Hey everyone (or should I say HAY??)!!
For the past week or so, we have been picking up and stacking hay. LOTS OF HAY. Victoria got a lead on some excellent 2nd cut for $3 a bale, and since things are so rough here at the farm, we jumped at the opportunity! So as I am sitting here, trying to get my core body temperature back down to the high nineties, there is still another 105 bales that need to be unloaded, the horses need to be fed, and we are currently finishing up on our Penicillin routine on the horses. Sorry I don't have time, but we are shorthanded on the farm (come on out and volunteer if you want to have more blogs). I'm out like disco!
Happy Trails!
~Rachel (Stretch)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Babies in July!
Our babies are now available for adoption. Since we were attacked by strangles, we couldn't take any horses to the Delaware Classic. We were saving the babies (Spencer and Hershey Kiss) for the Classic, and since we didn't take them, they are obviously still here. Now, they are up for adoption. Spencer is our Haflinger cross and Hershey Kiss is our Morgan cross. Call the farm for more info!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The 'S' Word
You wanna bet that I can make all horse owners cringe with one word? Here goes... STRANGLES. See? All of you are quaking in your boots, aren't you?? Now imagine having strangles on your farm... and imagine that nearly all of your horses are infected with this "horsie strep". A nightmare? Yep!
I am sorry to report that our farm has come down with strangles. Since it was over two weeks since we went to the Sugarcreek sale, we were sure that we had escaped 'the sickness'. But, one of the horses that we rescued was carrying it. Needless to say, the farm is on lock down. No horses are coming in, and no horses are going out. That should change within a week or so, we are already approaching the end of the plague. After that, we are going to be heading back to 'things as usual'.
On a lighter note, John Chun bought us a NEW NEW NEW computer with all of the bells and whistles. This will make it soooo much easier to put horses online, and keep the blog updated. Lets all give a BIG round of applause and a thank you to John Chun! We really couldn't do much without him!
Even with people like John Chun, we are still struggling. Normally, our summer donations are as follows (approx):
$1,500 from TB charities
$5,000 from Blue Horse Charities
$20,000 Delaware Classic
$15,000 Private donations, etc
All of the funds above go toward hay for winter, summer farm upkeep and repairs, payroll, etc...
This year, we are working with $10,000... instead of over $40,000.
Which means, that as autumn comes around, we might have to close our doors temporarily until our financial situation improves. We'll see, hopefully a miracle gets dropped on us sometime soon!
Happy Trails!
Rachel
I am sorry to report that our farm has come down with strangles. Since it was over two weeks since we went to the Sugarcreek sale, we were sure that we had escaped 'the sickness'. But, one of the horses that we rescued was carrying it. Needless to say, the farm is on lock down. No horses are coming in, and no horses are going out. That should change within a week or so, we are already approaching the end of the plague. After that, we are going to be heading back to 'things as usual'.
On a lighter note, John Chun bought us a NEW NEW NEW computer with all of the bells and whistles. This will make it soooo much easier to put horses online, and keep the blog updated. Lets all give a BIG round of applause and a thank you to John Chun! We really couldn't do much without him!
Even with people like John Chun, we are still struggling. Normally, our summer donations are as follows (approx):
$1,500 from TB charities
$5,000 from Blue Horse Charities
$20,000 Delaware Classic
$15,000 Private donations, etc
All of the funds above go toward hay for winter, summer farm upkeep and repairs, payroll, etc...
This year, we are working with $10,000... instead of over $40,000.
Which means, that as autumn comes around, we might have to close our doors temporarily until our financial situation improves. We'll see, hopefully a miracle gets dropped on us sometime soon!
Happy Trails!
Rachel
Monday, July 6, 2009
Calling all Shopaholics!!!
Ever have to go to your local tack shop and buy something for your horse?? Ever stand in line thinking, "I wish the proceeds from my purchase would go to a good cause...". Ever think a horse product you are buying is grossly overpriced?? Then you should come on out to the Last Chance Corral Outfitter's Outpost! We finally have our tack shop open, full of used (and some new) horse products! You can get everything from a new saddle to brushes to blankets here at the Outpost, and you definitely can't find better prices anywhere! Better yet, all of the items were donated to us, and 100% of the sale price goes to rescuing more horses!!! It's a win-win-win situation! So come on out and see if anything catches your eye!
Happy Trails! The horses are calling!
~Rachel (Stretch)
Happy Trails! The horses are calling!
~Rachel (Stretch)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
'Ello, Govnah!!
Today we had a taste of England down on the farm. A wonderful English lady named Val came from Newark today and adopted Burke! He is such a sweetheart, and she absolutely fell in love with him! He will be heading home early tomorrow morning to green pastures... and a flock of sheep! Val informed us that she will be renaming him 'Silk', because in England, Burke is a negative name... a burke is a geek!! Our Burke (Silk) is definitely NOT a geek. You learn something new every day, huh? Best of luck Val and Burke (Silk)!!!
Everyone seems to be calling asking when we are going back to Sugarcreek, and what they can do to help. I understand that it is exciting... rescuing horses from the sale, but what happens to the horses AFTER the sale is just as important! Until the horses that we have already saved (and committed our services to) are adopted out into loving homes (or foster homes) we can't save any more. So if you are one of the lucky (and few) individuals that hasn't filled ALL of their stalls quite yet, PLEASE consider fostering! There are hundreds of horses passing through every Friday that would LOVE a second chance! If you (like most horse people) can't squeeze another horse, pony, or mini on your property, spread the word and harass your horsie friends!
One idea that Victoria has had for the longest time is to motivate riding stables (where you ride, board your horse, etc...) to keep one stall available for LCC 'foster children'. Then, they could take in one foster horse at a time, place it, and foster another. That would open up so many potential homes for that foster horse, and it would also spread the word about the Corral, and in turn, allow us to save more lives. It could turn into an 'adoption outreach' of sorts, and who knows how many horses could be saved?? Consider pitching that idea to that big 'equine facility' near you!
To answer everyone's questions, here is a recap:
1. Yes, we are planning to go back to Sugarcreek!
2. No, not until the Sugarcreek horses we already have have been adopted out.
3. Yes, as soon as we have set a date, I will make sure EVERYONE knows via this blog.
4. Yes, you CAN help... either by adding to our Sugarcreek fund when it gets closer to sale time, or by getting someone you know to foster/adopt a horse that was saved on the last trip.
Last year, we only went to Sugarcreek once... lets try to go at least two more times this year!! As a challenge, let's see what we can do!!
There's some crazy person outside honking their horn, so I have to go 'investigate'! Haha.
Happy Trails, the horses are calling!
~Rachel ('Stretch')
Everyone seems to be calling asking when we are going back to Sugarcreek, and what they can do to help. I understand that it is exciting... rescuing horses from the sale, but what happens to the horses AFTER the sale is just as important! Until the horses that we have already saved (and committed our services to) are adopted out into loving homes (or foster homes) we can't save any more. So if you are one of the lucky (and few) individuals that hasn't filled ALL of their stalls quite yet, PLEASE consider fostering! There are hundreds of horses passing through every Friday that would LOVE a second chance! If you (like most horse people) can't squeeze another horse, pony, or mini on your property, spread the word and harass your horsie friends!
One idea that Victoria has had for the longest time is to motivate riding stables (where you ride, board your horse, etc...) to keep one stall available for LCC 'foster children'. Then, they could take in one foster horse at a time, place it, and foster another. That would open up so many potential homes for that foster horse, and it would also spread the word about the Corral, and in turn, allow us to save more lives. It could turn into an 'adoption outreach' of sorts, and who knows how many horses could be saved?? Consider pitching that idea to that big 'equine facility' near you!
To answer everyone's questions, here is a recap:
1. Yes, we are planning to go back to Sugarcreek!
2. No, not until the Sugarcreek horses we already have have been adopted out.
3. Yes, as soon as we have set a date, I will make sure EVERYONE knows via this blog.
4. Yes, you CAN help... either by adding to our Sugarcreek fund when it gets closer to sale time, or by getting someone you know to foster/adopt a horse that was saved on the last trip.
Last year, we only went to Sugarcreek once... lets try to go at least two more times this year!! As a challenge, let's see what we can do!!
There's some crazy person outside honking their horn, so I have to go 'investigate'! Haha.
Happy Trails, the horses are calling!
~Rachel ('Stretch')
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Does anyone like surprises???
So get this...
We dropped Echo off at the vet to be put down, right? Today, though, Victoria found out that Pete (our awesomely awesome vet) decided that he was just too sweet for any of that. Pete found him a retirement home with Todd Swearington of Amesville, where he will be a companion-only horse for the rest of his life. Todd's horse (another LCC alum) needed a friend, and Echo was just what was needed. Don't you just love surprise endings to life stories???
Spencer and Hershey Kiss graduated (yet again) to the bottom barn where they will be led and messed with daily. We need to start playing with them so they will be perfect gentlemen by the Delaware Classic!
We are now down to 8 horses, so we may be seeing another Sugarcreek trip on the horizon! We still have 3 left to place from the last sale (Rolling Stone, Raffles, and Julia) and as soon as those are adopted out, we will probably be heading north for more! Spread the word if anyone you know needs a good trail horse (Stoney), an exquisite pony (Julie), or the perfect project pony (Raffles). The sooner these are placed (or possibly fostered) the sooner we can bail out more from Sugarcreek!
The horses are calling, Happy Trails!
~Rachel (Stretch)
We dropped Echo off at the vet to be put down, right? Today, though, Victoria found out that Pete (our awesomely awesome vet) decided that he was just too sweet for any of that. Pete found him a retirement home with Todd Swearington of Amesville, where he will be a companion-only horse for the rest of his life. Todd's horse (another LCC alum) needed a friend, and Echo was just what was needed. Don't you just love surprise endings to life stories???
Spencer and Hershey Kiss graduated (yet again) to the bottom barn where they will be led and messed with daily. We need to start playing with them so they will be perfect gentlemen by the Delaware Classic!
We are now down to 8 horses, so we may be seeing another Sugarcreek trip on the horizon! We still have 3 left to place from the last sale (Rolling Stone, Raffles, and Julia) and as soon as those are adopted out, we will probably be heading north for more! Spread the word if anyone you know needs a good trail horse (Stoney), an exquisite pony (Julie), or the perfect project pony (Raffles). The sooner these are placed (or possibly fostered) the sooner we can bail out more from Sugarcreek!
The horses are calling, Happy Trails!
~Rachel (Stretch)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
When it Rains...
We have all heard the saying, 'when it rains, it pours'. Around the Last Chance Corral, we are finding that the saying 'things come in threes' is also true. Since having to put my horse down (Echo), we have discovered that the Gypsy/Fresian gelding that we just aquired has some serious neurologic issues. He went into Pete's with the intention of being put down. Pete agreed that he was definitely neurologic, but gave us some new meds to try on him. If they don't work, Quinn will be making a final trip to the vet as well. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers, we love this little guy and he deserves the best.
Well, Echo and Quinn make two, and since things come in threes, there had to be one more. This one hit us the hardest by far. Gerda, the resident black German Shepherd, crossed rainbow bridge today at the age of 14. She served Last Chance every day, and was always ready for a hard day's work. Gerda dedicated her life to taking care of the farm, and it will never be the same without her. Her spirit lives on, and she will be greatly missed.
Hopefully that's all the bad news that I will have to report for a loooong time- like I said, though, when it rains, it pours. It has obviously been pouring here recently, so the best that we can do is look up to the sky and look forward to the sunny days ahead. Send a good thought our way, we surely need it.
Happy Trails, the horses are calling,
~Rachel (Stretch)
Well, Echo and Quinn make two, and since things come in threes, there had to be one more. This one hit us the hardest by far. Gerda, the resident black German Shepherd, crossed rainbow bridge today at the age of 14. She served Last Chance every day, and was always ready for a hard day's work. Gerda dedicated her life to taking care of the farm, and it will never be the same without her. Her spirit lives on, and she will be greatly missed.
Hopefully that's all the bad news that I will have to report for a loooong time- like I said, though, when it rains, it pours. It has obviously been pouring here recently, so the best that we can do is look up to the sky and look forward to the sunny days ahead. Send a good thought our way, we surely need it.
Happy Trails, the horses are calling,
~Rachel (Stretch)
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