Stupid Paint

Well, we are back to square one with the big pasture. Last week before we left on vacation, Mike moved the temporary electric fence so the horses would have the ENTIRE bottom half of the pasture (along with the quarter that they’d been on for the past month). Everything was supposed to be golden. The last little quarter that they’d been on in June would hold them while we were in the hospital in September.

We got home last Wednesday night and being that the baby is sitting on a nerve, I didn’t feel the urge to check everyone in the dark out in the pasture and worry about tripping on a rock or falling in a hole. So I opted to wait. What did I find when I went to check on the big herd, the whole damn herd in the one part of the pasture we’d been trying to keep them off of.

I was more than livid when I saw it. I had no idea where they broke the fence. So much for having ANY pasture in September so that I wouldn’t have to worry while I’m in the hospital or have to call in yet ANOTHER favor.

I have my suspicion that it was King who did all the fence pushing and fence breaking.  I am putting him in with the ponies and that will be the end of this crap (sorry, I’m just that angry over the entire deal). I don’t know if the pasture where I wanted to put them in September will come back in time. There’s less than a month but we have been getting rain. I don’t know. I am afraid they were on that part of the pasture the entire time we were gone. Furious doesn’t begin to explain my mood these days with those blasted horses.

Next year when I’m finally physically able, we are dividing the pasture permanently. I’m going to deal with this any more. And it could be that King will become a drylot horse. He’s already got the beginnings of laminitis in one of his feet. He might as well be drylotted with the ponies. I can’t figure out that two years ago we had half the herd out at the  neighbors in ONE STRAND of electric and this time around there’s two strands and they keep blowing through it.

King.

He and Jim were the two that were never allowed over at the neighbors. Jim respects and fears electric (but if he does get loose he’s a runner). So it has to be King.

He is now permanently removed from the big herd until further notice.

F.U.R.I.O.U.S.

Anyone want a big fat, naughty, paint?

Junior Cracks Me Up

I had to laugh. Before we left on our vacation, Mike was busy one afternoon getting the water set up. Junior was trying to convince Mike that he should be fed instead of waiting for me to come out later in the afternoon. Mike didn't cave. Poor Junior had to wait for me instead. That boy LOVES his grain.

 

Loss

I can't figure out if it's pregnancy hormones, exhaustion from lack of sleep, or simply the loss, but I'm ready to sit down and cry (ok, so I am crying). I found out this morning an acquaintance was killed in a car accident. She was only a few years younger than me but had so many amazing ideas that she was implementing. Now they are all dashed. And when I say acquaintance, it's more that I followed her on her blog and then followed her on Facebook. I never really chatted with her much, if ever. But I always felt like I was a part of her world, taking me to a part of the world that I would never see. What will happen to her horses, dogs, and other animals now that she is gone? What will happen to the children that she was teaching so that they could have a better life than they were handed? There are so many questions and yet, they aren't for me to ask but I ask anyway.

 

I'm struggling with the sudden loss of this person's life and then dealing with my own so called "demons"  for feeling inadequate for not being able to do more. I want to vent, to scream at the top of my lungs at the world that I'm doing all that I can but I need help. But I know my voice won't be heard.  People ask me what can they do to help. But when I tell them, it's not the life saving idea that they had in mind. It's the day to day activities that work away at a body and soul. Rescuers and sanctuary workers need a helping hand every once in a while. Ok, daily.

 

And then I struggle with the people who think they can do no wrong. I have and always will be a rule follower. My son is a rule follower, as is my husband. I've very rarely gone against the rules and when I do, I feel bad. But I ask the question, why is it ok for others to break the rules and get away with it when I can't (or won't). Do these people not have any morals? How can you not feel bad for breaking these rules. I know I offend others and I feel bad when I do and will try to make up for it in the long run. I am not only a rule follower, I'm also one that wants to make sure that everyone is happy and that I try to make sure everyone is happy with me. I don't want people upset with me but I guess in rescue/sanctuary world, it happens time and time again.

 

I guess I just don't know how people can not feel guilty. But I've also seen that people don't see that they are doing something wrong. I've watched it unfold a number of times with different people and different situations where they don't think they are doing anything wrong. And yet, in my mind and with the rules I've been subjected to, they are wrong. Why are my rules different than others??

 

I'm just at a loss. I want to do more but can't, either physically, financially, or emotionally. I'm afraid the hormones are making me more emotional than I would like to be. I am struggling to make sure I don't become irrational and that I think out my thoughts and actions. I've grounded myself from riding months ago. I've grounded myself from driving except to and from work. I'm sure as the days progress, I'll ground myself from other activities simply because I can't do them the right way and may endanger others. Why do others not see or follow that same guiding rule...do unto others that you wish them to do to you? Why is that concept so hard? Set aside money and would you still have the same issue? Set aside egos, would you have the same issue? I dunno.

 

I'm feeling lost and emotional and I know I'm not making any sense. I am but one person. And when there is a loss, even when it's simply an acquaintance from half way around the world, it still strikes me to my heart.  I will miss your stories. Rest in peace friend.

 

 

18-20yr old Mare on Washington Feedlot

Yet another mare that needs retirement. Tis the season for dumping mares. Wish we were closer and wish we could do more than simply share.


Angela is one of the nicest horses I have met in a long time. She was a kids horse and is broke for anyone to ride. Angela stands approx 15hh and has shoes on. She has a pretty blue eye and a wavy soft mane that you can cuddle up in. We actually did cuddle up and she let me lean up against her and she took a nap on me. She loves attention and will make a wonderful new friend for someone. She is soft, gentle, willing, and will do anything asked of her. She followed me around just wanting companionship. She is 15 years young and still has a lot of life ahead of her. The only thing that I saw that was worth noting was on one side of her chest she had some droopy skin. There is a photo but it was not something that would discourage me from bringing this sweetheart home. 

Location: Sunnyside, WA
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: 8/07/15


Notes from a previous owner:
"I owned this mare, I sold her last June to a man named Anthony Eppers in Post Falls Idaho. Her name is Mercedes, she is 18-20 years old. She was a broodmare for many years in the St. Maries Idaho area, I never had any papers for her. I used her for trail riding for VERY VERY VERY beginner friends of mine and to teach my boyfriends daughters how to ride. She will walk/trot/lope but really just likes walking down a trail. She is not a fan of arena work. She isn't spooky, good to bathe, trailer, worm. She can be a bit of a brat about standing still for the farrier if she has just been sitting and not being worked. She never bucked, kicked, bolted, reared, or pulled back in the year I had her. She is an alpha mare in the pasture but she is GREAT with young horses/babies. She will try to steal babies from their mothers. She's an honest 15.1 HH and an easy keeper. I never put shoes on her either. You can put whoever on her and they will be safe. She's good with traffic and dogs riding with you. She is kinda sour and will test a newer rider by just stopping and not moving if you're riding around your house and she doesn't want to go anymore. She is a pocket pony and will leave her food for loves. She has a patch of missing hair/scar on the end of her rib cage on the left side which I was told was from getting into a fight with a stud horse when she was being bred and still had a foal on her side."

Mare at Washington Feedlot

Another old girl that just needs a retirement home


Avon is a tall beauty who has shoes on her fronts and should be broke to ride. She gets along well with the others and has a mellow personality. I would guess her to be teenage and she did look a bit dropped in the fetlocks to me, but it is just an observation. She seemed sound and should fill out well to be a beautiful horse with some good feed and a bit of TLC. She is broke to ride and was ridden by an older man. She is said to be in her teens. 

Location: Sunnyside, WA
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: 8/07/15

20+yr Pregnant TB Mare in Washington Feedlot

Because all I can do is share...and my heart goes out to her because she's "post maternal age" just like myself. Being pregnant, you really do need (and deserve) to be pampered.


Arianna is a 20+ yrs old pregnant senior OTTB mare and a photo of her tattoo, as well as her teeth have been provided. She was said to be 14 yrs old, but after looking at her teeth I believe she is much older and closer to 20, or older. Arianna came in very thin and and she has been on on a quality and proper reefed program for the last month, and she has started to gain weight. This senior mare is in foal and she needs the quality care and knowledgeable home for a SLOW refed program - she also needs a home that will care for her and her unborn foal. Arianna was used as a broodmare, and she was pastured with stallions prior to her purchase, which has resulted in her being bred as a senior. It was said that she was started as a 2 yr old but that is as much of her history that I currently have. Arianna is in immediate need of a good home, quality care, and a home that will be prepared to help her through her foaling as a senior. 

Location: Sunnyside, WA
Contact: Sabrina 206-250-5115
Deadline: 8/07/15

Additional notes from the  moderator of the rescue forum after reading her tattoo:

"I believe this mare to be Danzing Number. A 1997 mare by Numerous and out of Danzig in the Park. She would have one win to her name and $4,400 winnings. Last raced in California in 2000."

In Communicado

Well, we did it. We braved the 75th anniversary of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to attend our annual family vacation in the Black Hills (it just so happens to fall on the same week as the Rally). In reality, we saw maybe a dozen bikers while staying at the cabin. It's not exactly a luxury cabin. In fact, it's simply a hunting cabin, but when it means being out in the Black Hills and not even seeing the one million people that was estimated to be there, I'll take it! We've been going to the Black Hills for our annual family vacation for over 30 years. There are only one or two things that have ever stopped us from going out to the Hills for our family vacation. My son being born was one of them. The other was a mixup with getting the cabin. Otherwise, 30+ years of family vacation time in August.

Usually going out to the Hills and coming back means that I'm rearing and ready to tackle some major projects. Not this year. Being in the Hills while nine months pregnant isn't exactly relaxing when the baby is sitting on a nerve making it nearly impossible to do more than hobble along at a slow walk. My mind is also fogged over so I'm doing pretty good to get the day-to-day activities done. No fundraising ideas or activities are coming my way because I just can't seem to comprehend anything more than simple chores and sitting with my feet up.

We got home super late last night so I didn't get a chance to check on the herd. We'd put a bale in with the ponies (with a cinch net) and another bale in for the mares and Junior (with a cinch net). I will go out and check everyone to see how they survived without me. I'm sure they could all care less about me, except maybe Junior who wants his grain. I am worried about him but I'm not sure there's really anything more I can do other than switch up his grain and see if a different feed and ration would work. I'll try just about anything.

I haven't quite started the countdown until the baby comes (only because there's too many numbers involved and I can't count). But there's still plenty of time to get a few things done around the place.

This spring I'd wanted to get an excavator out to our place (before the grass grew) but that didn't happen. Trying to find an excavator in our area that's willing to do work is difficult. But I did find an excavator but with the bad weather, farming in general, and daily life getting in the way, I didn't think we'd ever get the excavator here. Well, we came back last night and shining in the truck's headlights was the excavator sitting and waiting to get to work! I'm excited but need to call because I haven't gotten everything torn down like I said I would. I'm sure there's a voicemail from the excavator guy, but we've been without cell service since we reached the Black Hills. When we get to Rapid City, I simply turn my phone off and that's the last of any communication until we come back down out of the Hills. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I don't even bother turning on my phone until we reach the river because I'm still on vacation mode. Being incommunicado is sometimes worth more than gold, although we do  miss a lot of what's going on in the world. But sometimes you just need a break.

We are getting rain now so I'm not sure what the plans are for digging. I'm hoping we'll be able to get the old building and rubble buried and gone by this weekend! I've been waiting for SO long to get it all cleaned up. It does make me want to get to work on doing more projects around the place; that is until I start walking around and the back/leg start to ache to the point of not being able to even hobble along at a slow pace. But once the building and rubble are gone, and maybe after the baby is born, I can set up a cleaning/painting day or something along those lines. It would be nice to look out the window and see freshly painted buildings and a few new fences but we'll just have to wait and see how things progress. I'm pretty much at the mercy of everyone else these days for getting everything done around the place.

And a HUGE HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to one of our Guardian Angels for taking care of the dogs and looking after the horses while we were on vacation. It's so nice to know that I can count on a few close friends and angels so that I can take a short break from the Sanctuary. Because as we all know, Sanctuary work is a 24x7 kind of life but having that short break even if it's only for a few days, helps rejuvenate everything. So THANK YOU Stacy A. for taking care of the place while we were gone!!! You are such an amazing Guardian Angel to the Sanctuary! Words cannot express my gratitude enough.