Equipment

Hello again,
As we close the week, I just want to let everyone know that as our numbers
increase here at the farm against our wishes (people just want to keep
dropping horses off regardless of how many horses are actually here), our
equipment is failing us greatly.

Our round bale feeders have popped rivets that make the sheet metal pop
off the round frame, endangering horses. I have been out tying the sheet
metal back on through the holes where the rivets once were with twine
numerous times. It seems to have done the trick for the time being, but
there is one round bale feeder that is completely crunched in and the
tubing frame broken, and pipes sticking out and inviting cuts and
lacerations. I meant to take pictures of these feeders, but my son has
taken the digital camera to post some youtube videos, so will have to get
those at a later date.

Our water tanks are not large enough to accommodate up to six horses at a
time, and some must be filled daily.

I come home every day to either a fence rail popped out, ribbon fence
knocked down, or shelters damaged by new horses in a herd and scuffling
that occurs.

We just can't keep taking horses in and hope people can be sensitive to
the fact that unless we find homes for horses here, there is simply no
room for other horses to arrive. In urgent need right now are three
horses in Illinois and two horses in Wisconsin. These horses will,
ultimately, be brought to ASAP. There are days that we are afraid to go
to the barn, hoping no one has dropped horses during the night.

Please - if you can donate an extra water tank you have lying around, or
round bale feeder, it would be so appreciated. Also, if you have room for
even one horse at your farm, it would help us so much. These are really
scary times.

Susan

Monday Summary

Hello!
I want to personally thank the people that made the commitment to come to
our fund raiser on Saturday. Special thanks to Kelly Wilde, who gave up
his entire afternoon to come and entertain us (no one sang karaoke but we
had great music)and donated his time.

Thank you to Romance Store's Kevin and Nancy for their hospitality, and to
Grass Roots Barbecue for coming to feed everyone with such short notice. The ribs and catfish was delicious!

As I looked around, I saw so many of the people who mean the most to me in
life personally. Their support is priceless and cannot go without
recognition. My in-laws, my two children (wish the other two could have
come), Lynette, Ray and Alice, one of my clients and his whole family and
staff (warmed my heart to have him there and so proud to show his family
how he could ride!), Diane and Duane, Lisa, Craig's friends from work,our
veterinarian Terry, Francis and Emma, Diane and Jessica, Jamie, Dennis,
Kathy and Andy, and many more that I am probably forgetting right now with
distractions in my background.......thank you for coming to show your
support of the work we do for the many horses that need it. Thanks to
Captain Hook's for their financial contribution and their donation of
passes on their Clements Fishing Barge, and thanks to Marie Glover and
Tabby Town for their contributions for the silent auction. Also to be
recognized include:

Nelson Agri Center
Vernon Inn - Viroqua
Harvest Lane Treasures
Wahl Clippers
Chick's Saddlery
Absorbine
Peter Stone Company
Ray and Alice H.
Sue Kammel and Norwex
K. Swan
Andrea for the gorgeous home decor items!

If we had to count on numbers for our fund raiser success we would not
have made our goal of coming out a pinch ahead after expenses. The silent
auction and other activities that day and evening and the support given
helped us immensely. Thanks to my wonderful hubby and daughter for making
it successful and thanks to my mother in law for "passing the jar"!!!

Joe Cody closed up Romance Store with a band of faithful spectators and
dancers, and I managed to cut some rug towards the end of the night as I
was able to relax.

I believe we made about $750 after all was said and done, which isn't bad
for a first year. With better planning and more help available to us next
summer we will plan another event similar to this and hope for a few more
people.

With so few people adopting horses (I hear the horse market is dead across
the nation right now), we rely on donations and contributions to survive. This is opposite even five years ago, when our adoption fees could sustain
us better. So this fund raiser was a good event.

I promised some tweens and teens that I would ride on Sunday, but forgot
to factor in that I was to help clean up at Romance. By the time we got
back it was 2:30 pm, and I had three girls all fired up to ride. Instead
of trailering to Duck Egg (we heard that there are rattlesnakes stil up
there), we rode 4-5 miles in our valley. We did tons of running and
trotting, which the girls loved. We passed one farm and the horse I was
riding came to a standstill and actually tried to turn around, sensing
something disturbing. I urged him forward, but he would not go. My eyes
turned to the left up on a slight hill near a barn, and it looked like
they were grinding wood into woodchips from a distance. Much to my
horror, when we got close enough, we noticed some women, and a sick
silence in the air. The women were holding up chickens, spreading out
their necks, and whacking the heads off. Then they passed the chicken
over to another woman who held the bodies up to a strange machine that
literally ground all of the feathers off, with feathers flying everywhere.
I exclaimed, 'OH MY GOSH' and jumped off my horse, who had sensed death
in the air. Covering my face, all I could hear were the girls behind me
looking on in desperate helplessness, never having seen such a slaughter
before. We talked about it for a long time afterwards, and I have come to
the conclusion that if more people had to see such a sick circumstance,
they either would never eat meat again, or they would be extra extra
thankful for the sacrifice of their own lives so that we can live. As for
me, I have not touched a chicken in either a store or restaurant since
following the semis down the highway that carry countless cages full of
crammed poultry to their final destination. I will not put money into the
pockets of companies or people that do not slaughter animals humanely. My
oldest daughter is now completely vegan, but I do not have the discipline
to be that devoted yet. I still consume dairy products and I love my
fish. My mother always told me that Jesus ate fish and she instilled in
me the belief (or fantasy) that fish don't have nerves to feel things like
other animals do. For right or wrong, I love her for telling me that as a
child (I must have been asking even then?).

Our ride ended on a great note, and we'll plan to do trails on a less-busy
weekend. Thanks to Judy for picking up my mother at her condo to bring
her back to my house so that I could have more time with the girls and the
horses. It's so good for the soul!

Thanks again, all of you, for a great weekend.

Susan

News from ASAP

Hi friends!
Our fund raising event is getting nearer - Saturday is days away and we
hope for a good turnout. The latest news is that my mother has come back
to stay with us for awhile, as her health is not good and she is in a
great amount of pain from her compression fractures in her back. Until we
can arrange alternate caregivers, she will be here. As a result, we are
unable to prepare for this Saturday and the many people we planned to
feed. Shopping and cooking become a great challenge when also trying to
care for mom, the kids, the horses, and go to work. Luckily, we were able
to get Grass Roots Barbecue to agree to come and serve for our benefit! We plan to have catfish and barbecue ribs, potato salad, buns, and relish!
It will cost us more money, so we are praying for a good turnout. The
band has also quoted us $400-$500 - so we are keeping our fingers crossed
that donations will come in to help us cover the cost!

Thanks to Grace for her recent donation of $100. Thanks also to Sandee
and Gene W. for their donation.

It is with great sadness that I must communicate my sympathy to Ray and
Alice on the recent loss of one of their Standardbreds, Cam's Matte
Finish. He had only been with them for 13 months, yet they had come so
far in retraining him as a pleasure driving horse. Ray and Alice are so
dedicated to their pets, and this has been a big blow. We are so sorry.

Wanted to share some pictures that people have sent in recently. It's so
good to see the horses out and about doing a variety of riding and driving
events! Congrats to Molly on her recent placings at horse shows with
Squire One as well!

Pictures include Cam's Matte Finish in two shots - one on August 25 and
one on September 5, Lexi on Fleur de Mal (Griffin- Carol W.'s horse),
Copper Cadet and Egyptian Fashion with Ralph D. and friend, Egyptian
Fashion again, and Ray and beautiful trotter, Penguin Beware.

We are looking for volunteers for Saturday. Remember, if anyone plans to
bring horses, no horses will be allowed on the premises without a current
coggins (original must be shown, and copy). We originally thought that
there would be little or no riders in Romance, but I have heard that there
are people coming to camp and ride on Sunday. Try to let me know if you
do plan to bring a horse or horses. We also need someone to help us with
silent auction item setup, taking tickets, and handing out door prizes. We also could use a few desserts if anyone feels the urge?

Pray for good weather!
Sue

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Silent Auction Items and Prizes!

It is great to have so much local support from our community for the
upcoming fund raiser next Saturday night! So far, just a few of our
prizes and items include:

US Mint Coin Collection - donated by Genoa State Bank

3 gift certificates for fishing on Clements Fishing Barge on the mighty
Mississippi River!

Wine basket - courtesy of Rocky's Supper Club in Stoddard!

Horse tack and supplies including halters, lead ropes, spurs, cinches,
grooming supplies, courtesy of American Standardbred Adoption Program

Gift certificate for custom painted horse model of your choice (perhaps
designed after your own horse?) gifted by The Peter Stone Company,
Shipshawana, Indiana

Fleece pullovers and sweatshirts donated by United States Trotting
Association

Framed prints of "Daily Double" (104/200) and "Place Your Bets (119/200)
donated by K. Swan, artist

Numerous fly masks and fly repellent, courtesy of Absorbine

Cat clock and Cat lamp donated by Harvest Lane Treasure

Seasonal decorations donated by Harvest Lane Treasures of La Crosse

There is more, including an English saddle (18") starter set!

Tools, donated by Nelson Agri Center, Viroqua

Please come and help our benefit be a success!

Sue

Tickets

Tickets are now available for the Rockin for Rescue in Romance event for
Saturday October 16.
Events start at 2 pm - but don't worry if you can't make it until later! We have entertainment from 2 pm until midnight. Anyone interested in
adoption or foster care will get a personal tour of horses available at
ASAP farm.

Even if you cannot make the event, please consider Pay Pal to donate $10.
The ticket could then be gifted to someone local, and your contribution
helps the horses! Family tickets are $25, which includes food and
beverages and entertainment and door prizes for as long as it lasts!

If you've never been to Romance, now is the time to experience it! LOL
Please Pay Pal if you can!

Sue