BOARD MEETING

Our semi-annual board meeting will take place Friday, July 30 at 7:00 pm.
Dinner to follow at Great River Roadhouse - De Soto, WI
RSVP at asapinc@mwt.net
608-689-2399 or just come and join the fun!

Also, anyone thinking of coming to the October fund raiser?

GRATITUDE

I just want to say "thank you" to Marie K. from Blanchardville. She gave me an update on the horses she has faithfully cared for for up to three years. Comet, the Appaloosa/STB cross, has been with her for quite a long time now, with no one coming forward to adopt him. He is still available, but Marie wanted me to know he is more or less a part of the family after all this time....so he can stay, but here are some issues that we need help with right now:

Fox Valley Terror - came to us from Walker Standardbreds as a yearling. He was huge then, and he is HUGE now. He had wobbles as a yearling, and the Walkers knew he would not make a race horse. He was adopted almost immediately by a family who raised him and trained him to ride. He was with this family for about seven years, and they trail rode him. A family breakup forced the return of Terror to our program, and he has not been able to find a home since that time. I think we are going on two summers, now, that he bounced two places before finding a foster home with Marie. Marie would love to receive some sponsorship money for caring for Terror. If those funds are not made available Terror, like most all horses, will return to ASAP. It would be nice to see the racing industry or the farm where he was bred and born support him, but if they will not, who can?

Thunder is a 13 year old Saddlebred who was basically a rescue from euthenization. He was infested with lice and worms, but was treated and Marie took him to recover fully. He has not had any luck getting adopted despite the fact that he is supposedly trained to ride. We are going to hire a trainer to assess his riding ability, and hope for that special home. Refer to our adoption page for pictures.

Bless her little heart, Sugar the registered Quarter horse is now 2 1/2 years old! I know, I know, we need to get some updated pictures of her for the site. She is ready for adoption and ready for training. Anyone interested should please contact me, as I am sure she will be returned to the farm shortly if no home can be located.

What can I say about Carmen? Carmen is my administrative assistant. She maintains the web site fore free and helps me return phone calls. She screens all applications that come her way. She has been helping me for about ten years now without thought of compensation, or even a pat on the back. Carmen, I am now giving you a public pat on the back! Anyone who has any suggestions or compliments for Carmen can reach her directly at realdog1@yahoo.com
Carmen, ASAP would not be able to function without you!!!!

Lastly, thanks again to Comfortex Mattress Co. and/or Andrea T. for their recent donation. Without their financial support, we would be unable to afford to help Marie with the horses at her farm, or trim horses and provide basic care. Racing industry, WHERE ARE YOU? I have heard that the Illinois racing industry is hurting financially, and that is an understatement. While we feel badly about that, we also know that there are over 1,000 horses in the ASAP program, and until this year we were receiving help from the industry. Without continued support, will we suffer a similar fate to many rescues? We are praying we don't.

More pictures soon - Taser Gun and I enjoyed a full day of riding with Craig and his horse at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Taser endured the biting flies deep in the woods very well, and was a dream to ride!

Later,
Sue

PS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS - STANDARDBRED FUND RAISER SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 16 AND SUNDAY OCTOBER 17. ROMANCE WISCONSIN IS THE SITE FOR OUR FALL FUND RAISER.
CAMP SITES AVAILABLE - BRING YOUR HORSE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS - DRIVE TO NEARBY DUCK EGG COUNTY PARK FOR A TRAIL RIDE, OR ENJOY JUST HANGING OUT AT ROMANCE WITH EVERYONE AND SHARE YOUR STANDARDBRED STORIES OR ADOPTION STORIES

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: KARAOKE BY KELLY WILDE 1 PM - 6 PM
JOE CODY BAND - 8 PM - MIDNIGHT
FOOD, BEVERAGES, SILENT AUCTION, FUN!!!

MOTEL LODGING NEAR BY IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO BRING A HORSE. TRAIL RIDE WILL BE ON SUNDAY.

2010 COGGINS REQUIRED - INTERSTATE HEALTH CERTIFICATE IF CROSSING STATE LINES. DOES ANYONE WANT TO DO A LITTLE STANDARDBRED HORSE SHOW INSTEAD OF A TRAIL RIDE? I WANT AND VALUE YOUR OPINIONS - SHOOT ME ANY IDEAS.....ROMANCE STORE AND CAMPGROUND - IT'S THE PLACE TO BE ON OCTOBER 16 AND 17!!!!

Sue

Pictures of Trip

Zach's FOOT!!!!!

Salt Flats Utah

Charlotte

Tonopah llama

Charlotte!

Las Vegas

Circus Circus Adventuredome

Yosemite

Wikiup Arizona

Large cactus in Wikieup

Dog riding in back of pickup

in Arizona - had to pet!

Between Phoenix and Vegas

Rest stop

Lake Mono, CA

Thank goodness that my daughter, Rachel, brought her digital camera along on the trip. Although she didn't take any pictures at the Boardwalk or at the ocean, we at least have some pictures of our journey across Arizona and Nevada and Yosemite that I will post to share.

At Tonopah, Nevada (an old silver mining town in the middle of absolutely NOWHERE), we dropped our horse trailer before crossing the border. There, we discovered quite a few llamas and a sweet little pig we named Charlotte in outdoor stalls at the rodeo grounds. We fell in love with the pig and one llama, and are aware that they are 4-H project animals. I am secretly praying that someone isn't raising Charlotte for meat..........so maybe a little postcard offering to buy her would be a fun thing to do? Crazy thoughts, I have, I know.

I just want to say for the record that all of those commercials we see on television about California cows being happy cows (visions of cows out on lush pasture, sunshine) is a total farce.

California dairy cows probably never see the outside world - we passed huge building after huge building with dairy cows standing stacked on top of each other. There were beef cows out, but no sign of a dairy cow. Worse than this is the memory I have of passing through Kansas. Along I-80, as far a stretch as the eye could see, were feedlots upon feedlots upon feedlots crammed with beefers enjoying their last few weeks of life, unknowingly. The scene was gruesome, with filthy cows standing on concrete or in lots with manure up to their ankles. I have been very seriously committed to my efforts to become vegetarian, and seeing things like this give me the strength to continue eating healthy, and not supporting the ranchers who treat animal life in this manner. My oldest daughter is trying to go totally vegan, but I just can't give up dairy or seafood right now. I do try to only drink soy milk or organic milk, where baby calves are not separated from their mothers the day they are born. Believe it or not, according to a woman who runs an organic dairy farm, their milk production is only 15%-20% lower than commercial dairies by leaving the babies with their mothers for the first few months. How kind and sensible is that or anyone who even remotely cares about an animal's feelings? Okay, enough of me.....

Arizona was really interesting, and the drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas is one everyone should try some time. The people were friendly and hospitable too.

This is what our itinerary looked like:

Day 1 (6/18) - Leave La Crosse 4 pm

Day 2 (6/19) - Arrive in Phoenix after 28 hours of driving straight through - 8 pm

Sleep overnight at Comfort Inn, Phoenix

Day 3 (6/20) - Drove from Phoenix to Las Vegas - about five hours , and stopping along the way

Stayed at Circus Circus, let kids go to Adventuredome - we did a few penny slots

Day 4 (6/21) - Drove to Tonopah, Nevada - a small mining town in the middle of nowhere USA

Stayed at Ramada Inn - no pool open as it was not warm enough this summer -

I played "Reel Em In" nickel slots with $1.00 and won $33.00!!!!!!!!! Yipppeeee

Saw many BLM mustangs and burros both before Tonopah and after!

Day 5 (6/22) - Drove through Yosemite, then on to Gilroy California. Stayed at Best Western

Gilroy - a beautiful motel with pool and free breakfast at a great rate of $89 a

night. Gilroy, close to my home neighborhood, is the "Garlic Capital of the

World"! The smell of garlic was everywhere in the air, as it is harvest time now.

Day 6 (6/23) - Visited a winery - did wine tasting, went to the Garlic Shoppe and bought

fresh roasted pistachios, garlic steak sauce, garlic salsa, garlic tortilla chips, and

even tried the garlic ice cream! We reeeeeeeked all day! Saw my friend Lisa's

mother up on Graystone Lane and Lisa's brother Cliff. Had iced coffee out on the

patio in the glorious sunshine. Kids got to pick lemons off the lemon trees, and

kumquats, and we brought home some iris bulbs for mom!

Day 7 (6/24) - Took kids to Santa Cruz Boardwalk for the day. Played in the ocean. Went to

Jack in the Box and then on to Moss Landing to watch sea lions and otters and

eat a glorious meal on the ocean (oysters on the half shell, shrimp, clam chowder

in a bread bowl).........left my camera on the table at Sea Harvest, where it was

taken by ??????? (sob). Met with my best friend Perri and her mom and dad

Shirley and Al and Perri's brother Mark. Hugged and hugged, talked and shared

Day 8 (6/25) - Left to come home. Drove back through Yosemite, to Tonopah to pick up trailer,

kiss llamas and pig "so long". Drove and drove til Ely Nevada. Saw lots of mus-

tangs again. Went to downtown Nevada casino - no luck on penny slots - stayed

at Ramada which had a very neat pool and hot tub and great breakfast.

Day 9 (6/26) - Drove to Sidney Nebraska. All motels full - we ended up in a rinky dink place

that wasn't very clean but the guy was nice to put us in his last room. BTW did I

tell you that we saw a dead MOOSE on I-80 going through Salt Lake City? Wow

Day 10 (6/27) - Whew - we made it home at about 8:30 pm - after putting 5,000 miles on our

poor tired old truck!

I worked all last week which seems like a blur now. Mom came June 30. She has not been well - just got out of emergency with her tonite - on to neurologist's and work tomorrow morning.

Three horses arrived this weekend: Cobra, Race for Home, and Bart's A Bad Boy

I love Cobra, but he's got a bit of recovering to do - he will be a very flashy trotter.

Bart is still one of my favorites!!!! He is so calm and sweet...........and needs a home!!!!!!

My chicken died - long story and one I don't emotionally think I can tell for awhile.....and our rabbit populations is dwindling as we put an ad in the paper (thankfully)............

All else is well! Enjoy the pics!

Iowa Mare

ANYONE ABLE TO HELP FOSTER OR ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A BEAUTIFUL, TALL, SOUND STANDARDBRED MARE BY THE NAME OF LOOK DELLA, PLEASE CALL ME BEFORE MONDAY AT 608-792-5126

DELLA IS APPROXIMATELY 15'3 HANDS TALL.
SHE IS TRAINED TO SADDLE AND HAS RIDDEN TRAILS.
NEEDS INTERMEDIATE RIDER - LOTS OF ENERGY BUT VERY COMPLIANT WITH RIDER REQUESTS

SUE