2011 - A year in review
First & foremost I want to thank all the volunteers and "family" that have worked so hard this past year to save all the animals that we all did. Special thanks to Palomino & Sonya for trusting Whispering Winds and joining up with us to expand and help with some greater needs in the animal world.
Thank you, Ariel & Hyiah for all the work you have done in putting together programs, arranging all the pulls, transports, and rehoming of so many dogs this past year. Best of luck in the Million Puppy March. These lives need you. You are awesome.
Thank you, Karol & K'Lean, for taking in the abandoned horses without a 2nd thought, and for all the awesome work you have done in starting their rehabilitation, getting the word out, and finding a great home for 3 of them. You rock!
Thank you to our wonderful ranch volunteers, Carla & G'man for coming up over the summer to help so much (despite the fact that I had the worse case of bronchitis and a wounded wing). You have no idea how much your times helped us. Thank you, Dalton & Matt for the hours of fencing work and supporting Palomino. Thank you, Natalie, for joining the team. I look forward to a new year with you, and hopefully some riding.
Special thanks to the Malinois rescue team that helped with all the dogs we pulled, all the transport legs you drove, and all the tireless fundraising efforts in helping get some of the critical care dogs vet bills covered - Sonya, our fearless leader. Kris, Jan, Joanne, Barbara, Kelly, Jen, Katie, Tracy, Cindy, Pat, Kristi, Jess, Barb, and the 2 husbands that put up with us - Tom & Steve. And, an awesomely big thank you to Kate for pulling our Christmas puppy from the kill shelter and helping make my granddaughter a very happy girl.
I feel so honored to have grown so much over the past year and had such a wonderful team of passionate people help us along the way. Thank you isn't enough!
We also joined up with some great people who took horses in and provided safety for them, and then helped with getting them to the ranch. Kristen, who saw the potential in Piper and the need to rehome. And, the team at Sammie's Friends Animal Shelter in Grass Valley - Kristina, Cheryl & Susannah.
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Over the past year we have come a long way. Our adventure has been tough at times, but we are excited that we have been able to grow from the experiences. The once very run down ranch has become functional, however, there is always work. We have managed to adopt out or rehome many horses and are home to 35 full time equine residents with 23 of those being mustangs, and there are several younger mares in training that will be available for adoption in Spring 2012. At the sanctuary, we have been able to build 5 large shelters throughout the property, along with our 8 stall barn for the special needs domestic horses and are working on an additional 6 stall barn to house the Elders. Volunteers have come out to help us put up more fencing so that separating the less alpha mustangs from the ones who eat everything has been possible. We have said goodbye to many of our animals who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and welcomed others where we have given them a safe and healthy environment to live their lives out. Un Lugar del Refugio (A Place of Refuge), has become a way of life at the ranch.
We have joined forces with 3 exceptional people, which has allowed us to expand our rescue efforts to other divisions, allowing those
individuals to fully operate the Foal Rescueand Belgian Malinois Dog Rescue divisions independently from each other, but as a group effort by all of us. This way we have been able to rescue additional dogs and horses that might otherwise have never had a chance.
We lost our first sanctuary resident, Lady Spirit. It was definitely a life changing event for Jenkins, the lead gelding at the time. People don't realize the bond horses can have, and Jenkins slipped into a passive position after Lady's passing. Rebel has now taken over the herd as lead.
We rehomed 3 horses over the summer but took 2 in, Grey Hawk and Piper. Grey Hawk is retired at the sanctuary and Piper, depending on her evaluation in the Spring, will be available for adoption. Josie lost her vision to uveitis, and her mate, Pawnee, appears to be developing trouble in his hoof where we had the tumor removed. He will make a trip to the specialist after the first of the year to determine if the cancer is back. Srigo keeps going strong at 35. Emma is showing signs of arthritis in her hips and being treated for that. Rambo appears to be fully healed from his broken coffin bone so he will begin rehab training in the Spring and hopefully will be hitting the trails for some experience. Once evaulated on his recovery he will be available for adoption. Charlie's deformed leg appears to be causing some issues for him. He is choosing not to roam the back meadows with the rest of the domestics. Not sure if it's the weather or if he is just having difficulty walking too far. If, in the Spring with the warm weather, he appears to be uncomfortable we will have decide what will be the best plan of action for him. Eddie on the other hand loves to be out & about and his extra long hocks don't cause any problems for him. RC continues to be our hard keeper. We have done everything possible to re-program him from his wind sucking. But, he will find anything solid in any area of the property and immediately sink his teeth. So we keep his calorie intake high, which helps. Lady (Quarter Horse) is doing well. As long as she doesn't try to kick it up in the pastures her ringbone doesn't bother her. She still loves to hike the hills and does well.
We lost 2 cows this past year. 2 of the dairy steers that were never really healthy when they arrived. One of the other boys is slowing down a bit. At over 1200 lbs he is seen alone most of the time and loves to eat with the horses. The heifers and calves are enjoying roaming and grazing throughout the property. It has been unusually dry this year and the grasses are everywhere. They are often seen in the meadow area by the upper pond.
Our 3 Amigos - the llamas - are, well, the llamas. This year has been a little bit of training for them. Coming to us as elders and never handled, they have all been loved and scratched on. Shoney decided he would like to graze on the chicken food so was caught in the coup with no escape. Although he thought about spitting, he decided the back scratching wasn't so bad.
The rest of the mustangs are doing well. Shelters have been put up over the summer, which has been a blessing. The mustangs roam the property during the day and return to the shelters in the evening for dinner. The family bands remain pretty constant right now but I'm sure that will change when Spring heats start.
We've gotten some of the cross fencing done with the help of some great volunteers -- Thank you! This will allow us to separate the less assertive mustangs from the feeding piles and give them their own space without interference.
I'm now just over 6 weeks out from surgery and taking it very easy this time. I am getting excited about Spring, though, because there's lots of riding to do. Carson & Brian will begin their "formal" training. Stormy was adopted out to a dream home and his new mom stays in touch. This is what she said "I am still taking Stormy on walks as well as riding him twice a week. He is taking
the riding in his stride. he has no issues and that I attribute to your love and care." He, Brian and Carson all grew up together and I anticipate Brian being the same way when it comes to putting a saddle on him. We've been on his back, bareback, and he was very good with that. Carson, too. However, I'm thinking Carson, knowing Carson, is going to be my trouble child. We'll see.
Along with those 2, we have several broke to ride horses that I'm looking forward to getting more saddle time. I would love to get back to giving lessons and starting with 4H this next year. We have come so far with the clean up on the ranch that I may actually get to enjoy it.
2011 has been such a growth year for us that I'm excited to see what 2012 brings. Plans include clearing the riding trails that wind to the top of the mountain and upper meadows so we can get the trail time in. We're hoping to be able to start working with some of the underprivileged and at risk youths and local counselors in therapy programs. We have several events already booked and hope to have a big concert and barbecue at the ranch mid-summer. 2 of our rescued Malinois will begin their formal training and hopefully we'll be headed to some competitions throughout the year.
But...until the sun comes up we never know what the day will bring. Plans can change in an instant. So, for now, 2011 has been a great year of experiences and memories. Thank you for helping us in every area.
Thank you, Ariel & Hyiah for all the work you have done in putting together programs, arranging all the pulls, transports, and rehoming of so many dogs this past year. Best of luck in the Million Puppy March. These lives need you. You are awesome.
Thank you, Karol & K'Lean, for taking in the abandoned horses without a 2nd thought, and for all the awesome work you have done in starting their rehabilitation, getting the word out, and finding a great home for 3 of them. You rock!
Thank you to our wonderful ranch volunteers, Carla & G'man for coming up over the summer to help so much (despite the fact that I had the worse case of bronchitis and a wounded wing). You have no idea how much your times helped us. Thank you, Dalton & Matt for the hours of fencing work and supporting Palomino. Thank you, Natalie, for joining the team. I look forward to a new year with you, and hopefully some riding.
Special thanks to the Malinois rescue team that helped with all the dogs we pulled, all the transport legs you drove, and all the tireless fundraising efforts in helping get some of the critical care dogs vet bills covered - Sonya, our fearless leader. Kris, Jan, Joanne, Barbara, Kelly, Jen, Katie, Tracy, Cindy, Pat, Kristi, Jess, Barb, and the 2 husbands that put up with us - Tom & Steve. And, an awesomely big thank you to Kate for pulling our Christmas puppy from the kill shelter and helping make my granddaughter a very happy girl.
I feel so honored to have grown so much over the past year and had such a wonderful team of passionate people help us along the way. Thank you isn't enough!
We also joined up with some great people who took horses in and provided safety for them, and then helped with getting them to the ranch. Kristen, who saw the potential in Piper and the need to rehome. And, the team at Sammie's Friends Animal Shelter in Grass Valley - Kristina, Cheryl & Susannah.
__________________________________________________________________
Over the past year we have come a long way. Our adventure has been tough at times, but we are excited that we have been able to grow from the experiences. The once very run down ranch has become functional, however, there is always work. We have managed to adopt out or rehome many horses and are home to 35 full time equine residents with 23 of those being mustangs, and there are several younger mares in training that will be available for adoption in Spring 2012. At the sanctuary, we have been able to build 5 large shelters throughout the property, along with our 8 stall barn for the special needs domestic horses and are working on an additional 6 stall barn to house the Elders. Volunteers have come out to help us put up more fencing so that separating the less alpha mustangs from the ones who eat everything has been possible. We have said goodbye to many of our animals who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and welcomed others where we have given them a safe and healthy environment to live their lives out. Un Lugar del Refugio (A Place of Refuge), has become a way of life at the ranch.
We have joined forces with 3 exceptional people, which has allowed us to expand our rescue efforts to other divisions, allowing those
individuals to fully operate the Foal Rescueand Belgian Malinois Dog Rescue divisions independently from each other, but as a group effort by all of us. This way we have been able to rescue additional dogs and horses that might otherwise have never had a chance.
We lost our first sanctuary resident, Lady Spirit. It was definitely a life changing event for Jenkins, the lead gelding at the time. People don't realize the bond horses can have, and Jenkins slipped into a passive position after Lady's passing. Rebel has now taken over the herd as lead.
We rehomed 3 horses over the summer but took 2 in, Grey Hawk and Piper. Grey Hawk is retired at the sanctuary and Piper, depending on her evaluation in the Spring, will be available for adoption. Josie lost her vision to uveitis, and her mate, Pawnee, appears to be developing trouble in his hoof where we had the tumor removed. He will make a trip to the specialist after the first of the year to determine if the cancer is back. Srigo keeps going strong at 35. Emma is showing signs of arthritis in her hips and being treated for that. Rambo appears to be fully healed from his broken coffin bone so he will begin rehab training in the Spring and hopefully will be hitting the trails for some experience. Once evaulated on his recovery he will be available for adoption. Charlie's deformed leg appears to be causing some issues for him. He is choosing not to roam the back meadows with the rest of the domestics. Not sure if it's the weather or if he is just having difficulty walking too far. If, in the Spring with the warm weather, he appears to be uncomfortable we will have decide what will be the best plan of action for him. Eddie on the other hand loves to be out & about and his extra long hocks don't cause any problems for him. RC continues to be our hard keeper. We have done everything possible to re-program him from his wind sucking. But, he will find anything solid in any area of the property and immediately sink his teeth. So we keep his calorie intake high, which helps. Lady (Quarter Horse) is doing well. As long as she doesn't try to kick it up in the pastures her ringbone doesn't bother her. She still loves to hike the hills and does well.
We lost 2 cows this past year. 2 of the dairy steers that were never really healthy when they arrived. One of the other boys is slowing down a bit. At over 1200 lbs he is seen alone most of the time and loves to eat with the horses. The heifers and calves are enjoying roaming and grazing throughout the property. It has been unusually dry this year and the grasses are everywhere. They are often seen in the meadow area by the upper pond.
Our 3 Amigos - the llamas - are, well, the llamas. This year has been a little bit of training for them. Coming to us as elders and never handled, they have all been loved and scratched on. Shoney decided he would like to graze on the chicken food so was caught in the coup with no escape. Although he thought about spitting, he decided the back scratching wasn't so bad.
The rest of the mustangs are doing well. Shelters have been put up over the summer, which has been a blessing. The mustangs roam the property during the day and return to the shelters in the evening for dinner. The family bands remain pretty constant right now but I'm sure that will change when Spring heats start.
We've gotten some of the cross fencing done with the help of some great volunteers -- Thank you! This will allow us to separate the less assertive mustangs from the feeding piles and give them their own space without interference.
I'm now just over 6 weeks out from surgery and taking it very easy this time. I am getting excited about Spring, though, because there's lots of riding to do. Carson & Brian will begin their "formal" training. Stormy was adopted out to a dream home and his new mom stays in touch. This is what she said "I am still taking Stormy on walks as well as riding him twice a week. He is taking
the riding in his stride. he has no issues and that I attribute to your love and care." He, Brian and Carson all grew up together and I anticipate Brian being the same way when it comes to putting a saddle on him. We've been on his back, bareback, and he was very good with that. Carson, too. However, I'm thinking Carson, knowing Carson, is going to be my trouble child. We'll see.
Along with those 2, we have several broke to ride horses that I'm looking forward to getting more saddle time. I would love to get back to giving lessons and starting with 4H this next year. We have come so far with the clean up on the ranch that I may actually get to enjoy it.
2011 has been such a growth year for us that I'm excited to see what 2012 brings. Plans include clearing the riding trails that wind to the top of the mountain and upper meadows so we can get the trail time in. We're hoping to be able to start working with some of the underprivileged and at risk youths and local counselors in therapy programs. We have several events already booked and hope to have a big concert and barbecue at the ranch mid-summer. 2 of our rescued Malinois will begin their formal training and hopefully we'll be headed to some competitions throughout the year.
But...until the sun comes up we never know what the day will bring. Plans can change in an instant. So, for now, 2011 has been a great year of experiences and memories. Thank you for helping us in every area.