2008 and some of 2007

My sister and I, Jordan and Wolf

Grandma Lee

Julien and Cherie





It's a Peanut life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friends





Parties, horses, friends and family....................and foreign exchange student from Brazil!

Classmates and family friends ride Janimal

More family, friends, loved ones, and horse fun!

I was going over some pictures of the past couple of months and thought I should post some, since they portray a day in the life of ASAP, and Susan and her family! If your name is Curt Armstrong, these pictures should reach you in frigid North Dakota! And for everyone else, enjoy and know that whoever comes to ASAP certainly enjoys the animals and wonderful horses who live here (and great people, too, I might add!!! Tee hee). Cherie, my oldest, has a two year old son as of January 1!! That makes me a.......a........a Nana! That's right - I am a Nana and Craig is "PaPa". It is so cute! We had a birthday party for him last weekend that I will share with you too! Last Saturday we had Pony Club at 11 am (Remmie and LakeHills Texas were the lesson horses), and Will came to ride Chief at 12:30. At 3:00 we were off to Wildcat Mountain for the torchlight sledding/ski get-together that Grandpa Snyder still enjoys at age 89. On Sunday was little Julien's party. So life never slows down here in our little neck of the woods, and I hope you get a kick out of the pictures.

GO PACK! Packer Party at my house Saturday!!!!!!!

The important things this week to remember are:

We have horses in Chicago that need a home, a haul, or a foster family.......looking for volunteers!

We are going through 4 800# square bales of hay every 3-4 days. We really would love and appreciate your donations of hay if you are able?

We are looking for business or corporate sponsorships for upcoming horse expos in Madison, Springfield Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. The first horse fair will be on the last weekend in February! Let us know your ideas for sponsorships help defray the extreme costs of attending these event. Also looking for people to demonstrate in Illinois and Iowa.

Does anyone have a youth saddle with good adjustable stirrups for your shorter-legged pony club girls? Consider a donation, or give me your best price!

Thanks so much for your support!

Hugs,

Susan

Happy 2008!!!!

Wow - it's already January 3. Between working extra hours and all the company we have had it hardly seems possible. Now my outside Christmas lights are still twinkling and I face the stress of the Christmas tree staring at me, waiting to go back down to the basement until November.

I just am not ready!

Thank you to all who sent cards and pictures. I tend to keep the pictures out throughout the year to admire them. It was fun to share my wall full of greeting cards and photos, most of which were western-themed, or variously-colored horsey faces with proud adopters. Thanks also to all of you who sent a donation - it all helps so very much!

It has been below zero the past few days. I have been worried about our two littel pet chickens that we acquired at the Kickapoo Country Fair in August. I have put together a two-story apartment for them made out of dog houses, with roosts. I keep adding hay and shavings to keep them dry and warm. I bought a heated water dish so they have an endless supply of water. They see me come outside in the morning and start calling to me - the hen is so gentle and sweet that I can pick her up and cuddle with her, while the rooster looks on, skeptically.

I hate worrying about how cold everyone is outside each day. Arne was down by the running creek this morning, standing and contemplating a drink. The longer he stood there the more I worried about whether or not he was stuck....so I opened the window and called out to him. He perked up at first, then put his head down and took a big chunk of snow in his mouth. I believe that he must have decided against the path down to where the water was ebbing and flowing - maybe his leg was too sore. Nonetheless, he turned and boogied back to the herd that was huddled up by the barn taking in the first rays of sunshine to thaw the misty ice on their fur.

Precious is down this morning but lately she has been getting turned out with Taser Gun, who she absolutely adores. When I or Craig take her through the gate she literally runs to the water tank, then kicks up her heels to get to Taser. He thinks she is a bit too thin, but interesting. He enjoys being admired. After all, he knows he is "all that". I tried to put him in the day that we got special visitors Andrea and friends. I wanted to give them the opportunity to see him up close and personal in a stall in the barn. WELLL!!!!!! He was most put out with my decision, and spent the time dashing around, kicking stall walls, and pawing by the gate. I guess he is a horse that is happiest being on full turn out now with his buddies Steelin Apples, Bob Cook, Brandy and Strawberry. What a character.

Fellowship Divine, Cole, Shay N Telle and Mc Lock are still down in the lower turnout waiting for homes. Mc Lock is boss of the herd, and yet a bit timid around humans.....Cole is Mr. Mustang, fancy and quick on his feet, and boyfriend to Shay N Telle. Fellowship is my sweetie pie - always looking for someone to give him attention and love on him. It is neat how a 16+ hand horse can be so gentle.

I am busy working in the afternoons but it gives me time to be with the animals during the day.

I will share some pictures of some of my day campers and pony club girls - Remmie is quickly becoming a favorite with the girls. Hope all of you are having a happy and healthy new year!

Semi annual board meeting: Thursday Jan. 31 2008 7:00 pm - place TBA

Susan

Goodsearch Benefits ASAP

Hi,

One more thing.....not sure if I mentioned that if you google often, you may want to try

goodsearch.com

ASAP is registered to receive a donation for each search conducted on this site. Instead of google (I used to use google all the time), why not try goodsearch and help the horses? It would be greatly apprciated!

http://www.goodsearch.com/

Thanks!

Susan

Jesus' Birthday Almost Here!

Special thanks to Jenny A. of J & D Horse Rescue near Arena, WI!!!! She has given Kobe (aka Cobb, aka Koby) the aged Arabian gelding a forever home!! Thanks also to the home that Stilwell's for taking care of him during the past year(s). Kobe is acting like a three year old, neighing in his stall and wanting to join the others on the farm. Hopefully that day will come this week and he will make new friends.

Jetta, the POA, was scheduled to arrive today but plans took a turn when the placing owner found a buyer, so Jetta will, sadly, not be coming to ASAP.

There are still plenty of horses needing homes - Skittles is scheduled to once again make an arrival after health papers are issued. He has had professionial training under saddle but is still very young and is a little too friendly with the adopter's Quarter horse mare, if you know what I mean! LOL. Little Tyrone is coming back after a two year adoption by a family with a young gal who is moving where she will not have horses. Tyrone, according to the adoptive family, was a gentleman who took good care of his young mount. They enjoyed rides together in southwest Wisconsin, but he has had to be separated from his pasture mate, who was purchased by a man elsewhere in Wisconsin, and Tyrone was left behind. It would be nice to find him a home where he can be enjoyed for all he is worth.

An Indiana horse is waiting to come, pending room at ASAP. He is standing in line along with a gelding from Springfield, IL, a gelding named Grand Red Watch in Iowa, and all the horses in foster care. So don't be shy - come and take a peek and help a horse find a home.

Fellowship Divine has captured my heart. He is a tall horse who always wants to do his best. He has a "woe is me" look on his face that just makes you want to stand and hold his head in your lap and stroke him to make him feel better. I think he is happy, as evidenced by the way he kickes up his heels, but the attention he deserves would come better from someone who didn't have to share it with 20+ other horses. I pray for the right person to come along.

And what about Remmie?????? This poor Amish horse was being pulled in three different directions by three different adopters who wanted him, but no one has come to make them their own!? What's up with that? He is still here, big brown eyes peering out for me to exit the house, whinnying for attention (and food of course!!!). WE have to keep him separated here, since Taser has a strong dislike for him (note bite marks on Remmie's sides!) and he is low man in pecking order wherever he goes. We have to carry water to him daily. I just want a Christmas miracle for him.

I had a fantastic and busy weekend with two young men who stayed overnight that LOVE horses! Lucky me! The ten and 12 year old could hardly stand waiting for me to get done with my indoor duties before going out in the COLD to ride Tex and Chief. Well, we only got as far as Tex before my frost-bitten toes and the icy driveway convinced me that taking one horse out ONLY was the best decision, and an indoor arena would keep it short but sweet. It sure is great to see that enthusiasm!

Jesus birthday is almost here. If you haven't seen it yet, the Nativity Story is a touching movie that helps even children further appreciate and understand the meaning of Christmas. I think it also did a commendable job of portraying Joseph as the man I am certain he was, faced with the circumstances. Every year that I am allowed to live I am more and more in awe of all that is arond me. I am also exceedingly thankful. With Taser Gun healthy and happy, and Steelin Apples, and Remmie the Amish horse, and Strawberry and Brandy and all of my own horses who are well into their 20s still thriving........my children and husband healthy, and a wonderful home I hardly have anything to complain about, but often rejoice and thank God out loud for being my Father. It has taken me a lifetime to fully comprehend what a true father is, but He has taught me and continues to show me his unconditional love and mercy as evidenced by all that is around me on a daily basis. Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Foster Famlies Urgently Needed / NEWSLETTER IS OUT!

Hi everyone,

As I write, we are in urgent need for foster care for two horses (I could easily name more!)......so contact me at asapinc@mwt.net if you would like to foster or adopt an aged Arabian gelding who is gray and very very kid safe, or a 6 year old mare who is sound.

The newsletter is now out - let me know if you have moved and did not get a copy. Also if you have the time email me your address if it has changed since adoption so we can update our records.

I heard from one owner today from Chicago who is sooo tickled to hear that his former race horse is thriving in his new home with the Huberts near Madison. He asked for three more copies of newsletters to mail to people he knows, since a picture of the horse he placed with us a few years ago is featured in it. It's great to have positive feedback!

From the USTA newsroom

I was blessed enough to be interviewed by Joshua Potts from the USTA. The article appeared on the usta web site today. Wanted to share it all with you! More later.... Susan
Oh, oops - sorry - it won't upload the article so if you can go on www.ustrotting.com
and click on the newsroom. I am sorry!!!
Susan

Happy Holidays

Hallelujah!!!

I have been trying to get into my blogspot all week. For some reason I have not been able to log on, feeling extremely frustrated. For some reason, today, it worked!

I wanted to share the latest pictures of Remmie the Standardbred we acquired from the Amish, and to let you know the latest goings on. I have finished the end of year newsletter and it is at the printer right now. So....in the next week the first copies should be arriving in your mailbox!

Horse adoptions are fairly slow, and this week another mare showed up at our doorstep so that puts us at five in the lower arena, and five in the two paddocks up above. Arne came back to the farm and is in with our own seven horses. Remmie, the Amish Standardbred, really has no where to go so we rotate him between the upper pasture (which has been shut off to our own horses) and the barn. He was so eager to get out of the barn two days ago that when I opened his stall and turned around to get the lead rope he SHOT past me and trotted, tail in air, down the driveway and up the road. I screamed "CRRRAAAIIIIIGGGG", but it was in vain.....so away I ran down the driveway and to the gate to the pasture. If any of you have ever been here you know our neighbor is not a big fan of horses, and if any hoof even comes CLOSE to his lawn he is out yelling profusely at us. Two teens and Zach spent an entire afternoon filling divets in the lawn after a nice rain last summer. Evidently, someone had left a gate unlatched and horses helped themselves to the lush green grass in our neighbor's yards. So I was in panic mode, knowing the wrath that was upon me if I didn't think of something quick to catch Remmie with. Now, I know better than to run after a horse who is feeling pretty good about having gotten away and is free, so I pulled one of Gawani Pony Boy's strategies and opened up the gate to the pasture really wide and walked into the pasture and bent over as if I were pouring grain out for Remmie. The dogs all ran up to see what I was doing, and Remmie, who was standing quite proudly smack dab middle of the cranky neighbor's lawn, couldn't stand it. I didn't dare look, but stayed bent over as if I was doing something veryyyyy curious, and I heard the hard clippety-clop of his hooves as he trotted about 20 mph towards the pasture gate, through the gate, and up to my "pretend" pile. I scrambled for the gate and chained it swiftly. Remmie put his tail in the air and headed up hill towards the greener part of the pasture and I humbly, gingerly, quietly, hoping to be invisib-ly tippy toed up the road to my driveway, praying "Please don't let him come out and yell, please don't let him come out and yell". Well, I was in luck! He and his wife must not have been looking, or better yet, they must not have been home! Whew.....I have learned that I will have the lead rope ready to clip on before I ever open the gate or stall door again to get Remmie out!!!! By the way, he does need a home very soon. Doesn't anyone want a horse that rides and drives? Please get ahold of me!

The weather has gotten me down a pinch, but not having snow is good. Wouldn't it be nice to not get any white stuff until January? It would make the winter seem so much shorter. I am already dreaming of Yuma, Orlando, or San Diego!!!!

Thanks to so many, our finances have almost recovered. We accepted donations in excess of $10,000 since I last wrote. Thanks so much to those of you who have supported us for 14 years now and continue to believe in our mission. We want to be faithful stewards, and we are learning that we don't know unless we ask!

Will write more before Christmas - hope everyone is well!

Hugs,

Susan

Wednesday's Horse

Here is a wonderful POA that you cannot pass up!
A family contacted ASAP hoping to find a lifetime placement with ASAP.
Jetta is a young POA mare - silver/gray in color. She has been ridden both Western and bareback, and occasionally with a bitless bridle. She is healthy and sound, but must be moved shortly. She is within the 920 area code in Wisconsin. Please get ahold of me quickly at asapinc@mwt.net or 608-689-2296 if you or someone you know is interested!

Also, special thanks to Jackie Tierney of Iowa for all her hard work in fostering Tilly the registered breeding stock Paint. She went way out of her way to help with a hard situation and provided great care for Tilly.
Hats off to you! And thanks to Katy in Wisconsin for providing for her in her new home.

The Amish horse is gaining weight rapidly and I will post pictures tomorrow or the next day. He is energetic and sassy despite all he has been through, and his bottom lip flops when he trots - oh so cute!

New Horses Needing Homes

Hey all.....
Until we get the new web master up and moving, I will post new horses that are needing homes right here. I don't have pictures yet, but as of today I have taken in the following:

12 year old Arabian gelding - in Wisconsin - healthy and well mannered, for personal reaons this horse needs a home. Please contact asapinc@mwt.net or call 608-689-2399

DICTIONARY
This 24 year old COAL BLACK stallion made over $800,000 during his lifetime. He has sired over 10 foals but it is time to find him a permanent home. He is currently near Effingham Illinois. He is easy to handle and is on turnout. Call 608-689-2399 or email me at asapinc@mwt.net

KINGFISH ELMHURST
20 year old Standardbred stallion. Bay, average height and build.
This horse raced until age 9 or 10, and has been a family pet ever since.
He is easy going and gentle - up to date on shots and worming - on turnout and located near Balmoral Park in Crete, Illinois. Elmhurst is sound and healthy and looks more like a 10 year old. Please call 608-689-2296 or email asapinc@mwt.net

ROULETTE
6 year old Standardbred gelding located near Barrington, Illinois. This horse had a hip fracture at some point and the owners feel he cannot be ridden, though he runs and frolics in pasture. If he is not placed he may be euthenized, as the boarding farm is accumulating other horses.
Please call the numbers above or email me! We want to save this wonderful sweet horse who still has years to give to the right person!

Web Site and Other Information

Can you believe it has been this long since I updated the blogs? Remmie is steadily putting on weight - he is the Amish horse pictured in my last blog. He now whinnies each time he sees me and has a bounce in his step that says, "Life is good!". We turn him out each morning by himself in his own big pasture. I am sure he is waiting for taking a trip into town, but it isn't happening! Once the fat covers his bones I will be eager to try him out for riding. His coggins is back and he is coming along better than we expected. Now to find him a good home!!

I think Dondi and I will coordinate the Midwest Horse Fair in 08. Now we need to know who will fill our 8 stalls. If you are interested please make sure to get with me quickly. I believe four stalls are filled already. The theme for next year's horse fair is "Dancing With the Horses". HMMMMMMMM.....the light bulb is on!

We need someone willing to, once again, update our web site, or teach me how to do it. The gal who was doing it has decided to resign for horse-related reasons. Since she was charging ASAP for her services it is money saved, but we are willing to pay someone else to maintain it if totally necessary. So please - this is urgent- think about it and if your heart is in it give me an email at asapinc@mwt.net

The Country Today paper was out to do an article on Taser Gun and ASAP. That should be out next week. And Hoofbeats will do an article on ASAP after the holidays! As far as John Lyons goes, I am thinking of having people collect pledges. Any pledges collected earns one ticket - one pledge sheet per person. What are your thoughts on this as opposed to a straight ticket price? Thanks to Heather F. (adoptive mom of Kokinos and Silent Pursuit) for helping us get the word out about John Lyons coming next July 19.

Gotta run, but hope to hear from you!

Susan