DH graduated.......FINALLY!!!

Alduca

IN 2002 I left my horse in Florida, with a friend, at her barn. The plan was for me to get to Texas, get settled, and get my horse shipped/pick him up.

That never happened. He was 'given' to a 'great home' after about a month and with me being 1000 plus miles away there wasn't much I could do about it.

I put ads online, searching for him. I'd renew them, and post new ones in other places. I'd do a google search for him, under his name, sometimes and never really found much. Until a little over a month ago. I found links to an old add for him.....they were giving him away. I got in touch with the place where the ad was placed, and they got me the add info, as the ad had expired it was no longer online.

I called the number off and on all day, and finally got a hold of someone around 6pm. She informed me she'd given him away about a month before, but he went to a "Great Home" and said she was going to go over and check on him. I asked her to PLEASE pass along my information to this new person, in case anything were to ever happen and his new owner couldn't take care of him. She said she would.

Phone rings on the way home last night, strange number, so I didn't answer. They left a voicemail.

It was a nice lady named Aimee, asking about the ads I had online for a TB gelding named Alduca. She left her number. I immediately pulled over and caller her back.

She had just rescued him from a lady who wasn't and hadn't been feeding him for a while now. She said he was 300lbs under weight.

If you are feint of heart, please do not look at the photos below......I'd say more like 500 lbs under weight.

This horse raced, and won money on the track. He was a seasoned fox hunter, eventer, and was trained through 2nd level dressage and was started on lower 3rd.....he was a sweetheart of a horse, didn't have a mean bone in his body.

This is how he got repaid for his kindness........it makes me sick. His new owner has promised updated photos on a regular biases, and we've already exchanged numerous emails this morning. Her vet is headed out for an exam and possible teeth float.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation to Alduca's vet care can to so by calling 904-692-3935 and having the money put on account number 991198 and say it's for Alduca. I don't' usually ask for stuff like this.....but this once great, majestic horse needs some help.

Friday Fill Ins

1. Happy tails never fails to make me smile.

2. I'm looking forward to my Dear Husband graduating from The Victoria College Police Academy and getting his TCLEOSE certification.

3. My co-worker talking on the phone and the whine of the ac unit is what I'm listening to right now.

4. Potato salad must have potato chunks and some mustard and relish in it!

5. My breakfast muffin was the best (ONLY) thing I ate today.

6. Today was supposed to be Friday, but it feels more like a Monday.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to picking Peetie up from Adopt-a-Pet , tomorrow my plans include helping my husband find a suit and Sunday, I want to chill at Connie's house while the 'boys' study for their TCLEOSE test!!

Friday Fill Ins

1. I just had to do it, I had to!

2. That's just the way it is.

3. The third sentence on the 7th page of the book I'm reading: book, what book? I'm at work! I do have Twilight with me...so here goes...... "Mom's fine. It's good to see you, too, Dad."

4. An amazing horse, a great class, and a fancy ribbon tickles my fancy.

5. I was walking Duke last night, and he's doing sooooo well!

6. Watching Duke, my 80 lb lab, and Missy, my DH's bugle.....i mean Beagle play together makes me laugh!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to not knowing what the plans are, tomorrow my plans include a Victoria photo shoot with a cute couple and Sunday, I want to play with Peetie at the pound!

Greensburg, Ks - Tornado rescue!

I don't know what group/person this is....but they are doing a wonderful thing here. I couldn't help but pass this along!

The story begins with the rescuers finding this poor little guy they named Ralphie. Someone had already taken him under their wing but they weren't equipped to adopt.

Ralphie, scared and starved, joined his rescuers.

I wouldn't think anything could live thru this.... but we were wrong.

This little lady also survived that wreckage.

Here she is just placed in the car - scared, but safe.

and then..they are no longer alone!

Add two more beagles found after that .. the more, the merrier!

Oh boy, a new traveler to add to the mix.. (Note: the cat coming over the seat needing shelter...) Now just how is this going to work? (and remember they are all strange to one another)

It's going to work just fine, thank you very much!

Wow! The things we learn from our animal friends... If only all of mankind could learn such valuable lessons as this. Lessons of instant friendship. Of peace and harmony by way of respect for one another -- no matter one's color or creed. These animals tell you... "It's just good to be alive and with others." Yes, it surely is.

A bit off regular topic here......

I know, for the MOST part I blog about horses.
Today, however I'm going to blog about 2 things that often go along with horses.......boys, and dogs.

I'm going to start on a positive note! Let me tell you about my dog Duke.
What? You didn't really think I'd use the word positive when talking about boys did you? Please!

Duke is a yellow lab. He's a rescue. We rescued him off of main Highway about 45 miles from our home. He had an injured leg. A trip to adopt a pet to get fixed and few vet bills later and Duke is a very happy, bouncing, playful lab.
Did I mention Duke has NO MANNERS? Yeah. Being a dog we just 'picked up' off the street....we have no idea what he was taught, or not taught.
I've been wanting to take him to some classes for a while now. BUT, the only thing I knew of local was Pet Smart. I took Cheyenne, one of my Catahoula's there last year. We had a great time, and enjoyed it. BUT, you have to go to a class a week for x amount of weeks.....and I'm so busy right now I can't commit to that....so, I've been hunting other alternatives!
I found one! While in TSC two weeks ago I saw an ad for a local dog trainer. How awesome! Then, about 2 days later I heard an ad for that same trainer on one of the local radio stations! OK, I thought, this person is SERIOUS about this...serious enough to put an ad on radio! So, I got on the website and checked it out! Check out Biscuit Eaters K9!!! Rayna is awesome! We set up an appointment after a few emails.
I met Rayna at designated area Sunday Morning. I was a bit apprehensive. What if I didn't like her? What if she didn't like me? What if she didn't like Duke? What if she told me Duke was stupid and would never learn anything? ohhhhh gosh!
Well, none of that happened! Duke was Great! Rayna was AWESOME!
Since Sunday AM I've been working with Duke for at LEAST 5 mins in the evening and 5 mins in the morning. He's soooo smart! He's catching on very quickly! I'm very impressed!
Rayna has also agreed to help out our local animal shelter too! Thanks Rayna!


Now....onto the 'other' part of this post.
* Disclaimer * If you are having a good day, and the above paragraphs made you happy and you wish to stay that way DO NOT continue to read! There will be complaining and complaining and complaining ahead!

OK, now that we have THAT out of the way.....
What in the HECK is up with guys? I mean what? Why are we wired soooooo differently?
We are organized, THEY ARE NOT.
We are considerate of others, THEY ARE NOT.
We remember that on the 2nd Tuesday of the month they have a meeting with x group and therefore go out of our way to make sure that happens for THEM, THEY DO NOT!
When is it our turn? When is it our turn to be on the receiving end of all that STUFF we do for them?
Do we do tooooo much?
Do we need to let them fall on their faces a few times? Would that make them realize just how much we do?
How do we get them to do more?
I'm about it my wits end here people....and I know there are others of you out there that are too! I'm usually a positive happy go lucky kinda gal.....but lately...I find myself slipping!
Help! There's a pond full of alligators below!

Mot Much.......

Not much going on over here......

Still waiting on income tax (come ON UNCLE SAM, it's MY MONEY!) so that I can get Casper gelded......then I can bring him home after 2 more weeks at Mary's and start riding!

I have come to a not so great revelation though.....Cas has been at Mary's getting WESTERN PLEASURE training......DRESSAGE is about the polar opposite! I can't bring him home and "mess" him all up like that can I? Would that even be fair? So....I'm thinking Cas will just HAVE to be an open show horse. There is a show at Sienna Stables....nice facility, nice horses, nice people....that I wouldn't mind taking him to....so....maybe that is where Cas and I will play! Any thoughts?