This 'n That

[SandyG]

I am thrilled beyond what I can describe to tell you that our Beautiful Girl, Clyde Mare, has completed three (3) consecutive days of beautiful, formed, soft, and a bit smelly manure!!! We are on the road to full recovery and weight gain as of now!

One week ago today it looked pretty grim and I was very worried, to put it mildly. Rapid weight loss, severe and constant diarreha, and overall weakness were the symptoms and we really had no answer except for stress. Whatever the cause, it seems to have passed and the big girl is holding her own again. And, with an appetite that CANNOT be satisfied!

And with the warm air coming, she and Gracie will also have at least three upcoming afternoons in the pasture to bake in the sun, kabitz with their herd pals, and rest and stretch their legs. Now, just how wonderful is that! Really!!!

In those three afternoons - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week - the goals will be to get the workshop stall cleaned down to the floor a bit at a time. We'll get the floors uncovered and the mats repositioned. The hay tub moved and the extra panel removed. And we'll get the girls back inside around 3pm each day to warm them up again and serve them their suppers.

The invitation is open if anyone wants to share in the joy of bringing our bundled up girls into the pasture and then making a dent in their stall. And then the joy of walking them back and pressing the "ON" button to produce the heat again. I believe the best time to release them outside will be 12noon and the best time to retrieve them will be 3pm each day. We need sunshine and above freezing temps so if it snows, the plans will be delayed.

Dress in layers, please. Wear barn boots. Old gloves that you may have to toss. And head gear. Remember, there is always a breeze on this hill.

And to those who have and continue to keep us on your prayer lists, thank you. Sincerely. For those miracles that happen in our barns that we cannot explain, I respectively call it The Master Plan. And, in order for that plan to work as it should, there needs to be prayers in support of the plan.

So yes, Dr. Terry, it will take a village to heal this girl. That's why, as you said, she ended up at Refuge Farms.

[SandyG]

The workshop stands clean, dry, and ready for The Spoiled Ladies when the temps dip this week.

So happy we had 3 nice days in a row last weekend that allowed us to strip mats, clean the floor, and then reline the floor with the mats again. I'll turn the furnace on tomorrow to take the last of the dampness out of the stall and then Monday PM, I believe, when the temps dip, The Spoiled Ones will come up for 48 hours and then rejoin the pack when the temps rise again.

Clyde Mare is very happy being a part of the herd and is eating so very, very well! I am eager for spring to bathe her and get her entire body spotless! Eager to spoil her rotten!!!

[SandyG]

With the winds being the culprit today, I opened the barn doors 50% and the "brave" ones darted out to roll and then run right back in to the barn. Ella, New Man, and Unit braved the 4 foot drift in the doorway and checked out the grounds. Yup. Cold and deep. Yup. Back in the barn with the shelter, the water, and the hay.

They have done so well overnight in the barn that I am in awe of their ability to co-exist in such a small space. Gracie stakes out her ground, Helen picks her stall, Clyde Mare picks her corner, and Josephina gets her spot set. Then the rest just kind of group together and chew it out. Chew and sleep and poop. All in place.

No fights. No biting or kicking. Just waiting it out together. Wonder what it is that these animals know that we humans cannot learn . . . ?

Be safe today! Shovel only if you have to as the snow is very deep and heavy. And dress in layers! The temps are not bad - it is the wind that is chilling!

[SandyG]

I did the bed check early this evening as I still have a long list of tasks to complete tomorrow before the North Pole comes down to visit us again. The barn, just now, caused me to sit and just listen and watch . . .

The best way I can describe the barn is that all are content at Refuge Farms this evening.

The Big Ones are munching ever so calmly with Zach, Spirit, Billy, and Jeri-Ann in the barn. Big Boy and Beauty are in the pasture just outside the barn doors and they are dozing or scratching each other . . . seeming to alternate every 10 - 15 minutes or so. What a striking pair they make!!! Large, meaty, and jet black. Striking!

The other side of the barn is a mixture of eating, dozing, scratching, and sleeping flat out. Clyde Mare has staked out a corner of the new hay bales for hers. PONY!, Faith, Alexius, and Hollie have gathered together and are managing to make an entire end of a 750 lb square bale vaporize. Gracie is flat out on her side in a small hay pad - snoring. Such a large noise out of such a small little lady!!! Ella and NewMan are munching and seeming very happy to be shoulder to shoulder. And then Josephina and Unit - now best pals - are working on the bale just outside the door. Joseph is dozing in a corner while Helen stands guard with hay in her feeder and her back to the corner . . . standing alert to every noise as she protects her herd.

In all of this, there is a plausible sense of contentment in the barn. Clean floors, clean tanks, and a feed tank brimming to the top with freshly broken up feed ready to serve at the daily hook 'n feed. There are no ears flat against any skulls. No noises or squeals. No pushing or standing "firm" on their grounds. Nope. Everyone is relaxed and obviously feeling safe, secure, and at ease. Content.

Thanks to the people who supported our Missions today by delivering another load of hay and by helping with tasks of all sorts as we already prepare for the cold air approaching. Getting the feed tank filled and the feed prep'd for serving is an ENORMOUS task completed. Thank you. And not an easy task!

Those wearing blankets were re-dressed before being turned out after dinner and so, even in the warm air, they have protection against the winds that, once again, will not give it up!

A good day. And in watching them this evening, I feel their contentment - heck, I SEE their contentment - and it is contagious. I, too, am content that our horses are warm, with hay and clean water in front of them while their hooves stand on clean floors.

Yes . . . all are content at Refuge Farms this evening. Horse and humans are calm and ready for the night. Thank you to the hearts and hands who helped today. Good night!

Sandy and The Content Herd

[SandyG]

I've been wide awake since 3am . . pondering and praying about today. And here I sit, still frightened, and so asking for your prayers and support.

Against my habits, I am loading two precious mares into the trailer this morning to take to Stillwater. They will be blanketed and the slats are securely in their places but I usually never purposely travel in such cold air. But we must since Dr. Terry is in the office only today and waiting another week is not an option.

Clyde Mare's diarreha has returned and I am unable to curb it. She continues to eat well and after eating, her belly growls worse than a lion. And then the watery substance is expelled. If this condition continues much longer, she will weaken to the point of no return. Something is amiss and we need to dig deeper to treat her. Another week of this condition could be more than she can tolerate . . . and she has not one single pound left to lose.

Jeri-Ann's feet were trimmed last Wednesday and her shoes reset and she is not foundered. In fact, her hooves look very good. So the lack of movement, the tentative walking, and the awkward stance are from something other than what we were suspecting. This healthy young mare is fighting something that has taken her ability to move freely away from her and we need to attack whatever are our suspicions.

My prayers are for a safe journey, there and back, first and foremost. For conclusions to be clear and obvious to the trained eyes. That meds be available - and affordable - so both of these mares may continue their works here at THE FARM. And then, when we are home, I will sleep. And stop vibrating. And say prayers of thanksgiving.

Thank you for even reading this and for now, you too, praying. Fear is a faith robber and I'm doing my darndest to keep the fear away - but I am honestly frightened of the miles to cover, the cold air the equipment and the horses must endure, and the outcomes. Dear Lord, let us be able to help these mares! Please.

Amen.

[SandyG]

The rig pulled into the driveway at 4pm straight up this afternoon. Everything mechanical worked just fine and the roads were open and dry. Both mares loaded with very little hesitation and I'm amazed at how straight the trailer backed down the long driveway to the barn! You could see the evidence of prayer before we ever left THE FARM.

Jeri-Ann is, in fact, foundered with rotation in both front feet. Xrays showed the rotation and so she will continue with her shoes reversed, 8 week trims and reset leaving a thicker sole and a snubbed front toe, and a hay and water diet. In fact, Terry thinks she could "lose a couple hundred pounds"! He commented that it was a great surprise for him to see a big, healthy speciman walk into the clinic with a Refuge Farms name on it but guarded against her getting too big, especially with the temptation of her toe to drop.

The xrays are with me so the farrier can see them before her next trim/reset and then we will re-xray in about 6 months to see how far her toe has restored. It will be a long process but I'm so very relieved that we aren't looking at EPM or something neurological. When I mentioned that to Terry, he shook his head and told me he was confident the problem with her stiff walking was her sore toes. THIS, we can all work with and she can recover. THIS is the best of the options I had envisioned.

Clyde Mare is staying at the clinic for a few days. Her blood work showed her kidneys, liver, and glucose were all still working well but her red counts were down. In describing her guts sounds, her eating small amounts at a time, and the frequency of eating, it was concluded that she has an ulcer. It all fits . . . .

The diarreha, the lower red counts, the gut sounds, the small portions evidenced by the small amount of meds we were able to get her stomach to accept when he administered tubed meds to her. Everything points to an ulcer which, again, is treatable.

After talking over all of the options, we put her on a "sponge" medicine that is administered with a tube every 12 hours for 3 days. It is intended to dry up the intestinal tract and calm the tract so that the foods can linger and be absorbed. She is also getting dewormed while under supervision and she is on 35 cc's of penicillin every 24 hours. Hay and water diet for her, too. Then, to top it off, she will get a tube of gastroguard every 24 hours for 28 days. As we agreed, the approach is to throw quite a bit at her without knowing exactly which one of them did the trick but my priority is time - getting her solid quickly so she can eat and keep a few calories. We all agreed and so "the kitchen sink approach", as Terry calls it, was begun.

When I left, she was calm and eager for a mouthful of hay. No soaked hay cubes due to the amount of water content - at least yet. She actually seemed very content and relaxed when I kissed her nose quickly before the head flew up to the ceiling!

All in all, I am grateful and very relieved. By the time I had backed the truck and trailer down to the barn to load the girls, I was already letting the stress and worry and fear roll off of me. I had read a few of the postings from all of you before I slipped out the door and they did exactly what my soul needed - you realigned me, reminded me of Divine Guidance, and put me back in touch with the faith that I rely on every day in this world of rescue.

I pulled over to the shoulder before entering the freeway and said a prayer for safety and calm. To give Terry sharp eyes and decisive conclusions. And we got EXACTLY that! The drive home was uneventful and the truck and trailer is safely parked with Jeri-Ann back in the pasture. So eager to tell her pals about her worldly adventure!!

Thank you. It sounds small and hollow, but seriously and sincerely, thank you for taking the time to remind me, support us, and pray for us. Thank you for caring about two horses in the midst of everything else going on in your lives. Thank you for taking the time and having the compassion to bolster someone when they ask you for support.

I cannot repay you in any way except to care for these horses with the best of me. To love them dearly and wholly and to watch for signs of stress in any of them. In that way, by caring for them, I can thank you for the support and caring that you freely gift to me.

I am a very rich woman. And today, I needed to draw on that wealth to restore my faith and to remain strong. And you answered the call and supplied that very faith and strength.

Thank you.

Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

Saturday, March 3, 2018 6:14pm

Big Mama, the Barn Cat Extraordinaire, has protected this land for over 15 years. In her time with us, she challenged me for over two years to finally succumb to a live trap so we could sterilize and immunize her. I don't think she ever forgave me for that experience!

Big Mama took on other cats, dogs, rodents of all kinds and sizes, and even the occasional raccoon. She protected her barn and her lands and did so with strength and dignity. Many mornings I had a "gift" on the mats in front of the feed tank showing me she was earning her keep.

Last fall and this winter, the loss of sight in her left eye created a hazard for her and she was obviously ageing. This past winter she stayed in the insulated cat house more than usual and so I increased the hot moist cat food for her from once a day to every morning and every night. She did appreciate that.

Earlier this week, she appeared to be struggling after one of her usual springtime battles. And yesterday, I did not see her. Today, as I came up from the barn after cleaning Helen's trach, I spotted her crouched against the foundation in the sunshine. Not her normal spot.

She was obviously in trouble and I contacted Dr. Rande not wanting Big Mama to fight for her air any longer. Within 30 minutes, Big Mama and I rode to Dr. Rande's home and Big Mama was finally released from her old body and the tough task of being a feral barn cat in Wisconsin . . . not an easy life by any means.

I'll find a place to store her until the grounds soften and then I will bury her here on the grounds. Not sure where yet, but she worked diligently for us for years and thus has earned a spot with the best of them.

Not once in all of her years here had I touched her, cleaned her eyes, or even gotten closer than three feet from her. But she trusted me and as I walked past her I would talk to her and she would watch my feet to see if she needed to move or not. I learned how to show her I respected her space and we became as close as was possible to a solidly feral feline.

I am honored and pleased that she chose our barns to live in. Honored that she would trust us to provide shelter and food for her. And very grateful for her enormous gift of keeping our barns clean of unhealthy creatures. Thank you, Big Mama. You were a special one indeed!

Missing you already, Big Mama -
Sandy

[SandyG]

A Friend of THE FARM was visiting yesterday and he began using his newly learned skill on some of our horses - he massaged Hollie and Alexius.

Alexius was a little concerned about being separated from her winter pals and so next time we will bring PONY! or Faith with her so she can stop listening for them. But she was cooperative, stretched with him, and offered her feet when asked. The big thing, though, was when we removed the blankets, we know for sure it is spring - her winter coat was coming off in handfuls!

Hollie, however, could have cared less where anyone else was . . . she FELL into the massage. She was licking her lips, sighing, dropping her head, and actually leaning into him. Her neck is crooked from the beating and she just laid her head into his hands when he worked on her neck. And her hips and back quarters were sore from those beaten hips and so that felt good - I could see how good it felt! When he was done, she went over to the hay pad, cocked a hind leg, and took a snooze. THAT was the greatest compliment she could give us!

Interesting to watch someone with "the touch" work on these horses that have had hands - at some point in their lives - hurt them. They quickly learned that these hands from this man are gentle and can be trusted. From that point, they listen with their bodies and comply. Eagerly.

Interesting, too, to hear this man talk about wanting to massage The Big Ones . . . and how he can hardly wait to massage Zachariah . . . !

[SandyG]

When the old barn was demolished and the new barn erected, I moved the barn cats (Big Mama and Kitten Mama) up to the garage for their winterized houses and their daily feedings. In doing so, I opened up that garage to a few other visitors, as well - raccoons.

Three (3) raccoons have successfully been live trapped and relocated to a nice wooded area with water, grasses, and plenty of space west of Spring Valley. But I saw evidence of another raccoon in the garage this week and so I set the live trap on Friday night.

Don't know how they do it, but the little guy ate all of the food out of the bowl, tripped the trap door, but was nowhere to be found on Saturday morning. Smart little critters, that's for sure.

So I moved the live trap to a new space last night and this morning, I found my little friend in the trap waiting for his release. Picking up the trap, he moved to one end and so I leaned the trap against my right hip as I walked to the truck to take him to the designated release spot. Next thing I knew, this little guy was crawling down my leg!!!!

It seems a hole in the metal cage had been created and he escaped out of the hole . . . down my leg! . . . and then turned and ran right into the garage and into his corner for a nap. Right in front of me! That little critter has guts!!!! He sure isn't shy about his perception of who owns the garage!

So today, now that I've calmed down and am done stamping my foot and hollering at him and myself, I'm going to wire the escape hole and reset the trap. I have already relocated Kitten Mama to the new building. She was very attentive as I set up her feeding space and brought the heated food out to her in the new location. Next, her insulated bed, her padded bed with a wool cover, and her heated water bowl. She used to live in The Old Barn with Big Mama and so the space is not foreign to her.

And then, finally, I will close up the garage access door created to allow the cats - and the other animals of nature - access to the garage. Experience concluded. Lessons learned. And my leg is intact. That sure was a frightening second to feel those little claws hugging my leg as he ran down me to escape!!

[SandyG]

Waking this morning, I tuned into Twin Cities KARE11 for a weather report - blankets on the horses? Hay to move out? Heaters in the tanks on? off?

Well, the last time I tuned in to answer those questions, I didn't see my friend Kim Insley. Kim had been a great supporter of Refuge Farms and had given us air time for our events and growth along the way throughout the years. When I asked my Social Family, you told me she had just recently left the air.

This morning, I looked at the screen and saw the Ole' Man, Tim McNiff, was no longer at the desk either! So, Social Family, where did Tim go? Anybody in-the-know?

Thanks! Stay dry, warm, and hopefully - read that as PLEASE! - enjoy the afternoon sunshine! Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

I'm relieved and grateful today . . . Monday of this past week, our farrier was here and we spent the entire day trimming hooves, de-worming, and checking every square inch of their bodies.

Everyone behaved flawlessly! Even Ella stood quietly and that's a challenge for that fireball! Beauty was her usual amazing self and even responded when I asked if she could back out of the corner a bit so I could not have to work from under her head, please. She looked down at me . . . saw my shortness . . . . and stepped back one step . . . and then re-presented her head to me. That mare can make me cry in a simple movement.

De-worming always, always puts me on edge. But today - a full 24+ hours after dosing - everyone is enjoying the sunshine and most are actually out trying to find a blade of grass! Thru the ice and mud and snow!

So, gratitude for a talented, kind farrier who knows these horses and talks to them by name and they recognize him back. Relieved that everyone is healthy and the worst is behind them (pun intended). We will de-worm again in 8 weeks but the worst is always the first after all of the ground picking in the winter months.

Wishing all of you with pets of all kinds their kisses, their hugs, their hearts worming deep within you, and their love visible to you without question. Their time with us is SO short but after helping too many to cross, I would not decline a single animal! Their time and love was much better - FAR bigger - than the pain of their crossing. They were well worth it! Everyone single one of them.

[SandyG]

Yesterday morning - April 20th, 2018 - was finally the day I could spend time with them in the pasture. And they were all NAKED!! Every day since September 2017, there was a need to shield some of them from the breeze or the air but yesterday - AT LAST!!! - they were all good to be without any blankets and to get their first taste of the heat to come.

This past winter season has given us all our fair share - and then some! - of wet, cold air and frigid winds and just-get-me-inside-please weather. So to be with them in the sunshine and see their plump bellies, watch them jiggle as they walked, hear them as they rolled in the hay pad and then sprang up to shake, and then stand to enjoy the day and the heat of the sun.

Soon, the heads began to bob and droop . . . one by one they took a place on the hay pad to rest . . . with many completely sprawled out on their sides. Snoring! Some did find the energy to pick the grass shoots as they appeared from under the snow cover. And yes, there was a good share of scratching.

I recorded some of them with the camera and Luanne - your big girl is the first one to make her appearance. She rolls even though most of her back cannot reach the ground. But hey! That's what her pal, Jeri-Ann, is for, isn't it?

And Shannon - your boy was so comfortable in the hay, I just let him lay there. No need to disturb him and ask him to stand. By the way, did you know he can snore??? Like a train!

I'll share a few more stories as we go along. Of course there's Gracie and Zach and Helen and Hollie and PONY! . . there's all of them! So good to see their bodies and be comforted by their calm and satisfied demeanors. How can a human not be still and at peace when around these miracle workers! I find I am a much more pleasant person and my face naturally smiles after time with these creatures. How rich am I!

Enjoy the sunshine -
Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

After posting about the first day of spring here at THE FARM, I heard from some who wanted to hear about their horses on the big screen! So here's a bit about a few more members of The Herd while they were enjoying the sunshine just yesterday.

The big blonde mare with the gently graying face is Josephina - remember the mare that caused the "put her down" discussion after she fell last summer? She is strong, eating well, and starting to follow Joseph around as a potential new boy friend. I am in total awe of this mare. Total awe! This was a mare that needed help if she were to lay down to rest her legs and I spent the better part of the winter on edge - watching for her to go down. Now, this girl lays down and gets up when she wants to - totally unassisted! Way to go, Josephina!! Way to go!

And then there is Gracie. Dear little stubborn, strong minded, persistent, pickey-eating, spoiled rotten, darling Gracie. This little girl has the heart of many but none as much as her Auntie Trish. Her feet are becoming pigeon toed and she grows a hoof faster than I can eat a pound of chocolate! She will NOT eat her feed if I put a supplement on it and yes, she will go hungry until I conform! Gracie is folding into The Herd again but is still aloner. In a short few months she lost her BFF Miss April and then she found another dear heart. Faster than she could imagine, she lost that new friend, Clyde Mare, as well. Now she seems to be staying a distance away from any of the horses . . . protecting herself. And so I make sure to scratch and smooch her a bit every day. To her dismay!

Speaking of Clyde Mare, I ran into Menomonie on errands yesterday and a woman I remember from THE STORE when it was downtown - don't know her name but I know her face . . . you know how that is - came up to me on my way into the co-op. She saw me and walked right up to me. Hugged me. And whispered, "I am so sad that Beautiful Clyde Mare is no longer in the pasture with the others. But if you stand really still while you are out with the horses, you will feel her." Then she smiled at me and continued her walk out of the co-op. Amazing. Took me totally by surprise. I had to turn and leave without going in - too many tears.

And so there appears to be a hole in The Herd. A hole where Clyde Mare would stand - right in the middle. Her stall still stands empty. Gracie does not call for her anymore but one of us still looks for her and then remembers. Sometimes they cross and we cry and move on. But sometimes. Sometimes one comes and your heart leaves your chest and becomes theirs. And then they cross. And we cry. And cry. And cry.

Enjoy this sunshine! Be like The Herd and forget the sticks in the yard! The leaves that need raking! The car that needs washing! Forget it all and ENJOY! Live like the horses and enjoy this day. Amen.

Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

As the snow and ice finish disappearing, it is now the perfect time to trim trees, rake, pick up sticks, and perform some of the yearly maintenance on our critical equipment.

I have the pruning/gardening bucket with me wherever I go on the property. Trimming a broken branch here, cutting back dead heads here, raking a bit there, and just 'putzing', as my Mom would call it. I did notice that the branches on some of the bushes are without bark - and they are fresh bites! - about 10" off the ground. I'm wonder what little creatures were hungry after the April 14th blizzard??? Eat away, little ones! Fill your tummies!

Then this afternoon, I positioned the big Exiss for the annual cleaning with the full intention of actually doing the cleaning tomorrow. But, as long as the trailer was sitting there on the truck, why not clean it and save jacking the trailer up and dropping it on to the truck again? So, with my trusty channel locks in hand, the big mats were slid out on to the ground and piled in order. The water hose was connected to the hydrant and then it was the task of finding a working nozzle. GEEZ! I need to sort my garden tools!!!

BUT! I found one and began spraying down the walls, the floor, and the divider. Three (3) hours later, the final spots were rinsed on the interior of the Exiss and so now it can dry overnight. So tomorrow, all that remains is to rinse off the mats and reposition them on the floor. Job done! Check it off the list, Sandy!!

All the while, as I'm hosing and scraping and scrubbing, each time my mind wanders or I hear any kind of a noise, I simply look up and there they are. It is spring and so we are no longer limited to the horses being west of the barn - out of the cold winds - at the hay piles and out of sight. Now they are all out in their little groups searching for green sprouts. Throughout the pastures looking so very beautiful.

As I see them, I pause and smile. There they are - the reasons we clean the equipment. Trim the bushes. Pick up sticks. Repair broken fence boards. They are the reasons and you know what? The list of TO DO's can get as long as it needs to be - I'll attack it every day to keep The Promises to them. Gladly, I will work to fulfill my promises to each precious one of them.

G'nite Friends!

[SandyG]

To those of you who know Refuge Farms and our priorities, this comment will not surprise you in the least. However, if you are new to us then will you please read the entire post before you draw your conclusion?

Here it is: As of 8pm today, the floor of the Exiss trailer is cleaner than the floor of my kitchen!

I started dragging the mats out of the trailer and hosing the walls and floor down yesterday. Today, I broomed, washed, inspected, re-washed, and the re-installed the cleaned floor mats (both sides cleaned). Then one final hose down and it was time to stand back and "oooohhhh" and "aaaaahhhh". My first thought: Too bad they have to poop on it!

Not a creature has walked on that floor yet. The trailer is parked on a slight incline so the water will drain and the floor and walls will drive thoroughly. When needed, the trailer is clean for 2018. And when the trailer is needed, my last thought will be the poop on the floor. We just depend upon that trailer to move precious cargo when we call upon it - and to move them safely.

So you may think I'll conclude with my plan to wash my kitchen floor now. Right? Wrong! Now I start working on fence repairs to insure the same precious cargo will be safe in the coming season of grazing the pastures. And now that statement should be of no surprise to any of you!!

G'nite!