WISH LIST

Special thanks to Tony, who has toured the ASAP farm this week and desires
to do some grant writing for us! He said when he arrived at the farm and
was greeted by a variety of wagging tails and curious faces at the barn
door, he had a great feeling about the atmosphere of ASAP and can clearly
see the passion in what we do. PRICELESS.

Also thanks to M.W. for volunteering at ASAP. After seeing many of the
horses, and hearing their stories and the things that are so badly needed
in terms of care, she has decided to assist Taser Gun in getting the
diagnostics he needs to help him become sound again. Originally when he
first became lame last summer, vets speculated that he had hip arthritis
after the initial exam. With Prevacox, totally funded by ASAP, his
condition has not greatly improved. Dr. Dean Meyer suggested sacroiliac
problems and suggested that an injection is available that may help him
become sound again (if this is the diagnosis). We put out a plea from
past fans of Taser Gun, owners, trainers, but have not received any
donations to date. Thankfully, M.W. has stepped up to help. We will give
you the play by play as plans come together to help Taser!

Our wish list includes:

Sponsorship $$ to help the following horses with badly needed hoof trims:
Cobrador Kosmos
Bob Cook
ARNE
Taser Gun
Timesareachanging
Taz
Market Analysis
Holly

A garden cart or other larger cart (besides our wheelbarrow, which loses
its bolt all of the time and dumps the hay bale), or wagon to pull behind
a lawn tractor or Ford 8N (wishful thinking!).

Hose - we are forever needing hoses as we fill water tanks year round

Hay - small squares - or $$ to purchase more

We are currently waiting on three adoption fees, which makes the
difference between $0 or $1000. Outstanding bills include:

$2000 - veterinary bill for 2011 (we are making payments)
$2000 - feed bill for 2011 (we currently pay for each order as it arrives
rather than adding to this bill)

With the current offer for grant writing (Carmen, you too and thank you in
advance for what you will do!)..........hopefully we can climb out of the
hole from last year and sail through 2012 with out any debt.

Thanks for all you do!
Susan

Mom

I walked into the assisted living facility where my mother now lives last Sunday night around dinner time. She was seated in a wheelchair in the dining room with two other residents, slumped over in her chair and fast asleep. Her warm meatloaf dinner and soup growing cold, I immediately was moved to tears. How dare I be away from her? How dare I not know she is here alone and tired with no one to help her eat?

I sat down and nudged her, greeting the other two at the table. She looked up at me, and for the first time, she didn't smile, and her eyes did not light up. She simply shook her head in exasperation and lowered it again to sleep. My eyes welled up until they could hold no more, and tears streamed down my face while I tried to ignore it happening. I cut up her food and nudged her again. "Mom, let's have some good meatloaf!" I faked my enthusiasm. It took many minutes to coax her, but finally she took one bite, then another, never uttering a word.

Lately she has been "declining". I guess that is the medical term for her Parkinsons and accompanying dementia. I minimize what I see, encouraging her to once again become engaged in life. Tonite it seemed futile, until after about a half an hour of me striking up a one-sided conversation. When I hit a topic she recognized, she began to smile, and soon tried to dialogue with me. The words came easier, but she did not even turn to validate my daughter's presence. Rachel had been so excited about showing grandma her new glasses - now we just prayed she would smile and say "hello" to Rachel, but that did not come.

I flashed back to a much earlier time, when mom used to sit and coax me to eat as a young child. I was wild with motivation to explore my surroundings and play with toys and friends, and often forgot or refused to eat. My mom would take the spoon and make the "choo choo" noise......"here comes de train" in her Norwegian accent. It is like it was yesterday.............and now today.........I sit and the roles are reversed. I will do it, mom! I will always be there for you. It takes courage to see things through to the very bitter end...........it takes so much courage. But love is stronger.....and God has richly blessed me with the best mother in the world. Here's to you, mama!!!

Hay Equals Happiness

66 impala 128 lf 009.JPG.77mkbd7.partial Download this file

Ahhh the smell of freshly "made" hay!
Thanks to Mitch Moore today for loading up 25 bales for ASAP and thanks to
Todd W. for selling it to us.

25 bales x $2.50 equals $62.50 worth of yummy happiness for the horses!

We are also currently looking for the following (wish list items):

* big solid wheelbarrow or cart to haul individual bales, pails, etc.
* wagon that a riding lawn mower or small tractor can pull to take small
square bales to various horse turnouts

We have located a tractor and are $350 short for the purchase of a solid
8N that comes with disc, plow, blade, and chains!!!! The owner of the
tractor is actually donating $500 off the purchase price for it - he had
the tractor at $3000 but is now at $2500. We have raised $2020 so far!
ASAP's very own tractor - what a gift thanks to you! If you wish to
donate towards this tractor before it is sold, just use Pay Pal on our
site at
www.4thehorses.com

Thanks!

Kickapoo Reserve This Friday?

Just putting it out there - some of us gals will meet at the Kickapoo
Reserve to ride the trails this coming Friday at 10 am.

Would love for any of you to join us!

Call Sue at 608-792-5126 or email asapinc@mwt.net

Correction to Antique Appraisal Event

Sorry, in last night's post I incorrectly listed the antique appraisal
event as being at Stoddard Lions Club.
The event will take place at the Stoddard LEGION Hall!
Norwegian moment!

FUNDRAISER JULY 8 - Antique Appraisal Event!!!

ASAP Antique Appraisal Event.doc Download this file

ASAP will host an antique appraisal fund raiser at the STODDARD LIONS CLUB
in Stoddard, WI on Sunday, July 8

RSVP if you are able to attend!! Pre-registration is required. Food will
be served.

ASAP Rummage Sale Friday and Saturday

Wellllll, didn't think we'd do it this year, but with the help of my two
wonderful kids, Zach and Rachel, it's coming together quite nice.

Got the banner up and the driveway lined with tons of horse goodies, as
well as name-brand clothes and all kinds of things the kids want to sell.

Come on by this weekend!!!

Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman!

I am thankful for many things tonite.
I am thankful for friends like Patty and Dwight - faithful neighbors who
help ASAP out when hay is getting low. Thanks for the donation this
morning!

I am thankful for our neighbors, the De Garmos...........who saved me
today when the battery was dead on my car and I needed to get my daughter
to a doctor appointment. I tried two people, then called the De
Garmos...who always seem to be there for us. Thank you Dan for coming to
the rescue and giving me a jump start! Rachel made the doctor appointment
and will have the glasses to prove it on Saturday!

I am thankful for anonymous friends who empower good causes to continue.
Their moral support and financial contributions keep the horses safe and
sound and well fed.

And I am thankful to God above for giving us the energy and drive to keep
on keeping on with our mission to serve people and animals. We were
thanked last week by a stranger who had emailed asking for help in finding
her horse a home. I had responded that we would do all we could and asked
for information to post about the horse she had, and pictures.

A day or two later she answered back and said that she had found a good
home with an acquaintance in her area referred by a friend.....but she
stated that "ASAP was the only adoption organization that answered my plea
for help". We try really hard!!!!

A Perfect Mothers Day

Our Sunday started out with brunch and mimosa and coffee with my own sweet mother, Herdis.  At noon, we began the day-long venture to Yellow River State Forest.  Sadly, we didn't bring any Standardbreds to trail ride this time - but I sported my ASAP tshirt anyway!  Skippy, Magnus, Fargo and Chief treated us well and we had a great ride. 

My husband made dinner on the grill after we rode - with wild rice/mushroom brats, grilled shrimp, asparagus, corn on the cob, and a variety of salads.  The kids enjoyed the smores.

It was a day from heaven - thank you to my family!

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Tractor Needed!

It happened last week - the unexpected sale of our New Holland. We are
now without a farm tractor, or a 4-wheeler, or any other piece of
machinery that can haul hay bales, fence posts, or other needed farm
items.

If anyone is looking for a tax write-off and would consider gifting a
tractor or 4-wheeler to ASAP, let us know. It doesn't have to be pretty -
just functional. The only requirement we have is that it would have a
wider wheel base to accommodate the steep landscape we have in our area.

If you have a tractor or 4-wheeler that you would like to sell, contact us
please! 608-792-5126 or asapinc@mwt.net

This Saturday - Can Anyone Help? Prarie du Chien!!!

Hello,

We were invited to attend Pet Expo at Valley View Mall this Saturday, and
Z-93 has graciously provided sponsorship for us to attend by paying for
our booth space.

We are in need of someone to bring a Standardbred to the Tractor Supply in
Prairie du Chien this Saturday, as we were invited by them as well. I
hate to make a commitment and then withdraw it.....but hoping someone out
there might have a Standardbred they are very proud of that they wouldn't
mind sharing with the public in Prairie for a few hours?

Contact Sue if you can help - 608-792-5126 cell!
asapinc@mwt.net - email.

Thank you!

Sue

Pet Expo 2012!

Thanks to radio station Z-93 FM in La Crosse for their sponsorship to
enable us to attend the Pet Expo at Valley View Mall this Saturday May 12.
We look forward to being present to share 18 years worth of experience and
service to our Coulee Region by being the only horse adoption program
represented at the mall.

We hope to have a tasteful booth display with lots of pictures to share.
Thank you Z-93!!!!

Paint Mare and Mini Donkey - Urgent Need for Transport

Today the veterinarian will be going out to draw a coggins on both the
special needs Paint mare and the mini jack donkey in Minnesota.

As soon as the health exams are completed and coggins papers and
interstate papers are ready, the horses will be in need of transport from
the Winona area to the Blue Mounds WI area for foster care.

The mini donkey may be fostered in Minnesota until the hooves can be
looked at by a farrier, and trimming done to the best of his ability. The
mare will have an urgent need for transport later this week.

If anyone can help by hauling her, or can assist in paying someone for gas
to haul, please let Sue know at 608-792-5126 cell or asapinc@mwt.net

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