Its been how long??

Wow, just realized how long its been since I posted. Awhile! but i think that not many do read the blog! But Tammy emailed me to update it! HA! so! someone does read these! so I will just keep updating.
Lets see- How is everyone doing in this cold, cold weather? I am hanging in there. As long as I keep moving and busy, the cold isnt too bad. The horses are cold! they have been standing around trying to soak up sun in between feedings! they are all getting a bit more food to make them keep their warmth! I feel bad for them, but horses have been out in the elements for hundreds of years and can endure. But if your horses are outside alot, they do need a little bit extra food to keep warm. I feed grain to half of my horses and half only get hay. If they are staying fat, then they are getting plenty to eat! But the weather will be getting a bit warmer next week! Yeah!
Harley does not do well in the cold. he lays down more and then when he finally does get up he is very stiff. I will give him hay next to where he lays and he loves to eat while he is laying down! what a goof! but I put his grain in a specific spot so that he has to get up to eat that. Poor guy! Still crabby when i have to adjust his blanket tho! So i know he is up to par too.
Breeze- What a devil he is! Wants his grain and eat everyone else's too! He has some big time guts for sure! Raven loves to dump her pail and eat her grain on the ground. Tried to feed her to a pail that is attached to the fence, but she hates those and refuses to eat from them. So i let her eat from the ground! Then she will go over to Antar's pail and help herself. he is such a nice boy that he allows her to. I have a lady from Manitowoc coming to see him on Feb 6, so cross your fingers that they love Antar! he is really a wonderful boy and needs his own family. She has an 8 year old son who has been taking lessons and i believe that Antar is the boy to get him to that next level. We went to the Jefferson Tack Sale on January 24 and I made almost $400.00!! Great!! some went to my hay guy and the rest went to my vet. The next tack sale will be on Sunday, Feb 21st at Arena, WI!
And after that is one in Arlington, WI on Feb 27. I will be talking to the Mount Horeb 4-H group on Feb 1st. Been awhile since i have spoken to a group, but I talk all of the time and am looking forward to educating some of the kids on horses and rescue. I have also been invited to talk for some of the Vet Students at the UW on Feb 16! My first question will be to ask who is going to be an equine vet? I will bet maybe one out of the group. Not many doing that. I dont blame them. going out to help a colic horse in the dead of winter has got to be hard! But if you guys are like me, I only have horse health issues on a Sunday night after 9pm and when its super cold out!! HA! You couldnt pay me enough! So i love my vet and her coming out to help me when I need it. Next news is that I was accepted to attend the Midwest Horse Fair for April 16-18!! Love going to that! Will be bringing horses that actually do not mind going on trailers this year! Stress for me is either loading horses onto trailers that dont like to load or the farrier doing a horse that doesnt like their feet done. But my new farrier is getting to know my horses and that is less stress for me. Can you tell i dont like stress?? Ok, so many people dont like stress! I am no different. Work is going well for me, sometimes I get some overtime hours in and that is a good thing. Still plugging trying to get a roommate to move in as Susan (last roommate) moved to Madison.
The horses I will be bringing to the Midwest Horse Fair will be for sure, Daevin (10 year old Arab gelding) and Lady, a 20 year old Morgan mare. Lady is at Pursleys getting rides on her before her big debut! Boy is she is a nice horse! Daevin is an Arab who is trained to ride, line drive, has been in parades, and done some jumping. He is a smaller boy and will test his rider from time to time. He was starved during his growing years and is a bit swaybacked. But that doesnt hinder him at all and just needs extra padding under his saddle. Does both English and Western saddles as well. Very sweet boy. Antar will also come if the family doesnt want to adopt him. Still planning on the big fund raiser on June 26, 2010 but i am still waiting for my contract from Mandt Stables. I want to make sure the place I have is set in writing before getting out letters and people to come. Have been waiting for awhile and emailed the manager there for it. So its at least 90% sure. It will be a great time for sure. If you have any ideas for the fund raiser or can help, please let me know. Will be doing horse rides, food, a couple of classes, games for kids, silent auctions, bands, and much more that are in the works. I am trying to get enough donated to help me with hay over the winter. That would be so great! So lots planned and seems like too little time to do it!! But more coming later. Sorry I have been slack in updating everyone. Ok, then, sorry Tammy that I havent updated just in case you are the only one reading this blog!! So nice to hear from you! Will be great to follow up. Tammy knows about a few of my horses from stables she has worked at. She has horses and a year old son and boy she is busy!
Talk to you all soon! Jenny

Hard times

Well just when i get to feeling the lowest, I get a rise from a friend. This friend knows who she is. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I get many emails from people needing homes for their horses. I try to help them by either sending out a mass email to my horsey friends if i am full. the problem is that i am always full! These horses are not only old or disabled, they are in their prime and actually are broke to ride. This economy is hitting us all so hard. People who have fleurished and are now looking for things to sell to keep their animals, homes, cars etc. Unfortunately the animals are the first to go if they cant pay the bills. I have been in this situation myself. I can get into debt very easily when additional bills come in that are unexpected. Donations down from even regular donors. It is expected now. I cant fault them. They're needs are before mine. I will survive. I will find ways, i will work a second job help out. I will do what it takes and so do others. I just everyone to know that we are all in this together. We all laugh and cry together. I try to help people by advertising their horses on Petfinder. I have actually done better at finding homes for other people's horses then my own! But I am ok with that! All horses need homes. At least then i dont have to worry when someone says they have to take their horse to an auction to sell. Most will really try and will be able to keep them until a home is found which is good. Please, if you do think bad times are ahead, think about what you have to do about your animals. The longer we rescues have to try to help find homes the better. The economy will hopefully get better! We have to stick together! Tell everyone you think of that you may be in trouble. People come to help! I know it can be humilating but its worth it because most of us have been in that boat. Think to yourself- Would i do this for someone? Of course most of us would! So why wouldnt you ask for help? I have asked so many times and so many times have been helped. I couldnt do this without you all. Our animals are so precious and our responsibility! We have options. they may not be options we like, but we have them. So please put aside your shame and ego and ask and receive help. Pay it forward when you can. If everyone did this, we would all be in a better way. We all need each other and its a wonderful feeling when this happens. I smile, I cry and my heart fills with love. Like i said, its a wonderful feeling.

Back to work!

Well now its after the holidays. Whew! Got through that! sometimes I love time off and then sometimes, i like my usual routine. Its cold out so cant stay out very long. I have my feeding down to the tee unless I have some uncooperative horses. Its cold out, but we as humans feel worse than the horses do. Just feed them a bit extra so that they stay warm. Make sure they are a bit fatter than their summer weight and make sure to have some good and fresh water. My usual routine is usually feeding at about 6:15 am and then about 6pm at night. sometimes i wish for those huge round bales to put out! But then again, it would make me lazy and not even go out to visit with my horses. So I go out - Twice a day. Winter doesnt last that long, I have to remind myself of that! thank god! We are now into January so we have about 2 months of total crap and then it starts being nicer out. Why am i am in Wisconsin??!! Oh yeah, I have 16 years into my job and my family is here?? oh yeah, right!! A friend of mine who has about 25 horses is seriously thinking about moving to Missouri. Cheap land and homes down there. Wonder if that is always the case or if its the economy. Hmmm. Not sure on that one. How about Hawaii?? Might be too hot for the horses. But I would be happy!! HA! No, I may move from the home I am in now but will be still in the area of Madison. Not that I am close to retiring, but I am over halfway to retirement. And certainly not wishing my life away! A lady here at work retired last Tuesday. I thought, Man! would that be nice to be able to stay home! But then again, I would be probably in my 60's and dont want that just yet! i still have things to do in my life and homes to find for the horses!!
Remember that the Midwest Horse Fair is April 16-18, 2010. I will tell you all which barn I will be in. Probably will be bringing Daevin, Antar and Lady to the fair. they are all broke to ride, but need experienced riders. Daevin has even been trained to line drive. Antar has some dressage experience. Lady has impeccable ground manners. All of them very loving horses.
June 26, 2010 will be the big fund raiser. Looking forward to that. Will be talking to the Mount Horeb 4-H group in February. Jefferson tack sale on January 24. If you have tack to donate to the rescue that would be great!
Still having emails and calls about horses that are being given up. I hope to help out with advertising since i am full up. But remember there is a list of other rescue groups that may be able to take your horse in. In my opinion, it is better to put your horse down then to sell it at an auction where the slaughter buyer is. You may not know its a kill buyer. But this much is a fact- If your horse goes with the kill buyer, he/she will have a horrible last 4 days before they slaughter it to send overseas or to Canada. isnt your horse worth giving it a dignified death? I think it is. I have lots of friends who still believe in horse slaughter. I believe in education. Stop breeding your horses to sell. they arent selling!! Or they are selling for dirt cheap to the kill buyers. Train your horse and make sure someone who buys it will give it a good home! Wow! Please! When did we stop being responsible for our animals/pets? You can tell I am pretty passionate about this- I know things come up, i know sometimes you cant keep your pet, but being responsible is what we need to do. anyhow- Rant is over- Sorry about that! I guess you can put it down to being Monday! Talk to you soon!