Nonstop to Charlotte

This is has been the worst week of the new year, so far.

Yesterday we lost one of our beloved resident. Mighty Mouse, registered name Nonstop to Charlotte, passed away yesterday from a strangulated lipoma in her small intestines. We had no warning, and this particular tumor doesn't usually affect mares, just geldings and ponies.

It started with the symptoms of colic. No manure, no gut sound so we followed standard colic procedures. By Tuesday night she was thrashing with pain and we gave her the serious drugs which helped but not fully. Wednesday morning we made the decision to take her to Auburn University, still thinking we were looking at an impaction or twist. With buckets of tears and many prayers we loaded Mouse onto the trailer.

Auburn was expecting us, and the crash room was ready. As soon as the trailer came to a stop, the vets, interns and assistants were  there, helping her off the truck, confirming with AJ all the information our vet had told them. Mouse was taken into surgery. Soon the diagnosis came back.

They tapped her belly to check the fluid. Where it should be a light amber, it was filled with blood. Their faces told us all we needed to hear. Surgery was attempted in case this was a simply a tear, but she never made it off the table. According to the wonderful Dr. Alvanese, even if we had taken her to Auburn earlier, nothing would have saved her. She should have died within moments of the first twinges of pain. Only her Mighty Mouse spirit kept her alive until everyone could say good-bye.

Mouse was a miracle baby, rejected by her mother and fed by a bottle by her breeder 'momma' for weeks. It was several months before Mouse was aware she even was a horse and not a human. Momma Angie had to teach her to eat grass! It was this will to survive that we will always remember. Mouse had a mind of her own and definite opinions on everything. From the moment she entered the pasture, she was Boss Mare of the Round Bales. No one was admitted to the hay feast without Mouse's permission.

She flirted shamelessly with every gelding on the farm. She was diagnosed with HYPP, a potassium imbalance that caused her to have her feed and treats carefully monitored. And throughout everything she was sweet, kind, and a willing listener. A large hole in our hearts has been opened and may never be closed. Mighty Mouse has passed the Rainbow Bridge. At least she has some friends waiting for her. I guess the boys needed a mother.

We would like to cremate Mouse and have her remains split between those who loved her best. Deceased Pet Care in Atlanta is offering a $300 discount which would make our costs $1500.00. Being a 501(c)3 rescue, funds are tight but this would mean much to AJ, Brooke, and Sadie. If you would like to contribute to Mouse's burial fund, our PayPal address is lessons@blueskiesridingacademy.com.

Farewell Charlotte - run free, and take care of the boys: Redwood, Sneaky, and Sparky. We will see you again!!!

Check Out Our New Website!

Just a quick note to let everyone know, our new website is up and running. Many thanks to trainer Sami Malik for her time and talents for this awesome new look. The address is: www.blueskiesridingacademy.com Check it out!

Another Year Gone By...

The New Year is on its way, and with it will come a new name for this blog.

I started this adventure when my gelding, Vince, went lame. That was one year ago. At first we thought it was EPM, a neurological condition caused by possum poop. What actually happened was damage to both of his suspensory ligaments on his rear legs. Now after treatment at Auburn University and a year off, come January Vince goes back to light work as we endeavor to find out if he will ever be sound again.

But this column has moved beyond just one horse. It really is all about horses and horse rescue, and Blue Skies Riding Academy in general. In keeping with that, this column is undergoing a name change. I will still track Vince's rehabilitation, but I will also be reporting on rescues ready for adoption along with our programs and news as it comes up.

The URL will stay the same for now. If I decide to change it, I will give plenty of notice. I hope everyone likes the changes and will continue to check in and stay in touch with our 'children's' antics. They surprise me, annoy me, and I wouldn't trade a one of them for anything.

So, effective January 1st, this will now be entitled:

REDWOOD'S BLUE SKIES

The name is in memory of our Belgian colt, who passed away one year ago on the 29th of December after a tragic pasture accident. We saved his mother from slaughter and were unaware she was pregnant until a week before his arrival. It is in his name we dedicate ourselves to the rescue, retraining, and rehoming of equines.

UPDATE - Sterling's Second Start

Sterling and Kim placed 2nd in the GHJA Show this weekend. Here are a few pictures of his big weekend.

Sterling and his rider, Kim Payne, at this past weekends GHJA finals.

Sterling and Kim, along with their trainer, Sami Malik, and Sterling's mom - Tiffany Brown

Sterling and mom Tiffany having a moment at the GHJA finals this past weekend.

We are all proud of Kim and Sterling. Just wait until next year!

Sterling's Second Start

Once upon a time way back in 2007, in a land far removed from Georgia, a little Thoroughbred colt was born. With wide brown eyes and a taste for wood, "Dixie Jammin'" wasn't your typical colt. We don't know everything, but we do know he learned enough about racing to earn his gate card and Jockey Club tattoo. But from that point until September 2010 the story gets muddy. Why September 2010? Because that is when Blue Skies Riding Academy heard about the West Virginia seizure of 52 horses from Hidden Meadows Equine Rescue for starvation and neglect.

This is what our instructors Heather and Sami found when they first saw "Dixie". Scoring only a 1.5 on the Henneke Body Scale, the poor gelding was deemed fit by the on site vets to travel; and so with two other survivors Connor and Ella Grace began the journey to a new life. When I arrived the next morning and took their liquid breakfast out to the West Virginia babies my heart broke at the lack of spark in their eyes. Even food didn't perk their interest. At the so called rescue they were freed from, the animals were eating acorns and rocks just to fill their bellies.

It was agreed by one and all Dixie did not fit this gelding! He was shy, introverted, a cribber of unparalleled determination, and afraid of his own shadow. I don't remember who first came up with "STERLING", but it stuck. As the weight slowly came back and his rehabilitation progressed, it was time to find Sterling a person. Many of us took time with Sterling, working with his wood addiction, teaching him ground manners, and giving him more love than he could handle. Due to starvation, his growth was stunted. As he gained strength, he popped out abscesses, strained muscles in his rump and was butt high more months than we could count. Now, at 5 years of age he is over 17 hands and all horse. But he still needed a person. Enter Tiffany -

Tiffany works at the barn part time, as an instructor and volunteer. While her background is in dressage, Tiff couldn't help but fall for our little "Ster-Fry". His movement, when correct, was beautiful; his legs long and delicate, and keeping him at a trot for more than 10 paces a joke. And so, the long-legged dressage rider became the person for a green hunter prospect.

Sterling is technically grown up now. At 5 his size might not change, and his cribbing obsession is just as strong as day one, and he is still afraid of his own shadow, but what a magnificent horse he has become. Tiffany is finishing up her art degree, and Sterling has become the model for many of her school projects.

With Tiffany at school, another person has stepped up to love on our "Chicken of the Barn", Kim. Kim has been riding ponies at BSRA for many years, and when it was decided Sterling needed another rider to help train him, Kim happily volunteered. The pairing is awesome, and they have already made quite an impression together in the local shows. Sterling is still green, and sometimes it shows, but he is all heart!

This weekend, Kim and Sterling will be competing at the GHJA finals, and Tiffany will be there ringside cheering him on. Our little Thoroughbred has come a long way from the dull, ragged, neurotic baby I first met sucking on the top rail, but I know his future will be brighter still with the love of two good women, a barn full of friends, a round bale to dive into and a piece of wood to suck on!

If you would like more information on Blue Skies Riding Academy, our rescue and retraining program, or our riding lessons, please visit our website at www.blueskiesridingacademy.com.

And On Our Sister Station...

Today, on my personal journal/blog I am participating in a Blog Hop! There are over 200 author bloggers participating and everyone is giving something away, like gift cards and FREE books!

So hop over and read about how we feel about Autumn's Harvest!

Blonde Not Dumb

The Happiest Little Pony in the World

This week has been a good one for my Blue Skies babies.

Connor, a rescue from West Virginia, who arrived at BSRA in September of 2010 at the ripe old age of 18 months, has an adoption pending. Connor hasn't had an easy life since birth. We don't know where he came from or when he entered the slaughter pipeline. We do know he was saved from slaughter and sent to a facility in West Virginia. When the police and animal control stepped in to save the dying and starved horses at this 'rescue', we took three home to Emerson.

When Connor arrived, his weight wasn't too bad, but it was obvious he was at the bottom of the herd. His sides were covered with bites and kicks. Luckily with only two other horses in a very large pasture he was able to perk up much quicker than his two companions: Sterling and Ella Grace.

From the first we didn't try to ride Connor much, especially being unsure of his age. When he was ridden or worked with from the ground, he proved to be a very bombproof little Quarter Horse. Still growing we were excited for his future when disaster struck our beloved 'Khan'.

One summer night, while the herd was in the pasture, Connor ended up impaled on a wooden fence post. The barn manager came quickly, hearing the commotion in the barn, but the damage was already done. Connor's chest was split from top to just behind the front legs. That was June 2011.

His recovery has been slow, with forward progress and a few relapses. Last March we took him along with Vince to Auburn to have the slow closing wound ultra sounded to make sure there was no wood still caught in the chest. Once they gave Connor the 'all clear', we began using him for pony rides, walking only. He has spent his days growing (he is approaching 15 hands while we never thought he would go over 14), eating and regaining his strength.

Connor's personality is pure Quarter Horse. He got a little nippy when on stall confinement for 8 months, so you have to remind him not to grab for treats, but other than that his personality is all sunshine. Now, he has met a little girl who adores him, and it is easy to see he loves her too. The happy ending we all were afraid might never happen for this miracle horse is now becoming a reality.

I will miss him greatly. In the pasture he was the quiet companion of any horse who felt alone. Everyone loved on him, but we all wanted so much more for him than the life of a sanctuary horse. Thanks to all of those who have prayed for this little guy, brought him treats, hand walked him during the rough early days, and to Heather and Sami for bringing him into our lives. I cannot imagine our barn without him, but I wouldn't change this adoption for the world.

He's earned it.