BOARD MEETING

Our semi-annual board meeting will take place Friday, July 30 at 7:00 pm.
Dinner to follow at Great River Roadhouse - De Soto, WI
RSVP at asapinc@mwt.net
608-689-2399 or just come and join the fun!

Also, anyone thinking of coming to the October fund raiser?

GRATITUDE

I just want to say "thank you" to Marie K. from Blanchardville. She gave me an update on the horses she has faithfully cared for for up to three years. Comet, the Appaloosa/STB cross, has been with her for quite a long time now, with no one coming forward to adopt him. He is still available, but Marie wanted me to know he is more or less a part of the family after all this time....so he can stay, but here are some issues that we need help with right now:

Fox Valley Terror - came to us from Walker Standardbreds as a yearling. He was huge then, and he is HUGE now. He had wobbles as a yearling, and the Walkers knew he would not make a race horse. He was adopted almost immediately by a family who raised him and trained him to ride. He was with this family for about seven years, and they trail rode him. A family breakup forced the return of Terror to our program, and he has not been able to find a home since that time. I think we are going on two summers, now, that he bounced two places before finding a foster home with Marie. Marie would love to receive some sponsorship money for caring for Terror. If those funds are not made available Terror, like most all horses, will return to ASAP. It would be nice to see the racing industry or the farm where he was bred and born support him, but if they will not, who can?

Thunder is a 13 year old Saddlebred who was basically a rescue from euthenization. He was infested with lice and worms, but was treated and Marie took him to recover fully. He has not had any luck getting adopted despite the fact that he is supposedly trained to ride. We are going to hire a trainer to assess his riding ability, and hope for that special home. Refer to our adoption page for pictures.

Bless her little heart, Sugar the registered Quarter horse is now 2 1/2 years old! I know, I know, we need to get some updated pictures of her for the site. She is ready for adoption and ready for training. Anyone interested should please contact me, as I am sure she will be returned to the farm shortly if no home can be located.

What can I say about Carmen? Carmen is my administrative assistant. She maintains the web site fore free and helps me return phone calls. She screens all applications that come her way. She has been helping me for about ten years now without thought of compensation, or even a pat on the back. Carmen, I am now giving you a public pat on the back! Anyone who has any suggestions or compliments for Carmen can reach her directly at realdog1@yahoo.com
Carmen, ASAP would not be able to function without you!!!!

Lastly, thanks again to Comfortex Mattress Co. and/or Andrea T. for their recent donation. Without their financial support, we would be unable to afford to help Marie with the horses at her farm, or trim horses and provide basic care. Racing industry, WHERE ARE YOU? I have heard that the Illinois racing industry is hurting financially, and that is an understatement. While we feel badly about that, we also know that there are over 1,000 horses in the ASAP program, and until this year we were receiving help from the industry. Without continued support, will we suffer a similar fate to many rescues? We are praying we don't.

More pictures soon - Taser Gun and I enjoyed a full day of riding with Craig and his horse at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Taser endured the biting flies deep in the woods very well, and was a dream to ride!

Later,
Sue

PS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS - STANDARDBRED FUND RAISER SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 16 AND SUNDAY OCTOBER 17. ROMANCE WISCONSIN IS THE SITE FOR OUR FALL FUND RAISER.
CAMP SITES AVAILABLE - BRING YOUR HORSE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS - DRIVE TO NEARBY DUCK EGG COUNTY PARK FOR A TRAIL RIDE, OR ENJOY JUST HANGING OUT AT ROMANCE WITH EVERYONE AND SHARE YOUR STANDARDBRED STORIES OR ADOPTION STORIES

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: KARAOKE BY KELLY WILDE 1 PM - 6 PM
JOE CODY BAND - 8 PM - MIDNIGHT
FOOD, BEVERAGES, SILENT AUCTION, FUN!!!

MOTEL LODGING NEAR BY IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO BRING A HORSE. TRAIL RIDE WILL BE ON SUNDAY.

2010 COGGINS REQUIRED - INTERSTATE HEALTH CERTIFICATE IF CROSSING STATE LINES. DOES ANYONE WANT TO DO A LITTLE STANDARDBRED HORSE SHOW INSTEAD OF A TRAIL RIDE? I WANT AND VALUE YOUR OPINIONS - SHOOT ME ANY IDEAS.....ROMANCE STORE AND CAMPGROUND - IT'S THE PLACE TO BE ON OCTOBER 16 AND 17!!!!

Sue

Pictures of Trip

Zach's FOOT!!!!!

Salt Flats Utah

Charlotte

Tonopah llama

Charlotte!

Las Vegas

Circus Circus Adventuredome

Yosemite

Wikiup Arizona

Large cactus in Wikieup

Dog riding in back of pickup

in Arizona - had to pet!

Between Phoenix and Vegas

Rest stop

Lake Mono, CA

Thank goodness that my daughter, Rachel, brought her digital camera along on the trip. Although she didn't take any pictures at the Boardwalk or at the ocean, we at least have some pictures of our journey across Arizona and Nevada and Yosemite that I will post to share.

At Tonopah, Nevada (an old silver mining town in the middle of absolutely NOWHERE), we dropped our horse trailer before crossing the border. There, we discovered quite a few llamas and a sweet little pig we named Charlotte in outdoor stalls at the rodeo grounds. We fell in love with the pig and one llama, and are aware that they are 4-H project animals. I am secretly praying that someone isn't raising Charlotte for meat..........so maybe a little postcard offering to buy her would be a fun thing to do? Crazy thoughts, I have, I know.

I just want to say for the record that all of those commercials we see on television about California cows being happy cows (visions of cows out on lush pasture, sunshine) is a total farce.

California dairy cows probably never see the outside world - we passed huge building after huge building with dairy cows standing stacked on top of each other. There were beef cows out, but no sign of a dairy cow. Worse than this is the memory I have of passing through Kansas. Along I-80, as far a stretch as the eye could see, were feedlots upon feedlots upon feedlots crammed with beefers enjoying their last few weeks of life, unknowingly. The scene was gruesome, with filthy cows standing on concrete or in lots with manure up to their ankles. I have been very seriously committed to my efforts to become vegetarian, and seeing things like this give me the strength to continue eating healthy, and not supporting the ranchers who treat animal life in this manner. My oldest daughter is trying to go totally vegan, but I just can't give up dairy or seafood right now. I do try to only drink soy milk or organic milk, where baby calves are not separated from their mothers the day they are born. Believe it or not, according to a woman who runs an organic dairy farm, their milk production is only 15%-20% lower than commercial dairies by leaving the babies with their mothers for the first few months. How kind and sensible is that or anyone who even remotely cares about an animal's feelings? Okay, enough of me.....

Arizona was really interesting, and the drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas is one everyone should try some time. The people were friendly and hospitable too.

This is what our itinerary looked like:

Day 1 (6/18) - Leave La Crosse 4 pm

Day 2 (6/19) - Arrive in Phoenix after 28 hours of driving straight through - 8 pm

Sleep overnight at Comfort Inn, Phoenix

Day 3 (6/20) - Drove from Phoenix to Las Vegas - about five hours , and stopping along the way

Stayed at Circus Circus, let kids go to Adventuredome - we did a few penny slots

Day 4 (6/21) - Drove to Tonopah, Nevada - a small mining town in the middle of nowhere USA

Stayed at Ramada Inn - no pool open as it was not warm enough this summer -

I played "Reel Em In" nickel slots with $1.00 and won $33.00!!!!!!!!! Yipppeeee

Saw many BLM mustangs and burros both before Tonopah and after!

Day 5 (6/22) - Drove through Yosemite, then on to Gilroy California. Stayed at Best Western

Gilroy - a beautiful motel with pool and free breakfast at a great rate of $89 a

night. Gilroy, close to my home neighborhood, is the "Garlic Capital of the

World"! The smell of garlic was everywhere in the air, as it is harvest time now.

Day 6 (6/23) - Visited a winery - did wine tasting, went to the Garlic Shoppe and bought

fresh roasted pistachios, garlic steak sauce, garlic salsa, garlic tortilla chips, and

even tried the garlic ice cream! We reeeeeeeked all day! Saw my friend Lisa's

mother up on Graystone Lane and Lisa's brother Cliff. Had iced coffee out on the

patio in the glorious sunshine. Kids got to pick lemons off the lemon trees, and

kumquats, and we brought home some iris bulbs for mom!

Day 7 (6/24) - Took kids to Santa Cruz Boardwalk for the day. Played in the ocean. Went to

Jack in the Box and then on to Moss Landing to watch sea lions and otters and

eat a glorious meal on the ocean (oysters on the half shell, shrimp, clam chowder

in a bread bowl).........left my camera on the table at Sea Harvest, where it was

taken by ??????? (sob). Met with my best friend Perri and her mom and dad

Shirley and Al and Perri's brother Mark. Hugged and hugged, talked and shared

Day 8 (6/25) - Left to come home. Drove back through Yosemite, to Tonopah to pick up trailer,

kiss llamas and pig "so long". Drove and drove til Ely Nevada. Saw lots of mus-

tangs again. Went to downtown Nevada casino - no luck on penny slots - stayed

at Ramada which had a very neat pool and hot tub and great breakfast.

Day 9 (6/26) - Drove to Sidney Nebraska. All motels full - we ended up in a rinky dink place

that wasn't very clean but the guy was nice to put us in his last room. BTW did I

tell you that we saw a dead MOOSE on I-80 going through Salt Lake City? Wow

Day 10 (6/27) - Whew - we made it home at about 8:30 pm - after putting 5,000 miles on our

poor tired old truck!

I worked all last week which seems like a blur now. Mom came June 30. She has not been well - just got out of emergency with her tonite - on to neurologist's and work tomorrow morning.

Three horses arrived this weekend: Cobra, Race for Home, and Bart's A Bad Boy

I love Cobra, but he's got a bit of recovering to do - he will be a very flashy trotter.

Bart is still one of my favorites!!!! He is so calm and sweet...........and needs a home!!!!!!

My chicken died - long story and one I don't emotionally think I can tell for awhile.....and our rabbit populations is dwindling as we put an ad in the paper (thankfully)............

All else is well! Enjoy the pics!

Iowa Mare

ANYONE ABLE TO HELP FOSTER OR ANYONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A BEAUTIFUL, TALL, SOUND STANDARDBRED MARE BY THE NAME OF LOOK DELLA, PLEASE CALL ME BEFORE MONDAY AT 608-792-5126

DELLA IS APPROXIMATELY 15'3 HANDS TALL.
SHE IS TRAINED TO SADDLE AND HAS RIDDEN TRAILS.
NEEDS INTERMEDIATE RIDER - LOTS OF ENERGY BUT VERY COMPLIANT WITH RIDER REQUESTS

SUE

Just Back

Hello friends....
this weary traveler has just returned from Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Jose, Gilroy, Santa Cruz, Moss Landing, and all point in between. Our family put on 5,000 miles in the past nine days.
I have lots of tales to share about our adventures, and HAD tons of pictures. Unfortunately, my digital camera was taken off a restaurant table at Moss Landing in California the last night of our stay. I spent the entire drive from there through Yosemite National Park crying, having lost all of my memories from that trip.

Fortunately, my daughter took a few pictures with her digital camera that I am hoping will turn out so I can share them all with you.

Good friends and good times and, most of all, we all arrived back safe and sound.

I will write more later!

URGENT NEED: Shipping from Sparta WI to the ASAP farm for three Standardbreds.
Call me on my cell if you can help 608-792-5126

Susan

Life's Journey

Life changes constantly, and our ability to change with it and adjust to the ebb and flow of life is crucial to our emotional well being. During the past week I have had a lot of ups and downs, but nothing life-threatening.

Rachel dug her heels in about going to 4-H camp in Galesville last weekend. She has been all about softball and being with her friends, but horse camp was met with flat-out refusal. After a long day at work I came home to the pressure last Thursday of loading up two horses and their supplies and equipment and getting them up to Galesville. While we did that (Alyssa and Jess and Judy and I), Rachel was off playing ball.

On Friday Rachel did not want to go to horse camp but went anyway with Alyssa (our college intern) while I went to work. I can honestly say that went pretty well. My son Zach had a ball game in Coon Valley (hideous name for a town) and we were joined by my oldest son Jordan and his girlfriend, Rachel, who came home from Florida for a week. My oldest daughter, Cherie, also came to the game with Julien. Later, my sister Heidi and her family and my mother also joined us at the ball park. Looking back, I don't think I have felt so complete and content in a very long time. We all were there watching Zach pitch and play, shouting our support, and just enjoying being together. After the game we all went out to eat at the Hideaway in Chaseburg - a big, long table awaited us. I sat across from my grown son Jordan and next to my mother and daughter, surrounded by love. I have captured the time in my heart, soul, and memory, but did not take pictures. I hope my sister, who always carries a camera, remembered to get some!

Saturday I convinced my daughter to go back to the horse camp. We attended a veterinarian's clinic and made some beads for the horses to wear. When it came time to saddle up and join a group, the heels once again dug in. I do not claim to know my kids well enough to understand all of their emotions and reasons behind them, but I do know that if I push my kids too hard they will come to resent the very things I long for them to love. I didn't fight it. We just rode alone and spent time together, then put the horses away and had a girl's day out shopping. Saturday night Jordan went out with friends. Cherie made plans to move some of her things to Phoenix where she is hoping to teach. Changes again.........

Sunday we needed to go up to Galesville again to pick up the horses and load up our things. Thanks to Judy and Jess for cleaning up the stalls and some of our tack. Back home, horses happy, house is full of children now grown and their girlfriends and friends, some new friends and my kids' friends. Full house, full heart.........but messy house too! A pipe broke in our basement which flooded the bedroom which forced three people upstairs for showers and bathroom use. Towels on floor, piled high, dirty clothes sprawled, but still a very warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Unfortunately, Monday came. More ballgames, and everyone spread in all directions. Horses are part of our everyday life - who do we ride, who do we work with, who needs extra feed, which horses in the herd aren't a good fit, and the routine feels good. Mix all of this with my work and the ballgames finding us split between two communities that are fifty miles apart, and you get the picture.

After waiting for my son to come home to go trail riding at Duck Egg, we gave up the wait after 6 pm Wednesday. I was sorely disappointed, but friends and the attraction of hanging with them were probably a lot more exhilerating than a trail ride with old mom. Still, Jordan suggested it.

That's okay - Alyssa and I saddled Magnus, Taser Gun and Fargo. I rode Magnus for a time, until people pulled into the driveway for rabbits......then saddled Taser and Fargo and took a well-deserved trail ride and road ride which Taser enjoyed more than we did! He is in my heart forever - it feels so great to have a horse who seeks me out and wants to come out to be with me. After three years, the magic and the bonding has happened! Another great change.

Thursday work, then race home to play with horses, fix fences, clean out water tanks, watch Sid the llama get sheared and feet trimmed, deworm the llama, and contemplate how much else we could fit in our day before the storm rolled in or the sun went down.........now I sit at 10:00 at night eating vegetarian pizza and trying to suppress the sadness I feel because my oldest son, three hours ago, said "so long" to head back to Florida. As we speak, the horse trailer is loaded with furniture and belongings that my daughter and two of her friends will have us drive to Phoenix tomorrow. Something in me wishes I was dreaming and that she was not leaving me, too. To top it all off, my two youngest kids don't want to go on this vacation.......because they will miss ballgames! AAAAAAUUUUGHHHHHH. We will laugh about it someday (?).

I'll post some pictures from Cherie's college graduation party and a picture of Alyssa on Taser for the first time yesterday, among others. Pray for our trip - we have people here holding the fort down but it is never the same and I am never totally at peace. Still, we have to go! My kids still need me............if you need me in the next week call my cell at 608-792-5126.

Wish us a safe journey on this very bittersweet chapter of life.

Susan

Updates

We want to sincerely welcome Alyssa W. to the ASAP farm and Wellman family! Alyssa is a student who will be attending Kirkwood College in Iowa in the fall, and wants to intern at a horse farm or with a rescue or adoption group. Alyssa brings experience in horsemanship and training, and we look forward to a full summer with lots of adventure. Alyssa will assist with day camps, lessons, refining saddle training on ASAP horses, and more. Her week is busy already, working with Cricket, Timesareachanging, and Taser Gun to name a few. This weekend she will travel with us to 4-H horse camp in Trempealeau, WI. She will assist three gals from our area and their horses! We are happy to have her on board with ASAP.

Earlier in the year ASAP served as a place for Globe University students to come to complete clinicals in certain areas related to veterinary technology. We are pleased that the community and beyond finds ASAP as a welcoming place to learn and grow.

We'll be giving shots this week thanks to the donation from Lori H. W. of Iowa. Lori, you are a saint to make this possible!

Thanks to Ms. Dudkowski for her recent donation of $500! What a gift! And to think that we will also receive a matching grant from her place of employment. We are excited to meet her later this year when she and her boyfriend come to spend a few days with the horses.

We had another blessing when I responded to a bulletin board ad on the internet offering to pick up unwanted items and even junk that people don't want. Art and his wife Robin came down last Monday and looked through our donations of horse tack and supplies and took home a huge tote full of new bits and spurs - and all of our old worn out saddle blankets - and left us a check for almost $200! Sometimes things just go so well for ASAP - we count it all blessing.

To top it all off, when we were so grateful, yet another GREAT thing has happened! A group from Wisconsin who have been watching ASAP's activities and even paid a surprise visit to the ASAP farm unannounced when we were not home, sent us a large donation today. It arrived in the mail and Craig asked me if I was sitting down - with this gifting we are able to care for larger numbers of horses who may come to the farm - we can vaccinate, trim hooves, and purchase adequate GOOD hay for the horses for an extended period! Thank you Jan! Thank you Lisa!
This is amazing, unexpected, but very much appreciated. We want you to come back and meet us and spend time with the horses!

So our summer begins. There must have been 15 people in our yard both Saturday and Sunday. Most of the ASAP horses are being ridden on a regular basis by people who happen by the farm. No one is paying to ride - and we have not, thus far, charged to ride. HOWEVER, with the numbers growing, we feel we need to ask for donations from families who come to ride on a regular basis. Remmie, Chief, Honey Fitz, Lakehills Texas, King's Royal Fella are all getting regular workouts. Many beginner riders are riding well-seasoned and well-trained horses, but this could also be a real problem if allowed to continue regularly. We'll let you know how our revision of riding policies pans out shortly.

Sponsorships available:
Brandy - has side bone and requires wedge shoes on her fronts to keep her from rocking back on her heels

Arne- old racing injury resulted in rear hock whose scar tissue is the size of a baseball or larger. He is growing progressively weaker on his good leg that is compensating for the big hock. He also is developing a roached back. We would love to get him more comfortable with massage therapy and/or orthopedic supports. Need $$$ to do this.

Bob Cook - old racing injury on front results in a limp on the affected leg. His good foot is taking much more weight than the injured foot - resulting in a hoof which is noticeably larger and more panned out than the other. Bob needs regular hoof care to keep him walking on all four legs.

Strawberry - her hips are sore from having been bred back-to-back for several years before coming to ASAP. She needs supplements to keep her joints as healthy as possible.

Stylish Sharon - needs sponsorship to maintain a good weight during fall and winter months. Although she is looking good now, she will require supplements and extra feed when she no longer has longer supple grass to eat.

Steelin Apples - needs sponsorship for diagnostics to determine where his lameness is coming from. We know he has nerve damage in his front legs as side affect from injections done while racing, but his rear legs have some abnormal things going on that we are not able to determine without going to an advanced equine vet clinic. We have been wishing for $$$ for Apples for over two years to help pay for xrays, tests, but thus far no funds have come in.

I will write more very soon with pictures from this past weekend!
Sue

Thanks to Ursula C. for the donation of a 20+ acre pasture for Bob, Arne, Strawberry, Steelin Apples, Little John, and Stylish Sharon this summer. They think they died and went to heaven!

Sunshine

What an unbelievable effect sunshine has on a person's soul! I was out in it yesterday, for my daughter's fifth grade field trip to fish on the Mississippi River, then outside at home to play with the horses.

Our day was made perfect by a package that came in the mail - donated by Lori H....(W.)...

20 doses of vaccine!!!!!!!! Worth over $400!!!! Lori, what can I say? A public thank you is not even enough - someday we will repay you for your kindness!!! Thank God for such a great supporter and lover of T-Bone, or her adopted horse whose race name was Taken by Surprise. Lori is also an admirer of Arne and Bob Cook (who wouldn't be?)...and my hope is that someday she will be able to take them home. Thanks again, Lori.

Chevie Silverado is on the road to his new home in Illinois right now as we speak - going to Dr. Anna R. who is also a Illinois Department of Agriculture vet. I hope so much that Chevie and her have many years together. Chevie is a very special horse who deserves a very special person. Thanks to Craig for taking an entire day out of his life to transport.

Hoping for more sunshine today, then off to ride on an overnight camping trip tomorrow! Soooo excited.

Please send some adopters for our emergency horses DT, Goodnight Starship, Race for Home and Bart's A Bad Boy!!!! Race and Bart have a home if we can get vet work done to get them from Wisconsin to Iowa and transport for them as well. DT will come back here......he is so well trained to ride and so beautiful in body and spirit - this horse has my heart TOTALLY. Then again, which Standardbred doesn't?

Also don't forget Sadie and Holly!

More as I know it - enjoy the long-awaited warmth and sun!

Sue

Bills

Today's bill came to over $100.

This was to trim DT, Bart's A Bad Boy, Race for Home, Timesareachanging, Taser Gun, and Honey Fitz.

No sponsorship dollars to support even one of these six horses.

Feed bill: $140 - last Wednesday

Hay bill: $140 - last Saturday (I wrote a personal check)

Agenda:

Haul Chevie Silverado to new home in Illinois Saturday

Upcoming Needs:

DT, Bart's A Bad Boy, and Race for Home need homes

Sadie and Holly in urgent need

Look Della - coming from Iowa to ASAP in the next month if there is room

Referrals:

3 year old filly - Balmoral Park - blind in one eye but sound

18 year old black Standardbred gelding - broke to ride

18 year old Standardbred gelding - Florida - needs placement

That's it for this week - thought we would keep you updated on expenses, etc.

Sue

Wonders Never Cease

This horse had an adopter who neglected to pay board for a period of time. Luckily the horse is now in new and better hands with a new adopter. Who is to blame? I can't say all the blame should lie on the adopter, although people who bring this on a horse should be prosecuted! I know ASAP boards horses, and even if a boarder is behind, the horse NEVER goes without.