another good ride and an alternative holiday "shopping" opportunity

Keil Bay and I had another good ride today. Some of the ride we had two little donkeys alongside and some of the ride we were trailed by a pony and his girl. I have a twinging something or other in my hip but also have the chiropractor and a massage on Wednesday so hopefully will be back to normal by that afternoon.

I was in the barn tonight with six happy equines munching on organic hay, drinking clean water in clean stalls, with full feed bins in our feed room. To be honest I didn't think too much about the hay or the feed or the clean water. We take that for granted most of the time. I did consider as I often do that we have loving horses here who are truly loved in return - and I know that the relationships we have with these gracious, beautiful equines brings happiness to our lives. I hope these relationships offer the same happiness to them.

In that moment of noting how much I get from my horses and also how much I enjoy giving to them of my time and resources, I can't say I really thought much right then about horses who don't have the kind of home we provide.

Tonight I found an email in my box from Raymond and Paula Petterson, the creators and owners of Whinny Warmers. I've posted here about their winter and summer socks for horses and how much we love them. I've also posted about their company and how committed they are to helping horses. It is sadly a rare thing for a company that makes products for horses to give back freely to the very animals who make their businesses possible. Raymond and Paula do.

The following email is typical of their care and consideration for equines. And as it happened, I was just getting ready to put up another holiday shopping post when I read it. It occurred to me that this in fact is a holiday shopping opportunity - to help a small, family-owned horse rescue that appears to be the only one in the California county in which they live.

From Raymond and Paula:


Dear friends, I've sent this out to a special few of you, those that I figure might be open to helping me out on something important. I'm not one to ask for much and I hope you will consider this request for help to a deserving horse rescue group out in California.  Read their letter to us which is below mine.

http://www.equinerescueoutakuntrol.com/custom4.html

This horse rescue put out a "help" request on FB last week and Sox for Horses, Inc. was the one single response they got.  We know things are tough for everyone, but when we get a request for help from a rescue, and they aren't all that common given how many rescues there are out there, we stop, give them our attention, check them out, and send them money or socks for horses that they can auction off at their next fundraiser.  Of course it's all tax deductible for our business, but then again, Sox For Horses, Inc. is all about helping horses so it fits.  We've had an incredible year and to share our success we sent them $75.00 which to us seems like a drop in the bucket for these people, but we knew when combined with others responding, it would add up.  It didn't add up for them! 

Please consider going to their website and donating a few bucks.  We all can't do it every day or even every week but I hope you will consider adopting a horse rescue and giving a little every month.   You can't change the world, but you can change the world for that horse.   Lets see if combined, we can make a difference for these good people and the horses they've given comfort to. I will also give them plenty of connections so that they can learn how to successfully fundraise as many rescues do but in the meantime, while we get them all trained up on marketing...send a little money.

Thank you!  Have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas!

Raymond and Paula 

the letter from the rescue:

Hello Mr. Peterson, This is Al angulo, I'am the VP of ERO and do all marketing/fundraising. The socks you sent are amazing. I would like to tell you a few things about us, us meaning my wife and President, Christine angulo and Ally my 15 yr old daughter and my 13 yr old son Drew. My wife started rescue over 15 yrs ago and in  2009 became a non profit org. Thinking that we could offset the cost associated with rescue thru donations. While I worked as a union Laborer building highways I was away 5 days a week living in a fifth wheel and home on weekends. well long story short we have funded this rescue and have done great things for our community. we are the  only approved rescue for fostering horses confiscated from abuse until a court  decides their fate, all with no help from the county or people of kern co. but that's ok it is our passion to help and fight abuse. 13 months ago I was laid off. so I took this time to concentrate on fundraising for this rescue. Mr Peterson can I tell you this is the toughest task I have ever tackled.  You are A Angel to this rescue, you need to know, my wife sent out emails pleading for a little help and you are the only one that has helped. You also need to know today was the day I needed it most as we were out of senior feed for tonight's feeding, your donation has brought tears to my eyes and I;m so grateful I cannot thank you enough for this. my wife is on her way to tractor supply in town (a 100 mile round trip) for the much needed senior feed. I have been selling mistletoe on ebay for the rescue. You are the second person this year that has sent this rescue a donation. the third person their donation check bounced and caused all kinds of other problems. my kids do alot of work here and this is a family run rescue. the kids dont expect much they know things are tight.  I wish more people were as thoughtful as you are. If at anytime you need anything in California please know that you can count on us for help. well I need to end this please understand I am so thankful. Your timing was great. from my family to yours have a great holiday season. I,m sorry for rambling on i don't mean to bother you. but thanks for listening.  you will hear from us and get some pictures.  Thank You again,  You are so kind, Al Angulo.   

Christine Angulo,
CEO Equine Rescue Outakuntrol
PO Box 102
Caliente, Ca. 93518
661-867-2508
equinerescueoutakuntrol.org


I haven't personally done any research to check this rescue out. I went to the website, looked it over thoroughly, and I read Raymond and Paula's note. It sounds like they have subsisted without much help in the way of donations and so I'm offering the information here so that anyone who wants to pitch in can do so.

GO HERE to donate. You can look at the facility photos, check their contact page for nonprofit info and service provider info (vet and farrier), and decide if you feel they could use some support.

All of us who live with horses know firsthand the expense it entails to feed them, shelter them, and maintain basic care and maintenance. Those who do rescue and do it well are always in need of our support to keep things going.

There are many rescues out there and even if you choose not to support this particular one, consider finding one you can support and instead of one gift, send a donation for the horses and donkeys who haven't been as fortunate as yours or ours have.

Thanks so much!

back to the holiday shopping on November Hill

I was absolutely thrilled yesterday when I went to the post box and found a package from Curious Crow Jewelry.

I discovered Curious Crow when Linda Carson at the 7MSN posted a photo of a gorgeous donkey necklace. I was holding down the work of November Hill Farm solo (with the help of a friend who came for three days) while the rest of my family went to the beach. When I saw the necklace Linda posted I immediately ordered one for myself as a reward for a week of hard work taking care of my animal family.

And when I got that first necklace in the mail, I was so impressed I contacted Curious Crow to see if they might make something very special for me. I knew I was looking at a fairly intensive dental procedure, and I wanted to treat myself for finally summoning the courage to go through with it.

Wendy and Jenny, Curious Crow artists, were wonderful to work with and took great care in coming up with my custom design. I couldn't be more pleased with the results. And because I waited a little longer than they thought was necessary to get the final product, they sent me a gift - another necklace!

(actually, two, but shhhhh! one is a secret)

Here's the original donkey necklace plus my tree of life one that they sent as a gift. Click on the images below to see them in greater detail:

And, get ready... here is my custom design bracelet. It makes my heart sing every time I look at it. All my equine friends in one herd:

I love the boxes almost as much as the jewelry! Head over to Etsy and see what they have on hand, and if you have an idea for something special, don't hesitate to ask. They are wonderful.

lessons in riding, 14: two's company, seven's a... herd?

My schedule on Thursdays is typically pretty packed, so I had in mind that today would be a break day from riding for me and Keil Bay. Things changed late this afternoon and suddenly I had time available, so I went out and brought him in. He was a mud cake and had to be curried, and then I forgot to put my stirrup leathers back on the saddle so had to leave Keil Bay at the mounting block (he followed me to the gate and then waited there for me) to get them.

By the time I was in the saddle it was dusk and the full moon was up over the tree line.

I looked up, saw it, and said "Wow! Keil, look at that moon!" You might not believe this, but I am serious - he looked up at it.

All I wanted to do today was take it easy and enjoy some walking and a little trotting. He marched forward the same good way he has all week. I was focused on how his stride was moving my seat, noting that when I even thought about it his stride lengthened.

Then BANG. Cody managed somehow to open the arena gate. Before I could get to it to close it, in he came, followed by Salina, then Redford and Rafer Johnson, and finally Apache Moon.

I knew if I got off and took the time to get them all out I'd end up deciding it was time to stop. So we rode with the herd.

At first they were all following Keil Bay. Then gradually each one found his/her spot and something to do in it.

Salina and Redford went to the corner by the hay tent and grazed for stray bits of hay. Rafer Johnson found an empty hay net hanging on the gate and tossed the metal ring in the bottom into the air over and over again, pointing out that yes, the hay net is empty, and yes, technically, this is the time I usually serve hay.

The pony rustled through fallen leaves looking for acorns. Cody stationed himself at X so my changing directions across the diagonal wasn't really an option.

Keil Bay and I used the empty half of the arena and did some trot circles, leg yielding, a little shoulder-in, and mostly just relaxed. Those dark shadows in the back field aren't quite so scary when you have your entire herd with you.

Keil and I have had a blast this week - and I guess it was time to share the joy!

donkey rescue - a dream come true

CLICK HERE...

Make sure to watch the video!

lessons in riding, 13: rain is good

Today I was determined to get a ride in between my morning chores and our hoof trim/consult this afternoon for Rafer Johnson.

Rain was due to blow in today but it was delayed so I managed to get all the work done and thought I was ahead of the game to ride too. I did a quicker groom than usual on Keil Bay and tacked up. Just as we walked through the arena gate the rain started.

I have ridden in rain before but I'm generally not going to start a ride in the rain - if it starts while I'm already riding I'll finish up. But our string of great rides has been so wonderful and yesterday's canter was so beautiful I really wanted to ride today.

The wind was gusting, the rain was falling, but there we were. All tacked up and ready to go. So I got on.

I hoped it might stop, or at least stay minimal. Keil Bay went into the most gorgeous frame the moment we walked off from the mounting block. I was instantly sucked into the ride. We warmed up at the walk as usual. The harder the rain fell, the better he got.

And the wetter, but I barely noticed.

The trot work was incredible. And the rain got harder and he got better. It was bizarre! But wonderful. He seemed to enjoy the work. By that time the entire herd had come in and gathered underneath the barn shelter, where they stood and watched as Keil and I kept going. He was in total work mode. Focused, alert, completely balanced between fore and hind. I felt the circle of energy going from my legs and through my hands.

I could not bring myself to stop. We got wetter and wetter and neither of us cared. At one point we were doing a very collected trot against the rain, which was slanting toward us. It felt like the angle of the rain actually slowed us into the collected trot.

I've seen Keil Bay circling his herd in rain storms before, where he looked like the paintings and sculptures of the Etruscan horses, rounded and soldier-like, and that's what he was doing today, except I was on his back instead of watching from the ground.

At some point it occurred to me that I usually find a good note to stop on - but today, even though the weather itself was providing a huge "stop" note, the work was so perfect there was simply no way to measure when to stop. What finally did it was when my eyes got so full of water I couldn't see.

In the barn, I realized everything was drenched except the area under Keil's sheepskin pad and the area of the saddle I was sitting in/on. But I was ecstatic and so was he. His bridle was dripping when I pulled it forward over his ears. I piled his manger with hay and gave him his post-ride snack of alfalfa pellets and oats. I was so nurtured by the ride we had I didn't realize until dinnertime tonight that I literally had nothing to eat all day long.

I'm not sure what the lesson is here - except that when you feel the pull to ride, go for it. I would never have thought a ride in the pouring rain could be so incredible, but it was.