This 'n That

[SandyG]

I stood looking south this morning as I brushed my teeth and did a double take. There . . . standing in the tall grass next to the hospital building . . . on the outside of the fence line . . . an enormous blonde butt . . . white flowing mane and tail . . . that white birthmark on her right rear flank . . . Jeri-Ann was out of the pasture!! YIKES!!!

Quickly I flew out of the house. Not wanting to alarm anyone, I walked quietly to the driveway and invited Jeri-Ann to walk with me. She did. We strolled down the driveway to the Big Barn and I opened the service door while she meandered over to the corral to talk with Helen and Hollie for a bit. Once the door was unlocked, I walked in and invited Jeri-Ann into the barn for some breakfast. In she came - for feed of course!!!

We shared a few minutes together and then she meandered back out into her pasture. She was greeted by a very happy Unit, a curious Billy the Bully, and then the gorgeous Beauty greeted her and they began scratching each other. I breathed a sign of relief and then went to the 4-wheeler to find the break in the fence.

Two entire laps around the pasture. I traveled from the west to the east ends first. Stopping every 3 posts to survey the land. Looking for those enormous hoof prints on the other side which tells me, more than anything, where she escaped. Without finding anything, I turned around and traveled the fence line from the east to the west. Still no wires down, no t-post bent, no broken boards, and no hoofprints in the soft dirt. Remember, Jeri-Ann is averaging 3,200 lbs and has shoes on all 4 hooves so her prints are usually very visible and a good 4" deep in the earth. Not a thing.

I traveled back up to where she had been standing and I saw where she had walked - in the sand - up to the Exiss and turned around back to the grass. No hoof prints in the driveway, the lawn, or even the front of the hospital building! WHERE did she get out?

So today I will change my entire plan for the day and work outside to keep an eye on her. That grass is tall and sweet and she remembers the taste of it. If she has a spot she can escape, she'll use it again to get to that grass. It cannot be obvious, however, or the seeing horses like Beauty and Billy and Spirit - of all horses! - will follow her. I've come to only one conclusion:

The 3,200 lb Belgian mare that we call Jeri-Ann can really jump!

[SandyG]

I don't have to tell any of you that it is W E T outside! Man O' Pete! The storms last night left the sedums in damage and I'm certain the damage is rotational and not just "natural" storm winds - the leaves of the sedum are facing all four (4) directions! That tornado was building as it was heading up to Chetek!

Our Jeri-Ann (the flying horse!) has been in the pasture, grazing, scratching, and on the warm days, standing in the run-in squarely in front of the fans. No attempt on her part to even go near the fence lines. I've check a total of four (4) times for breaks in the fence, her huge shod footprints on the other side of the fence, stretched wire or for some kind of explanation of what happened and have yet to come up with anything other than that she can fly!

What I did notice, however, on the day of her Houdini trick was that we wandered down the driveway and when we reached the barn, I checked every inch of her body for a cut, a wound, even a hair out of place. Found not a thing to cause any concern and so I let her into the pasture again.

My next trip into the barn was about 30 minutes later when I went out to unhook Clyde Mare and Josephina and get everyone set up for the day. And there was Jeri-Ann . . . on her side in the hay of her run-in . . . out like a light . . . snoring like crazy . . . . and resting like she had been on her legs all night and had covered a ton of miles. She stayed like that for over an hour before she got her big body up and began grazing for the day. So wherever she was or went, she covered some grounds! Somehow doing so without leaving prints! Rarely does she get that tired that she snores that deeply! Wish the girl could talk to me!!!

After the storms of last night, the continued rains of today, and the coming storms again tonight I brought the fragile girls into the barn and gave them hay and water and shelter. Not a one of the hesitated or acted like they wanted to go back outside. When I went into house for the evening, there were four (4) snouts buried in the hay tanks and drying off - very content. I'm sure they will rest and sleep tonight!

There was an 8am delivery of rough cut lumber here at Refuge Farms but that's another story for another day. But I will tell you that tonight I need hot water on my sore shoulders and a touch of heat on those stretched muscles. And I will say that we at Refuge Farms are so blessed with the support of people we have never even met!!

Please say a prayer for the families, the people without homes, and all of the critters in these storms.

Stay safe this evening - talk with you again soon!

Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

I look at the calendar and see later part of May . . . I look in the yard and see lilacs ablaze, allium about to bloom, and the sedums and hostas growing HUGE . . . . and then I look in the pastures and see PONY!, Alexius, Faith, Gracie with blankets on . . . . what's wrong with this picture?

Went out and fed and did my regular morning quick clean of Clyde Mare and my feet are almost numb! I hope we all had a good summer - my pellet stove is still running!

Everyone seems to be tolerating it okay but some are in the barn more than usual - Clyde Mare, Josephina, and Miss April are in more than out. The winds on the hill were strong and gusty yesterday from the NW and today, they are blowing right in the barn from the due north.

I'm going to head out this afternoon for a deep cleaning on Clyde Mare and lumber stacking but I'll have my winter boots on!

[SandyG]

YIKES! This is really something, isn't it? Standing water in the yard, the basement, the stalls in the corral, the driveway is a small pond, and water is just about everywhere! The birds are silent, the flies are hiding, and even the bunny isn't out today. The horses were segregated this morning with the healthy ones being give the choice of in or out and the fragile ones being in today.

The winds make the wet feel almost like sleet. Helen and Hollie are snug in their shelter with a tank of water, a small round bale of hay, and their feed on schedule. Gracie is in with PONY! while Faith is sharing space with Alexius. Ella and Joseph came in before 8am - before the rains. When I walked out to check on them, Ella was already in a full-bodied shiver. So in we went! They have water, hay, and have already eaten supper.

Clyde Mare, Josephina, and Miss April have another small hay bale and a tank of water. Content and dry the Helen Keller crew is dry and snug.

When I went out to feed tonight, The Big Ones were in the west pasture grazing. I went about my business of refilling hay tanks, checking Clyde Mare's leg, etc. and then I heard thunder. Odd . . . no storms were forecasted??? Then I realized what the thunder was - The Big Ones were heading into the shelter from the west pasture! Sure enough, Beauty led the pack with Billy, Spirit, and Unit right behind her. Then came Jeri-Ann followed by Big Boy. Not a one was not shivering - so the gate was closed and ten (10) small bales were scattered.

I would prefer they be in and allowed to dry off and sleep a bit. They've had a few soggy days and they, too, need a chance to regroup and lose the duck feathers.

So the kids are safe and dry and that means their caretaker can rest and sleep as well. I'm working on getting a fire going in the wood stove and some dry socks on these soggy feet. I sure hope all of you are safe and dry and without things like leaks and wind coming into your house! This weather is a great test of our household projects, isn't it?

[SandyG]

Everyone is good and made it through the night without an incident. This crew may nip at each other and push each other around a bit in the pastures but when they are closed up and in tight quarters, they each take a spot and then wait it out. I'm so impressed with their ability to co-exist. If only we humans could be so orderly!

I would have expected Ella to bolt out of her stall but instead, when I opened her gate, she tipped her head at me and listened to the roof - I believe checking for the sound of rain and not just the winds - and then she put her front legs out and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d like a good yoga horse before stepping out into the center of the barn. Once in the center, she waited for her pal, Joseph, and the two walked outside side-by-side. My first response was, "I wonder if she isn't feeling well?"

Ella is a bolt of lightning and a strong one. To see her so at ease and carefree is odd but she is good - running the winds, eating all the fresh grasses that she can find, and calling to locate her pals. Must have just awakened her from a nap, I guess. Hard to tell when they don't have the usual eyes to check!

Helen, Hollie, and Clyde Mare are in the yard munching down - with all the zest of horses that love those grasses! So good to see them chow down like that. I put them on the east side of the house where the grass is a bit taller and the winds are blocked by the house - giving them a brake from being buffeted so much!

[SandyG]

YEAH!!!! Sunshine with a breeze! No winter blankets - everyone outside - some actually lying in the mud and sleeping - EVERYONE's nerves are a bit frazzled but we are all doing our best! End doors open in the barn to help dry out the place. I'm so very grateful we put two (2) loads of material in the floor of the barn last fall or we would be standing in 8" of water!!!! One of those last minute tasks with some of the material freezing before I could level it out but I'm grateful for all the trips and stumbles last winter now that it is the wet of spring!

Hair flying everywhere and the lawn is long - so horses in the yard and me waiting for the lawn to dry so I can mow. I think the kids will actually appreciate the lawn when it is shorter.

So enjoying the time with the horses. I'm closer to them than I have been in a long time. Clyde Mare is showing acceptance and trust that she hasn't shown in a while and Helen allows me to clean her trach without even haltering or hooking her. She literally rests her chin on the top of my head while I clean her trach and re-insert her tube. She is such an intelligent and understanding girl. Grateful to Dr. Arnesen for creating her new trach so she can be with us longer. I'm eager to put her in the harness this summer!

Sunshine lifts the spirits and I'm one of those that are feeling happier than I was in the cold rains. The red maple right outside of the parlour big window is wide open and actually a gorgeous tree. Imagine - for $5 at a K-Mart clearance sale!!!

[SandyG]

Good Morning! The sun is out and hopefully will be evaporating some of this standing water!! We did need the water . . . but really - enough is enough!

Just received a telephone call from a husband and wife looking to finally step back into the horse world again. They lost their horse a while ago and the grief was tough for them. They talked of never having a horse again because of their pain and, given time, they now want to have the smell and the feel of a horse in their lives again. Once you are hooked . . . .

So, Refuge Farms is looking for a solid Tennessee Walker. There is no preference for gelding or mare and it can be older or not perfect - just a solid rider. We are involved to assist in their search and so I thought of getting all of you thinking or passing the word so that we can save a life here!

I know these people and this home is a forever home smothered with love and good cares. These people are great Human Beings with big hearts and yes, we have already had the conversation about needing a companion horse for this Walker. The barn is solid and constructed of white oak rough cut boards - does that give you a clue of the integrity of these caretakers?

If anyone knows of a Walker candidate available, please post to this bulletin board, or email [e-mail], or call 715.505.5626. Thank you all for your support, your messages, and your prayers!

Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

Can you hear us? Do you hear the joy and the YAHOO's coming up out of Spring Valley? I bet you can hear us!!!!

After two (2) weeks of wandering the city and calling for "Pookie", putting reward posters up all over town, talking to everyone who will listen, talking to local vets, and then wandering some more - Toni's little Pookie showed up this morning and is safely home again!!!

Pookie is a little long haired cat that wandered into Toni's life about 6-7 years ago and Toni took her in. She was scrawny, dirty, and a little shy but with Toni's cares and her other house cats, Pookie turned into a beautiful long-haired girl with a purr that vibrates your legs!

Almost to the day, Pookie left Toni's and did not return. And after a while, your heart wants to not listen to your mind that says she is probably gone. But it was starting to be time to think that way. Refuge Farms was going to offer a peony to be planted here on the grounds for Pookie about the beginning of July. When we knew for sure.

But this morning, Toni called and emailed - POOKIE WAS HOME!!! A neighbor lady not even a half block away saw Pookie walking up onto her porch!!!

Toni says she is once again thin, dirty, and seems a bit disoriented but eating, drinking, and pooping. All good things. To be on the safe side, Toni is taking her into the vet's office for an exam in case their is a bite mark or something not visible to the untrained eye.

And so once again, positive thoughts and prayers worked! And Pook is home and Toni can stop crying!!! Thanks to all of you who helped in this one!

[SandyG]

Good Morning, All!

Hopefully, the storms were kind to you. The storms split and moved right around Spring Valley - I stood in the driveway and watched the clouds separate and the lowest set moved south with the fastest moving set moving north. I swear the bottom cloud bank was so low I felt I could touch it if I stood on the roof of the house!

No hail, nice rain (thank you!!!!), and just a touch of wind. No one in the pastures frightened and EVERYONE with their heads down now eating the grass as it responds to a fresh coating of badly needed rain. This is good.

Odd, too, as I stood and watched the split happen, I swear I could see some of the 2nd layer of clouds start to move around onto itself. I'm always looking for that rotation appearance and I swear there was some! The cloud banks were moving so fast that you had to stand still and use something as a marker to realize the various layers, their directions, and their speed! Awesome experience!

And now the horses are all clean and fresh after their first bath in three weeks. And believe me, with all their sweating, they needed one! Not a horse - except Miss Josephina - went into the barn to escape the shower. They all felt the water on their backs and appreciated it - just like the trees, the lawn, and even a few humans!

A busy few weeks - Lucy is relocated, Clyde Mare is in the daily routine with me, Isaac is here tomorrow (Monday) to trim the entire herd, we will deworm and vaccinate tomorrow, as well, and I'm working hard to try to restore a look of care around here. It does not take long to get the appearance of being sloppy or lazy! But regardless what the place looks like, the horses are happy, safe, and loved!

Thank you for the emails and calls insuring we are all okay up here on the hill. I looked and it has been three weeks since I posted! Man - time does fly, doesn't it? Not ignoring you or not wanting to share the stories, but just wiped out when I come in - and filthy, I might add! - in the evenings!!! I'll try to do better!

If you can, find the Refuge Farms face book page. I came out into the barn one morning last week and found a sight that caused me to head back into the house and get the camera to record it. Pics of the kids in their lazy morning hours . . . . Hopefully, these pics will put the names with the faces (and bodies) and will also explain a few of the comments that are written! I'll be posting the pics to facebook so head on out!

Take care - be safe - enjoy these gloriously long days - and remember to help someone with something today!

Sandy and The Herd

[SandyG]

It has been two full weeks since I've written of life here amongst the angels in horse hair.....and this morning got me in the chair again. I get so relaxed with the "normal" routine of the heat, the rain, the mud, and the flies that I forget that the little things each day are the reward. Like Clyde Mare putting her forehead in my chest for loving. Like Unit coming into the barn with me to get out of the flies with only my fingertips under her jaw. Like Ella being the calm one during the thunderstorm. And dear Helen, literally smelling and touching to account for her herd after the storms.

This morning was not a day of loving touches, however. It is now, don't get me wrong! But we came very close to losing our Josephina this morning -

Her hips are plainly worn out from the years of standing on grates in the PMU lines. When she puts her hind feet down - the left rear in particular - the hip slides out of its socket and the foot rotates about 90 degrees outward. She is good on smooth ground - not on ice, obviously, or in deep snow or deep mud. Uneven ground and deep hay she has learned just not to enter. Josephina can no longer back up and if she tries, then her butt goes to the ground and she fights to get up again.

Josephina has received a dose of bute paste every morning simply to take the edge off of her arthritic body. We've done this for over a year now. And this morning, as I approached her with her paste on my finger, she flew back! What caused her to push back in fear? A big fly bite? A bee sting? I doubt it in the cool air and the breezes. Her eyes were huge and so my thoughts she was reacting to me for some reason. I quickly backed up but not soon enough. Her hind feet were under her belly and her butt was about 12" off the ground - this lovely girl was hanging there by the halter and tie on the front of the shoeing bed.

She was smart enough not to toss or throw herself so she wasn't about to break her neck but I knew she could not move her feet backward to get her hind quarters up so she either needed her head released or she was going to die. No use trying the halter - with her weight on it I could never release it. Then I gave thanks for the blessed RULES we have and how we ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS hook the lead ropes, ties, every rope with a panic snap on it with the panic snap on the building - NEVER on the horse!

I got a hoof pick and a hammer and gave one solid pound to the panic snap to open the snap and release her pressure. Josephina was watching me so she knew to expect the release and so she was ready and used the momentum to help her get up off the barn floor. I'm so proud of her for being so prepared! Getting her up in the barn with the skid loader would be next to impossible with the trusses and her size!

She ate her breakfast and is parked in a tie stall with her butt under the fan. She has a nick in her right front leg, a scratch right next to left eye, and a very sore left rear. She has an extra gram of bute in her tummy and the skid loader has been moved to the pasture. If I were her, I would want to lay down and rest my aching body. But this is one strong girl - I expect she will do her best to stand. Clyde Mare went over and sniffed her and tried to scratch her but Josephina gently retracted this morning - too sore to be scratched today. A ton of hugs, praises, kisses, and special bar treats until she declined another one. She needs quiet and rest and, of course, me checking on her every 30 minutes!

I get so relaxed with the "normal" routine of the heat, the rain, the mud, and the flies that I forget that the little things each day are the reward. Like Clyde Mare putting her forehead in my chest for loving. Like Unit coming into the barn with me to get out of the flies with only my fingertips under her jaw. Like Ella being the calm one during the thunderstorm. Dear Helen, literally smelling and touching to account for her herd after the storms. And like dear, gentle, submissive, beautiful Josephina being smart enough to watch and prepare for her release this morning!!!

[SandyG]

Just in for the day and it is 8:54pm. Our Josephina is doing as well as can be expected giving she hung by her neck this morning and then needed to "jump" upon release to get her hind legs under her hind quarters.

She is on bute at 3 grams per day for about a week. Extra treats, thanks to Linda J. and her home baking, and me giving her hugs, rubs, coconut oil on her leg nick, and just watching her as much as possible. Spent the day outside today to insure Josephina was watched and I was ready in case she got into trouble. She ate a good supper with a bit of soaked hay cubes as a treat - the feeder was clean when she went back outside.

This is one tough and intelligent mare. Most horses would not have responded to the release and would have just laid on their side waiting for help. Some horses would have flung themselves and fought the tension and broken their necks. But our Josephina waited for me to get the tools and then to count "1, 2, 3!". From watching me all those years with Liz-Beth she knew the counting routine and when the release would happen. Like I said, this is one tough and intelligent mare!

It would not surprise me to see her rest her legs and hips tonight in the cool air. And if she does, I'll give her 45 minutes to an hour and then wait to hear her so I know it is time to help get her up. Thank heavens today was cool with a breeze so she didn't need to fight the heat and the flies today! She had her pick of locations in the big pasture rather than have to find a spot in the Gelding's side of The Big Barn. That was a good thing today - the weather!

So I'll leave her until 10pm and then go out for the usual bed checks. If she is still good, then I'll wait to return until 12midnight. I'm guessing she is ready to not be disturbed for a little bit longer than every 60 minutes!

[SandyG]

All has been "normal" for 48 hours and so we have resumed our ordinary routine with a special eye out for our Josephina. Her appetite is good, she's in the west pasture when it is breakfast time and beats the remainder of The Herd AND ME - on the Mule no less! - into the barn for feeding rotation, and she's pooping, drinking, doing all those things we ask her to do.

This morning, my heart skipped a beat again. I saw Josephina as I walked out of the house and she was eating her share of the west pasture until she heard me getting on the Mule. Her head was up and she began heading to the barn. I smiled and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving but then my ears heard a noise that was either a horse struggling to get up or Lanna was back among us and snoring again like only Lanna can snore!

Lanna's Memory Bed had consumed my evening last night so I knew (or so I thought I knew) that someone was in trouble. That Mule flew down the driveway and I pushed open the door to find the issue!

There in the very center of The Helen Keller barn was the culprit. Spread out on the hay and taking up about 85% of the floor space. With Beauty up against the wall looking much like the day I found her - trapped, on edge, and getting impatient! There was no room for Billy so he stood in the doorway with his back half out in the air with "Ugh!" written on his face. Big Boy was beyond Billy wondering why he couldn't get forward enough to at least get up to the stock tank? Just what was going on?

There, on the hay, deep in sleep and snoring louder than a bull was our very own baby girl - JeriAnn. Flat out on her left side she was looking like an enormous beached whale. I stood with my mouth open and then smiling. Wow. This was one big creature!

Now I handle this horse every single day. I tell people her weight and height and yup, I know she is big! But when you see 3,200 pounds spread out and relaxed on its side and you get a good look at that underbelly, even I stood in amazement at the size of that girl.

And the innocence. Jeri-Ann was at total rest trusting her friend, Beauty, to watch out for her as she rested completely exposed to the predators. Her face was visibly relaxed and her right side went up and down as she snored. Not very ladylike, I might add, but it was "cute" on her. Lordy! I could hear her snoring up at the house!! Not very ladylike, but what do you expect out of a giant, eh?

After a few pictures, I went into that side of the barn and walked around the back of our Sleeping Beauty. Standing at the very center of her back, the top of her right side was equal height of my waist. My waist, People!!!! Once again, I was amazed at the true size of this big puppy. She is a big one, for sure! And I realized another thing: I do not handle Jeri-Ann - she comes along with me by choice and makes me think I'm handling her. Who has who trained?

The noise of locking the gate awakened our Special One. She yawned a bit, stretched a bit, scratched her face on the hay, looked over at Beauty who was, by now, starting to nudge Jeri-Ann's withers with her front feet, and eventually, she sat up and then in another ten minutes, she was finally up and stretching again. The words "Prima Donna" come to mind, don't they?

While everyone ate, I went back over to Jeri-Ann's side and hugged her neck and thanked her for restoring the joy in our barn. For making us all smile. For making the simple art of sleeping something to be thankful for. For being so very big and so very, very gentle. For setting the example for us humans about living for today. And for being with us.

As it turned out, our Lanna was actually among us this morning after all . . . . simply in the body of her amazing baby girl.

[SandyG]

I don't know if anyone else has this feeling prior to winter's set in, but I have "blocks" that have to be put in place before I can rest during winter. These "blocks" are having the winter's supply of round bales on pallets on the hay pad. Having 100 small squares of hay stacked in the Big Barn. Having a supply of pellets for heating the house. And hopefully, a small supply of wood for burning during the supreme cold or when the storms take the electricity away.

Yesterday, due to the generous hearts of Rachel and Tom, one of my "blocks" is already in place for the winter of 2017. When you walk out of the workshop into the yard outside, there on your right is a stack of dry, split, solid, heat producing oak. What a glorious sight! For someone who treasures warmth in the winter, this is the sign of warmth without long underwear on in the house and without wool socks and shoes on while in the house! This is the sign of sitting in the easy chair with a cup of hot chai without a blanket over the body.

During the afternoon sunshine of yesterday, these two Disciples arrived with a pickup AND a trailer of wood. Already split, it is ready for the wood stove as is! Tom quickly used his smarts and experience and built a wood holding frame and then the stacking began. And oh! What a sight of comfort and goodness it is to me!

Thank you to the two of you and SO GOOD to see you both! And Rach, so good to see your face smiling!!! Blessings to you for the gift of heat that you once again gave to The Caretaker! Many blessings to you!

A Very Happy (and will be warm!) Sandy

[SandyG]

Just now turned the computer system back on after the storm warnings last night - we are all good and just a tad wet up here on the hill!

Helen was circling and doing her job of warning us that we needed to take shelter about 30 minutes before the worst of the storm was overhead - she could not stop shivering, she could not stand still, and even though she tried and tried, she could not call to her charges to get them in the barn!! I brought her in rather early in the order of The Herd and she shot right out of the barn again to go to her clan still out in the pasture! It took Hollie and a tie stall to keep her inside while I got the remainder of The Herd in the barn out of the bugs and the possibility of hail. I did hate to see them miss the shower, however!

No trees down - nothing tossed around - and only wet on the ground now. We are fortunate. Odd to turn on the TV for storm information and hear "the rotation is directly over Spring Valley now hovering right over Highways 128 and 29". YIKES!!!!! That's here!!! So very grateful it stayed UP rather than dropping DOWN!!!!

Thank you all for your concern - it means the world to The Caretaker. A day for me to get the F350 back (it was the starter, by the way!) and prep the hospital for our work day on Tuesday!!!

Thanks again - we can feel your love!

[SandyG]

We are in those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer where the routine sets in:

* select fans on, horses in and fed in the early AM

* checks every hour on the hour to insure all is well and adjust horse placements, more hay, check water, check fans

* select feedings of supper about 7:30am and begin opening gates and turning fans off as they venture out into the evening air.

The kids know the routine and are standing just outside the barn in the mornings - the flies and gnats will NOT give up! So at times during the day, I check chests, brush and Vaseline the tender areas, and rub their legs down. No one complains!!!

It does amaze me how so many can stand and snooze for so long and remain so compatible. Little Gracie continues to push her way into the fan's breeze and no one pushes back. Clyde Mare continues to check all of the hay piles in case someone has better hay than she and no one squeals at her . . . just resumes eating as she moves on. And Josephina continues to nose in - literally - as I groom a horse asking for her share (again!) of attention. The little mare loves to be touched. She seems a sponge that cannot be saturated.

PS - LOVES her frozen cookies!!!!!

Stay hydrated - dress in layers - and enjoy the heat!

Sandy and The Spoiled Herd