I am sorry to let everyone know that yesterday morning at 12:45 my mother went to be in heaven with my dad, my aunts, and my grandparents.
She had been med-flighted to Salt Lake City CCU/ICU and received top notch medical treatment. She was stabilized and they had reduced two blood pressure medications and turned down the intibater. When I left mom tried to say something but could not. She squeezed my hand. I went back to the motel and received a call after 12:30 am that mom's BP had dropped and before they could attend to her she had slept away. It has been a very difficult time - I thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we travel across country back to Wisconsin to prepare for her funeral and burial. I am truly now an orphan. Will keep everyone updated.
Last night was a very emotional night for me, as Craig traveled 11 hours west from Rapid City SD to pick up my kids and take them home to Wisconsin while I stayed behind at Evanston Wyoming hoping for mom to get better.
Although she appeared stronger in the morning, by lunch time she was struggling to breathe and the hospital staff became alarmed that her condition was deteriorating. It was determined that she should be med flighted from Evanston, Wyoming to Salt Lake City Utah. I cannot tell you the feeling I had to see my mother so anxious in her efforts to breathe, and how afraid she was as they prepared to intibate her. We watched her being taken to the helicopter and watched the med team fly out, and away I had to speed, 72 miles further west instead of east. Thankfully, mom is stabilized in the ICU/CCU unit at University of Utah. I am feeling very much alone, but supported by a family friend who opted to stay back with me and travel to Salt Lake City as a support. Please pray for us - I long to have mom home and be back at the farm enjoying the young people who have so much fun with the horses and the horses and having my family and I reunited!!!!! Will keep you posted.
Hello everyone, After a whirlwind tour of the west, a stay in sunny California and time of reunion with close, lifelong friends in Las Vegas and rides on top of the Stratosphere, my mother became ill along I-80 in Evanston Wyoming and needed hospitalization. I am currently staying in Evanston, and this is the 3rd or 4th day of our extended stay. Please keep my mother in your prayers as she recovers from a UTI, and pneumonia. We hope hope hope to be back on the road tomorrow making our way back to Wisconsin. If I do not respond to emails or phone calls in a timtely fashion, this is why. I thank you so very much for your support! Susan
Hello everyone, The semi annual board meeting for ASAP is historically on July 31 each year. Due to our family vacation, we will have to postpone the meeting until Sunday, August 5 at 7:30 pm. Sorry for the delay. Also, hats off to Duane Ranger of Harness Link for his article about ASAP and our newest addition to the ASAP family - Scarlet Lite!
Anyone travelling the 2000 miles from Grass Valley in California to La Crosse in Wisconsin in the next couple of weeks? If so you could help former harness racing mare Scarlet Lite have the best possible retirement.
Her Californian owner Donna Martin does not want to race the 6-year-old daughter of As Promised again and breeding is no longer an option.
So in stepped Susan Wellman, the founder and director of the American Standardbred Adoption Program.
"Donna contacted me and has been desperate for us to place the horse in a good home. She is adamant the horse gets a happy retirement and that's why she came through us.
"I think she knows we have written contacts with our clients that they have to care for the animal and be accountable for its retirement – or else it is returned to us," Wellman told Harnesslink.
Wellman said Martin had chosen her program, but in order to get a lifetime placement for her she needed between $1300 and $1500 to transport the former pacer from almost one side of the United States to the other.
"Donna is prepared to put up $500, but we have a shortfall. If there's any carriers or people that could donate the difference needed that would be greatly appreciated.
"This horse deserves a happy retirement after all the effort she put in on the racecourse," Wellman said.
"We have many other happy ending stories to tell and we want 'Scarlet' to be another one of them," she added.
Scarlet Lite (1:57.3) raced 65 times between July 2, 2009 and February 18, 2011. She was trained by Robley Johnson and did all of her racing at Cal-Expo.
She won four times and placed on 16 occasions for $14,273.
She was no star but she deserves a quality future.
And that's exactly what the American Standardbred Adoption Program gives all of their placements.
Established in 1993 they currently have 19 horses on their Wisconsin property and since its inception have had more than 1,000 horses on file.
By Duane RANGER (editor)
FACTS ABOUT THE AMERICAN STANDARDBRED ADOPTION PROGRAM:
No one working with ASAP Inc. receives a salary or commission.
All board members and officers are volunteers.
ASAP does not charge any racing owner or other owners for shipping their horses.
ASAP director's husband is a saint! He is the resident "veterinarian" who administers shots and gives special treatment to horses in need. He also is quite handy with building fences and shelters, and hauling horses. He can put on 1,100 miles in a 24 hour period without needing more than a "thank you!"
Veterinarians do not donate any of their time or services to ASAP, despite our pleas.
Farriers do not donate any of their time or services to ASAP, despite our pleas.
Attorneys do not donate any of their time or services to ASAP. ASAP legal fees cost $150 per hour. Irresponsibility on the part of an adopter at times makes legal actionun avoidable to protect the horse.
We do not give monetary refunds for horses - adopters pay a service fee at the time of adoption.
Veterinarian bills run into the thousands each year. Farrier bills vary, but average $100 to $150 for each trip to trim or shoe horses in care.
Horse's average length of stay before being adopted is three weeks for young, sound, well-trained horses, and one year for aged or injured horses.
Foster farms are encouraged to board horses at no cost to ASAP. When board is charged, ASAP's cost is $2 per day per horse. In the past our board bills have averaged $25 perday.
We have in the past received only $1,500 per year from harness racing organizations. The rest of our donations come solely from private parties, most of whom are owners of horses who donate a horse to us and believe in our program.
Mission
American Standardbred Adoption Program, Inc. was founded in 1994 by a small group of dedicated individuals and professionals who saw a need for a placement service for non-racing Standardbreds. This placement service honors and serves the people and horses within the harness racing industry around the country, with special emphasis on Standardbreds in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.The American Standardbred Adoption Program also serves as a rescue facility and sanctuary for abandoned, abused, or neglected horses of all breeds, and is listed by the Humane Society of the United States as a humane equine rescue organization. Horses of all other breeds are accepted into placement by ASAP, Inc.
A great deal of the American Standardbred Adoption Program's efforts center around educating young people about horsemanship and harness racing. Youth programs focus on youth at risk and youth with disabilities, offering ASAP's facilities on an ongoing basis for community service or schooling involving horsemanship and riding or driving.
The American Standardbred Adoption Program seeks only the most qualified homes in the hopes of obtaining permanent placement for each horse in its care. A contract must be signed by potential adopters as a prerequisite to acquiring a horse through our program. An adoption fee is required.
ASAP, Inc. is comprised entirely of volunteers that assist in every aspect of horse adoptions, from picking up a horse at the track or stabling facility at no cost to the donor,to office duties, to participation in exhibits, demonstrations, and rescue efforts nationwide
A Charitable Organization
ASAP is a charity that dedicates every waking moment to helping horses in need. Some horses don't need more than a different career - a dignified retirement - an alternative to racing when they aren't doing what they were bred to do. These horses are sound, younger, healthy, and easy to place. This makes up a majority of the donated horses. They are referred, picked up, boarded, and placed with qualified families within a short time of arriving at ASAP.
Then there are the rescue cases - the horses coming off feedlots - or the horses that come out of emergency situations where their immediate welfare is in grave danger. These horses need special attention and a special, carefully selected feeding plan.They require more intense veterinary treatment, and, usually more emergency veterinary treatment. Our veterinarians do not volunteer their time or their services to ASAP. Since 1994 ASAP has been responsible for payment in full for services rendered for everything from floating teeth to emergency calls for colic or other urgent situations. The veterinarians charge us for every interstate health certificate - every coggins test - and with no apologies. ASAP relies on adoption fees and individual donations to pay the bills.
The horses referred to ASAP are sometimes irreversibly lame. They have incurred hock injuries, stifle injuries, blindness, ankle injuries, EPM, or are sometimes simply aged. These horses are not turned away by ASAP, but are brought back to the farm for rehabilitation if it is possible. If rehabilitation is not possible, these horses become sanctuary horses. These horses live out their years at the ASAP farm and are loved, cared for, and given the best the world has to offer them simply because they are part of the ASAP family. These horses are funded by adoption fees generated by adoptions on healthy horses. They are also supported by sponsorship money and individual donations.
We simply do not receive enough monetary donations. The harness racing industry is indebted to the former racing champions who now find themselves in permanent retirement at ASAP, but to date this debt has not paid in full. Those of you who value our services to the standardbred and all other breeds can help by urging organizations to support the horses in care at ASAP. But you can make adifference yourself, today, right now, by saying the safety and well-being of these horses matters.
Volunteer Staff
Susan Wellman, Director
Susan Wellman graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Special Education, and is licensed to teach Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Susan's passion involves combining her love for children with her love for the horses. During the past 17 years Susan has been a licensed treatment foster care home for children ages 6-17 who are diagnosed with everything from cognitive disabilities to Attention Deficit Disorder, to Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, Conduct Disorder, and Oppositiona lDefiant Disorder. She has been foster mother to more than 37 children since1987.
Susan has taught Special Education in the local public school district at the elementary and middle school level. Her expertise is in the area of autism, but she loves all children with all levels of ability and designs individualized programs and lessons for the children using her beloved Standardbred horses. There are also other breeds of horses used in day camp programs and lessons, but Susan remains steadfast in her commitment to the Standardbred breed. She feels that their temperament is best-suited to children who have special needs. Susan is available for questions and consultation at asapinc@mwt.net
Carmen Burth, Placement Coordinator
Carmen is the silent workhorse in North Branch who selflessly screens hundreds of applications a year and also does not receive nearly as much thanks as she should! She never complains and is always willing to go the extra mile to make sure these horses get a good home.
(1) American Standardbred Adoption Program demonstrates the Standardbred breed at the Midwest Horse Fairin Madison, WI, on April 16, 2010
(2) American Standardbred Adoption Program - 2010 Demonstration at Illinois Horse Fair:
(3) Scarlet Lite's last victory at Cal Expo in the 10th race on November 13, 2010:
Shimmering Joseph came to bless our little STB group in Newton Valley on Sunday. He joins 26 year old Lakehills Texas, Bob Cook, ARNE, and Market Analysis. All seem to be getting along well, although Bob Cook and ARNE still rule the roost! I did not even notice a limp on the big boy tonite when I went out to feed!!!! Scarlet Lite still needs a ride to WI from CA. Working, working on ideas and would love suggestions. Cash Wilco aka Randy, my 30 year old STB gelding, was down off and on during the day yesterday in this 105 degree heat. Despite my hosing him down and walking him, I couldn't figure out if it was colic or ???? I administered meds for colic, and watched. His breathing was quite labored, so I continued to hose him down to cool him. Then I spied a big, two inch, black, blood-sucking fly on his back! The light bulb went on that told me that he may have been lying down in an effort to scrape off the fly from his back. And the next. And the next. Still........something was "off". I had to race off to work this morning and wanted to close my eyes before I entered the barn to see if he was better or worse. I squinted...and YAY GOD! He was okay! Up and around, and had eaten all of his hay. He is now back on turnout with his alpaca friend and llama and all is well. Just got off the phone with Duane Ranger of Harnesslink. Wow, talking with someone halfway around the world about Standardbreds - what a privilege. Duane is in New Zealand, and it is about 4:30 in the afternoon TOMORROW there. Try to wrap that around my brain....anyway, he remembers Pistol Pete N so well and wants to do a story on him. He remembers when Pistol Pete would try to get his attention after a race when he was in his stall and Duane would have to apologize that he wasn't taking HIS picture because he didn't win that night. Pistol Pete N would get so ornery that he was ignored! I told him that Pistol Pete N is in the most wonderful home in the world and is still doing some competitive endurance driving. He also looks great in a tux. I am sending Duane pics of Pistol Pete N and Ray taken at Midwest Horse Fair when he was in costume and doing tricks. Duane may just want to do a story! For now, Duane is gathering information about Scarlet Lite in an effort to get her transport funded from California to ASAP in Wisconsin. Thank you Duane! That isn't quite half of what my day looked like, but you have an idea. And thanks to Lori, Lou, Lori's mom and husband, and Mary Ellen, our Ford 8N tractor has arrived with all the attachments. Pictures to follow! So much gratitude! By the way, keep this horse in your thoughts and prayers - Khadcam still seeking a good home! Sue
I know I know.......so much to do and so little time. After cramming some office time today, I heard my daughter urging me to "get going" to take her to her softball game. Oh no......I still had outside chores to do, and I wasn't dressed decently.........so off I sped to drop her off early to come home and finish up at home. I pulled in the driveway and turned on the hose to fill tanks, fed all of the horses, threw out hay, fed the rabbits, watered rabbits, fed dogs, let dogs out that needed to go out before we left, and threw some makeup and different clothes on. My son was outside. I asked him to go back in and get the bag of dry cat food and feed outside cats. As he did, I finished up and we put one of the dogs in the garage. I remembered to turn off the hose. What I FORGOT was that I had put a pot of water on the stove to boil. I figured the noodles could cool while we were gone, and all I had to do was mix a can of cat food in with it when I got home to feed as outside treats for the outside cats. So boiling the water now would save me time later, especially if it was going to be dark when I got home. Off we sped to the game, to meet family and friends at Cottonwood Park. I put home out of my mind for awhile. After the game we headed to the Bright Spot with everyone to eat dinner. I don't know what words that were shared over dinner conversation that jolted my memory, but I sprung up from the table in a panic, stating that I think I had forgotten to turn the stove off before we left. I raced to my car and picked up my cell phone, calling my precious friend and neighbor, Michelle. She could hear the words I was saying, but I felt like I was barely getting the words out without choking with fear. She said she would go right over and check and see if our pan was still on the stove. The moments that followed seemed endless. I could barely lift the fork to my mouth, and certainly don't even remember what everyone was talking about. Then the phone rang from my home phone number, and I plucked the cell phone up and touched the green button. Michelle told me the pan had been on the stove and smoke filled our home. She turned off the stove and pried the pan from the ceramic top. It had burned the enamel off our pan after the water had boiled out of it. She threw open the windows in our house and I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her with all of my heart. We got home and put fans in our windows to draw out the smoke. Even rooms that had the door shut while we were gone were full of the thick, dark stuff. Luckily, the dogs inside were okay. I don't know how it will affect our fish in our aquarium or our birds that were in the sun room. All I can say is that we have a guardian angel, and I thank God above for helping me remember. I especially want to thank Michelle and Richie, my friends and next door neighbors, who always seem to be there when we need them. I am forever indebted to them for saving our home and our pets. Even if I had to drive from where we were to our home, it may have been too late. Thank you God for watching over us! Slow down, don't try to do too much, DELEGATE.................I have to try to do those three things! I will go to bed tonite and appreciate my life and the lives of my family and pets more than ever before!
I am working with a woman named Helen to assist in saving four STB's on a kill lot out east. If any of you know these horses and want to help, please contact ASAP. We have offered to take these horses on if bail can be raised for them, as well as transport after quarantine! Here are the horses: 1) Pine Hill Willie - he just arrived, i will try to call connections to see if they can help. 7-9-2-260- Pine Hill Willie Standardbred gelding liver chestnut foaled 1994 approx 15.3 handsVideo: Instructions: http://ac4h.com/BOABC.htm Chipin: $585.00 A 2)First Kin foaled in 1997, won 83K, Canadian racer. He came in last week, needs home offer and bail, so far connections were not responsive, but i will keep trying. 7-2-7-86- Standardbred gelding freeze brand SB379 matches horse named First Kin foaled 1997 approx 16 hands recommendation at sale was that he couldn't hold up for long trips anymore.Video: http://ac4h.com/BOABC.htm Chipin: $585.00 3) Amish homebred Standardbred gelding, no tattoo or freezebrand, super-cute, 11 years old - has been with no home offer since 6-27, as his number indicates. Needs home offer and bail to fundraise. 6-27-3-861-Standardbred gelding (homebred no tattoo or freezebrand) approx 15 hands and 11 years old reportedly Amish road horse Chipin: http://ac4h.chipin.com/6-27-3-861-standardbred-gelding-homebred-no-tattoo-or-... Instructions: http://ac4h.com/BOABC.htm Video: $575.00 A 4) Ethel's Boy (or we think so) foaled in 1993 pacing horse - takes rider. He is sponsored, i.e. his bail is paid, and he needs a home to go, can't get one for the 3rd week! 6-11-7-377-Standardbred gelding bay shoes on the front pacer tattoo looks like MO008 rides and drives very quiet and gentle has a ground covering pace and a nice slow walk too.Instructions: http://ac4h.com/BOABC.htm Video:
Hope everyone had a great 4th of July! We had a big bang of an evening here at the farm (after locking dogs up and keeping horses well away). Three of my four children were here for homemade venison brats created by my hubby, and beverages and good company while the big boomers were shot off by my kids and husband later in the evening. We had to call the sheriff first to be sure that no burning ban or fireworks ban was on, and the sheriff gave us the "all clear but be cautious". It was literally a blast. Then, my daughter had a shock when she went out to feed her guinea pigs their treats. Henry (aka Blackie) had been a bit sluggish yesterday, I noticed. I put my hand on him before the fireworks and he jumped and looked up at me, so I assumed he was just hot. After the fireworks......he was gone. Rachel has taken really great care of her "pigs" since she was 6 years old. She is now 13. She took this pretty hard. We will bury him today, and it is hard to know how to tell someone you love that even though it is the loss of a family member, they had excellent care and lived a very very long life. Great job, Rachel, for taking such good care of your pets. Blackie thanks you, too! I am enclosing a picture of baby blue jay taken by Jordan our ASAP intern while he was here. Last report by the wildlife rehabber was that he didn't care for oatmeal any more, likes watermelon, thinking about the raspberries! The main reason I started this blog was to say that Marge Brutscher of Gays Mills and Rhonda Adamski of Prairie du Chien deserve a HUGE thank you for the hard work and care they have provided for Kung Fu Guru, Fox Valley Deon, and Shimmering Joseph this past year or more. While Kung Fu and Deon had homes at Village Creek Bible Camp, they were very unwilling to get into the trailer to go to their new home. We are all at a loss now but may have to hire cowboy Tony to go over and get them if all else fails. Rhonda sent me the greatest text this morning that said that even though her horses are due for a trim, Shimmering Joseph is NO LONGER LIMPING!!!! It's like a miracle, and to think that the guy who boarded Joseph was going to take him to kill just several months ago because he "has an old broke coffin bone". I investigated this and got xrays from the owner. The vet examined them, and there was no such thing to be found. In fact, there was nothing significant on xray! So Rhonda started looking for a good farrier down her way and got this guy who is literally performing miracles with Joseph. During the first or second trim they discovered a pin sized hole through the frog. They weren't sure this was causing the problem, but he has only continued to get better with each trim. Thanks to our wonderful foster families Joseph will NOT end up in a kill pen. Rhonda has put probably over 200 pounds on Joseph in the process, and I would love to post pics of him here but cannot transfer pics from my cell phone to my pc or lap top. SOOOO, if Rhonda sends me some pics I will post them. So ASAP continues its work to help horses. We couldn't do it without our wonderful foster families (Marie, Lori, Jackie, Trudy, and more!!!). The tractor is paid for thanks to several generous donors.......and especially three of you (Lou, Mary Ellen, Lori!!!!!!!!!!!).......and we are having trouble getting it hauled here from Nodine MN. As soon as we are able to get this done I will be sure to take pics of the old girl (an 8N or possibly 9N).......with attachments. So excited!!!!!!!!!! Like I said, never underestimate the power of a woman, or two, or three, or four! Stay cool if you can - me and the alpaca and llama will be basking in the sprinkler again today while I keep an eye out for any animals in need of water or shade. Hugs, Sue
What if you could take all of your passions and dreams and actually have the time to live them? Thanks to the book "Quitters" by John Acuff (he works for Dave Ramsay) and a one week vacation last year, I made the decision to change my life, and would not have it any other way. I highly recommend reading it - here's a few words from the book: "Have you ever felt caught between the tension of a day job and a dream job? That gap between what you have to do and what you'd love to do? I have. At first I thought I was the only one who felt that way, but then I started to talk to people and realized that we are becoming the "I'm, but" generation. When we talk about what we do for a living we inevitably say, 'I'm a teacher, but I'd love to be an artist.', or 'I'm a CPA, but I'd love to start my own business.' All too often we hear that dreaming big means you quit your day job, sell everything you own, and move to Guam. But what if there were a different way? What if you could blow up your dream without blowing up your life? What if you could go for broke without going broke? What if you could start today? What if you already have everything you need to begin?" This book inspired me to begin a new career path, and I will never look back because of it. I have been tempted, momentarily, to seek refuge in the security of a teaching job, something familiar, but a job that ultimately leaves me without freedom to choose my own schedule in my everyday life. While there is a season for all things in our lives, there may come a time when you feel the same way - that life is so finite and there is so much living to be done and so little time. If this is you, get the book. It's awesome! Happy Independence Day, everyone! It will be 102 degrees today, so we will be fanning and hosing down the horses!
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