Whew! (?)

Well, the last couple of days, i have been alittle bit concerned about Kobb, my 32 year old Arab gelding. His girlfriend of choice is Honey, my 10 year old Paint mare who is blind and wild. But Kobb always comes into the barn to get his morning grain. The last 3 days he has not. So what is up? I actually took it outside for him and he ate it,so he wasnt sick. But i also noticed that Honey has been aggitated for the same number of days. Oh man! There is a possibility that Honey is pregnant. last year, we got Breeze back from his adopters- NOT gelded. We got him back December 2008. So we couldnt get him gelded at the time because of the cold. He was only about 8 months old, but certainly CAN breed if he chooses to. So for 4 months until we could get him gelded, he was with a couple of mares. After he got gelded, we gave the abortion shots to 2 mares. The 3rd mare, Honey, will not allow anyone to touch her, so i had to just take my chances on her. Last month i could have sworn that she was bigger on one side and getting quite beefy! Oh man! no! I just kept thinking that well, if she is pregnant, dont give birth in the real cold! So i have been watching her. Now, Kobb is watching her. Well i got my answer this morning to both situations! Honey is in heat! Kobb is just watching to make sure no other gelding in their group gets over to her while she is in heat! she is HIS girlfriend! Here I thought he knew that Honey was pregnant and going to give birth! Nope! If he cant have her, then nobody will! hA! Well I like that answer better than poor Honey giving birth to an Oops baby! What kind of foal would that have been?? Part Paint, Mustang and Welsh pony. yikes!! Could be cute, but what about conformation?? HA!! Anyhow, hopefully she isnt pregnant because she is in heat. But i wont breath easier until April! Get past April and that will be the latest she will go if she is pregnant.
Yesterday- I was asked to go to the UW Vet School to talk about my rescue! Boy was that fun! i do like talking about horses! I have spoke to a few groups and some 4-H kids. But that was more informal. Yesterday, I had made up a powerpoint presentation and actually presented this talk. Much more organized. I think i did ok and the people there had excellent questions. It looks like about 6-7 of this group of 20 (who were there) are going to be equine vets! Hopefully they will stay in Wisconsin! We need more here. Plenty of horses in Wisconsin! Lots of good ideas and hopefully i can help them get some experience with geldings, floatings and other things. They really dont have a good part in the program that deals with horses. Well - that might be why not many of them get into large animal or equine! A few of them are also looking for horses and i hopefully can help them find what they need when they are ready! anyhow, thank you for letting me talk and rant yesterday. Was very nice to be there!
Dont forget the Arena (At the Sandbar) tack sale on Sunday, Feb 21 at 10 am! I will be there with my stuff!
Hug your horses everyone!

Time flies

Well time flies when you are busy huh?? Oh yes, busy with getting taxes together, stuff for tack sales, and last weekend? My water tank fire! yes, that is right. My sinking water tank heater died on me a few weeks ago. I have one of those red floater tank heaters as a back up. I dont like using those because you know what horses like to do with those!! yes, pull them out, fling them around, that kind of thing. they get bored and play with them. Makes me nervous. Well I put it on Harley's side of the tank, he never plays with them. Well, the tank heater actually started my plastic water tank on fire! you can see the black part on the heater and then it must have flamed up. I went out in the morning last Saturday and it was fine, working. Then I come out at 3pm to show Antar to some prospective adopters. One lady says, look at your water tank! It was actually in flames! 3 quarters of it already burned! thank GOD it was outside and didnt burn inside of the barn! I have the tank shared between two paddocks. All of the horses not caring, but not over by it either! Wow! the fence didnt catch on fire either. So i was a lucky girl. So on a Saturday night, at 5:30 i had to go to farm and fleet, get a new tank (yes, a metal one) and a new water heater. $150.00 later, i got home and put it all together. Makes a bit nervous for sure. But this one is working. I think I will be taking pics of the tank and heater to show the manufacterer what these tank heaters can do. I have asked a few people and have found that it has happened to other folks! Yikes! What is up with that???
Anyhow, I am breathing easier. Got a metal water tank and a newer type of heater that is metal and sinks. I dont like the kind that goes into the plug of the metal water tank. I cant get them out, they seem to leak and then I cant find the plug! Horses will play with that too when the water gets low. So I will stick to the sinkable ones. Yes, they pull them out from time to time, but not as much as the floaters.
Anyhow, the Arena Tack sale is on Sunday, Feb 21 from 10 am to 4pm
Arlington Tack Sale is on Saturday, Feb 27 from 9 to 3pm. I am speaking to the 4-H kids at 11am regarding my rescue.
Giving a talk tot he UW Vet Students Tuesday (tomorrow) Feb 16 at noon.
Call from Mimi wanting to donate some Neighlox and some tack to the rescue, thank you Mimi! cindy from Burlington wanting to find a home for her retired Polo Pony HoBo so that information will be emailed to my horsey friends. Supposed to be in great shape and a close to bomb proof horse! His age is 23-25 but he is great shape per the owner and her vet! Has many years of riding if taken care of!
I will try to post at least 2 times a week. Sometimes, its hard when i am so busy at work. I try to do this during my lunch and breaks and sometimes I dont get lunches and breaks! Talk to you all soon!

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!

Before New Years

Hello Everyone-
Back at work today. had yesterday off- my farrier came. He could only do 9 of my horses. Out of 14. For the most part, they were good for him. They can get so impatient! But Dewey is fast and i like that. The last farrier I had was a wonderful guy and did well doing the hooves, but he took very long. He is only in his upper 20's and has some health/back issues. Took him 6 hours to do the horses, while Dewey took only about 2 hours. I just cant stand with naughty horses for 6 hours anymore. Was getting to be the worst part of having horses! If the farrier goes fast, then the horses are much better for standing away from their buddies for 10 or so minutes. The new boy, Antar did very well for him. He had to have his front shoes off. I dont do shoes unless I have to. And Antar is not being ridden, so he really doesnt need them. Antar is a great boy. Wish i could find him a person to love. Wish i could find more homes for most of my horses! But it is not the case at least for now. I have been in a 'funk' for the last couple of months. Trying to decide if i should continue this program. Most days, its wonderful and i have great fun with the horses. Then I find myself getting depressed about the calls and emails of all of the horses that i cannot help. I try to give owners options, but sometimes they dont work. Sometimes they do. I try to concentrate on that. I sometimes wake up during the night and my thoughts go towards my horses. Are they ok? Are they warm? did someone go through a fence? 99% of the time, when i do get up in the morning, they are just staring at me waiting for me to feed them. I guess winters are really a source of my thoughts. Its cold, its windy, its raining like it did on Xmas day! Then it gets cold. I know horses can take this. they have shelter and most times, they are out in the elements. They are not stupid, but they sometimes look miserable! But i told my farrier yesterday, its the humans who are more concerned then they are. They know how to keep warm and to survive. They have for hundreds of years. Harley, still plugging along with his big blanket. Eating more and more hay which is good. He gets mad when i adjust his blanket and try to feel his ribs to make sure he is still ok and either sustaining his weight or anything different. Cheyenne gets upset when I feed grain to Kobb in the mornings and she doesnt get any. Missy now needing a blanket in the winter after I saw her shivering one morning. Wondering how long that i can keep my rescue and horses. Wondering if the economy will get better and i can find homes. Planning on the big fund raiser for June. Lookign for another roommate. Well I can at least say that part of my life is certainly not boring. Thinking to myself, well its Saturday, i can sleep in! For about 1/2 hour because i know my horses are looking at their clocks wondering where mom is. A couple of days it will be 2010. Another year. Wondering where my new love is?! Going to lose some of my weight, get healthy to keep going and delving into the horses that bring me so much joy. What would i do without them? Complain more?? Oh yes, then you would be so sick of me! Have a great and safe New Years eve!

Who made the pasta???

Hello Everyone-
Well Monday again- the weekends just go to dang fast! On Friday, I had a so-so day at work, feeling alittle bummed out to go home. My roommate told me last week that she was going to move to Madison. Moving out. She was my best roommate. She really is a great lady. She helped me out with fences, my dogs, my wheelbarrow (this morning), cleaning, multiple things. She is really totally cool. A very good friend.
Anyhow, i come home on Friday feeling bummed. I get home and there is a card on the kitchen counter. Wasnt from the mail. but it was a great note thanking me for my work with the rescue and to thank me they left me a HUGE pasta dish! how awesome was that? But the thing that kind of concerns me? they didnt put their name on it! I would like to thank them, so i am doing that on my blog. Thank you so much!! Put me in so much better of a mood. It was such a kind, generous and wonderful surprise. And besides, it was awesome to eat. i have like 8 meals out of it! Had some on Friday night, Sunday night and now am eating more for lunch today at work! thank you again, my mystery pasta fairy! So many times, i come home and eat a grilled cheese sandwich or just some cereal. So this was fantastic!
So- only 4 more days until Christmas! Are you all ready? Just hoping that the weather stays good enough to drive to. Thank goodness I dont have all that far to go, but snow makes me a big old baby driving. So lets all pray that the weather holds for all of us to get to our family/friends in one piece!