There are times in life when a person or an organization can feel
especially blessed, lucky, or just darn good inside all over! This past weekend brought at least four of the very nicest people that
ever happened to ASAP to the farm. Ray, Alice, Lori, and Mike pulled in
the driveway on our warm, sunny Saturday. It is always great to see them,
and I consider them really great friends. They are friends not only
because they support ASAP's mission both financially and morally, but
because they truly care about animals, and especially horses. They have
watched ASAP over the years, and know, firsthand, the struggles ASAP has
faced and continues to face, as more horses flood into the farm and more
adopters are forced with the difficult decision to give up a pet they may
have had for more than ten years due to health issues or economic
challenges. Ray, Alice, Lori and Mike have done their part in providing excellent
homes for horses. With amazement I remember back to a day when Ray and
Alice asked me, "Which horse do you think needs a home the most?". At the
time, we had just taken in an aged Standardbred mare who had raced in
Michigan, then had been a brood mare until coming to ASAP. With limited
training under saddle, the likelihood of a mare such as this finding a
permanent home was slim. Still, Ray and Alice shared that they would like
to take Sunny home. They not only took her home, but they continued
training under saddle, and also made Sunny into a pleasure driving horse! They have done so much for Pistol Pete N and Mini Happy Times,
participating in competitive driving events in Wisconsin this year, and
placing! In addition, they have made Penguin Beware into a competitive
driving horse now, too, and he placed first last week up north!!!! They
gave Cam's Matte Finish a great home and much happiness until his passing
in September, and we have many pictures of Cam to remember him by. So on Saturday it was another day to say "so long" to a horse that,
presently, may not be the MOST adoptable horse we have on the farm. Goodnight Starship, 15, was adopted as a two year old by a loving couple
who provided the best of everything until last year when their health
forced them to return Goodie to the ASAP farm. Goodnight had not been
ridden regularly, and had a bit of a reputation as an "overreactive"
horse. Goodie can be spooky at times, which makes some people believe he
is unpredictable - definitely not your laid back, nothing-bothers-me kind
of horse. Ray and Alice offered to take a horse in for the winter, and to
prepare him or her for the Midwest Horse Fair where he or she could be
showcased as a horse available for adoption. They looked at Kung Fu Guru,
Goodnight Starship, and Comet as possibilities. After some deliberation,
they decided to take Goodnight home on Saturday. The way that they
handled Goodnight and talked to him with such loving care made me feel
100% right about the match between them. Goodie went home to meet the
other four Standardbreds he will be with until next April (and can I tell
you I secretly hope they fall in love with him so much they will decide to
keep him!!!?), and everything has gone smoothly. Ray and Alice also took
home the harness that Remmie did some damage to almost two years ago now. To have Ray and Alice in our lives makes us feel very privileged, and
every horse that finds its way to their farm is a very very very fortunate
horse! Lori and Mike pulled in the driveway just about the time that Goodnight
and Ray and Alice were leaving. They drove over three hours to get to
ASAP from Iowa. They have adopted a few horses over the years, including
Family Counselor (Sigi), Taken By Surprise (TBone), and Wawatassi. I can
still remember Lori driving all the way from Iowa to go with me yet
another hour or more to rescue an emaciated horse from an Amish farm over
near Wilton/Kendall. Lori and I were both sick to our stomachs after
seeing Wawatassi in the condition he was in, and needed to raise money to
purchase him. Lori paid his ransom and brought him home - spent months
rehabilitating him - and when he came to ASAP he did not look at all like
the same horse! Lori also helped with JD (bless his memory), and is
always quick to volunteer anything she can do in times of crisis. She has
donated faithfully to ASAP's mission of helping horses, and hopes to some
day provide a permanent home for Arne, who she has loved since the first
time she laid eyes on him. Lori and Mike were very busy on Saturday, and
drove down specifically to help us repair round bale feeders, and raise
the shed in the lower arena that blew down in last week's wind storm. They spent the entire afternoon with us, and thanks to them we were able
to get the shed back up for now! Thank you so much, Lori and Mike and
Dennis and Jamie and Jamie's sister and Lexi! Without each of you we
would not have shelter up for the horses! Lori and her husband also blessed ASAP with a big surprise - a brand new
Rubbermaid 100 gallon water tank! I can't forget to also mention another
gift she brought that touched my heart so very much - a framed picture of
Taken By Surprise, a Standardbred gelding who made over $260,000 before
retiring due to injury wayyyyyy back in the 90's. In fact, T Bone was one
of the first horses to come into the ASAP program, so I believe he may
have been placed in 1994 or close to it! He has had a wonderful life and,
like Ray and Alice, any horse that finds its way to Lori and Mike's arms
will always receive the best of love and care imaginable. Knowing these
four people has made such a difference in my life - the true meaning of
friendship, loyalty, compassion, and empathy can be seen in each of them. I have appealed to the Illinois Racing Board for advice on sources of
funding for our program, but the condition of harness racing in Illinois
is bleak, as was reported to me again today. We have had no financial
support in any way from Balmoral Park or Maywood Park this year, and next
to nothing from Illinois Harness Horseman's Association. We appealed to
Hawthorne, Maywood, and Balmoral Park for donations for our fund raiser,
but received nothing. Thankfully, the United States Trotting Association
sent a wonderful big box full of donations. The USTA is very attentive to
ASAP and we appreciate their support. So who cares for the horses who
graced the tracks in Chicago and beyond when the tracks, IHHA, and/or
former owners do not? ASAP Inc. continues its mission, with support from
individuals and small corporations who firmly believe that the horses who
gave everything they had to the racing industry deserve to be taken care
of AFTER their racing days are accomplished. Up until this past year, I
really believed in my heart that the tracks and racing associations and
owners and trainers really did care about its horses, but now I have
serious doubts, as evidenced by the lack of support received. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide for what has been entrusted
to us! Upcoming events:
Nothing on the calendar - hallelujah, we go into a season of rest! Hugs,
Susan
especially blessed, lucky, or just darn good inside all over! This past weekend brought at least four of the very nicest people that
ever happened to ASAP to the farm. Ray, Alice, Lori, and Mike pulled in
the driveway on our warm, sunny Saturday. It is always great to see them,
and I consider them really great friends. They are friends not only
because they support ASAP's mission both financially and morally, but
because they truly care about animals, and especially horses. They have
watched ASAP over the years, and know, firsthand, the struggles ASAP has
faced and continues to face, as more horses flood into the farm and more
adopters are forced with the difficult decision to give up a pet they may
have had for more than ten years due to health issues or economic
challenges. Ray, Alice, Lori and Mike have done their part in providing excellent
homes for horses. With amazement I remember back to a day when Ray and
Alice asked me, "Which horse do you think needs a home the most?". At the
time, we had just taken in an aged Standardbred mare who had raced in
Michigan, then had been a brood mare until coming to ASAP. With limited
training under saddle, the likelihood of a mare such as this finding a
permanent home was slim. Still, Ray and Alice shared that they would like
to take Sunny home. They not only took her home, but they continued
training under saddle, and also made Sunny into a pleasure driving horse! They have done so much for Pistol Pete N and Mini Happy Times,
participating in competitive driving events in Wisconsin this year, and
placing! In addition, they have made Penguin Beware into a competitive
driving horse now, too, and he placed first last week up north!!!! They
gave Cam's Matte Finish a great home and much happiness until his passing
in September, and we have many pictures of Cam to remember him by. So on Saturday it was another day to say "so long" to a horse that,
presently, may not be the MOST adoptable horse we have on the farm. Goodnight Starship, 15, was adopted as a two year old by a loving couple
who provided the best of everything until last year when their health
forced them to return Goodie to the ASAP farm. Goodnight had not been
ridden regularly, and had a bit of a reputation as an "overreactive"
horse. Goodie can be spooky at times, which makes some people believe he
is unpredictable - definitely not your laid back, nothing-bothers-me kind
of horse. Ray and Alice offered to take a horse in for the winter, and to
prepare him or her for the Midwest Horse Fair where he or she could be
showcased as a horse available for adoption. They looked at Kung Fu Guru,
Goodnight Starship, and Comet as possibilities. After some deliberation,
they decided to take Goodnight home on Saturday. The way that they
handled Goodnight and talked to him with such loving care made me feel
100% right about the match between them. Goodie went home to meet the
other four Standardbreds he will be with until next April (and can I tell
you I secretly hope they fall in love with him so much they will decide to
keep him!!!?), and everything has gone smoothly. Ray and Alice also took
home the harness that Remmie did some damage to almost two years ago now. To have Ray and Alice in our lives makes us feel very privileged, and
every horse that finds its way to their farm is a very very very fortunate
horse! Lori and Mike pulled in the driveway just about the time that Goodnight
and Ray and Alice were leaving. They drove over three hours to get to
ASAP from Iowa. They have adopted a few horses over the years, including
Family Counselor (Sigi), Taken By Surprise (TBone), and Wawatassi. I can
still remember Lori driving all the way from Iowa to go with me yet
another hour or more to rescue an emaciated horse from an Amish farm over
near Wilton/Kendall. Lori and I were both sick to our stomachs after
seeing Wawatassi in the condition he was in, and needed to raise money to
purchase him. Lori paid his ransom and brought him home - spent months
rehabilitating him - and when he came to ASAP he did not look at all like
the same horse! Lori also helped with JD (bless his memory), and is
always quick to volunteer anything she can do in times of crisis. She has
donated faithfully to ASAP's mission of helping horses, and hopes to some
day provide a permanent home for Arne, who she has loved since the first
time she laid eyes on him. Lori and Mike were very busy on Saturday, and
drove down specifically to help us repair round bale feeders, and raise
the shed in the lower arena that blew down in last week's wind storm. They spent the entire afternoon with us, and thanks to them we were able
to get the shed back up for now! Thank you so much, Lori and Mike and
Dennis and Jamie and Jamie's sister and Lexi! Without each of you we
would not have shelter up for the horses! Lori and her husband also blessed ASAP with a big surprise - a brand new
Rubbermaid 100 gallon water tank! I can't forget to also mention another
gift she brought that touched my heart so very much - a framed picture of
Taken By Surprise, a Standardbred gelding who made over $260,000 before
retiring due to injury wayyyyyy back in the 90's. In fact, T Bone was one
of the first horses to come into the ASAP program, so I believe he may
have been placed in 1994 or close to it! He has had a wonderful life and,
like Ray and Alice, any horse that finds its way to Lori and Mike's arms
will always receive the best of love and care imaginable. Knowing these
four people has made such a difference in my life - the true meaning of
friendship, loyalty, compassion, and empathy can be seen in each of them. I have appealed to the Illinois Racing Board for advice on sources of
funding for our program, but the condition of harness racing in Illinois
is bleak, as was reported to me again today. We have had no financial
support in any way from Balmoral Park or Maywood Park this year, and next
to nothing from Illinois Harness Horseman's Association. We appealed to
Hawthorne, Maywood, and Balmoral Park for donations for our fund raiser,
but received nothing. Thankfully, the United States Trotting Association
sent a wonderful big box full of donations. The USTA is very attentive to
ASAP and we appreciate their support. So who cares for the horses who
graced the tracks in Chicago and beyond when the tracks, IHHA, and/or
former owners do not? ASAP Inc. continues its mission, with support from
individuals and small corporations who firmly believe that the horses who
gave everything they had to the racing industry deserve to be taken care
of AFTER their racing days are accomplished. Up until this past year, I
really believed in my heart that the tracks and racing associations and
owners and trainers really did care about its horses, but now I have
serious doubts, as evidenced by the lack of support received. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide for what has been entrusted
to us! Upcoming events:
Nothing on the calendar - hallelujah, we go into a season of rest! Hugs,
Susan
