Where Did the Time Go?

How can there only be one week left in July? I'm losing days left and right! Unfortunately, August is nearing (as it does every July). And as in the past, I'm starting to see the trend. August is the month that people start to find new homes for their horses. I always thought it would be closer to October or November when people would start getting rid of horses but it's August. I guess kids are going back to school, free time during the summer is done, people are finally realizing that winter is just around the corner (didn't I just mention that at the beginning of summer that we needed to work on stuff before winter hit and no we STILL haven't worked on any of those projects!)

I wish we could take in at least one horse but at this point, I'm still trying to get life back in order. The horses are finally coming out of having to pay the price for bad hay and our week stay at the hospital. We are planning on going to the Black Hills in August. It's a family tradition that we've been doing for thirty plus years (except twice; once when we went east instead of west (and we wont' do that again) and last year when we had our son). I need the break and the beautiful scenery of the Black Hills to help reset my focus.

When we return,  I'm going to leave the big herd on pasture 24x7. I've been pulling them at night to ensure the pasture will hold. I think it'll hold at least until mid September (I concluded that thought after tripping over the grass and almost falling flat on my face). Leaving the herd off the pasture for an extra month was difficult for everyone involved but I think the pasture is going to hold. I need to find time to get out and spray the pasture (and the lawn). But again, I'm struggling to find the time.

I'm also afraid that if Babe doesn't pick up weight soon, I'll have to consider putting her down this fall. It would be late fall or early winter. She lost weight when we were in the hospital and it takes months for these old girls and boys to gain the weight back. I hate to even think about it but without proper weight, it would only be cruel to have her live through another South Dakota winter. I had SO hoped that we wouldn't even have to entertain the thought of losing a horse this year. We've lost too many two-legged family members this year and went through too many stresses. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to break my heart once again. I guess I won't jump to any conclusions just yet but the thought is in the back of my mind.

And as I see all these free and cheap horses for sale now, I get even more upset. Now is the time we should be offering permanent retirement homes for these horses that deserve so much and receive so little. But my  hands are tied. Even now I feel like I've done the Sanctuary horses an injustice. So now my heart and head are in turmoil as I wring my hands and watch these old warriors enter into the slaughter pipeline. And with talks of an Iowa slaughter house opening, I'm even more upset. When the slaughter house was many states away, I wasn't as petrified because the horses in the midwest were slightly less at risk. But if a slaughter house opens in Iowa, the old beloved warriors that I SHOULD be helping will be headed to a scary fate instead. I can't stand the thought of not being able to do anything and it breaks my heart.

I am still in panic  mode to try and get the day-to-day stuff accomplished. But after our trip to the Black Hills, I'm going to go into full swing fundraising so that maybe, just maybe we could take in one or two old warriors that deserve a decent retirement, even if it's only for a few months. When we go into full swing fundraising, I'm going to ask for your help. I'm not sure what we'll even do for a fundraiser but we MUST do something. If you have ideas, I'd love to hear them. If you want to help, we'd love to say YES! Even if you are states or countries away, we could always use your help simply by spreading the word about our Sanctuary (or helping with that blasted paperwork!) :-)