Food for Thought

One of my friends asked me over the weekend if I can ever just "relax."

Nope. I don't think so. I need to feel some level of stressed at all times of else I don't function. I don't know how else to explain it. I need to be involved in a few things at a time or else I get "bored" and start to worry about stupid things.

So if working full time isn't enough (and the non-profit) I am starting a food bank. Okay, not a food bank, but a "Backpack Program" (I haven't thought of a good name yet.) On the first day of school on of my former students (now 3rd grader) had to finish a writing prompt. The prompt was, "My biggest wish is...." Many students filled it in with wishes for expensive clothes, shoes, etc. Not my student. His greatest wish was "to have enough food so that my mom doesn't need to worry." This is the same kiddo who was placed in my program as a first grader. After looking at data, I quickly realized that his behaviors were triggered by hunger.

It broke my heart, and I started to think. How many students at my school leave on Friday and don't have a good meal again until Monday morning. There is no reason that this needs to happen. I have talked with our principal about starting a "backpack program." The idea is that students would be given a backpack on Friday full of food for the weekend. They would then return the bag on Monday.

This should keep me busy for a few weeks while I get the paperwork and pantry built (I'm turning one of my recovery rooms into a pantry.)

As for Ms. Slew (she would really be pissed if she knew I mentioned anything other than her) she's doing well still. She is scheduled for body work twice a month. They are doing stretching and body work on her 3 times a week and are working on building up her muscles. Again. I'm beyond the "Oh Denali, please fix her" and I'm more of "Sure, you can try." Not that I give up, but how many times has Denali been lame?? See my point? I really hope she gets better, but that means that I'm going to need to race the music and get over my intense fear of dying when I'm on a horse. Another problem for another day. Regardless I am happy having her in my live.

Fall is here which means pony visits are going to be very limited. BOO!

Denali goes back to school.

Man I suck at updating this as of late.

School has started and keeping me busy. Denali had her vet appointment today, but I couldn't be there. She has just seemed "out of it" as of late and I knew something was wrong. The vet said that she was healthy, aside from the fact that she is really sore all over. She adjusted her and did some acupressure on her. Denali was a good girl, but did get nasty a few times when she was working on her back.

Vet's thoughts: Go back to work. She needs to develop more muscles.

Ms. Slew is going back to work. Not under saddle...yet, but that is the vet's goal. We'll see. I'm cautiously optimistic, BUT we all know Denali and how long this might last. She is going to be getting bodywork twice a month and be worked at least 4 days a week.

Maybe I should take best on how long this lasts. Anyone? Anyone?

Quick Update

School started this week. No amazing stories yet, and I hope to have 0. I won't jinx myself yet, but I must say there have been a lot of tears (mine) because I'm so very proud of my kiddos. Again, it's day 2 and I'm sure that they will try to kill me tomorrow.

Monday I totally spaced on Denali's vet appointment and forgot what time it was. I thought it was later then it was and so we had to reschedule. There was a time that my life revolved around her appointments. I feel bad, but asked the vet if we could start Adequan now to see if there is a difference with her or not. Luckily she said yes. I still want our 4 month appointment to see what she's up to.

Started one of the gifts for Andrea and Gogo, and it's going to be amazing. Feel free to donate. I'll add your name to the card. :) Thanks.

Sunny Sunday

My husband was asked to come to Iceland and present at a conference. He is currently there, while I get ready for work. Boo real job! I would much rather continue to "run" a non-profit than work. I am attempting to do both, and do both really well. I don't do things half-assed (well, I do, but it's things like cleaning, and cooking, and fun things like that.) I get very annoyed with people who do things half-assed and so I will run myself into the ground before I slack.

One thing I did to help make sure I can handle everything is I got an "understudy" at the GWB. She rocks and loves horses so much. It's nice to have help and it only takes us 2 hours to do everything, so that helps. Today we were finishing up our shift when we noticed that one of the lesson horses was being ridden by her lessor. We sat to watch for a minute from the barn (so we could see her, she would have a hard time knowing that we were there.) She first let her mom (very, very overweight) ride him first. He's a saint, I would have bucked her off right away. Then she got on him (he's older, 19...20?) cranked his head into his chest and asked him for a a canter (with no warm up.) When he wouldn't do it she started to hit him with the whip, and not the "lets go whip." Both of our jaws dropped and we went ripping and tearing up to the owner of the GWB's house. I normally call her but was so appalled that I just needed to let her know asap. We left after we got the owner (who was obviously not happy, she loves that horse) and so not sure what happened.

I finished up all the paperwork for the fundraiser that I organized. Final total: $10,210.25 which won't even begin to cover vet bills, but it's a start for the owners and will help them out. The horse under our care is doing better. Friend "Northwest Equine Stewardship" on FB and you can see the photos of him. Poor boy, it looks so bad, but he's doing well. Still some puss pockets, but doing okay.

Thank you everyone who sent in their dontion for Andrea and Gogo. We have some pretty cool ideas picked out, and I'm starting the "main" gift tomorrow since it will take a while, and it will make a great present regardless of the outcome. If you'd like to make a donation use the button to the right at the top of my blog. I had a "donate" button up, but I guess you can't do that. I got a wordy e-mail from Paypal asking me for my 501(c)3 status number and yada,yada,yada. So, "Buy Now!" (HA!) I sent an e-mail out yesterday to everyone who donated with what our 'plans' are and heard no "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING" back so I'm going to start the one since I need to meet with the woman and she has only tomorrow off and lives 2 hours away. I'm excited about doing the gift, not why we are doing it. Send your donations in, I will keep the button up for a while. I'm putting the deposit down tomorrow morning for the "main" gift and will happily cover the whole thing if  need to. :)  IF you didn't get an e-mail let me know! I repsonded to your paypal account e-mail so check that. Also, if you want to send in a gift, but don't have paypal, e-mail me at rehabdenali@yahoo.com and I'll give you my address for snail mail.

Love you Andrea and Gogo!!

Gogo and Andrea (We Love You!)

Many of you found my blog in November when Denali was sick, and we had planned to put her down. The wonderful, courageous, amazing Andrea led the charge of making sure that I would be able to remember Denali after she was gone. Luckily, for some still unknown reason Denali improved. The only thing we figured out is that the shit ton (actual metric unit) of bute I gave her the night before lessened the swelling enough that she regained the feeling/movement that she had lost from being on stall rest and the arthritis took over. It took away the pain, and she felt good.

I'm not going to lie. I feel sick to my stomach that after everything that happened to me, and the support she (and you) showed me that I still got to keep my mare and she might not get to do the same.  I just think life is unfair and this totally sucks.

Gogo's injury isn't improving, and whatever decision that Andrea makes (and it's only hers to make) I want to make sure that she knows that we are all here to support her. She is an amazing human being, and deserves to know that we are her to support her through this time. I am collecting money on behalf of all of us to buy her a gift. (Thank you Aimee, Monica, and Stacey for letting me lead this!) She loves that horse more than anything, and I love her for her friendship and help that she gave me over the past few months.

my Paypal is rehabdenali@yahoo.com whoever donates can help decide what to do to support Andrea.

Andrea and Gogo, we love you!

Good Pony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jaPRZd7gvJc

I sort of think he's an idiot for doing it, and it was a HUGE risk....but still, pretty impressive! What a good, good pony! Hope everyone on the East Coast is doing okay!!

Denali's Master Plan: FAIL

Over the summer, the herd that Denali lives with has changed a bit. The herd bosses Mary and Bailey were adopted, Denali's best friend moved to a training barn, and the other "lead horse" moved to the diet pasture. This left room at the top of the herd for a leader to take over.

Denali took no time in taking over.

I have to say that she is a really good mare. She's fair, she keeps everyone in line, and doesn't try to take everyones food for her own (most the time.) I would have never have guessed that she would be a good leader. Ever.

There are only 4 horses in their pasture right now. Two of them came in with injuries, which left Denali and Sunny alone to enjoy the pond/ multiple acres / and grass on their own. She was loving it. Then Denali decided to get an abscess and go lame, leaving Sunny the loan winner of "Survivor: Pasture Edition."