Amazing Renny

I am writing this entry on November 11th.  Hailee has still only been gone less than a week, but it's been a really tiring time.  She was getting ready to leave.  I travelled for a conference.  I'm dealing with the big end-of-semester rush.  So, I gave Renny his first full week off from work since he first learned how to be ridden.  And you can bet that on Tuesday, two days ago, I was nervous about riding him.  But I shouldn't have been because he's amazing!! He was mellow and quiet and thoughtful.  He never shied or acted strange or goosey.  He just gave me a quiet walk, trot, canter.  And his canter is so smooth and wonderful.  And he doesn't fret about ground poles or jumps or any other big old obstacles, including people.  He's just the king of mellow.

So, last night, I rode him in a lesson with Cheri and Baker, his first full hour lesson with me since he started the lesson program.  And he was great!  He just kept on going and never was nervous or surprised.  Baker rode Parker right up behind and practically onto Renny and Renny didn't even budge.  The cat came jetting around and he didn't even look.  And he was very happy to sidepass for me and canter and go over this pattern of groundpoles.  At the end of the lesson, he was breathing fast because of all of his hard work, but he did a great job!  I am proud of him and gave him the little nickname -- my little red corvette!

Sexy Ren in Blanket

Last year around this time, I moved to St. George and needed to buy my herd winter blankets.  I bought this beautiful two-tone one for Renny  and because he was a little baby, he just swam in it.  He looked so cute, but he was swimming in his blanket.  But this year, he looks like a big old show pony and he looks handsome and robust and sexy in his winter blanket.  Way to go, Renny.  That reminds me, last week as I was having a fall riding lesson at dusk with Stacey, Renny and his bachelor pals got themselves all worked up as it was time to come in.  So, they were running around the pasture.  But my guy was running like a speedster.  He was zipping around at top speeds, faster than any of them -- zip zip zip.  And he looked so cute I could barely stand it because he was zipping at top speeds in his bright blue blanket!  Handsome goofy boy!

My Bucket List!

I am writing this entry on November 10th and last week was when I changed my herd and sent Hailee  to live in Tennessee -- something I never thought I would do.  And last week was also when Vi and I had a great riding lesson in the Fall weather with Stacey.  Stacey set it up so that we were going to do flying lead changes over a ground pole -- and we did!  Violet knew what I was asking and was happy to give it.  We did it several times in both directions.  And it was fun.  She didn't act goofy or revved up -- she just changed leads with energy and talent.  So, I got off after that ride and had this little moment of realizing that I could take "flying lead changes" off my bucket list!  I had accomplished something that I did not know I would experience.  And now because I know that we can do them, I am going to work on putting them in our repertoire!

Working Jumping Vi

Here's a photo taken in November of my lovely girl.  I am really proud of Team Tenderness.  Vi  really loves jumping, so she has become much more responsive about speed, feel, agility.  And she's just so even and straight and true over rails.  I am proud and love her.  And because of her enjoyment and steadiness, I can say that I have been riding taller, happier, more securely.  We have been taking lessons with Jill Jewett and a private lesson with Stacey once a week and we have the best time.  I could go on and on, but I will simply say that it's been fun to practice jumping and cantering and counting and crossrails and verticals with her this year.  I know that we've become a happy team together!

Questplus Violet

Here's a photo of my beautiful girl.  She feels slightly disconcerted because I just gave her a fall dose of Questplus.  Beautiful dewormed girl!

Sweet Pony

Here's a photo of my sweet little guy on November 2nd, coming back from a ride.  He was wonderful about hitting his marks -- hitting all upward and downward transitions when asked and being a super good boy.  We are getting better at our work -- as I write this entry on November 10th, Renny and I are comfortable with all our gaits in the english saddle and with all sorts of patterns.  In fact, he is so good that I'm going to have to begin thinking about new challenges for my little guy!

My Tack Area

Ricky at St. George worked very hard to make our tack area even nicer.  And so in this photo you can see my little corner of the world -- you can see my grooming kit, my boxes, my emergency barn kit, my braiding apron, and my bag with my harness.  You can see a tiny happy world in that corner.  When I am in that corner, I consider it "my time!"

Halloween Ren

What a difference a year makes.  Here is a photo taken on Halloween morning 2010 when Renny is a mature responsible hard-working pony who carries his mom and three other friends.  He is a true gem and in this photo you can see that he does not mind wearing pumpkins.  But I have another photo taken of him on Halloween 2009 and that was an icky day.  That day I found out something very bad which would change my life.  And on that day, I have a photo of baby Renny  as he is looking at me in an annoyed way while wearing these same pumpkins.  He's as cute as a button, but far from the day of responsibly carrying his Grandma around the pond or in the outdoor arenas or at a brisk responsible clip during lessons.  Renny and I have come a long long way in the past year!!

Zen Renny

Here's my little guy, getting ready for a riding lesson.  I can't put him in the crossties without people coming to pet him and love on him and chat him up.  He has so many friends and fans.  And here you see him taking a teeny tiny itty bitty flash nap before he works in the arena like a pro!  I love this fella.  And Hailee brought me this fella.  I am grateful to my equine family.

Beautiful Hailee Eyes

Namaste.  I love you, Hailee.  And I'm grateful for all the wonderful things you've brought into my life.  I am grateful to have known you.  And I hope that I have helped you during your life's journeys.  And if your road becomes difficult, I hope you find your way home to me.  But I have faith that you have found a home where they will love you and guide you and enjoy you for your talent, beauty and intelligence!

My Goofy Beautiful Girl

Here's a photo of Hailee  taken on November 2nd in her stall, as she waits for dinner.  She's relaxed and working her jaw and looking around and pleasantly comfortable.  And she's getting ready to travel to her new life to be a ranch cow pony.  I love this yawning sweetie.

Pilgrimage in February

So, here is today's "correction" to the post I wrote in the preceding message four months ago.  I've been struggling with my emotions and thoughts lately.  I turned Hailee over to someone who thought she could be thrown away and lost several friends in the process.  Violet  lost her turnout buddy, Molly, and has a new one named Mystery. In all the excitement of these changes, Violet has been kicked once on her hock, and hurt herself running on her coronary band, and in the past week was five times double-barreled kicked, including pinned in a corner and double-barreled four times.  She's been on stall rest for a total of one month over the past 7 weeks and still has about four days of stall rest.  I am trying to maintain my spirits.  Hailee is with a good family now, a kind family.  And she can come home if she needs to.  Violet is getting love each day, and exercise, and turnout in the indoor arena because of the kind care of St. George people.  Violet is in good spirits and has been bringing her best heart to her work.  And Renny continues to be a wonderful strong sweet bright pony.

So, I need to rest my spirits and focus on St. Francis' prayer.  I need to work on being an agent of love and comfort and hope and peace.  And I need to work on forgiveness.

I've decided that each month, my pets should be able to direct some of my money to charitable organizations.  Actually, my home pets have been doing this routinely, giving money to the Humane Society to honor Tigi and Teacake.  But now I want Violet and Renny to have a chance to direct money philanthropically.  They've been doing this activity for two months now -- this month they gave money to a mustang rescue association.  I have a feeling that they're going to want me to direct money to paying for riding lessons for young people, thoroughbred retirement foundations, and any sorts of rescues that involve helping people pay for feed, etc.  It'll be fun to research their options with them.

Anyway, today I hope Hailee is well.  And I hope that Violet knows that soon she will be outdoors again, very soon.  And I hope that she makes a separate peace with Mystery and doesn't get hurt anymore.  And I hope that I can help train Renny well, so that he has a chance to be a remarkable little hunter pony.  And I hope that I can nurture forgiveness in my heart, for those who judged me harshly, those who hurt my mare, and for myself.  I hope I can nurture forgiveness. 

My friend, Katie, said that I needed to pray each day for 30 days for good things for myself and for those who hurt me, and I needed to pray even when I didn't *feel* it.  So, I think I am going to make that list of good things I am hoping for and do this very reasonable task. 

Namaste.

My Herd Changes

These photos and video are from November 2nd and I am writing on November 10th.  Hailee has been gone for about half a week to her new home in Tennessee.  While I was at my conference, I received a friendly report that Violet was happy with her new turnout buddy, Molly.  And that all was well.  And my friends have been nicer to Violet and Renny as they adjust to this change in our herd.  When I got back from the conference, I could tell that Violet and Renny were quizzical, but not sad or distressed.  But I imagine that miss Hailee and wonder why she's not with us.  I wish I could somehow explain to them that she's going off to follow a good dream -- she's going to try her chances at cutting and reining and showing and then make more foals to be part of her heritage.  I am sorry that the four of us can't always be together, but I am trying to do what's right for me, for them, for us.

Thank G*d for Sisters!

Here is a picture of flowers taken just two days before Renny's birth in May, 2008.  I am writing this post on Wednesday, February 16th, and I just got off the phone with my sister.  We had such a nice chat.  And she made me laugh so so hard.  I was telling her about these blog posts and how I am always 4 months out.  And she commented that it was "creepy" that my blog would continue for four months after my death.  Yup.  And then she and I laughed and laughed like Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin on a bender when I told her that this week, I had posts about Hailee and so each day, I had to post "corrections."  We thought that was pretty funny!

The Reality of Love

“The Final Analysis

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; …Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; …Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; …Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; …Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; …Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; …Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; …Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; …Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.”

So, I am writing this post on Wednesday, February 16th.  The post preceding this one was written on November 10th.  I was reporting about my last evening with Hailee before sending her to the man in Tennessee.  You can see in the photo her beautiful glossy healthy coat, her trimmed muzzle, her clipped bridle path, her trimmed mane.  You can see her wearing her new coat, another new blanket and a new halter waiting for her outside her stall to go with her on her trip.  In reality, as I was writing that post about my love for Hailee, she was well within two weeks of ending up dumped at an auction, having been stripped of her belongings. 

So, I am writing each day this week in response.  I'm writing about my feelings, lessons and thoughts now, as compared to how I felt then.  In a few months, you will be reading posts about where G*d sent Hailee and how he protected her.

Anyway, I still have a hard time understanding why that man didn't just simply call me.  I don't understand why he kept her belongings.  I don't understand why he didn't just sell her back to me.  I don't understand very much about why he decided to be so cruel to that lovely mare.  I doubt I will ever understand what personal failings in his life led him to be so cruel to her.

I am so grateful that Hailee's owner wrote to me right away.  And I am so grateful that my parents were with me when that letter arrived and over the days, as I confronted what I'd done to Hailee.  I'm grateful to the kind woman who owns the place where I currently board, for her help, her practical real stone cold help, and her kind loving words, as I just was shocked in those days.

And I don't understand why the person who set up this arrangement never came to see me, never spoke to me directly, never tried to retrieve her blankets, nor never wanted to speak with me about where she ended up. Again, I doubt I will ever completely understand what would drive him to say that he would never take Hailee anywhere that wasn't as good or better than her current situation and then completely refuse to speak about her after she needed rescue. 

I'm a hard-headed woman, I know.  And I know I'm not worthy of the protection and unfailing unstinting love and miracles G*d has performed in my life.  Had Hailee disappeared forever in that auction, my life would be considerably diminished.  I would be stunted and harmed.  But she was protected by a kind family.  And the love I wrote about in the message preceding this one kept strong and held. 

Anyway, you'll note above that I've put in an extended quote. I don't know who did the adaptation, but it's a reworking of Mother Theresa's observations on St. Francis.  Sure wish I were more like St. Francis -- he was a joyful radical who gave up all his wealth and comfort to work with the poor -- and, of course, he was beloved by critters.  I have very much to work on the ideas in that quote because I am a hard-headed woman.  I am not a very kind one and don't have much forgiveness in my heart.

So, here are some lessons so far:

From the physician, I learned that when you give a priceless gift to a foolish careless person, you can expect that they will throw it away because they perceive it as worthless.

From the person who praised himself widely for arranging the transfer and then wouldn't speak with me after the auction, I learned that if you've picked up a freezing snake and put it under your coat, you can expect that the warmed snake will bite and kill you.

And from myself, I am learning the pain of that ancient Chinese proverb:  If you cannot forgive, you dig two graves -- one for the person who harmed you and one for yourself.

Please help me to be an instrument of peace and love.  Please help me to be a safety net for Hailee -- I hope she finds purpose and happiness by performing useful jobs for her new family.  Or please send her home to me, if not.  And please please help me to forgive everyone who was a party to this terrible thing.

I've got a long long way to go, but please help me learn how to be an instrument of peace, leave and comfort.

My Foundation Mare and Love

I am writing this entry on November 10th and these photos and video were taken on November 2nd.  These photos are from the night before I said goodbye to her.  You can see her beautiful intelligent eye and calm demeanor.  She's truly a lovely creature.  I sure miss her.  If I were rich, I would just send her off for training and her adventures and find her a show rider.  But I'm not rich and I still have to have the responsibility to find her a home and job.  I hope that I'm always able to serve as a safety net for her.

Reality in February

I'm writing this entry on February 15, 2011.  This morning early, I read my post from November 10th, 2010.  This week will be one of consequences, of my confronting what happened to Hailee and how I was careless with her precious life.  So, you'll be seeing a week of correction posts to ones that listed my hopes and high expectations.  Most everything in the preceeding post turned out to be a lie.  The man did not value Hailee and by November 10th, Hailee was on her way to having her blankets and halter taken, denied proper nutrition, and sent to a large livestock auction to be put in a pen with many other animals.  And that my paperwork listing my desire to have her back under any circumstance would be treated for what it was -- as my silly hope a "nonbinding agreement" in the man's terms.  And in emails that would soon come to me after he learned that I did know what happened to Hailee at that auction, he would let me know that he fulfilled the terms of the nonbinding agreement.  And in unvarnished language he let me know that he'd done me a favor -- that I was too poor to care for Hailee, too ignorant to know that she was not worth care or training, and a liar to misrepresent her to him -- though I had sent him her pedigree and a long long detailed letter about her strengths and problems and talked with him on the phone about my hopes for her and my reservations about her abilities.  I wrote to the National Reining Horse Association and the American Quarter Horse Association about how this situation hurt my family, and I used my work's letterhead.  That was dumb.  But looking back, I realize that I used official letterhead because I wanted to be clear with those two associations -- if that man was willing to do this to a teacher, an educator, a professor who had made clear to him that he would take that mare back -- he would do what he did to anyone.  Without regret or apology, he would be willing to hurt anyone.

Ultimately, he used my naivete against me.  He contacted the Provost of my University to cause trouble, threatening to pull them into a lawsuit for slander -- for speaking the truth.  I thought that was funny.  I thought he behaved in such a sad manner.
And so I learned.  After I went and visited Hailee,  Coy told me that he didn't want to talk about her, didn't want to hear about her circumstances, that he doesn't live in the past nor discuss it.  And he told me many other things about my bad nature. 

And so I learned.  And I'm learning.  And I'm hoping.  I'm grateful beyond words that God sent protectors to Hailee.  Here's a photo of St. Francis -- I almost wonder if St. Francis was with her in that pen in the stockyard, guiding her rescuing family.  I am grateful and faithful.  I am grateful.  And I hope and pray that I end up fulfilling the purpose that I have been sent for.  I've been given so much and protected so well; I hope I can end up being of use in this world to others -- human, animal or plant.

One fallout from this experience is my anxiety.  I am so worried and anxious about Violet lately.  I worry disproportionate to her actual troubles.  I realized this morning after reading this previous post which turned out to be such a giant lie that I'm worried about injury or harm to Violet and I dream of Violet and Renny being kidnapped because of the fallout of what happened to my beautiful foundation mare through my hands.  I failed her in ways that matter the most.  And so I am grateful to her samaritans.  I hope I can be made stronger and more loving and smarter.

And so I close today's post with an English version of St. Francis' prayer -- please let me work on being an agent of consolation, and of taking my heart of stone and making a heart of flesh -- let me pardon, myself and others, let me sow love where there is hatred and anger -

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Please let me keep on learning the lessons that I am to learn from this experience.  And please let me continue to feel the gratitude that I owe my maker and the samaritans he sent.  Namaste.

My Girl's New Life Again

Okay, I'm writing this entry on November 10th and Hailee has been gone to her new home for half a week.  I left for a conference last week and on Friday, Coy took her to Tennessee to live.  On Friday night, while I was at the conference, he texted me and told me that she was tucked in safe and sound.  And then on Saturday, he sent me the most beautiful photo of her pasture.  And then on Sunday, he told me that her new owner loved her.  That he had put her in a pen next to cows and Hailee for real began pinning her ears and lunging at them, just as you'd expect a competitive cutting horse to do.  The new owner loves her and her two trainers think that she's attractive.  So, I still feel grief when I go to St. George and see her empty stall, but I also feel some sort of happiness to know that she's having a chance to have a productive life and have a job.  I know I'll miss seeing her beautiful ears over Violet, but I feel happy imagining that maybe someday, she'll have more foals.  And what's nice is that I was able to sign the contracts in such a way that Hailee can come back to me at any time -- if she doesn't work out right away, if he wants to be rid of her downstream, or after she's retired from working and breeding.  He may be in love with her forever, but she also has a forever family with me!  I am just glad that Coy found me such a good strong person to have this lovely mare.

Little Mama! A Few Days Early, March 19th!

Okay, so I write my posts about 4 months in advance, so I did not know what was going to pop up for today's Valentine's Day.  This photo and video is from March 19, 2008, a few short weeks before Renny's birth on May 3rd.  So, now I'm writing this entry after reading the previous one.  I am writing this entry on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2011.  Hailee's plans were a lie.  Within two weeks, her new blankets and halter were taken from her and she was sold at a large livestock auction where she was kept in a pen with many other animals and lost lots of weight.  The intention of the seller was that I never find out until long long long after, so that I could suffer not knowing where she ended up.  But luckily, Hailee had a guardian angel and was rescued at that auction by a big-hearted skilled woman and her husband.  God watched out for Hailee and my family.  Through this horrible time period, I lost what I thought were several friendships and had my trust in the world damaged.  My mare was hurt and I was vilified.  Over these past weeks, I have been called some of the worst names in my life, including a liar and narrow-souled.  You can imagine what a strike to my core values this entire situation has been. 

But I have learned a great deal too.  I have learned that you have to keep on trying, keep on trusting.  And that you cannot be too vigilant, even as you rely on faith, hope and love.  You need to rely on people -- rely on the good hearts of good samaritans.  Rely on your friends and family -- the people who step forward to offer kindness, courage, loving hands, words of hope, plans for rescue.  But you absolutely have to be vigilant for people who are willing to hurt humans and willing to hurt animals in order to hurt humans.  You have got to be ready.  It breaks my heart that I failed Hailee so much.  She is such a good mare and a good mother to Renny.  I am grateful for her new home and for the people who still let me know about her well-being.  I'm not changing that previous post because it reminds me of how naive I was.  It reminds me that I was careless to put Hailee in the hands of unrepetentantly intentionally cruel people.
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Happy Valentine's Day: My Girl's New Life

This photo is from November 2nd, right as Hailee's life was changing.  I had asked Coy in late September to try and find a home for Hailee.  I wanted a home where her talents could be used.  So, he found a place for her in Tennessee, but I thought it had fallen through because I never heard from the gentleman.  And then suddenly on Halloween night, Coy called me and said that the man wanted Hailee and he would be calling me.  And sure enough, the next evening he called.  He is a physician who owns several farms in Tennessee and he trains, shows and breeds cutting and reining horses.  I spoke with him for a long time and he seemed like he had a loving plan for her.  She would be spending time in a herd with geldings and young horses until she had adapted to the new farm, then go into training for cutting and reining, and then eventually show and be bred.  I told him about her skittishness and he assured me that he felt that a desensitization program would help her and that she's probably no more skittish than his best performance and show mares.  And so I invested in a week's worth of crying as I prepared for her to leave.  And here's the first photo of her as these plans were crystallizing.

Me and My Girl April 6th

Here's a photo a month before Renny was born.  I was so happy and Hailee was thoughtful and ready.  She's a wonderful mare.  I am writing this entry on October 27th and I'm very happy to report that Hailee's first mom has come back into the picture.  Tracy has visited Hailee  several times at St. George and this past Sunday even rode her for a bit.  Both Coy and Tracy mounted her and I was just so proud to watch Hailee I could really tell that she was trying to very hard to be a good good girl.  She wanted everyone to be happy with her and she was so glad for the attention.  I think she's super glad that she has me, Coy and Tracy.  I am hoping that this winter and next Spring that Tracy helps Hailee feel like she has a job and purpose.  I'm proud of my Easy Jet mare.  What got me excited is that it sounds like Tracy is hoping to breed Hailee to an Dash for Cash related stallion some day.  That would be an awesome breeding project!!!

 

Again, What Can I Say? Cutie Pie!

Here's a photo taken on May 10, 2008, 8 days after this pony's birth. I remember sitting in the straw with him, and petting his beloved little rear end!

Day 8, Saturday

Handsome and Annoying

Here's my handsome little fella in August 2008, annoying his girlfriend, chewing on her halter, pushing on her face, bossing her around, and she is just eating it up with a spoon. She has the handsomest rock star boyfriend in Ohio!

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My Happy Boys

Namaste.

My Little Guy

I've been really tired lately because I am working on all fronts.  So, this morning, I stayed at home, cleaned the house, did laundry and balanced my checkbook.  And while I was doing these tasks, Arcy took it upon himself to follow me around supervising and visiting.  And my little Jackass took it upon himself to curl up in a little happy ball on some clothes I'd been wearing, in my direct view.  And Zelia took it upon herself to lay on the bed, facing me and watching me as she had her head on my own pillow.  It was a morning of domestic bliss and tranquility!  Much needed.

Renny Approaches 60 Rides

I am writing this entry on October 28th and here are photos from 2008 when Renny was getting ready to go to his inspection.  This evening I am feeling thoughtful because he has had 59 rides so far, so tonight will be a little achievement for him.  He is just so much fun to ride -- he's sweet, talented, quiet, steady.  He likes being in the arena with others.  He enjoys bringing his best to his tasks.  And he is loveable and intelligent!

Violet's and My First Show!

In October 2010, Violet and I had been separated for a week because I was in Florida visiting family at Disney World.  In the days leading up to my trip, Violet and I had such fun relaxed rides.  We rode in the outdoor arena and jumped quietly and happy.  And she was calm and sweet and satisfied as we rode deep into our corners and worked in being soft and round.  So, I was excited to see how she might be after a week off.  I got back on a Saturday and our first show was on Sunday.  Well, it was a genuine hoot to see how she reacted to the show day.  You could just see the wheels turning in her head as she tried to figure out why all the people and horses were there.  But she was perfect.  She was calm, elegant, agreeable and talented all day long!  She was soft and relaxed.  And we had lots of fun jumping in our hunter under saddle and equitation classes -- though I trotted in and let her relaxed canter out.  We ended up earning two firsts and two thirds!  I was super happy because she was just beautiful. And the judge (who I had taken lessons from earlier that summer) said that I was like a different rider -- that Violet and I had come a long way.  She and I are a great team!

My Beautiful Jackie

Here is a January 26, 2008 photo of my most lovely creature, Jackass, aka, Jacques Mamou Lagniappe!

 

Violet Checks out her New Cooler

Here is a January 2008 photo of my beautiful happy Violet, checking out her Christmas present of a new lovely purple-trimmed black fleece cooler.  Happy happy girl.  I am writing this entry on October 5, 2010 and so I can tell you that she will definitely need the cooler this winter, as she works as a hunter under saddle, learning to jump oxers and verticals and bounces and gymkhanas.  Lucky happy girl at St. George!

Sweet Hailee Thinks about Baby

The only way you can see Renny in this photo is by noticing the sparkle in his mama's eye!  What a lucky baby to have such a beautiful strong mama! January 2008 photo.

Sweet Hailee

Here is a photo of Hailee in January 2008, several months before she delivered Renny.  She had just come back to me from Kentucky earlier in November and so she and I were getting reacquainted. Look how regal and beautiful she looks.  I love this mare.

Spared

Here's a photo from the 1/11/2008 New York Times, discussing horse slaughter and the auction hose at Shipsewana.  this "loose" horse was purchased by a Michigan lady and thus was spared death.  I am glad because even in this photo, you can see the kindness and love and intelligence in that horse's eye.

 

My Baby with His Mama

Here's a photo and video from August 20, 2008 while Renny  was still a happy joyful beautiful sweet adorable kind loving trusting agreeable funny suckling.  He even still has his baby halter. I can barely stand how happy this photo makes me feel, as I write this entry on October 5, 2010, more than two years later, when Renny is now part of Team Renegade with his grams!