HAPPY ENDINGS 10

Sherri

Celeita,
Winston drank nearly an entire bucket of water last night in his stall, so he apparently conquered his fear. :) This morning, I curried his entire body exept the back legs. He's definitely more protective of his left side, and judging by the 2 deep scars on his hip & thigh, I can guess why. Poor fella has had a rough start. Liz & Mary gave me a bag with several tubes of ivermectin in it & a copy of the vet report. Liz also suggested spraying Lemon Balm on his sheath, and I just happen to have that growing in my garden! I will prepare the tincture & spray him faithfully, but I'm thinking surgery will be the ultimate answer. Winston's tumor appears to be quite vascular and consequently I'm concerned his surgery will be more challenging than we'd like. I'm very curious to see what my vet will suggest; she has a wealth of experience and I greatly admire & respect her medical expertise with equines.

Winston and his brother, Zeke, munched on some hay side by side in the barn then I set up temporary fencing to keep them together in a 1/2 acre pasture, with access to the barn as they please. It's funny to see them interact. Winston nipped at Zeke a little at first, then gradually let him smell closely. Zeke was patient, cautious & respectful. I looked in his eyes for a reaction and could sense him saying, "it's ok, mom...I was in his shoes and understand where he's coming from." Little Winston was delighted to run, sniff, roll, and play in the pasture. He acted like he owned the place! Zeke and the dogs just watched him dumbfounded, then Sophie engaged him in a little play. Later in the afternoon, I brought the boys carrots and Winston came to me for a bite. YAY! So glad he's learning to trust so quickly.

I'll send photos after his first bath, and will be glad to complete the review in June. I'm sure medical care of his sheath will be ongoing, and hope to provide a positive progress report after treatment.

Be encouraged! This little pony is a star!
Sherri

Celeita,

The little boy is doing great! He has really been quick to trust. I can walk right up to him or he will come directly to me (because I usually have carrots or apples in my hand!). He often nickers to me when I enter the pasture. Just recently, he has let me pick up every hoof (I had to slowly work down to that). And he stands still for brushing and his sarcoid ointment every day (without being held or tied). The tumors are getting smaller! Slow but sure! He took his oral dewormer fine. He follows his big brother pretty closely and always hollers a little bit when I take Zeke out of the pasture to ride. He also calls to us about 1/2 mile away as we return, welcoming us home. Winston will have his first vet & farrier visit here in 2 weeks. Before then, I would like to desensitize him to sprays and bathing. He has been very sensitive to (easily frightened by) every little stimulus (that is a part of our normal environment here), so every day I introduce him to new things - cell phone, camera, flashlight, squeeky dog toys, new tastes - banana, melon, peppermint, etc, then follow the introduction with lots of rubbing & reassurance. He really seems to melt when I rub him all over, putting his head down, and soaking up the affection. With tender lovin, he conquers fears quickly! I would like for Winston to really feel safe and settled here, then will start playing some Parelli games with him in the coming months. He's such a sweet boy. I'm so thankful.

Sherri

Hi Celeita, I’ll be sending you the pics and updated for Melody and Little Bit, but I wanted to let you know Bitty is totally sound – I have been riding her (I weight 115 lbs) and I jumped her on Monday, and she is great, no lameness or tenderness or anything. She wanted to go to higher jumps and was quite put out by my not allowing it. She could not be better. She’s had her shoes back on since late Ppril and off bute. The farrier was here last night and said her feet are perfect.

Hi Celeita !

Morgan told me I absolutely had to send you this picture of Addy – it is also on the disc I sent but you’d have to search for it. That little mare sure can jump !

Hi Celetia,

I just wanted to let you know that we are PCSing to California the end of July. I got all of Chesters shots and coggins done in Jan. I will be getting everything done again the 15th of July. I will forward everything to you when I get it done and have him settled in to his new home. Right now we are looking at keeping them at Stepp Stables on Camp Pendleton but we will be moving them once we find a place closer to where we live.

Chester is doing great. Jenny my 13 year old daughter loves showing him. She will be taking him to the State 4-H horse show in Raleigh on the 11th of July.

Take care,

The Cordoza Family

Hi Celetia,

Chester is doing great. Jenny my 13 year old daughter loves showing him. She will be taking him to the State 4-H horse show in Raleigh on the 11th of July.

Take care,

The Cordoza Family

Millie is great...we took her down to a hunter this year to start giving her a "calmer" job in the ring so she will be ready for Alyssa to ride in W/T. She still has tons of spunk though...it will probably be a few years before Alyssa will be able to handle her at a show. She just started trotting on her at home on a lunge line inthe round pen and showed her W/T leadline at this show.

I also took her to a show in Waynesburg last month and showed her in Liberty. She was awesome and won the qualifier and Championship...will send some pics of that soon:)

We are planning to show her at the Fall show, but she is having an even bigger issue flipping her ears, so she may end up staying home:(

You always show in a full bridle in the English divisions...no exceptions. This new mare is quite a rocket...at times she feels like you are driving an 18 wheeler down hill w/no brakes:(

Paula Weekley

Crossed Sabers Stable

The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc.

Crossed Sabers International Life School, Inc.

Mailing/Physical Address: Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, WV 26456

Office Phone: 304-873-3532 Fax: 304-873-1867 (call before faxing)

Email for Second Wind Adoption Program: SecondWindAdopt@aol.com

Visiting Hours: Daily 10 to 3pm (eastern time) by appointment

Pick Up and Delivery of Horses: 9am to 8pm by appointment

Office Hours: Summer office hours 12 noon until 4pm

Raise $1000. for Second Wind Adoption Program and have a 1 in 70 chance at a 15 carat Ruby/Diamond Ring! ... mail donations to Rt. 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, WV 26456

I shall wear diamonds and a wide brimmed straw hat with ribbons and flowers on it

And I shall spend my social security on white wine and carrots

And sit in the alley of my barn and listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out in the middle of a summer's night And ride the dappled mare across the moonstruck meadow, if my old bones will allow. and when people come to call, I will smile and nod, As I walk them past the gardens to the barn And show, instead, the flowers growing there

In stalls fresh-lined with straw. I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel. And I will be an embarrassment of all who look down on me Who have not yet found the peace in being free To love a horse as a friend, a friend who waits at midnight hour

With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes For the Woman I will be when I am old.

A young boy was walking along the beach

as high tide came in.

With every crash of the waves

he noticed that dozens of seahorses were being cast onto the beach,

where they lay gasping and squirming.

Hurriedly, he ran to each seahorse he could find

and gently tossed them back into the surf.

A man watching all this approached the boy and said;

"Son, what you are doing won't make a difference",

to which the boy replied,

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.

I am still depositing.' Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

5. Expect less.

Our lives with horses...

Our lives with horses are rich with feeling. You know this if you've ever.... choked back tears watching a new foal wobble to his feet for the First time ...or watched your good horse wobble to his feet after surgery.... or seen the ends of the reins float straight out as a reining horse spins beneath them . . or chuckled to yourself as you watched a tiny tot on a patient pony trot through a barrel pattern at a saddle club payday ... or felt the building tremble as an eight-up hitch of feather-legged giants towed a hand-carved beer wagon into the arena ... or had your heart stop when you saw your horse lying motionless in the pasture on a sunny day and waited breathlessly for an ear to flick ... or cheered at the screen when 'The Man From Snowy River' slid Dennie down the mountainside, .. or when Seabiscuit made his final surge to beat War Admiral ... or cruised along the highway and seen a horse in a pasture and wondered what he's like to ride or pictured him as a prospect ... or sucked in your breath as a horse and rider approached a six-foot wall ... or sworn a solemn oath to your horse that together you would triumph ... or flipped through the TV channels and stopped when you saw a horse even when it was a commercial ... or laughed aloud when you rubbed your horse's face and he rubbed back ... or gotten chills hearing Dave Johnson's 'and DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!' (or 'Run for the Roses' circa 1980 ish?)
... or stood in awe at your horse in morning play as he sprinted around the pasture, then stopped, head erect, and snorted defiance at the rest of the world
... or been thankful to see wild horses grazing casually at the foot of a hill ... or felt calmed by the sleekness of a silky
haircoat beneath your hand ... or felt your jaw drop as you watched a Lipazzan
perform a capriole ... or if you've ever seen someone in the grocery store wearing a certain kind of hat, or boots, or buckle, or have a certain cut and length to their jeans, and felt some remote kind of connection ... or felt warmed by a soft nicker greeting as you entered the barn ... or slid your hand under your horse's blanket to straighten it out, only to pause in the glowing feeling that you get when you touch the
warmth of his coat... or riding on a trail with your horse, thinking how that trail over there looks nice and almost without asking, your horse has sensed your slightest movement in the saddle and he's now taking you there. ... or pulled up to your barn where you board and only your horse greets you with a welcoming hello from the sound of your car or your voice.

HEROES AND HORSES

SOME NOTABLE HEROES AND THEIR HORSES ARE MENTIONED AND WE KNOW YOUR HORSE IS YOUR HERO AND VICE VERSA.

1. Kanthaka - Buddha's horse, the one he used when he was still Siddhartha the prince, to escape from his father's palace and begin his journey toward enlightenment. Kanthaka's hooves made no sounds as they fled together and he is often depicted being lifted on his four feet by benign spirits.

2. Pegasus - the mythical winged horse parented by Neptune and Medusa and ridden by Bellerophon to rid the world of Chimera, the monster. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, was able to capture and train Pegasus when he allowed her to place her golden bit in his mouth.

3. Phosphorus (Light Bearer) - the great Roman racehorse immortalized by the 4th century Roman poet Ausonius (at the emperor's request) in a beautiful eulogy: Fly with haste to join the wing-footed horses of Elysium; may Pegasus gallop on your right and Arion as your left-wheeler, and let Castor find a fourth horse for the team.

4. Babieca - famed white gelding of El Cid, Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, the Spanish hero who united Christians and Muslims against a Moorish onslaught from Africa. Babieca lived to be 30 years old and carried El Cid into all his battles. Babieca means "crazy" as Rodrigo made a crazy choice since the colt was the runt of the herd.

5. Bucephalus (Ox-head) - beloved horse of Alexander the Great who bore the Macedonian hero on his back from Greece to India. Odds against a horse living past 20 in that era were great, but Bucephalus, in his 20s, endured until he fell in battle in India.

6. Sleipnir - the eight-legged war horse of Odin, the Norse god, was able to fly without wings and shape-shift.

7. Balios and Xanthos - a grey and bay, both sired by Zephyros, the West Wind, who together pulled Achilles' chariot.

8. Vivasat - a Hindu sun-god who often took the form of a stallion.

9. Al Burak - Mohammed's horse, on whose back he ascended to heaven, was brought to him by the archangel Gabriel

10. Chiron - the centaur who taught Achilles, Jason and the first physician, Ascelpius, all he knew.

11. Rakhsh - blue-eyed and dappled red horse of the legendary Persian warrior, Rustam. Rakhsh was highly intelligent and saved his sleeping master from a lion's attack, killing the predator.

There are many more famous mythical and real horses and we will be adding to our list. Can you help us add to this list?. thank you Harmony Horse Works.

The question is not: "do you support horse slaughter."

The question is: "do you support the cruel, terrifying transport for days without food and water in their journey to death?"

The question is: "do you support the torture and abuse of the killer chutes, even for crippled horses, pregnant mares, wild horses, protective mares with foals by their sides?"

The question is: “Do you support the horse slaughter factories that lie to their consumers about the many chemicals that taint the horse meat, and call it Organic?

The question is: do you support the breeder who breeds hundreds of horses just to pick out the good ones and cash in the rest to the killer buyer?

The question is: Do you support the person who uses the horse its whole life and when it gets to an old age sends it to slaughter as a thank you?

The question is: “do you support the slaughter workers who cheer a horse on that struggles extra hard for its life?

The question is: Do you support the killer buyer who not only buys up the strong, fat and healthy horses and leaves the meek weak and unhealthy for society, but also bids against the good homes and horse rescues?

The question is: “Can you see though the lies of the ones who stand to loose a buck with the end of horse slaughter?

The question is: Do you support ripping the last of our wild horses away from their families and peaceful lives to be slaughtered?

The question is: As a nation, can we allow this to continue and still call ourselves a civilized country?

The question is: "Can you look at the footage of innocent horses with their eyes gouged out, hooves ripped off, legs broken, beaten by the workers, faces smashed in from being on the transport trucks, horses stabbed in their spines, horses conscious for the entire killing process and do nothing?

That is the question, so what is YOUR answer?

Resolve to make the world a better place for animals (credit: PETA)

	If you haven't already done so, have the companion animals who depend on you spayed or neutered. These simple procedures help protect your furry friends from many types of cancer and prevent thousands of animals from being born only to end up abandoned on the streets or dumped at severely crowded animal shelters.
	If you live with a dog, pledge to walk him or her every day, even when it's cold outside and you'd rather hide under a blanket. If you share your home with cats, set aside some "kitty (or horsey) quality time" every day to play with, brush, and bond with them. It's sometimes too easy to overlook our feline friends, but they can get bored and lonely too.
	If there is a lonely "backyard dog" in your neighborhood, try befriending his or her guardian. Start by politely talking to him or her about the dog's needs, such as companionship, daily portions of fresh food and water, and a weatherproof doghouse filled with straw. Many lucky dogs have had their lives changed because someone like you cared enough to intervene.
	If you're shopping for yourself or buying holidays gifts for your loved ones, stay away from fur, wool, leather, and companies that make or sell products made from the skins of animals.

NOTE: Crossed Sabers can not fully guarantee the accuracy of every page on this website which is huge (38,000 files and over 300 pages). We do not have the personnel or time to keep it up to date and accurate for every situation as this Stable and all its programs have always been a dynamic entity, ever changing and improving itself to meet the needs of horses and horse people. We do try to make sure each page is up to date and accurate but the best thing to do If you have a question, is email or call us. Additionally Crossed Sabers can not guarantee anything that anyone says about us on line, we have no control over other people and their websites, forums or ads, all we can tell people is if you do not know the person, their name, address and their experience, age or history/background/education and location do not trust what they say. That is true for everything on the internet. Some things said about us have been grossly inaccurate and did not come from CSS, some come from past employees we fired for cause (for hurting horses or stealing from us), people that are pro-slaughter and hate our mission and what we do for horses enjoy trying to make us look bad, some are horse traders that we've helped put out of business and some are people we helped put in jail on neglect cases. Again, if you have questions about us, our services, our company structure, how we are licensed, how we pay taxes, how we do things or anything at all, please feel free to contact us, just don't assume that all you read on another website is accurate because 99% of it is not true, especially if you read it on a forum, blog or chat room and don't assume that it came from us, just call 304-873-3532 or email us at secondwindadopt@aol.com, or better yet, come and see our operation and you will see how we do things. I can guarantee it's 1000 times better than what the liars and frauds say who are jealous of our work. All programs and services listed on this website, including SWAP is a part of Crossed Sabers Stable which has been licensed in WV for the last 13 years. The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc. and Crossed Sabers International Horse School, Inc. was incorporated on 4 Sep 08 to address the education needs and life challenges of people and horses.

Buyer and Seller Beware!! Update on the Robin Hollingsworth of Blacksburg, SC (she has several alias's and about 10 fake names) fraud case for those of you who have been asking. The SC prosecutor accepted a plea bargain from her and dropped the case if she paid the people she ripped off (the people she took money under false pretenses from when she sold them horses she did not own), she did that so she was let go but the 3 arrests will stay on her record and the record of what she did to all those people is still on the books and will stay there. If she is caught again I'm certain she will go to jail but people who are cheated by her must stand up and testify.. If more people that she ripped off would have not chickened out and backed out because of fear (Quote from them was we are scared of her, she is crazy) she would be in jail right now but beware, she is still loose and still taking free horses or companion horses that have things like ringbone and navicular and drugging them and then selling them as high level jumpers and competition horses on the internet. Her daughter works with her, Amanda or Mandy, she helps her rip people off. Beware, I'm getting calls almost every month where Robin has committed more crimes against people, taking horses, not paying for them, bouncing checks, buying vehicles and horse trailers and not paying for them. BEWARE OF THIS WOMAN!! If you want her history or to check a person's name against our black list (our do not adopt to, do not sell to, do not buy from, do not hire or even rent to list), then contact us.

BEWARE: Do not buy a horse from anyone you do not know, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET, unless they have websites like ours, their names and addresses listed and they show they have a long long history on their website and do not buy unless you go to see the horse and have it vet checked and you have contact with the vet, not the seller or even trainer telling you what the vet said. DO NOT GIVE YOUR HORSE OR SELL YOUR HORSE WITHOUT A WRITTEN AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT IS TO HAPPEN WITH THE HORSE, RESELLING, USE/LIMITATIONS, FACILITIES NEEDED, ETC. It you sell or give away a horse with no agreement, they could go to slaughter the same day you release them or they could be sold and misrepresented, living a life of neglect, abuse, over use and miss use the rest of their lives. We hear stories all the time where a best friend or neighbor, the nice lady you gave the horse to sent the horse to slaughter or is neglecting it and there is not a thing the owner can do now because they no longer own the horse and they made no written agreements signed by both parties. If you need help doing written agreements, back ground checks on buyers and sellers, just contact us, that is part of our 'SAFE SELLING' SERVICES. Your horse's life depends on you being safe and thorough!

BEWARE: People are selling horses on the internet that don't even exist so beware, the horse industry is full is liars, cheaters, and thieves, even we have had to deal with them from potential adopters who were in jail applying to adopt, to employees and former trainers who totally ripped us off by stealing tack and tools, asking for huge advances and then leaving after they get them, people who don't even know us or had any experience with us slandering us on forums, harassing us and our supporters, interfering with company operations and even adopters who don't think twice about breaching their contract or forging their vets signature on applications & annual updates or even selling their adoption horse to programs like ours and even 501c3's public charities selling horses to slaughter auctions or being put in jail for neglect and animal cruelty. We are bringing each person that has wronged our horses to justice one at a time and winning all our cases but that does not protect the general public from these liars, thieves, con-artist and cheaters. Your horses life can easily be ruined forever, they could end up in a fate worse than death so buyer and seller beware, your horses life depends on you keeping them safe and you being thorough with doing things like getting references and making sure the people have stable employment, that they really own the farm they say they do, doing background checks to check for criminal records. The horse world is full of dishonesty which ruins it for honest people that really care and always try to do the right thing, such a shame. Just be very careful and get proof that your horse is going to a good home, get more than a feeling because we promise you about 50% of the time when it comes to horses, your feeling that its a 'nice' person or a 'good' person' is wrong. And even when you pick a good home, they can turn around and sell or give away to a bad home.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches and negative people pull you down. People who like to cause trouble will shorten your life and make you just like them... miserable.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen.. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away

The ride home went great. She got off the trailer and was ready to eat. We walked her around the grounds a little bit then we introduced her to her pasture mates. George went up to her first...the old pony...she kicked him so he just left her alone...then the little QH mare went over..she did the same thing with her. Then SY...I'm not sure what he is...but he's a little brown pony...he didn't really care but then when he tried to go around her the QH became really protective. She stared getting pretty mean towards Savannah. As you know everything that happened is normal but the QH's owner was uptight...so they are going to move her out of that field...Savannah is staying in tonight so I don't have to worry about her.

I know that you told me she shouldn't be ridden for a few days but she seems to really feel safe with us. So Shannen said she wanted to get on her. We tacked her up, she was great...she likes to move a little but we'll work on that. I won't let the kids go behind her yet just because of the kicking she was doing in the field...I don't trust her as far as that goes but that will change in time. Josh walked her up to the indoor ring with Shannen....we sat down and she walked Savannah all around the ring because they have mirrors up on the wall and she just wanted her to see everything first. She brought her over to the riding block. I stood beside her and held her while Shannen slowly got on...she was a little nervous at first (savannah) but Shannen was awesome. She trotted her around...she has a BEAUTIFUL trot...she liked that she has a slow trot then a faster one. she said she is so smooth. After a few minutes she did try to canter her. She just didn't know what to do. You could tell that someone was trying to teach her but she just didn't know what to do with her feet....Then Katelyn got on her...she said the same things as Shannen. They both agree that she's safe for the kids to walk around on. I'm still gonna wait for that to happen though. They are going to continue to work with her probably 4 to 5 times a week. There's a dressage clinic up there tomorrow so I'm not sure what they'll do with her tomorrow because the outdoor rings are so muddy and they are working with their own horses tomorrow. I will take video of that sometime this week. My 5 year old is graduating from KDG on Monday and all 3 of them have softball, baseball and T-ball games this week. This is the last full week of school!!!!

Savannah is doing FANTASTIC. We actually brought her home to our back yard for like 4 hours yesterday. I got to spend so much time with her. I gave her a bath...gave her lots of treats....the kids spent some time with her...it was just a really nice afternoon with her. She didn't end up getting sick or anything after they rode her the first day..thankfully!

Today was my youngest sons graduation from KDG so after my mom took him to lunch he wanted to go up and spend some time with Savannah. We took her out of her stall and just brushed her some more. She has been soooo good. I think she knows who I am now. She is starting to stand totally still for me when she's getting groomed. I just keep working with her and telling her when she moves "STAND" in a firm voice...then I keep telling her she's such a good girl. She has no problem when i brush her face or anything....it seems like she actually really enjoys getting pet and her head rubbed. At first it seemed like she didn't no what a "treat" was. She was hesitant...she's finally coming around with that. She really likes carrots and peppermints. I think she's probably just starting to feel comfortable. We went up last night around 8:30 to check on her and she was in the field with George...very cute

Hi Celeita,

Everything is going good with Savannah...I think I am going to send her to a trainer if that's ok. He's going to come out and evaluate her then if he thinks she needs it...he'll take her to his training facility for a month then we'll go over there for a month and ride with him. I haven't sent you any pics of Bailey training because she hasn't gotten on her yet. My 2 boys have taken a pony ride on her but that's it. I'm not comfortable yet with Bailey just getting on and going. We are switching over to a western saddle....we're just going to use her for trail riding. She's just going to be our family horse that everyone can just ride for fun. Maybe eventually after everything settles down and we all know what we are doing then maybe Bailey will eventually get in to the low level dressage.

The vet is coming out to the barn next week and I am having them check her teeth. Teresa said it looks like she needs them done because when she's eating carrots she's like sawing them instead of chomping. Everything else is great. She has a beautiful shiny coat...I brush her everyday....I go up and spend my mornings with her...she's been staying out at night and comes in during the day...so I go up after she eats her breakfast, I'm trying to make that our new routine. The kids only have a few days of school left so they'll be able to go up in the mornings with me now....I want her to just relax on these 86 degree days, laying in her stall under the ceiling fan.

Do you have any advice on getting on her? Was she fidgity when you put her saddle on? She'll be real calm while I'm brushing her and stuff...all I have to do is tap really easy on the side of her leg and say 'come on" and she'll lift her leg for me to do her feet..she stands competely still for all that but as soon as I pull out the saddle it's totally different. I tell her "it's ok...I"m not gonna hurt you"....she'll calm down for a minute then start moving again...I then tell her in a firm voice "STAND"...and then she lets me put it on. I do a little more each day with her. Yesterday I lunged her without the saddle but today I put it on to lunge her. A few of the girls up there keep talking and I've heard that they think we've made a mistake....she's always going to pull to the left or something....I don't care what they say. I am not giving up...it doesn't matter to us what she can or can't do....she's a part of our family and she will be with us forever!!! She's happy....we're happy..that's all that matters, everything else will fall into place when it's time.

I took these 2 pics of her this morning. I will let you know how it goes with the trainer after her consultation.

PS...my 3 kids are riding Savannah alone now. Bailey is scheduled to start trotting in about 2 weeks...the boys are content with just walking and that's fine with me...I promise to get some pics soon...when I get up there, there's just so much to do and get ready then I end up forgetting about the camera. We are going up in a little bit to give her her first bath:)

Hi Celeita....I just wanted to send you a few pics from the kids and my husband riding Savannah this evening. We had a really nice time:) This was actually the first time my husband has ever been on a horse....he was so afraid of her in the beginning but he's finally coming around...he was keeping the flies away from her tonight, it was cute. I also know Bailey's legs are out way to far in this pic....her legs have been really sore from trying to build up the muscles so she was holding them out tonight...she was safe...Savannah is really really good with them all. I have videos also to send but I can't get them downloaded yet.

Dear Celeita,

The vet came early this year. This past weekend having been nice and sunny, I took some photos and have attached my annual follow-up form and photos on Cody in Dunbarton, New Hampshire.

I hope this is satisfactory. If you'd like a hard copy by snail mail, just let me know and I'll send it out.

This has been a fantastic spring for trail riding. Cody hasn't gotten into any trouble with porcupines and continues to be greatly amused by the turkey population. My neighbors down the road just adopted a beautiful black and white paint and he and Cody have been exchanging loud neighing conversations across the woods.

Thank you for all that you do for the horses that are lucky enough to touch your life.

Take care,
Barb

Hi Celeita,

Again, CJ is a DREAM animal. I am so fortunate to have gotten him. Whether he is ridden or just tearing through the pasture he has the most wonderful disposition. He is in love with children… like the 3’ tall ones! It is amazing to watch him around them. His head drops to the ground and he follows them all over the pasture and yard!!! Like catnip for him!

Hi Celeita,

I just wanted to give you an update on Savannah. She is doing really well. She's starting to trust us more and more everyday. When we stand at the gate of her pasture if she's all the way at the bottom all we have to do is call her and she comes right away...she's now following me around when I'm in there too. I think because we are more comfortable with her now that she is more comfortable with us as well and it seems like she really looks forward to seeing us everyday...the treats help too! The kids have been riding her, just walking around in the rings but she seems to enjoy it. Bailey is going to start trotting her next week. She admitted she was a little intimidated by her size but after getting to know her she's comfortable being on her. If she starts getting antsy..I just lunge her, usually off line....I like to let her work some of that energy off before the kids get on her...the only time I really have to do it is if the weather is really bad and they keep all the horses in...that's only happened once or twice so far. She goes out after her evening feeding then comes in for breakfast and stays in. They were all wormed today. She is having her teeth floated on the 16th and I'm going to schedule the farrier probably the first week of July because her feet look really good. I make sure I clean them everyday...and I think she saw the farrier right before we brought her home because she was a little sore when we came down to see her the first time because you said he had just been there.

I do have a question for you. Even though her hooves look really good, should I be putting something on them? I went and bought a stall guard for her today and I keep seeing different things for hooves. I'm wondering if I should be doing something with them. Other than that I don't really have any other questions. She's doing great...she seems really happy...she's made some new friends...and we just LOVE her. I can't believe I wanted to send her back before. I just didn't know what to do...I'm greatful that you "set me straight" and didn't let me give up on her. It wasn't her fault...it was mine. I promise I will get some pics to you this week. We are in for some rough weather the next few days and my 5 year old is really sick so when I go up and see her I'm not sure if I'll have time to take any probably until the end of the week.

Have a good night.

Amy Wilhoit

Yes, I'm sure about the hotel bill. I'll let him know when he gets here that it was my idea to cover it and I'll get the check from him and shred it, so don't worry about it. He did tell me that he thinks we're getting a very nice horse, so we really don't mind the extra expense. Plus, I have followed Second Wind for 10 years now and have received two beautiful and cherished horses from your program, so I know the good you all are doing there. I know times are tough right now - especially for horse owners, since horses are usually a high maintenace luxury for most people. We here, on Florida's Space coast, are soon to be looking at the massive scale back of the Space program and my boss, who is on the county animal shelter board, says there is expected to be a huge influx of unwanted horses in our area. Makes me wish we had more room here to be able to help. So sad - but we are glad to be bringing Cody into our family now. Will keep you all in my prayers for that miracle and in the mean time will do what we can to help. Kathy

Well, he made it here safe and sound this morning. He's beautiful! Obviously tired from his trip, but not too tired to already be sweet talking our mare, Dandelion. He does have a pretty heavy nasal discharge - Gary said the vet up there didn't seem concerned about it. I'm sure the trip down here probably only aggravated it, but will have our vet out to have a look at him and get him on some ABs. Will let you know how that goes. Thanks again for another beautiful horse. Kathy P.S. I got your check from Gary so you can consider it voided.

Here is what Cody was doing when you & Chris were bringing Joy over to the barn for her bath on Sunday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTxX0Z-h4mY

That was @ 48 hrs here - he has definitely settled down quite a bit since then, so really appreciate the "wild black stallion moment" :) So cool, will send on in a group mailing! The vet was out today and confirmed: he IS an old man even though he thinks he's still the stud muffin he always was! He does have a few "geriatric" issues that were no surprise to us and definitely treatable. It's absolutely all good though, and we are definitely still in the "honeymoon phase". He has just been the best!!!! Obviously sooo smart and has so far been very patient with us :) What a gentleman. We couldn't be happier to have him here! Unfortunately, he has to wait another 10 days of quarantine to meet "Dandelion", who is beside herself to meet him! We are also thrilled to be in contact with Melani & Eddie, Cody's former, long time (22 yrs) owners. Thanks to Melani, we are learning his training cues. So glad to be able to partner with them long distance to keep the boy happy! As former owners, ourselves, of our beloved Cody "1" (for 25 years), we could just feel how hard it must be for them to have to pass him on to a new home at this stage of the game. Not to worry, we are committed to making his "retirement years" as comfortable as possible - and you can always say now that Cody has retired to Florida!

Until the next update, Kathy

Celeita, Just an update on our boy. He continues to settle in, now nickering at me when he sees me in the a.m. - I know it's only cause he's figured out I'm the food wench :), but it's still cool! His nasal discharge is much better, but he continues to cough occasionally, mostly after exercise (that is his own, @ liberty, exercise). We have not started anything strenuous w/him yet, except learning to agree on ground manners. Our vet said it may be residual congestion from the long trailer ride, or a COPD type of condition. Told her I would ask again about his recent history, so wondered if you could maybe check with those who dealt with him and ask if they ever heard him cough? We ran bloodwork on him yesterday and it all came back perfect. (funny side story; when I pulled his blood, I started to poke him and he went, "Oh shoot! I'm supposed to park out" and then promptly stepped on my toe! - OUCH! :) It's all good though, we're still learning one another! No signs of infection, so just trying to determine treatment options if it doesn't clear completely with time. I know Florida can be hard on horses that come from the north, but we are totally committed to doing whatever it takes to making him comfortable and happy here. We already absolutely adore him. He is sooo good, a real gentleman, and such a character! He's definitely "Mr. Personality"! We're also keeping in touch with Melani & Ed, as well. We so appreciate their help in establishing good communication with him. Thank you all again for connecting us with another special horse. Kathy Lovaas P.S. I will be sending the additional $300 adoption donation (that I promised) within the next two weeks. Thanks again, KL

I'm so excited to see Red tomorrow. Stephanie is at camp this coming week so it will give Red a chance to settle in before she comes back. I'm sure you'll send his records with him? Also about his registration papers...some shows we go to he needs to have proof that he's pure paint or QH not grade also they keep track of points for year end awards. So can I call the paint horse registry and see what we need to do to get his paperwork updated? Cindy said his papers were lost? Thanks so much Celeita! This make 4 adoptions so far? fantastic! hopefully more to come! well not for me I have enough...lol The Vet is coming out end of June for my summer camp kids and I plan to have him do the adoption updates then...

Honey..the cape cod thing just isnt very appealing to me...I live with water on 3 sides...I can drive either east or west and be at the beach in 15 mins....I need a wyoming dude ranch week up for bids. LOL.

Things are so crazy for me at the moment that Im wondering when Ill just fall out and sleep for a month. Im still running 3 jobs...and dad had a knee replacement 2 weeks ago yesterday. Mom cant do any lifting...shes been having epidural shots to tide her over..the spinal fusion they did last year is already coming with issues above and below the repair...they want to redo her back in about 6 months. So my life is something like...get up coffee...work...work...mom & dads...home to eat & nap..work...sleep get up and do it all over again. Addy is fine. Its been a rough winter for us...they've never seen this much snow (more in the forecast for tonight too) here on the shore. Thank god for Tracey and her wonderful care. I havent been able to get a farrier to him since just after Christmas. Ive been trimming and filing him myself. There are places in Delaware that are still impassable with snow. They actually had to ask farmers to help deldot get the roads clear. My farrier is out in Federalsburg Md. That's kinda west of Seaford across the md line. Thank god its winter and hes been slow to grow anything anyway. The last 2 storms have started as rain and ended as snow so our road to the barn has been washed out...we're hiking up there from the house. Addys doing fine with his pasture buddies and is maintaining weight well. As soon as I can get a farrier out there he'll get done. We're getting ready to do the work on the road...they have the stone and the tractor lined up... we just have to get some verigated pipe to lay down to take the water under the road then Ill hop aboard and go at it. The last issue I have with him is getting those front incisors evened out. Ive got a couple tentative days with the dentist and am waiting to hear from Daryll...whether he wants to come out or if he'll give me the tq to give myself. Its going to depend on his schedule. He kinda wants to see her do it...so he kinda wants to come but him being one of the only 2 vets that does spring shots...he may or may not be able to be there. Belle is great...wild but great. I took her to the farm Sunday to go walk the road with me (I was making my plan on how to get the work to the road done)....she zoomed up and down the road for the pure joy of running... shes had cabin fever....hell Ive had cabin fever. Im sitting here drinking my coffee for a bit of a jump start...I gotta get out and do some mucking around here...we got piled up around here for 3 weeks unable to get our dump body trailer emptied. I kept the sheds clear by mucking it off to the side but now I have 3 weeks worth of manure to pick up and get outta here. I started this weekend but I still have 2 sheds & piles to go. These winter nor'easters are brutal when they come in as snow. Hope all is well with you...we're doing the best we can considering circumstances.

Chris

He my buddy....he'll always have a spot with me. Hes just lovely in the spring and fall...all those dapples. Im tired as hell...heading for the bed soon. I was over there yesterday briefly....he was happy to see me. Im looking forward to spending some time with him & riding while on vacation. Im going to try to forward that update to Emily too....I tried to send her an email on that excede but it got bounced back...I might be able to mail her something if I cant get a working email addy.

Chris

Hi Celieta.

Attached is an update form and some pix of Pik's Pizzaz. She is doing great with those poor legs of hers and they don't seem to be causing her any pain. Excuse the silly pic of me with her but no one else was here to take a better shot and I wanted to get this update out to you. For the life of me I can't find her coggins so I'll ask the vet to bring the pink copy along next time he's out and will send that to you.

Pizzaz is sweet as ever and loves living the easy life - hanging with friends and munching on 40 acres of improved pastures :)

I'll send more pix in the next email as I'm out of space.

Meridith

Subject: Tango & Midnight

Hi Celeita. Hope this finds you well. I keep up-to-date with the program via your website and emails. I wanted to send some pictures of the boys. They are doing great. No issues at all. In fact, Tango's rainrot issues are completely gone this year-yeah!! It was a pretty hard winter, as I'm sure it was for everyone, but our hay supply was great and they stayed nice and plump (esp Midnight) over the winter months. We built a new barn this year and the boys are excited to try out their new stalls, as soon as I frame them in. I spent the last two days filling the top with hay for the winter - but we're set & ready. I've included some pictures of them as well as their new living quarters. I've filled out the update forms and will be dropping them in the mail tomorrow. Take care.

Penny Hines

Oh, that doesn't really worry me. I would rather see them "shake their sillies out" while they are lunging then when I get on them! : ) She probably just wanted to strut her stuff. I will be doing ground work with her the first few weeks in hand and also lunging (reversing, ect). Then we will do the saddle. I figure it is always better to go a little slow than throw them into something they aren't ready for. I will be overnighting the paperwork on Monday morning so be expecting it on Tuesday sometime. Let me know when you receive it.

I enjoyed talking to you also. I really can't imagine the responsibility it takes to run an organization like yours. Hats off to you. You keep a lot of wonderful horses out of the auction arenas.

Jackie Capps

Hi. I mailed all the paperwork to you today. I didn't overnight it as Angie hasn't left yet. It should be there to you no later than Thursday. If not, let me know. I put a copy of my license in there and utility bill. As soon as checks are there, I will get them to you. How much would a down payment on her be and then I know the monthly payments would be $100.

I am so very, very pumped about her coming. I have been searching the internet on articles on the MFT breed, etc. I printed them all off and will be reading them when I go to bed tonight. Now I am on the "it can't happen quick enough" mode!!! From the way you described her, she sounds just like the breed profile; brave, quick to learn (a good habit or a bad habit!!). I had Pete in the round pen last night working him free. He has decided (or learned) that if you go to reach for him, he can pivot and take off. I put him in the pen and by the end of the evening, he was following me closely and would allow me to turn, walk up to him, rub him all over, and then reward him. He is a quick study, but boy, if you let him get away with anything, it doesn't take him long to make it a habit!!!

My tack is black, so I am looking at trade swaps, etc. for a brown saddle. Sassy will look much better in that then black. I also need to get her a saddle pad. I like the SMX pads, lots of padding and air movement under them. I figure if they have to lug me around, I want them as comfortable as they can be.

Sorry for the rambling. I am so excited to get her home. I want to start bonding with her and spending time with her. She is so beautiful. I noticed you dropped her off the adoption page. Is there anyway you could email me that page so I could print it out and keep it in her health records folder. You know, the one that tells about her and has a few pics. Not sure if that is something you can do or not.

Well, please let me know when Angie is taking off. I can better plan her arrival time then. Is she staying a few days with you?

Talk to you soon!

Jackie Capps

Sassy is home! What a cutie pie! Unloaded her in the dark and my son led her to her paddock. She stopped and didn't want to move but I just clicked to her and she moved out. No spookiness at all. Took everything in stride. Setting my alarm for early as I don't have to leave for work until 11 PM. Can't wait to get aquainted. Angie and her daughter were super nice and I hope a friendship gets started between all of us. I will update u tomorrow.

Hi. Just a quick note and I will send more later. I finally moved Lady into the same paddock as Sassy as Sassy really was nervous being alone. They have made friends but Sassy is definately the boss!! As soon as I get someone to bush hog I am opening the gate do they will hv a 2 and half acreas to themselves with a run in. I hv been ground working Sassy. She likes to get in my space but is much better. She really wants to be good! Hope to be riding here this upcoming weekend. She definately loves her daily brushing and stands completely still for the fly spray. I will send photos as her training progresses. Pls feel free to forward this to her mom. Shannon sent me her email and I forgot to save it. I'm such an airhead sometimes.

I think I deleted it. Here is a short update . . . I LOVE HER!! She has so much personality. She has showed her redhead side a few times but we worked thru that and she doesn't stop and argue like she was doing. She loves to b brushed. It was storming really bad yesterday so I didn't brush her. I swear this morning she gave me the eye!! I told her she would get her grooming today. Lady and her r on 2 and half acreas now. They r best buds. She has been a good fit. No saddle time yet. That will b this weekend.

Sassy has been a true delight. She has really, and I mean really, bonded up with me. She will leave her food right away if I come to the fence. When I want to bring her out of the field, I just open the gate, call to her, she comes, drops her head, I put on her halter and off we go. We are advancing very nicely thru the 7 games. I am hoping that Monday I will be able to ride her in the round pen. I believe we are ready, just time hasn't been on my side.

I will attemt to send some pics this weekend. She has picked up a little weight but is not obese. She loves her fly spray. Cracks me up!!! She gets excited when she knows she is getting some. And I've never known a horse that loves being brushed as much as her.

Do you have any advertisement sheets that I can hand out and put up at all of the places I go? If not, My mom is an advertisement artist and I can work on putting something together here, get your approval on it and I’ll make copies of it so I can start putting it up at all the places I go to. Most people around here have never heard about you and what you do. I tell everybody I come in contact with about you and my horses. A lot of people are very surprised I got all of mine through rescue. Dixie, mo and Lucy grab the most attention around here. I have had people stop here just to take a photo of Dixie and want to know where I found her. People around here have a major misconception about rescue horses and they think all they can get are pasture buddies they don’t know how nice all your horses are and that there are some real gems in the rough that just need a second chance to be winners again. Lucy has been getting a lot of attention lately because she is such a beauty. She has really come out of her shell here. I take people out into the field with everybody and she is always the first to come and ham it up with people. Plus she gives hugs. People just can’t get over that one. Once you start rubbing on her head she will take her head and just wrap it and her neck right on around you. People go crazy over it. She so big and sweet people just can’t get over it. You have some of the best rescue horses that I’ve come across and I’ve seen a lot. More people need to know that you can get horses like her and Dixie from you and that you’re not just getting a horse that is run down and ready for pasture. I would like to be able to put something up that has all of your info and some pics at the places I go and get the word out around here more. People also need to know that they don’t need to get a horse if they want to help they can do donations with you also. If you don’t have something like that I can get the ad made up and take it to all of the places I go around here. Of course you would have final approval of what the ad says and looks like. I will donate everything. I wish I could send money but I have everything tied up in these guys right now and I still need to get a trailer. Shows are another place that I can get the word out if I have flyers that I can leave at the registration tables. Let me know what you think and I’ll get started with something. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.

Dixie and Lucy seem to be scared to death of the clippers. All I’ve been trying to get done is their hairy muzzles, bridle paths and clean up their legs some. Everybody else just goes with the flow even Mo and he is very sensitive to everything.

Jennifer

Yea go ahead and cash it. Thanks for sending some info for me to put up.

If you need a place to foster PC and or Big’n please know you can always send them here and I will take care of him until things get better for you and you can take them back. My guys can attest to the fact they have it good here and are very well feed and happy. In fact I was going to ask you how I could get some weight off of Dixie. I feed her two handfuls of feed in the morning and at night and now she just gets grass and no hay. She is as big as a house. She hasn’t been able to be worked because she had a big split in her front hoof that we have been working on for a while so she is on light duty. In fact the farrier will be here again tomorrow to check it again and do some trimming and shaping. Now Lucy has popped up with a crack in her front hoof. Everybody’s feet are looking a little rough. I was told it was because of the mud because when it dries it is sucking all the moisture out of their feet. I’ve been using hoof maker but it’s not helping. It seems to be with anybody that has white hooves. Zephyr is fine and Karrera’s back feet are fine. I may have to put shoes on everybody tomorrow. Fun, Fun.

I’ll be sending some pics as soon as I download them from my camera.

Keep your head up high and I will pray for you and the horses.

Jennifer

Good Morning Celeita. I am late getting my June stuff to you – I have the vet coming after the July 4^th weekend to get shots and the required Coggins. Harry is doing well, although seems a little thin, even at 20 he should be looking better. I want to discuss him with the vet. I am concerned about the new problem of worming medications not being as effective anymore. I have all my horses on daily Strongid C and am now wondering if I have made a mistake doing that. Also, we are finally able to start getting our pasture fencing up. I desperately need my 11 acres fenced to get more horses out on green grass – right now only have a small paddock and have to rotate everyone. We are working that issue all this week through the long weekend – hope to make good progress!

I am sorry the economy has been so hard on your organization – I sincerely hope it turns around soon. I retired on the 8^th of May from federal service with 34 years and 2 months to my credit. I am still in the Air Force Reserve for another two years however. It provides me money for my horses. You know he has a home for life and surely wants for nothing! See what you think. Whatever you decide… again will have my stuff to you shortly. Jeannine

Hello Celeita!

Below is the message from Dee Dee Sale from the Tennessee Walking Horse Foundation who requested the DNA tests for Lucky. She thought that maybe "Lucky" Blue was from her stallion, Masquerading, but the test has shown that he wasn't. Wouldn't that have been something--her stallion was a World Grand Champion! Regardless of his bloodlines, I know Blue is a horse that is a champion in his own right just through his will to survive starvation and abandonment. Anyway, we still hope to find out who he is...

I hope to send you an updated pic soon. "Lucky" Blue is doing great. We've been trail riding a few times to try it out--he is going to make an amazing trail horse! He seems to like it and has a lot of heart and a will to please.

It sounds like things are tight there. I hope I can help out sometime in the near future, you are providing such a wonderful service for these horses (and people)! I've first got to get through some unexpected bills--I recently adopted a young rottweiler from our local dog pound only to find out she has severe hip dysplasia. She was only 8 months old and someone dumped her off in the city. Have a consult with the vet to check out the options. I don't have any "miracles" up my sleeve, but if I did I'd send them your way! Your in my thoughts...

Julie Peterson

Hi Celeita,

Spring is really busy here. The farrier is coming today, I'm spreading manure on my big hay field (if we can get the "new" spreader to work), disenfecting the chicken coop before stocking it with my new peeps and so forth.

Still no baby horsie at this end. I'd send you a picture, but with shedding out rain rot, Cinders looks worse then ever. I've been using betadine to make sure there's no ickies developing under the scabs - same with the boys. We also dump all the grooming equipment into a bleach bath every day to reduce reinfection.

I've gradually increased her grain (corn/pellets/calf manna/oil/minerals) and she's got free choice hay in addition to pasture. She's still rolling over all the way, is perkier and filling out nicely (besides baby belly).

She's a bit fiesty about a few things but is learning to let me check her derriere - the vulva is clean, firm and pink with no discharge. She's continueing to bag v-e-r-y slowly.

She's a great help with the goats, when I move them to a different pasture, she herds them up and pokes them through the gate in front of her. When one of the myotonics got stuck in the briars (upside down), she rushed over to check on her. Cinders doesn't seem to miss being in a equine herd - she plays nosie over the fence with Bo and Jake, then goes back to her goaties.

Dan and I can't imagine not having her with us. The little girls next door are in heaven just petting her nose. She's our pony-girl for sure. I figure she and I can get old together. :) Please consider her homed.

It's nice to be riding after all that snow. Everyone is frisky, but a nice lunging takes the edge off. HOPEfully I'll have enough of them de-edged for three of us to go hacking in the next week. We plan

Our neighbor's cousin just sent 5-6 drafts to a broker - if he can't sell them to the Amish for "summer help" he takes them to the auction. I talked them into holding back on really sweet Perch mare - he won't sell her for what I can afford, but I figure that just the fact that he didn't sell her means that he's considering my offer. He couldn't afford to feed the horses he had last winter. One mare was tied into a standing stall and was fed TOO much. He sold them two days after I saw them. The four he has left are in good condition - lots of water, shelter, pasture, hay and hoof trims. Aaah well, the fight continues.

Be well

Susan Falcon Soeder

Howzie-howzie!

It was a long winter for all of us, wasn't it? We were very cozy here. But I won't share details beyond hauling feed and water buckets 150 ft twice a day through the snow drifts is a "been there, done that, burn the tee shirt" kinda thing - especially by the third month. 'Nuff said.

I just put in 22 post holes and stopped to eat lunch. It's getting ready to pour so I'll write a long over due update. This being a catch up edition, it's a bit long. From now on, we'll just hit the highlights every few weeks.

The trees are starting to get a mist of buds - lemon, green, russet and purple hazes gradually obscure the branches. Goat babies are bouncing around like little super-balls just for the heck of it, puffballs of shed fleece tumbling around them like restless dandelions. The horses are scratching loose hair off on any available post and laying around in the sun. Aghast at the noise of the new chickies, the old chickens are scolding (everyone) constantly. Puppies and Dog are enjoying running vs snow-swimming.

The new windrow, shade and fruit trees should be here soon. Dan has cut back and totally rebuilt the grape arbor - it's a thing of beauty and should last for 50+ years. He's getting new varieties of grapes to add to our current plantings. Dan has all his little seedlings ready to go in the new garden. He's starting small, 30ft x 30ft.

Dan's taking me to the WV horse Expo next week (whee!). If the timing is right, we might try to pick up a baby girl goat while we're down there - she looks like a dust bunny. Then I'll be picking up 15 rare breed chickens, 4 bunnies and three breeding goats in Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. R will take care of the farm while we run to two farms in Kentucky and pickup more (8) head of stock.

My neighbors, Mr. and Mrs R, acquired a geriatric manure spreader for us to share and cuss at. It's great at flinging poo and (spare?!?) parts everywhere. We're all cleaning out and disinfecting barns n sheds to prepare for babies and new stock. I've been working on Mr. R's crunched shoulder, Mrs. R's pinchy-nerve hand and Grandchild R's migraines. The two farms are nearly one co-op at this point. They even put in a new gate to move equipment and stock back and forth.

Mrs. R and I are going to freeze/can/dehydrate whatever we need and set up a veggie/fruit/egg stand to sell the extras. Mr. R has also asked if I want to pick up some spare change putting in a neighbors fence. No REAL heavy labor, mostly "surveying", layout, estimate materials and whacking the auger when its stuck. *snerk* I'll let the boys put in the high tensile line.

In the house, the electricians have about 2 wks more work. The kitchen is losing one door and gaining another - almost all the cabinets have to move - and get repainted. I'm going to try my hand at laying a pebble floor, first in the new mudroom (to be built) then in the breezeway. If that works, on to the basement. Dan's getting a new library wall for his home office and *gasp* a DOOR! After that a couple of new closets, pull up the carpet and seal the floors.

The heavy refurb work in the house will wait 'til it gets hot in June. Working in the AC - aahhh!. Next winter I'll set up the net-site, redo the basement into a family room with massage office/guest bedroom. I'll open the office by next spring.

Right now, I'm putting in a couple of thousand feet of new fence so we can get the best use of our fields. I'd like to wait one more year before we cut back the blackberries and we need to keep the goats out of them 'til after harvest.

Well, somewhere in all of this I have two trained horses to de-kink, the neighbors not-really trained horse and my untrained boy to train. The pony isn't trained but she's going to be busy with a baby... soon. I may also be breaking in a draft mare for hauling rock, firewood and poo - lots and lots of poo. One of my boarders is working for me this summer to pay for keeping her horse here.

I miss you all. It will be so wonderful to have an open house later this summer (MAYbe July 3rd). For those of you who can't make it. I also plan on having a two-week long Camp-In late July or August - perfect time to get out of the city. I'm fencing off a camp ground down in the shade of the turkey glen. Should also be set up for pony rides, berry picking and sleeping in the shade.

I know it all sounds like a lot, but a little at a time, set up the right way - well, its hard work, but usually I'm so involved I don't mind. This is who I am and what I've missed all these years. The space, clean air and beasties - the satisfaction of seeing plans done - and all this with my widdle Smoochie-Pookie-Kins. (giggle)

lurvs, hugs and regards,

ps, The attached file is a bit large - you'll want to view it at 100% or better. BUT... make sure you're sitting down and braced. Not every one is on the farm yet, but should be here by the end of May. No pictures of the bunnies yet.

must run and put in posts before the rain starts.... Oh, did I mention we're building a new stable addition to the barn? :o) sf

(Barb, I lost Sue's email address, please forward to her and the kids. thanks sf)

Hi again, I have been meaning to update you on Bud's aka Buckshot's condition. When his feet were done a week ago this past Wed. Our ferrier found one abscess in each foot. One popped as soon as the ferrier took off his shoe, the other one would not. You can feel the pus pockets in each sole. For some reason the one that did pop closed up. Poor Bud is struggling with the pain, it is so great. So here is what we are currently doing. No antibiotics, I have asked and asked and all of the vets at the clinic say no for two reasons. First they are saying the antibiotic does not get into the hoof cavity and does not work and second the antibiotic apparently can make the infection worse?? I also cannot soak because the vets do not want the sole to soften. Bud has not sunk but is very close. Last Friday we did another DMSO IV and nitro wrap. I am also putting on Pol CAT, clay poultice. We have been keeping him 100% in his 12x24 stall. But lately
everytime I go to the barn (which is almost every hour, during the day) he is down. So I started two days ago taking him out for VERY small walks and letting him have sunshine. I also started moving him thoughtout the day to different stalls which seems to keep him up more. I am also wrapping his legs with a polo wraps to prevent sores. We leave for the beach July 9 and Bud will stay at the vets for a week. Maybe with 100% vet care they can think of something else. This is so frustrating, if the pockets could just pop it seems like he would feel so much better. Do note even though he is down and VERY sore, when he is laying down he is not breathing heavy, etc. When the vet came Friday, she said his eyes looked good and did not want to increase pain meds. Any ideas?

Fancy had her baby yesterday. We named him Apollo. He's chestnut with a star and white hind sock. He's a big healthy boy. In fact mother and son are doing fine. Don't have a registration name yet. Still thinking on that.

Sally Graham
"Great accomplishments begin with a thought"

Rosie is still hanging in there. She hasn't foaled yet. She's massive. Her baby is going to be big enough to be a grand prix jumper by the time it's foaled.
Apollo is doing great. Fancy is very possessive of her baby. We are dealing with her in a positive way. It's all good.

Dear Celeita:
I mailed my update information on the mares today. It includes a letter from my farrier Rocky Ullrich and some pictures of the mares.
I give all our horses shots myself as well as worm them. Fancy and Rosie got their annual shots on April 18. We worm all the horses at the same time every 3 months.
Rocky will be here on Wednesday, 6/2 to trim or shoe all of our horses.
Their coggins is still current.
I've attached a picture of the mares so you can see they really are quite fat. The foals haven't pulled them down at all nor will they. We are going to start calling Rosie "Tundra" because she's so big.
I hope things get better for you soon.
You don't have worry about Rosie & Fancy as they are doing well. They are great moms.
Sally Graham

Celeita, Jack the Morab is amazing. I lunged him for about 10 minutes, then tacked him up and we had a rider on him in a few minutes. Once I was sure of him, the little girl, Acelyn 11yrs old, was able to ride him with no issues. This is the first time he was ridden since being adopted. She will take him to the 4H Fair in Berkeley County. I will get some pics and send them.

I have been providing anyone asking about a horse the Crossed Sabers web site. Hope it helps.

Jupiter, the App that I rescued is doing great. He is ready to be socialized and will be in a paddock next to the gelding field first. Then once socialized, training will begin. Will send some pics of him too.

Jack the STB is happy, healthy and goofy as ever. He is such a love bug. He is getting conditioned for trail riding and I am working on retraining him to have 5 gaits and do some english pleasure.

Thanks so much, Terry Boone, Hedgesville, WV

Celeita - Considering the 32 feet of snow in D.C., our 6-8 inches (a record but still only 6-8 inches) seems rather puny. The horses haven't been out of our barn since Wed. so my friend Kathy and I let ours out in the covered arena (after sloshing thru the mud swamp) every afternoon where they go crazy bucking like cartoon horses (straight up in the air) and running around. They go NUTS not getting out of the stall ... and some people don't come and take their guys out....

Of course, our neighbor's son-in-law (the neighbor has access to our private road and has to drive past our house to get to his house) drove OFF our driveway and made 3 foot deep ruts with his pick up truck right in our wildflower bed. Then when they pulled him out, they pulled is truck right over one of our new trees that went flat to the ground but didn't break!!! It probably will die anyway ... or so our landscape guy says. At least no one had a REAL wreck so I shouldn't complain, but I'm VERY partial to our trees.

The goats HATE this weather and haven't been out of their pen in days and the front "door" area is like a poop/mud hole. If it ever dries up again, I have a HUGE goat barn cleaning job waiting for me. How have you been surviving with all the snow? Who is helping you care for the horses in all that mess? Pat

Celeita - I sure wish I could do something to help them (I've never heard of them, I don't think). Obviously in Dec. they thought everything was fine (if you read all the posts) but now two months later she is thinking about putting horses to sleep cause she can't keep them? Something bad has happened! Bet it's a divorce or something. That sure will make people think crazy (been there, done that).

I wish I could take that baby donkey. Is that the cutest thing you've ever seen in your life (apparently he's not available from your email). But my husband has told me NO MORE NO MORE and he means it!!!! Also, the two cats I found at the barn 5 or 6 years ago are so destructive that I honestly do not want any more cats in the house (and this after living with THREE wonderful cuddle bugs cats ... all now gone to kitty heaven ... for almost 20 years. They never gave us any grief...or not much anyway).

Hope you are doing OK. We've been having some half decent weather here and I've been playing with B in the covered arena in the afternoon and having SO MUCH FUN with the "cookie game." She will come running for her carrot or cookie and SCREEEEECH to a halt stopping about 5 feet in front of me. She knows she is not supposed to invade my space. This is honestly the best thing I've found for getting her to respect space (and not forget!). She is just so fun!!! Pat

Thank you for your email. Impi is doing very well. I will send some photos - she is a mud-pie at the moment!! She looks really good..she is very round as she has put on a little weight.

I also adopted another horse last fall - Bob. He is now Impi's boyfriend. She is so happy hanging out with Bob. Bob is a super gentle 17 year old TB. I found him in Florida-he was used for daily riding lessons and needed a new home with one owner/rider etc.

I fell in the hay loft on Thanksgiving day. I pulled my knee out of joint so I have not been able to ride. I plan to start riding daily as soon as the ground dries out. My knee still hurts but I was able to ride the other day. The weather has been terrible here as well.

I have now purchased another really nice dressage saddle called a "Laser 747" and an orthopedic "Saddle Right" leather saddle pad. I was also considering using my bit less bridle on Imperial-It really does relax the horse but I have not tried because of my knee problem and I want to be sure she is under control.

I hope everything is going well for you. Look for some photos of Imperial very soon.

I'll attach a few pictures, all is well with our boy Spade, he's still as consistent as ever. He has a barn buddy now and while he is still top dog he seems to thrive with his buddy. JJ, our other horse follows Spade around like a puppy, it's so cute. They get along well unless we take Spade away from JJ, then JJ runs the fence line and works himself up into a lather waiting on Spade's return. JJ gets his confidence from Spade who we know lacks nothing in the confidence arena. I hate to admit it but Spade has slowed down some as he ages but he still enjoys a nice walking trail ride and as long as he can handle it I'm more than happy to take him. He's just such a dream horse, I would give anything to have one of his offspring.

Good to hear from you!!!!

about jake and mickey....

got water worked out. This are going well, I think they are happy. They really enjoy running around the field everyday. They always greet me when I come into the barn. I did not think they would leave the blankets on, especially Jake, but they do. DeAnn

about Art, TB gelding

Doing well. We now have a new computer at home and a fancy camera, so I hope to up load some pics when weather and time permits. He is the gentle giant of the pasture and the talk of the neighbors, white with a jet black mane and tail. I ride him very occasionally as retirement suits his personality, however he is always willing to show me that he remembers all the moves, including a baby, old man capriole. I check in with Angie about the girls and I believe she is enjoying them even though I think she would like to return Do. I do hope she keeps her so I can have a foal and because she has tremendous athletes, lots of talent. We are all well with winter, at least hay is not as costly. And you...? SW and you are always a close thought in mind.

As you already know, Mickey is here. The first thing he did when he got in his stall is dive to the floor and roll around. He really is a silly guy! He keeps making a mean face, too bad I'm on to him and know he's not mean. Every time I walk passed he does it. He met my little ankle biter dogs too, I don't think he knew what they were. They were not sure what to think either, but one of them sure did enjoy rolling in the crap though! He seems perfectly content, and I am thrilled that he is here. I will let you know tomorrow what Jake does when he gets here. Poor painter hurt himself, Michael says he quit acting up so he could get off the trailer too. DeAnn

Just a note to say Cavalier, Dad, Sophie (my poodle), & I arrived home safely, just as the sun was setting. Cav already shows more trust in me than I had anticipated, and I'm delighted with that! We exited the trailer very slowly, then he grazed briefly on a clover patch before we proceeded to the barn. He goes everywhere I lead and is very respectful. He was nose to nose with his new brother, Zeke, and settled into his stall peacefully. Only funny thing - Cav acts fearful of water buckets. Both the one I offered in the trailer & the one in his stall caused him concern (big eyes, ears back and body in retreat). He kept a wary eye on them, as if they were going to attack. Perhaps he was beaten with buckets? He's a funny one to figure! Anyway, I hope he rests tonight; I know I will!! Tomorrow I am returning my girlfriend's mare, then Zeke & I can focus all our energy on helping Cavalier feel safe & content in his new home, with his new family (the dogs & me). Monday morn I will make an appointment with the vet. And sometime soon, when the water no longer poses a threat, I'd like to give Cav a complete body scrub. Thanks again, for my precious new boy. I've decided to call him Winston, after Winston Churchill, because he exudes a calm strength, quiet intelligence, and a humble dignity.

Will keep you posted,

Every Dream Starts with a Single Step, Take Your Step Today!

Women from History Who Dared To Change the World (credit: O Magazine)

600 B.C. TO 200 B.C.: Tribes of statuesque women (and men) roam the Eurasian steppes. The fearsome Amazons of myth? Not exactly. But archeological evidence suggests that among these nomads, the women were the warriors.

Circa 39: Dynamic sister duo Trung Trac and Trung Nhi amass a Vietnamese army in a revolt against Chinese rule. For four years, they lead the rebellion.

Circa 395: Fabiola, a Roman aristocrat whose divorce and subsequent remarriage were condemned by Christian society, founds a hospital for the poor and other outcasts of her city. It's likely one of the first hospitals in the Western world.

Circa 1001: Murasaki Shikibu begins writing The Tale of Genji, an epic portrait of court life (twice as long as War and Peace), considered by many to be the greatest masterpiece of Japanese literature and possibly the world's first novel.

1429: Peasant girl Joan of Arc commands the French army in a series of victorious battles to liberate her homeland from the English; she is burned at the stake for her trouble.

Circa 1579: Grace O'Malley, a swashbuckling Irish pirate known for raiding ships, fights off an English government expedition sent to stop her.

Circa 1613: In her graphically violent painting Judith Slaying Holofernes, Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi slays the ideal of submissive womanhood: Her heroine is fierce, powerful, and ruthless.

1777: Teenager Sybil Ludington rides all night long through a storm to alert the 400 men in her father's militia that the redcoats are coming. She's called the female Paul Revere—but Paul rode with two of his buddies. And he was captured by the British.

1805: Sacagawea joins Lewis and Clark as their expedition's interpreter, traveling thousands of miles across the Rockies with her newborn babe strapped to her back. Who says life ends when you have kids?

1814: As the British torch Washington, D.C., First Lady Dolley Madison remains in the White House long enough to rescue historic valuables—running out moments before the soldiers charge in.

1862: Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, just 19 and dressed as a man, enlists in the Union Army. In a letter home, she assures: "I don't fear the rebel bullets nor I don't fear the cannon."

1867: Ida Lewis rescues three drowning men from wind-whipped swells in Newport Harbor. Then she rows back to save their sheep. Ida later becomes the country's first female lighthouse keeper.

1872: Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman to run for president. A colorful candidate, she advocates for free love.

1906: Madam C.J. Walker hawks shampoos and serums door-to-door. The orphaned daughter of former slaves, she becomes one of America's wealthiest businesswomen.

1912: Astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt discovers the period-luminosity relationship (later used to calculate the distances between Earth and the stars).

1914: Barnstorming adrenaline junkie Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick makes the first-ever free fall from a plane.

1916: In a tenement neighborhood in Brooklyn, Margaret Sanger opens the doors of the country's first birth control clinic. Outside at least 150 women are waiting.

1916: Movie star Mary Pickford insists on becoming her own producer. America's Sweetheart is no sucker.

1937: Amelia Earhart disappears on the ultimate adventure—her attempt to fly around the globe. In a note to her husband, she explains: "I want to do it because I want to do it."

1938: Anna Mary Robertson Moses sells her first paintings, at age 78. Known as "Grandma" Moses, she continues to paint for 23 years, becoming one of the century's most renowned folk artists.

1941: Protofeminist superhero Wonder Woman first appears in a comic book, fighting off Fascists in star-spangled hot pants.

1946: Super-geekette Dorothy Hodgkin cracks penicillin's chemical makeup with an X-ray crystallographer. (Eighteen years later she'll earn the Nobel Prize.)

1953: Jackie Cochran flies an F-86 Sabre jet through the sound barrier. She learned to fly so she could travel around selling cosmetics, but it turns out trashing speed records is a lot more fun.

1959: On the edge of the Serengeti Plain, Mary Leakey digs up and pieces together a 1.7-million-year-old hominid skull, one of the most important finds in the history of archeology.

1960: At the Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph (left)—once partially paralyzed by polio—earns three gold medals in track-and-field, the first American woman to do so.

1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first female to fly a spacecraft around the globe.

1967: Kathrine Switzer dares to run the all-male Boston Marathon, while an irate race official chases her.

1981: Alexa Canady becomes the first black female neurosurgeon in the United States.

1985: Just 175 miles from the Iditarod finish line, Libby Riddles heads into a blizzard when other mushers opt to stay in camp; this gives her a six-hour lead and, ultimately, the win.

1989: Performance artist Karen Finley smears her body with chocolate to illustrate that women are treated like, you know, dirt. The National Endowment for the Arts rescinds her funding, but she ultimately gets it back.

2005: Roz Savage quits her corporate job, leaves her unraveling marriage, and rows across the Atlantic by herself. Midlife crisis averted.

2008: Sandra Andersen, a barista at a Starbucks in Tacoma, Washington, learns that one of her customers needs a kidney to live. So she gives the woman hers.

2009: Navigator Ann Daniels leads the Catlin Arctic Survey, a 74-day journey from the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole to measure the thickness of sea ice.

*******************

The Warmth of A Horse

When your day seems out balance...
and so many things go wrong ...
When people fight around you
and the clock drags on so long ...
When some folks act like children
and fill you with remorse ...
Go out into your pasture and wrap
your arms around your horse.

His gentle breath enfolds you as he
watches with those eyes ...
He may not have a PhD but he
is, oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder
you hug him good and tight ...
He puts your world in balance
and makes it seem all right.

Your tears will soon stop flowing,
the tension will be eased ...
The nonsense has been lifted.
You are quiet and at peace.
So when you need some balance
from the stresses in your day ...
The therapy you really need
Is out there eating hay!

but the world will surely change for that one horse”

don't forget to order your SWAP wines, exceptional wines from Chile and Spain with a Second Wind Label, order on a secure website and have them shipped right to your house. ALL profits for the wine goes to our Second Wind horses and Old Timers Sanctuary