to Josh Potts doing a story on Timesareachanging and Taser Gun, and are still waiting for the arrival of an IHHA member to tour our farm.
We had one donation of $150 from a race owner this week. Thank you! Other than that no income to report. Lou and Lyric were both gifted to the adopter. Three square bales left, but eight round bales from donated fields are ready to be picked up.
Hoping to ride Yellow River today if the weather clears!
Hugs,
Susan
We are considering holding a trail ride on Saturday, September 26. We would have the option of camping overnight at Yellow River State Forest. This is a beautiful place to ride and camp! It is located about an hour from La Crosse, WI and less than an hour from Prairie du Chien, right over the Iowa border. It also is a nice location for us, since it takes us only about 35 minutes to get there.
By this date, the county fair in Viroqua will be over, and the Carriage Classic in Prairie du Chien, as well as Super Night. It seems like a great time to see fall colors and still not be too cold at night.
If we can get at least ten riders (25 would be best) we will commit to the date, but we need to hear from you. The ACTHA ride costs to participate, but you would be eligible for money prizes and ribbons/trophies. There are judges appointed to different places along the trail, who rate each rider on their ability to maneuver through and around obstacles, back up in a figure eight pattern, or open and close gates. It looks like a lot of fun...............would you consider joining?
The entry fee amount depends on whether you are entering as a professional or for pleasure. The proceeds go to ASAP. Please RSVP if you would like more details, or go to the ACTHA web site. If we get enough responses we'll begin advertising!
Chevie continues to get better. As soon as Wawatassi makes it to Iowa we will reunite him with Idlewhile and Miss Molly P. We got a wonderful adoptive home for Irresistable Lou and Lyric!
We are looking forward to Josh Potts doing a story on Timesareachanging and Taser Gun, and are still waiting for the arrival of an IHHA member to tour our farm.
We had one donation of $150 from a race owner this week. Thank you! Other than that no income to report. Lou and Lyric were both gifted to the adopter. Three square bales left, but eight round bales from donated fields are ready to be picked up.
Hoping to ride Yellow River today if the weather clears!
Hugs,
Susan
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday Evening
It's August 2, and I am still waiting for summer to arrive. I spent February agonizing over winter and actively considering moving away for good to warmer country with the family, then forgot a little about that once spring got here. Spring got me looking forward to summer, which still has not shown its face. Combine that with lack of time to do things, and I am feeling that all-too-familiar anxiety beginning to creep up as I note some of the leaves changing on the trees.
I have been at the emergency ward at our local hospital two times in the past 24 hours with my mother. She has not done well this past week, and continued a downhill trend over the weekend. She stayed at her condo with my oldest daughter, Cherie, on Friday, and by Saturday she just wanted to be in bed at my house. Back she came, and by afternoon we realized this was bigger than we could deal with at home, so up to the clinic we went. Good thing! Her blood pressure was 70/40 which brought immediate alarm to the doctors and nurses. One bag of fluids later and bloodwork galore, and she was sent home. By this morning, it was clear she was not responding to the antibiotic they prescribed as quickly as we wished. She had a temperature of 101.7 by the time we got to ER, so back on IV fluids and more blood work. A chest xray done yesterday revealed fluid on the lungs. Today it was confirmed that she has pneumonia. Well, I am no dummy and do realize that my father died three days after being admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. It is serious busines with elderly persons. Still, they didn't want to keep her overnight. She is here now, resting peacefully, but I am scared. Please say a prayer.
The board meeting went well Friday night. Some hard decisions had to be made regarding intakes on horses. It was decided at that meeting that we are going to freeze intakes until funding sources can be located. If we can do direct placements of horses from placing owner to adoptive home, we will be posting them on the internet. Don't assume if you see a new horse on the site that they are at the ASAP farm........
When we do receive horses into the program they have to meet criteria. Since we are primarily an adoption program vs. a rescue, horses accepted will have to be at least 2 years of age. There will be a cutoff of age as well (no more 25 year olds) until things are flowing positively and we are able to provide for them. As it is, we have six horses coming back from summer pasture this fall, and nowhere to house them without placing horses that are here.
ASAP is forming a strategic planning committee to include interested persons who are able to assist in public relations, marketing, and fund raising. This committee will meet in August.
Emphasis for the next several months will be for ASAP to seek finances, and/ or to obtain donations of hay and feed. What would we do without our foster families? They are many in number - we are so grateful to them for helping horses out.
A fundraiser will occur in either September or October at Yellow River State Forest. ACTHA has offered to assist us in putting this together. If you would like to join us for prizes and money, let me know. We need at least 25 riders to make this work. Also include a weekend you are available to do a ride. We will plan to have music and food if possible. ACTHA believes that with enough riders we may raise $3,000-$4,000. Wouldn't that be WONDERFUL???? But we need YOU to make it possible.
Whenever possible, try to use goodsearch as your search engine. It benefits ASAP. Also Country Supply for your horse needs, as they donate a portion of the proceeds to ASAP. Thanks so much for your continued support!
Chevie Silverado's wound is finally mending. He should be ready for turnout this week. He is anxious and feeling his "oats" - wants to run! He has been one patient boy since 4th of July. Thanks to Bryan and Kim for coming out to spend time with Chevie and the other horses at ASAP and volunteering their time.
We were able to place two horses this weekend - Irresistable Lou and Lyric went to an adoptive family! I am anxious to hear how they are settling in. The farrier was here yesterday so everyone looks pretty sharp right about now.
We are anticipating a long-awaited visit from IHHA board member this week to tour our farm and meet the horses who live here.
I'll share more when this occurs!
Susan
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