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Wednesday, August 20th... Jenny Hartman goes back to school today for her senior year of high school. Summer vacation is over. Time flies when you live with flies.
We would like to welcome a new member to our transportation team. Kendra Potter (no relation to Harry) lives in Vacaville, and recently Kendra purchased a brand new 3-horse slant.
We would also like to welcome a new member to our checking references team. Nicole Ray lives in Citrus Heights, and a nicer young lady you will never meet.
The other day, when we last spoke, I told you about several unbroke quarter horses standing at a feed lot in Wilton. A very generous family in Fresno came forward. 4 young quarter horses were rescued, and there is no possible way we could do this without the help of so many. A big Thank You to Ryan Andrews, Stephanie Diaz, Holly Meeks, and Jennifer Wright. All 4 horses are now munching on green grass at their new farm. There are cows for company. Also a big blue and gold macaw named Maggie, just like our big blue and gold macaw named Maggie.
From a recent ranch foreclosure all 13 horses have brand new homes. A huge, giant, gigantic Thank You to Angela Youngblood for all of her help.
Often cars drive slowly past our ranch, no doubt disgusted with mountains of poop. Lots of folks who enjoy looking at horses. One day last week a small red truck went back and forth in front of our ranch. Finally the truck parked on the side of our road, and it looked like the occupants were eating. I figure who among us has not wanted to enjoy lunch on a 108 degree day with the windows down and a billion flies landing on your tuna sub. Which made me hungry, so I jumped in my truck and went to Raleys grocery store.
So I am leaving Raleys with a carton of the worst chow mein you will ever eat, and there is the red truck. Parked right next to my white truck. There is a young girl, and she is waiting for me. Oh oh. A stalker. I am thinking soon my tragic story will be featured on NBC Dateline.
Well the girl tells me her name, and for the purpose of this long, you have probably already clicked off story, we shall call her Anna. She is 14. Anna says this is her brother, who was driving the little red truck, and lets give the brother a nice name, like Bart.
They both shake my hand. I offer chow mein, but Anna says no thanks, they just ate tuna subs.
Anna tells me she phoned a few days before, asking if I could help find her horse a new home. Her parents are struggling for money, and she is far behind on board bills.
Anna said my response on the telephone was sorry, but good luck.
You must understand, there are dozens of these kinds of phone calls each day. 7 days a week. If you kept count, which I gave up doing long ago, Tbfriends probably turns down 70 horses a week.
Anna says please come see her horse. He is at a boarding stable not far from my ranch. She begins to cry. Anna tells me she is at a loss what to do. She loves her horse so much, and if I could meet him face to face she knows I too will fall in love, and help find him a good home.
And so I follow Anna and Bart to the boarding stable. For the purpose of this story, lets call her gelding Russ. He is 12, a thoroughbred with a racing tattoo. Russ loves to jump, but his knee blew up, and now Anna and Russ only do light trail riding. Russ is a sweetheart. He came right to Anna and waited for his hug.
Anna says please Joe. Please find Russ a family who will only do light riding, and give him daily hugs and kisses. Anna offers to clean my stalls. Wash my truck. Anna says she would do anything, if only I would help her Russ.
And so last Saturday Russ was moved to my ranch. Russ is in our south field, and already he is best friends with Peanut, a wonderful gelding who was recently returned to us. Both Peanut and Russ hopefully have new homes. We are in the process of checking references.
On Sunday Anna was at our front gate. She brought carrots, and an apple pie from Raleys. Raleys makes much better apple pie than they do chow mein.
She is 14 years old, and took charge. Driving up and down in front of our ranch. The love of a young girl for her horse. I am routine when saying no on the phone. But face to face becomes personal. Russ is a good guy. Watching Anna say goodbye to Russ on Sunday is a moment I will never forget.
Joe
New pictures refuse to load, but I will keep trying.
Below on the Top Right is a gelding who we bought from a feed lot. There is a racing tattoo which says he is 4 years old. 11 year old Kacie Myers was in our yard when this gelding came off the trailer. Kacie gave him the name of Tobin. Tobin is very sore, and lame. He likes carrots, but not peppermints.
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