turtle, week 2

Turtle is doing better. She can walk now without tipping over. I don't think there is a neurological thing. I think she was just that weak. She continues to eat well and has now even tried the dry crunchy food. I am always glad when we get to this point. Not as messy. I still give her canned beefy/gravy stuff though too. and the kitty chow with warm water. we take turns. She still has some sneezes but her eyes are a lot better.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED: During Oct. 20 to Nov. 4, 2 of our chore helpers will both be gone. We could really use a volunteer. not necessarily all of these days. mostly Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday. the best would be a.m. or early afternoon for 2 or 3 hours. could you please let me know if you could help out on one or more of these days. mostly cleaning stalls & pens. Thanks, Darci.

so the little kitty will feel better Amen

Today was Christina Antonsen's birthday party. Her birthday was several months ago, right after her family returned from Ann Arbor Michigan where her little brother Paul had not one but two open heart surgeries. He had already had two in previous years. Paul is 5. Christina's little sister Amanda actually had her birthday party in Michigan during Paul's surgeries. Christina wanted to have her party here, with the horses. So we waited until Mom Deb could get it all figured out for the whole family to be here and a cake and stuff.

So today was the day! We got out Prince and Flicka and the kids wanted Prince to be completely clean before we put the saddle on. I told them they better put up a tent with supplies. With this recent rain, well, the horses, have had wonderful mud rolling opportunities and took full advantage of it all. They did a nice job of brushing the horses out though. (okay, so Dad Randy helped a little). And around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around the arena we went. Today was the first day I can remember Gabe wanting to ride. He liked it too! The kids were all very interested in the new kitten Turtle. Turtle is getting stronger every day. She had a good day today. Before we had birthday cake, Paul suggested a prayer. And he delivered. The gist of it, which was entirely clear, was "we pray for the little kitty so it will feel better, Jesus, Amen"

bugs and turtles and too many horses

this bug photo is from a few days ago. when it was still warm out. it's been cold and windy and today rain all day long. Did I miss summer? I can't remember having one this year.

new kitty Turtle is some better. She went to the Vet on Monday. RJ went along. RJ got some shots and got spayed. Turtle got some blood drawn. She doesn't have any of those deadly catchy kitty things. so we decided she needed a chance. Dr. Michelle kind of thought she might have a neurological disorder. that would fit with Greg's observance of her not walking right. But now she seems to be doing better. Maybe she was just that weak and cold and dehydrated. she has a long ways to go and I spose it could go either way. but she is eating and drinking and pooping. (sounds like my horse evaluations).

I got a call from a woman who needs a new home for her old mare. They brought a new gelding and stallion home, put them in a separate pasture, and the old mare is acting "out of control," running the fence, etc. The woman thought the mare didn't want the boys there. I asked her if she considered the possibility that she was acting that way because she wanted to be with them (well, the gelding would be good anyway). anyway, I tried to convince her to find a way to keep the mare. she has arthritis etc. and can't be ridden. told her things would probably be better if the stallion wasn't there. what I really suggested is that she have a trainer type person or at least a very experienced horse handler type person come and take a look at the situation. Maybe the mare just wants to be with the gelding. I can't tell from here, but with all the hundreds of horses needing new homes, we all really need to try to keep our old, lame, unrideables. I really cannot imagine kicking my old guys out just to make room for younger ones.

here is a link for you.

there are 2 huge horse adoption/auction type things. One is the 80 some horses rescued on SD Indian Reservation last winter. the other is a wild horse herd in ND. 90 or so I think. I don't believe either agency is putting breeding restrictions on these sales/adoptions. They are missing the whole point. They need to quit breeding these horses.

just want you to know what it's like out there. hundreds and hundreds of ponies available. Do we need to add any more to the pot right now?
here's the link for the SD horses. http://www.ospra.org/pages/default.aspx
I couldn't get the one for the ND ones to work but here's what i have.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/134784/

caring for other peoples' animals

The 2 new rescues (the horses, not this kitty, you'll read about the kitty at the end of this post) went to the Vet last Friday. And spent the night. Rocket, the pinto, needed to become a gelding. They were both excellent for their shots and both hopped right in the trailer for us. Today Andy at the Humane Society called me and asked about Rocket. He is swollen. Bigger than a grapefruit size. She called the vet and they discussed what's going on and he told her not to worry. I know what that's like though. We rescue these guys from horrible situations and it seems we have to do more bad things to them to make them better. So yes, we feel bad and we worry for them. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but I'm guessing he'll be okay. The pony TooLoo is only about 8 years old. She is getting really nice now too. They are 2 really nice horses and they need homes! Please!

Here's the deal about my attitude. I get a call from a lady asking if we are the "horse rescue assistance place." I knew what kind of a call this was going to be. Seems her mother is in the hospital and her mother's horses will be without feed at the end of this month or sooner. She would be happy to drop them off someplace and not let her mother know where they went. She didn't want anyone to go to where the horses are. She would not give me her name or tell me where the horses are. She said there are 6 to 8 of them, 6-7 years old (so far it didn't sound too bad but I knew the bad part was coming). sure enough, none of them are broke. they are broodmares. Pregnant? not sure. no stallion there now. You have to know that I never know how much of any of this is true. okay. there is some reason she doesn't want anyone to go there. couldn't someone take them another round bale? couldn't a neighbor take care of them for a while? could you find one little stupid ounce of ambition and post a FREE ad on keloland.com, or something????????? But, at this point, I was still trying to find out the location of the horses. All I got was "near Miller." that was odd. the phone number was Mitchell. but I didn't ask.

"Are they registered?"

"I believe some are, but you won't be getting the papers with them."

"WHAT???????"

okay, here comes my attitude.

"listen lady, you called for help, do you have any idea how much money it will cost to get all of these horses trained? we are trying to find something marketable about them. Papers might make them marketable.

"Nope, we won't be signing them over."

she should have just told me they were all grade mares. then I wouldn't have exposed my "attitude." well, not as much anyway.

things went downhill fast at that point. She hung up on me because she didn't like "my attitude."

Here is the traceback number: 996-1212. It's the 1st Reformed Church in Mitchell. My thought is maybe the lady who called works there (there's a recording that sounds an awful lot like the voice that called me) and her mother's horses are near Miller. I forwarded this info. on to a Humane Officer and the Animal Industry Board. The AIB told me when they get a formal complaint they can check it out.

Okay, I understand it all. I understand how it works. but I was kind of wondering, could we get just a little creative, a little unscientific for just a moment? could a deputy or anyone who might just know this woman go find out where the horses are so someone can go check on them? I am sorry that I cannot just let everyone dump these untrained horses off here. How can people still be so fogged over about the horse industry and how the bad breeders (yes, there are good breeders too) have bred themselves right out of business? and placed the blame on us "do-gooders" as they like to call us. And, okay, really, how much effort does it take to post a free ad, or find someone to do it for you. anyone with a computer can do it!

Have I vented yet? I guess.

and then, this morning, I thought he was kidding but he wasn't. Greg says, "we have a new cat."

or something like that.

anyway, here she is. photo at the top of this post. She can barely walk so someone must have dumped her off here.

hey, thanks a lot! next time could you tie about $200 on to her bones please? just to get me started with her?

my my my my my. what a weekend I'd say. I did get her to eat some kitten chow in warm water. we'll see what tomorrow brings for her.