Visiting the New Neigh-bors

 

Aftr hearing the commotion of horses’ excited neighing, I was drawn to investigate outdoors.

Yalla! and Apache asked me if I knew what was going on. When I said I had no idea, they pointed me in the direction that all the commotion had come from. Hey thanks ladies!

 

 

My daughter and I walked over to our neighbor’s property. He owns two hundred acres of ridgeline and pastures, but doesn’t actually have a home on the land. Instead he offers pasture leases to folks with horses and cattle, and two of my other neighbors and I have pasture leased from him so our horses could graze on the summer grass. We were also able to ride on it whenever we wanted, too. But sadly, I just recently discovered that the owner has the land up for sale for a shocking $2,520,000.00! I’m very concerned that a real estate investor will grab it up and build a big subdivision there. That would really suck. If only I had a couple million. sigh.

But I digress.

When we got over to the fence line, I could see a couple horses off in the distance.

  

I felt bad that I didn’t have any carrots or treats, but I whistled to see if the horses would come when I called.

 

 

And they did!

Well, the mare was very friendly with me, but the gelding never did come close enough for me to touch him.

But I did notice that his nostrils were dripping a small amount of blood.

Instead he continually called out to anyone that would listen.

The mare enjoyed my petting and scratching and when she wandered off to graze, she would often stop and look up as if she was making sure I was still there.

 

I felt bad for her and her misshapen leg and knee. She definitely had a hard time running on that leg and couldn’t keep up with the gelding when he would run off.

 

When he went off running and screaming, I called out to the mare and she ran back to me.

 

And then she pawed the ground, dropped and rolled, sending up a huge cloud of dust.

I could see that she really enjoyed that. *grin*

 

Jen and I hung out with the new neighbors for a little while, ripping up little bunches of spring grass and feeding them to the mare. A few times I’d look back towards my house and would see my Apache mare standing there, head high, ears forward, watching me as I visited with the neighbor horses.

But soon it was time to head back home and say goodbye to the neighbor horses. The mare was so sweet. She nickered to me as I walked away.

And when I walked past my neighbor friend, Val’s arena, her horses whinnied at me, obviously asking me to tell them all about their new neighbors.

After I caught them up on the goings-on next door, they wandered off.

Yalla! and Apache wanted a little more information and took great big sniffs of my hands and my arms and then Yalla! wandered off, too.

I gave Apache a hug and told her the new neighbors were very nice, but she is the one I love. Apache whuffed and nuzzled all over my face and hair and gave me a wet kiss.

Sometimes new neigh-bors aren’t so bad…..

Crossing The Bridge and America’s Favorite Trail Horse!

 

Ok folks. Last “Gone With The Wind” ACTHA CTC post.

I only took about 80 photos on Sunday. Because quite frankly, I was freezing cold and sick of the wind. So, my focus was just taking the bare minimum of photos, so my fingers didn’t go numb.

After the Gate Obstacle, which was Obstacle #2, Colleen drove up to pick up the judges and I asked her how to cut across to Obstacle #6, The Windy City Bridge Obstacle, so we could be ahead of the riders. She informed me that Obstacle #6 had been switched with Obstacle #5 (The Airs Above Ground Jump Obstacle). Good thing I asked. But she still could only give me some vague directions to find the obstacle, basically, just head west until you start seeing orange paint and ribbons. If we started seeing pink ribbons we had gone too far west.   

With Jax driving, and a trail map, we drove west, and even though we tried to drive at a northerly angle, we still managed to end up at Obstacle #6, which had been changed to the Jump Obstacle. It was great to see my sweet friend, Lynnette there, though. She owns a gorgeous Arabian mare, named Tango, and Apache and I have ridden with her a number of times.  That’s her on the left.

 

We didn’t stick around to visit, though, because I wanted to make sure we arrived at the Bridge Obstacle before the horses and riders, and with some extra time for me to plan out my photo location and angles.

We left Obstacle #6 and drove north and down through a deep arroyo and finally found The Windy City Bridge, Obstacle #5.

Jax tested out the bridge and helped me line up my location and photo angles. 

 

And about 15 minutes later the riders and horses arrived. And it was game-on!

Of all 19 horses, I think there was only one that refused the bridge and flag obstacle.

Most of the horses very willingly stepped up onto the bridge and walked across. The Open Riders had to stop their horses in the middle of the bridge and have them stand there for the count of 5.

 

This is the horse that refused to cross the bridge. The horse was probably thinking, “What’s the point of crossing that wooden contraption, when I can easily just cross the arroyo down here?”

 

 

Even though he earned no points crossing the bridge, Joe and his PMU Draft gelding, who were riding as NMSAR Safety riders, decided to try it anyway. My camera loves this horse, so I was happy to snap a photo.

 

 Most horses just strolled across like it was no big deal, even with the colorful flag flapping violently in the wind just behind them. I think the flag was there to psyche out the riders more than for spooking the horses.

 

 And here’s our favorite Appaloosa, Lady Bug ridden by our NM blogger friend, DunAppy.

 

The Open Rider’s horses were just fine with standing still on the bridge for the count of 5.

 

 

 

Mike’s Paso Fine mare, Electra, danced across the bridge in her special speedy gait.

 

 

This gal, R and her beautiful mare are my neighbors. I discovered this fact yesterday, when she contacted me on FaceBook about buying a photo CD. R lives within riding distance, just over a hill and a few fields. Val and I actually rode past her house a couple summers ago, and she walked up to us and said Hello.

This was their first ACTHA ride and they did a terrific job.

I had doubts that Dawn and her Arabian would make it across the bridge. But they finally did, albeit a little wonky.

I wanted to take a better photograph of the two of them, so I shot this one really quickly after they finished the obstacle.

And then it was time for my friend Theresa and her handsome Zeema, a Hungarian Warmblood/Lipizzaner cross to cross the bridge. They did so perfectly.

I really like the zebra saddle pad.

 

And of course, Jessica and her rescued Palamino went across the bridge like they do it every day…and they probably do.

Her partner Charles and his coming 3 year old paint were unfazed by the bridge crossing just as they were by all the other obstacles that day.

I was happy to take a group photo of that last bunch of riders before we hopped in the Mule to take us back to WNCR so I could burn all the photos onto CD.

On the way back, I snapped off this photo of one of the NMSAR Safety Riders and his Tennessee Walker gelding. We rode with them in an ACTHA ride last Spring and Apache really disliked this horse. We had to keep our distance because she would toss her head, pin her ears, and give the stink eye.

Almost back to the WNCR CTC camp we stumbled upon this interesting “art sculpture”. The barb wire, twisted metal and coyote skeleton were protecting a fairly deep hole in the ground, probably to keep cattle and horses from investigating and falling in.

 

At the end of the ride, DunAppy pulled me aside and said she had something special to give me. For me?!

And I was thrilled that she gave me a jar of her homemade grape jam and a jar of the best homemade bread and butter pickles EVER! I was honored that she shared them with me and I must admit, have been enjoying these tasty treats every day since the CTC. Thank you DunAppy!

 

So that’s it for the “Gone With The Wind” ACTHA photos.

My next Photo Assignment is this weekend, where I will be photographing the America's Favorite Trail Horse Audition at 4 Winds Equestrian Center in Estancia, New Mexico.

There have been regional auditions all across the country this month, with a few still happening this weekend.

America's Favorite Trail Horse will be aired on Dish Network and Cable. (Direct TV is in the works!). There will be 13 one hour shows and America will be voting for their Favorite Trail Horses who could win huge prizes, including gifts, cash and even a new barn!!

All regional winners will be invited to come to the National Finals at the Franklin Family Ranch, near Austin, Texas May 8th - 12th, 2011.

In at least 10 of the selected televised episodes, America will vote for their favorite Trail Horse. The horse with the most votes will win $5,000 for that day's performance!!!

Grand Prize winners will be announced and their performance shown on a full length nationally televised TV show.

1st place - $25,000

            2nd place - $15,000

                        3rd place - $10,000

Check it out, and you will see some of the riders and horses that I photographed in this post!

I am honored, and a little nervous, to be invited to participate in this weekend’s regional AFTH Audition as the event’s Official Photographer. Wish me luck!

There is Justice, even for Horses

 

There were some questions in the comments from my last post that I thought I would answer or clarify.

Breathe stated that we could probably get the newspapers out here to interview WNCR. Well, yes that’s right, and actually the newspapers were called in first and that was done soon after Eleanor and Franklin arrived. They were the cake…..and the television interviews were the icing! hehe!

Breathe also commented that we could have the same surgery done on Eleanor that she had done on her mare. In answer, that would not be such a great idea for a physically depleted, close to 40 year old horse. We want her to live her last months or years in peace….as pain free as possible.

Paint Crazy commented on the television reporter’s footwear. Yes, I agree anyone working around horses should be wearing boots or sturdy shoes and flip flops don’t qualify. But in her defense, we were her last stop for the evening and she had been wearing heels all day long and her feet were sore. She didn’t want wear her heels around the mud and manure, and it’s not like she expects to visit horse barns every day. And most importantly, she wasn’t working close to any of the horses, except for Eleanor…..and poor thing doesn’t move faster than a turtle.

Finally Leah Fry commented that if WNCR received some donations or even one adoption, it would all be worth it.

Personally I feel it was already worth it, because we got the word out about the plight of these poor abandoned horses, while educating the public, especially horse owners, that there are other options to just dumping a horse, if you’re no longer able to care for it anymore.

But we have received some donations, and I just have to share the good news about the injured horse that I helped rescue on Sunday. The owners had been away all weekend down in Roswell and they stopped by WNCR to pick up their mare on Monday. The mare’s name is Jackie and she is doing great! The vet spent a couple hours on Sunday evening cleaning and stitching up her wound. And her owners were so relieved to see her, and so appreciative of the help that we all did to save her that they not only paid their vet bill in full, but they also donated $100 to Walkin N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue, too!!!!!! Woot!

I figured some of you might be interested in seeing the television segments on Eleanor and Franklin and WNCR Horse Rescue, so I video taped them off my tv with my camera……and here they are:

Channel 13 KRQE

Channel 7 KOAT

 

For me, what is most ironic about this situation is how Franklin and Eleanor have been given some justice.

Think about it.

Their owner wanted Eleanor and Franklin to just disappear, dumping them as thoughtlessly as someone disposes of broken appliances and garbage out in the desert.

But look at them now. They didn’t perish out in the desert, forgotten. No, they didn’t.

These two very special horses came back from the dead and now their faces and stories have been seen by thousands of people on television, newspapers, and on the internet.

Viva Franklin! Viva Eleanor!

Eleanor and Franklin the Abandoned Horses

 

(Warning! Long Post, Lots of Photos!)

I must admit that the plight of these two very special horses have touched my heart and spurred me to action. What bothers me the most is that their situation was totally preventable. No horses, especially domesticated horses, should ever have to suffer such a terrible fate.

Since I am on the Public Relations/Advertising Team I was asked if I would contact the local TV Stations to have them report on these two abandoned horses and let the public know this doesn’t need to happen. We, of course, are also hoping that the exposure will help bring in some much needed donations.

Providing food, vet care, hoof and dental care, training, along with the maintenance of vehicles and facilities for 68 horses is very expensive, especially since all bills are paid solely through donations. Donations are the horse rescue’s lifeblood and are deeply appreciated.

I spent most of Monday on the phone and computer contacting and communicating with the local TV Stations, setting up appointments. Tuesday morning, after breakfast I was contacted by my contact at Channel 13 telling me they could be at the Horse Rescue in an hour……would I meet them there?

I said “sure” and then called my friend, Colleen, the Ranch Manager and Founder of Walkin N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue to make sure she would be there to be interviewed. She was already at the ranch and was ready for Channel 13 to arrive. I got there before the news crew showed up and spent some time grooming and loving on sweet Eleanor.

Once Channel 13 showed up I stayed busy taking photos, not only for this blog post, but also for posting on the horse rescue website, too.

Here are some of the photos of the Channel 13 Interview with Colleen, and Eleanor and Franklin.

 

I left the horse rescue around noon, drove home, prepared lunch for my kidlets, horse, llamas and goats and then drove into Albuquerque to take my daughter bowling with her Girl Scout Troop.

 

After two hours of bowling, which was lots of fun (and I didn’t do too bad….if you don’t consider that I was playing against kids under the age of 9. hah!)……….

We left the bowling alley and spent about an hour at Mickey Dees Play Land with my daughter’s girlfriend, while I enjoyed visiting with her Oma. Halfway through I received a phone call from my contact at Channel 7 saying they wanted to do an interview at the horse rescue at 5pm. Then I had to make a few phone calls to find someone at the ranch to be interviewed because Colleen already had another appointment. Colleen was able to talk Christine, another friend, and hard working volunteer at the horse rescue to do the interview with Channel 7, and I left Mickey Dees to drop Jen off at home and drive over to Walkin N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue to arrive before 5pm.

I spent a little time grooming and loving on Eleanor and helping Christine mix organic oatmeal and organic cooked chopped carrot mush into the alfalfa pellet/senior feed porridge inside Eleanor’s feed bucket.

Because Eleanor is probably between 35-40 years old, she has no back teeth and her front teeth are worn down so short that she’s not able to graze, which is why she became so emaciated after someone abandoned her to fend for herself.

Anytime anyone visits Eleanor, or walks by her stall, we are supposed to use a wooden spoon to stir her mush because it gets compacted as she eats, and then she’s not able to use her mouth to lift the food out of her bucket.

 

This is a video I took of Eleanor eating her porridge. It’s wonderful to see that she has the will to live.

Because of how sunken in she is, volunteers have to clean her perineum several times a day after she defecates, or else the manure is captured in the natural ‘bowl’ beneath her tail.

The Channel 7 News Team arrived and got busy taking video and interviewing Christine, while I kept busy taking photos of the entire process.

Here are some of the photos I took of the Channel 7 coverage.

(Cute little Franklin is in his mid 20’s and suffers from severe arthritis in his left knee)

Not long after the News Crew left, Christine and I left, too. I stopped by the grocery store on the way home, and finally got home around 7pm. Fed all the animals, fed my kidlets, and then watched both of the TV Interviews on the news. (More on that soon!)

Whew! What a long day!

But 100% worth it.