Rick Knobe: Radio Guy, Rancher Guy

"I am impressed with the quality of care provided to the animals. It is obvious the DoubleHP folks know how to properly love and care for them. It was a joy to be able to "work" with Darci and her staff. I am looking forward to the next time."

Rick Knobe
KSOO Radio
Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch

Rick Knobe from KSOO Radio came to DoubleHP Horse Shelter on April 8 to do some volunteer work for us. We put him right to work! We cleaned stalls, pens, the riding arena. We put hay out. We brushed some very hairy horses. We soaked Flicka's foot (abscess) and redid her wrap/boot. Rick might be a Radio Guy to most of us, but he is definitely a Ranch Guy too! He knew just what kind of clothes to wear and trudged through the mud many times to dump the wheelbarrow in the manure pile. He knew how to start the tractor, how to handle the bales, everything!

And when we took a little break from working, he treated me to some jerky from his Lazy RRse Buffalo Ranch. It is excellent jerky! Then, we decided to ride. Rick knew how to put the saddle on and everything! And he rode very well too. It was a wonderful day and Rick is a wonderful volunteer. He was here for almost 7 hours. And then, he returned on April 10, with his granddaughter Sara. They cleaned up the riding arena and some stalls. And then we rode. Rick and Sara are both very good riders, and I hope they will come back on a regular basis.

I forgot to take horse riding pictures. We'll get them next time! but here's a tractor riding shot that's kind of cute.

New Little Visitors

Today we had visitors from Hartford SD. Deb Antonsen brought her children Gabriel, Paul, Amanda and Christina. They breifly met all of the horses and spent a lot of time with Prince. He had been seriously rolling in the mud, but he was slightly cleaner when they left. Prince loves the children. And really loved Pauls ears!

Paul has his own website. Please read his story about his special heart. And his mom Deb keeps a journal here too. Here's the link.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pauljeremiahantonsen/mystory

And we took pictures and made a slideshow of the visit too. It's just below this post.

Thanks for looking. at this. and at Paul's story on his caringbridge website.

Visit from the Antonsens

iK9Kare Pet Sitting

One of our animal friends, Tanya Beckman-Compson, has a Professional Pet Sitting business. A long time ago I promised to trade links with her, and I am just now getting around to doing it.

(sorry Tanya, but thanks for your patience).

And thanks for your new business. I hope to be able to hire you this summer. Because that will mean I found time to go on a horsey vacation.

Her website is http://www.ik9kare.com/

Lassos and Legends Event March 7

photo of Lucky Trailblazers with DoubleHP Spirit on Feb. 21, 2009.

When the Clay County Lucky Trailblazers 4H Club visited us on Feb. 21, they told us about an event they are producing. And I promised you some more info. So here it is:

It is the first annual Lassos and Legends on Saturday, March 7, in the Clay County Extension Office in Vermillion SD. Doors open at 5 p.m., meal at 6 p.m.

The Lassos and Legends event is an evening to pay tribute to a legend of the horse industry in South Dakota and to host a roundtable discussion featuring a veterinarian/equine chiropractor and area breeders/ trainers.

It is an evening to share with Frances Loiseau, breeder of Kristi Peterson's famous barrel racer "Bozo."

This event is planned with the following goals:
Empower our 4-H youth with a hands-on experience in marketing/producing an event in their area of interest.
Promote 4-H by recognizing area youth for their accomplishments.
Raise funds with proceeds going to facility improvements, local charities, and club advancement.
Honor a person who has accomplished much in the equine industry.
Provide a venue for people of all ages to broaden their horizons in the equine field.

More details at this website: http://www.lassosandlegends.webs.com/

Lucky Trailblazers 4H slideshow

Lucky Trailblazers 4H Club

Thank you to Lucky Trailblazers 4H Club from Vermillion South Dakota. They brought gifts for the horses today, filling up our grain room with bags of grain and salt blocks. I remember when Leader Karla first contacted me about this possibility. She said the kids don't have a huge budget but their hearts are in the right place. If you ask me, I'd say their hearts are huge and their budget was huge too! They brought a lot of bags of grain!

They learned about us at our booth at the SD Horse Fair in Sioux Falls last year. And decided they would like to help us. And we are so very appreciative.
And so are the horses, as you can tell from the slideshow above.

Visiting Trailblazers today were Karla Jake & Courtney, Kim Greg Dana & Blake, Jeanelle, Melissah Jason Zech Terrissah & Hannah.

This club is in to all things horsey, and they have a very special event coming up on March 7. It's a fundraiser and includes a dinner and an open roundtable type discussion featuring several horse professionals including an area Veterinarian. I will post the details on this event as soon as I get them. And I do hope I can attend. It sounds fun and educational.
Thanks again Trailblazers. Hope to see you on the Trail soon!