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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 5, 2007 11:21:50 GMT -5
Here is Joe's Journal at TB Friends near Sacramento, Ca.
Wednesday, December 5th... My old (very old) friend Gaylen Strong always says life is not complicated at all. As long as you know how to say NO.
In the last 2 months I have learned how to say NO. It is a rare day indeed when only 1 or 2 blackmail phone calls come. Take my horse or else. Usually there are 5 or 6 of these kinds of calls.
It is easier to say NO when you have never met the horse. At a killer auction, or at a feed lot, when you are actually up close and personal, saying NO makes you feel terrible. Saying NO puts the fate of a horse right square on your shoulders.
So I tried other ways to help horses. All the time on the morning journal I tell you about horses who need homes. Doomed horses. Sharing their fate. And a reader in San Francisco is angry. The reader phones to say that when I ask for help with doomed horses, I am making the public feel guilty. I am removing their fate from my shoulders, and placing their future in your hands.
This was not my intention. I am grown up, and I can handle the guilt of saying NO to a doomed horse. I would never want another person to feel awful because they are unable to help.
I tell you about adoptions, and needy horses finding good homes. I like to share in the happiness of a horse. I do not tell you about adoptions and show pictures of those adoptions just to make you feel guilty. To make you feel left out.
A crazy thing this internet. All kinds of emotions in play. A young reader who lives far away and writes us letters says I have really hurt her feelings because not once have I mentioned her name on the morning journal.
The morning journal was started 3 years ago to help horses find good homes. Your response has been over the top. Way more than expected. Along the way comes other gunk, and if you are upset with my intentions well sure I feel bad, but we are not going to change course. More horses than ever before are in trouble. We need to find them homes. One day at a time. One horse at a time.
Here we go. If you can help, give me a call at 530-383-2120. If you are unable to help please do not feel bad.
Lots and lots of senior citizens. They are all breeds, they are located from Fresno to Redding, and most have been neglected. These old guys and gals would make wonderful companions to your single horse, or your single goat, or your apple tree out back.
A young thoroughbred gelding who is too hot for his owner.
A young paint colt who was rescued from a killer auction in Turlock, and he is stunning. Red and white, and his owner will pay for castration.
A 9 year old morgan mare who is blind in her left eye. She recently miscarried, and if no one takes her she will go to auction this Sunday.
Lots and lots of young kids. They are all breeds, and they are located from Fresno to Redding. Some are wild and never had a halter on. Some are truly neglected, and not once have their feet been trimmed. None are broke to ride. Many will be going to auction this Sunday. Others will go straight to a feed lot.
Today will be the 29th straight day we have placed a needy horse in a new home. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation. We might be 57 degrees. Enjoy your Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Mandy, and I love your letters. Please keep them coming.
Joe
What a good guy. I came home to find Cowboy Cam with his broken gate. Cowboy could have escaped, maybe running off to Vegas to live under a different name. Instead Cowboy waits for me to come home and fix his gate.
Never saw the sun yesterday. Cold and wet all day. Another storm is suppose to come on Friday.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 6, 2007 11:42:43 GMT -5
Joe's journal. The monthly auction in Roseville, Ca is this Sunday, Dec. 9th. Please call Joe if you can help.
Thursday, December 6th... All the time on television they tell us how California is in big time trouble. No water for the last 2 years, which is the main reason for the high prices of hay. Grass does not grow for cows, which means they must be given hay, which means we are quickly running out. Major horse farms are buying their hay from other states. With gasoline prices gone nuts, it is costing these farms a fortune. A large thoroughbred operation in Santa Rosa has rid themselves of half of their horses. There is just not enough money for feed. In the last 3 weeks we have helped place 11 of their horses. Others are going straight to auction.
A nice lady not too far from us is having terrible financial problems. There is a divorce, and her horses must go. We have helped place 4 of her horses in good homes, and the remaining 4 are older with arthritis. We need to find homes for these 4, or they are going to auction.
A nice lady right here in Woodland is having terrible financial problems, and her 2 older quarter horses must go.
A family in Sacramento must be rid of their old grandma mare, or she will be sent to auction this Sunday.
A family in Stockton must be rid of their yearling colt and 14 year old appendix mare. They would like $650.00, cash only, because this is what horse killer Wade Giles has already offered them.
We have gobs and gobs of senior citizens available. They are free, and we only have to meet you first. Many of these old horses are not being fed properly. Some are going to auction on Sunday.
Another Jessica has come into our life. Her full name is Jessica Johnson, and yesterday she became the new owner of a yearling thoroughbred colt. Jessica wanted a young horse to break and grow old with, and now she has him. A big Thank You to Gary Duncan for providing the transportation.
Still another Jessica has come into our life. Her full name is Jessica Parsley, and I drive past her place all the time but who knew? Jessica is now the owner of a beautiful red and white paint, but he will first be castrated. Surgery should take place next week. Transportation will be provided by Gary Duncan.
Carol Thornton is the happy new owner of a young quarter horse gelding, and yesterday she welcomed him into her home. Literally. Right off the trailer the gelding stuck his face through her back door. He asked where is lunch? His new name is Bingo, and a big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation.
Keeping you in the loop. Recent adoptions from our ranch include Cookie and Cardinal. Cookie has a beautiful new home right here in Woodland. Cardinal was adopted by a very nice lady in Citrus Heights.
In the last week we have rescued 2 horses, both thoroughbreds, from a thingy fighting farm in Vallejo. In the last week we have rescued 3 horses, all thoroughbreds, from a feed lot in Elk Grove.
19 shopping days left until Christmas. Tis the season. The coffee is from Nob Hill, and the man on the radio says get ready for a doozy. Always liked that word. Doozy. Much needed rain has already begun, and later today it should be coming down in buckets. Lots of snow in the mountains. Our first major winter storm. 105 wet and hungry horses are watching the house. Waiting for the old man to put his apple fritter down and start serving breakfast. A big Thank You to Allison Martino for the sack of pastries. Enjoy your cold and soggy Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Kirsten Stevens, who lives in Sacramento. Kirsten says this will be the best Christmas ever because it is her first with Dougie, a gelding she bought at an auction in Roseville. There was something in his eye. A foxtail, and out back behind the auction ring Kirsten pulled the foxtail free. And then she watched as a scary man hiding in an alcove was bidding on Dougie. Kirsten figured he had to be a horse killer (he was) so she kept jumping up the bid until Dougie was hers. A whopping $250.00. At a boarding stable in Davis Kirsten discovered Dougie is very well trained. His eye was infected, but now he is healed. They trail ride almost daily, and Kirsten wants us to know she loves her Dougie like crazy. For Christmas Dougie gets a warm red blanket, and a package of his favorite peppermints. The best Christmas ever...
Joe
Taken from the top of our haystack, horses in the south fields wait for their supper.
A new arrival from a feed lot in Elk Grove, and we named her Magic. There is a racing tattoo that says Magic is 13 years old. Magic is lame and scared, but in the last few days she has settled down just fine.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 7, 2007 15:15:50 GMT -5
Please help Joe find Martha.
Friday, December 7th... Our yard is a bit flooded. It rained until even the ducks complained, and now we must deal with cold winds. Always an adventure in the boonies. There are 2 more race horses at Golden Gate Fields who await transportation to our ranch. There is an older thoroughbred gelding at a feed lot in Elk Grove who is waiting for Gary Duncan to come with his trailer. The gelding has an unreadable tattoo, but we think he is about 20. Horses up and down our driveway. Yesterday was the 30th day in a row we have placed a horse in a new home. In steady rain we said goodbye to Holly, and we hardly got to know her. Holly was dropped off in our driveway last week. The lady said here ya go, I have no other options. Holly is an appendix mare, maybe 12 or so, and our friend Holly Meeks took Holly the mare on a little trail ride Sunday. Holly the mare is kind, even tiny kids can ride her, and she is now at her perfect new home with a family in Winters.
Also yesterday we arranged transportation for a grandma mare to be moved to her new home in Woodland. The mare might be part arabian, but who really knows for sure? She is skinny and sad, and her new husband is Radar. Radar is also a senior citizen, and the two old folks went for a stroll in their large pasture. Those first awkward getting to know you moments. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation.
Ask and you shall receive. On the phone with Jodi Tuft, and I am telling her about neglected horses who need good homes. When I mentioned a tall older thoroughbred in Petaluma, Jodi says bring him to me. Well okay then. Transportation is being arranged, and Thank You Jodi.
Ask and you shall receive. On the phone with Rachel Jeffers, and I am telling her about neglected horses who need good homes. When I mention Knock Knock, an older gelding with two bad knees, Rachel says bring him to me. Well okay then. Transportation has been arranged, and Knock Knock will go to Rachel this morning.
A giant Thank You to a private donor who yesterday paid a family in Stockton for their 14 year old appendix mare and her yearling colt. Both horses were being sold to a local horse killer, but instead today they leave for their new home. A big Thank You to Gary Duncan for providing the transportation.
Here we are on a winter Friday morning, less than 3 weeks until Christmas, and the hot coffee is from Dunkin Doughnuts. All night I have been thinking about Martha, and I am not crying on your shoulder, only sharing. It is never about the horses we rescue. We instead honor those horses we are not able to save. I met Martha last week in a town called Brooks, which is 20 minutes from us. Martha was maybe 15, skinny and lame, and I told the owner give me a week or two and I will find her a new home. In the meantime I took 2 bales of alfalfa to her. Told the owner to give Martha 4 flakes a day. Yesterday I stopped to see if Martha needed more hay. She was not there. The man said he sold her to a horse dealer named Rick. I do not know a horse dealer in our area named Rick. I phoned other horse killers, and they have never heard of him either.
And my 2 bales of alfalfa had never been opened. There they sat, soaked from the rain.
I know it is a long shot. Been through this crap several times before. But if any of you know a horse dealer named Rick who drives a red truck with a red stock trailer and buys horses in Yolo County, please get me in touch with him. Martha will not leave my brain. I really want to find her.
Martha is a quarter horse mix, a darker chestnut in color with a shaggy coat. All 4 feet are long, and she is lame on her right front. There is a white dash between her eyes, and if I remember right there is no white on her ankles. The auction houses are on alert. Horse killers I am on speaking terms with also know to call if they see her.
So many neglected horses. Never seen it like this. Upcoming auctions include Turlock, Roseville and Petaluma. If you would like to help, my cell is 530-383-2120. Please do not feel bad if you are unable to help.
And what on earth would Cathy and I do without you? We need to thank Tamara Watson, who came to our front gate with one hundred dollars. Jim & Jamie Espinoza, and they live in Victorville, California. Dina Canzoneri, and she lives in Maryland. Barbara Brownlee in New Jersey, and Barbara sent us delicious cookies and coffee and peppermints. We thank Sally Smith in Sacramento, and we have not seen her in a long time. Robin West in Pennsylvania. A big Thank You to Mary Frazier in Moraga, California. Roxane Key lives in Arroyo Grande, California. Roxane sent us horse blankets and lead ropes, Thank You Roxane. There is Catherine Moses in North Carolina. Dakota Blue in Castro Valley. Jamie Watkins. Stephen & Jerri Hardy in Vacaville. Toby Reed. Carrie Fox who lives in Antioch, California. Bonnie Buron in Florida, and Thank You Bonnie. Kathleen Wachowski in Concord, California. Linda Loman. William & Peg Jordan in New Jersey. Peggy Hetcage, and it was really nice talking to you. Jeanette Cavalier in New Mexico. Patti Lu. Mikka Thorson. A nice lady in Minnesota, we had a great talk on the phone, and she sent some money to Windmill Feed Store for us. I forgot your name, sorry, but we really appreciate your kindness. And a special Thank You to Nina Brown in Vacaville. All she does for us, and all she does for horses.
If I left you out please know that I am old and pitiful, but we cannot Thank You enough. This tiny office will never make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens. What a mess. There can be a really good chance I lost you in the shuffle.
Enjoy your still more chances of rain Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. The Kings play tonight but Kevin Martin is injured. Happy Birthday to Staci Miller, and have fun tonight at sushi.
Joe
An Oldie But Goodie. We bought Train from a killer at the race track in 2000. He came to us with a broken ankle, and each summer he lives on green grass with a foster family in Clear Lake. Train just returned to us for the winter. What a lousy deal he says...
Below on the right is Kelly of Placerville with 2 of our former horses. On the left is Blake, and on the right is Copeland. Kelly loves them both like crazy, and a big Thank You to Aljean for sending us this picture.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 8, 2007 11:05:29 GMT -5
"Concentrate on GOOD and GOOD takes over..." Joe Shelton
Martha was lost to slaughter, but we have to be positive and hopeful for the rest who are in danger.
Saturday, December 8th... A reader of the morning journal put me in touch with horse killer Richard Wertz. He likes to be called Rick. Just so you know, the mare Martha was taken to slaughter in Canada.
Richard Wertz has been working our area for 2 years. He looks for free horses and buys cheap horses and then sells them to slaughter. He was nice enough on the phone. Refers to himself as a cowboy. Says he has an ex wife and 2 teenagers to support. He travels the country roads of Vacaville, Dixon, Winters and Woodland. Searching for Free Horse signs, or Horses For Sale signs. Richard Wertz says he has no problem with rescue folks. Their money is as good as any. And when he gets a doomed thoroughbred he will call me.
I feel completely out of the loop. This is my area. For 2 years horse killer Richard Wertz has been cruising our roads, and I had no clue he even existed. New horse killers are on the scene all the time. The money is unbelievable. Way better than a regular job.
Before hanging up horse killer Richard Wertz says times are getting tougher. He is making less money. Horse killers are paid by the weight of a horse. And since there are many hungry horses who weigh less than they should, his earnings are down.
Horse killer Richard Wertz would like owners to start feeding their horses properly. His ex wife is nagging him for more money.
God Bless Martha. A kind old gal.
Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say he has a young thoroughbred gelding without a tattoo, but he came from the race track. His morning workouts were apparently slow. $475.00, and horse killer Manny Phelps says the young gelding is gorgeous. Transportation has been arranged, and the gorgeous gelding will come to us on Monday.
Later today more race horses will arrive at our ranch. There might be 2, or there might be 3. And as I sit here, 5:40 on a cold Saturday morning, I am trying to decide where these new horses will live. Our stalls are full. Our round pens are full. Our mare motel is full. Our yard is full. The only empty spot on the entire ranch is the second bathroom, and no way can a horse fit in there. Executive decision time. Which horses will leave the comfort of a stall to go live in our muddy fields? Well golly gee. There will be pouting and kicking and screaming. The barn radio will be full blast. Neighbors quickly put out their For Sale signs. Just another day on a ranch filled with thoroughbreds.
The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of cinnamon cream. A big Thank You to Kaitlin Cross for the delicious carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Kaitlin is 14, and she found the carrot cake recipe in a magazine. Kaitlin says this will be the best Christmas ever because her dad has a better job, her mom has started with riding lessons, and Kaitlin herself is working at the barn. 2 days a week after school Kaitlin does the evening cleaning while her mom has a lesson. Their old quarter horse gelding Sam can no longer be ridden, but he lives like a king. This will be their 10th Christmas with Sam. He loves mashed bananas with peanut butter. Gives a little squeal when he sees Kaitlin coming.
Enjoy your muddy Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. Concentrate on Good, and Good takes over...
Joe
No time for new pictures yesterday, sorry. Here are adoptions from earlier this year. Becky and Brooke are with the handsome Super Coy. Brooke now has 2 horses that came from our ranch.
Below on the right is Elizabeth with the very lucky Diddylicious.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by dustyboots on Dec 9, 2007 1:44:35 GMT -5
Where can I read Joe's other blogs? I really enjoyed reading this....no matter how sad it was...
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Post by beckybee on Dec 9, 2007 2:49:47 GMT -5
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 9, 2007 11:09:48 GMT -5
Hi Dustyboots. I don't know if the past Journals can be accessed. I read somewhere that a guy in the Bay area had archived the past journals. Maybe if you Google Joe Shelton, TB Friends, they'll pop up? He REALLY needs to publish a book. Great fundraiser! www.tbfriends.com Sunday, December 9th... We have rescued close to 500 horses this year, and every once in a while one comes up our driveway which makes us stop and say Oh Goodie. For example the gray gelding R Tax Man. Wage A Kiss. Smokey White Eyes. Flaming Al. Devil Badgett. Sweet Emma Pie. El Real. Storm Drain. Prideov Fappiano. Gidget. And who can ever forget Save The Last Dance, and she was not even a thoroughbred. Oh Goodie. Yesterday from the race track came Salvino, and for me it was love at first sight. Winds are crazy, so crazy my hat is now in Stockton. 105 horses go bonkers. Salvino will be 9 years old next month, and he is a race horse warrior. He comes to us without a right eye. Off the trailer in a hurricane, the rest of this ranch going nuts, he only has one eye, and Salvino never moves an inch. On goes a new warm blanket. He munches a little alfalfa. Right off the race track it is custom to give horses a week of quiet time. Settling in to a new beginning. But I could not get enough of Salvino, so we went for a long walk. It was like being with an old friend who hardly says much. The strong silent type. Salvino is broken down badly in his right hind leg. He will heal fine and dandy. And about 164 times during the night I went to the barn just to see him again. There is a picture of Salvino below on the left. I wish you could feel his kindness. We are so lucky to meet him. And then off the trailer came a hunk. 16.3 hands, he seems to be sound, and at the race track his name is Adams Twin. 4 years old, and he too was very quiet as his blanket was introduced. Pony Boy came to tell him hi, and they did the kissy kissy thing. Much of the day was spent moving horses until they all seemed to be happy. New friendships. Simms Blur is in heat. Here we are, almost Christmas, and a filly from the race track is searching for a date. Old geldings splash on their cologne. Pushing and shoving along the fences to catch a better glance of Simms. It is like an episode of Bay Watch. There is a picture of Adams Twin below on the right. You would need a ladder to climb aboard. And now it is Sunday, and the coffee is from Hills Brothers. Strong cold winds will not let up. Normally our electricity would be lost, but this morning we still have music. The man on the radio is saying today could be 53 degrees. You can almost reach out and touch Christmas. Noelle Jenkins lives in Citrus Heights, and she says this will be the best Christmas ever because she and her sister Tess will be helping at a shelter for unwanted dogs and cats. Feeding and cleaning while the regular staff enjoys a day off. There will be lots of treats and lots of hugs. Noelle and Tess voluntered at this same shelter last Christmas, and later they could not get a yellow cat named Scrunches out of their mind. They went back and adopted Scrunches, and now she sleeps with Tess and is the boss of their house. Merry Christmas to all the little critters. Thank goodness for Noelle and Tess, who give up their holidays to take care of homeless dogs and cats. And how cool is that? Enjoy your cold Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Natalie Parker, and thank you so much for the poem. 8 years old, and Natalie loves horses more than anything in the world. Merry Christmas Natalie. Joe Salvino is below on the left, and we are calling him Sal. Adams Twin is below on the right, and we are calling him Adam. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon. |
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Post by dustyboots on Dec 9, 2007 15:21:42 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this again...reading what Joe has to say really gets my drive going to help!! Sal and Adam are both very very handsome boys...
(just thought I'd add this here.....IT'S SNOWING OUT HERE!!!!)
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 10, 2007 12:35:04 GMT -5
Monday, December 10th... I love sharing with you stories of kids who love horses. Your letters and phone calls tell me you enjoy this too. Cathy and I have been amazed by some of these kids who do inspiring things because horses are their central theme. Horses in their background give kids a boost of confidence. There is a girl, she is 16 and lives not far away. She has been visiting us for over a year, but I am not allowed to tell you her name. So lets call her Jane. There is not a dad in the family. Jane lives with her mom and a little sister.
I knew about this a long time ago, though it is suppose to be a secret. Jane goes to nursing homes and reads to senior citizens. 2 and 3 nights a week. Patients with poor eye sight, and patients with shaky hands who are not able to hold a newspaper. But they still like to know what is going on in the world. So Jane reads to them the news. Holds their hands. Talks to these old folks about the outside world. There is a terminal lady who loves chocolate, so Jane brings her Hershey Kisses. There is a man without a family, no one ever visits him, so the man is always the first stop for Jane. She usually spends an hour with him.
Jane has been going to these senior citizen homes since she was 13.
Last year, when we first met Jane, she adopted a hunk of a gray horse, and changed his name to Desi. Jane rides Desi everyday. She proudly brings us pictures, and tells of their growth together. The two have learned from each other, and when Jane talks about Desi her face becomes so excited. Proud as can be.
But Jane would not allow me tell her story on the morning journal. She is good friends with Sarah McDowell who lives in Utah now, and it was Sarah who started bringing Jane to the senior homes. It was Sarah who brought Jane to us. Jane says she likes doing things privately, and senior citizens have become her passion. Almost as much as horses.
I have been writing to you about horses in need. The worst I have ever seen. Yesterday morning Jane brought to us $500.00. Said here Joe, I have been saving all year. For Christmas I would like you to spend this money on a horse who is about to die.
And then later in the day came the nicest couple on earth, and they gave me $450.00. Said here Joe, this is for Christmas. Please use this money to rescue a horse who is about to die.
And up our driveway came Katie Bunch. Katie has been saving her money, and she is almost ready for her first horse.
And up our driveway came sisters Rhianna and Tawnee, and it was last year when they adopted the gray filly Dreams.
Up our driveway came an older thoroughbred mare named Sedona, and she was recently rescued by a very caring lady named Becky.
Up our driveway came a thoroughbred gelding from a feed lot in Turlock, and there is a racing tattoo which says he is 12 years old. We are naming him Reggie, because he looks like a Reggie.
The obvious future for horses is kids. We must encourage their passion. Support their growing pains. We have watched over the years as shy and confused kids were changed by their horses. These kids are now confident and able. Horses change lives. I know this for sure. My guarantee to you.
Enjoy your 54 degree Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. 15 shopping days left until Christmas.
Joe
Visitors yesterday included sisters Tawnee and Rhianna. Along with Katie Bunch they spent time with Cowboy Cam.
Vistors yesterday included Candy and John from Petaluma, and they spent time with Salvino.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 11, 2007 11:50:42 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Tuesday, December 11th... Winds are rocking our house. Feels like we are on a boat. The dial up computer keeps shutting down. Went to check on the barn, and my Homer Simpson For President hat is now in Lodi. 38 degrees outside. Horses huddled together like they are a football team. Serving alfalfa will be a challenge. A million things to talk about, but we will probably only cover 5 or 10. There are more horses at the race track waiting to come here. There is a gorgeous thoroughbred gelding at a feed lot, and he was suppose to arrive yesterday. But instead he will come to us on Thursday. I must tell you about Gary Duncan, our number one horse hauler. Gary is in pain, and his doctor has him on serious medication. Gary has a sore shoulder, and his back is a mess. If rest does not help, then surgery might be next. We love Gary Duncan. Hopefully Gary will return to those freeways soon. A big Thank You to Sandy of Hoofbeats Horse Transportation, who always takes care of us. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright, who has been helping transport horses in need. Also Georgia Hartman. Also Angela Youngblood. Jodi Tuft drove to Petaluma to pick up an old thoroughbred gelding in need. Jessica Spriggs drove to Brentwood to pick up an old morgan mare in need. Holly Meeks drove to a town called Coarsegold to pick up an old arabian mare in need. What a team. Every one coming together to help horses who need it most. And here are more horses who are asking for help. There is a 16 year old appendix mare who lives 45 minutes east of Sacramento. She is having balance problems, and requires a flat pasture to live on. This mare will make a wonderful companion horse. Outside of Fresno there are 2 older thoroughbred mares in horrible shape. Enough to make you cry. Gobs and gobs of older horses, all breeds, and many of them are skinny. Some are in real trouble. For 33 straight days we placed horses in new homes. But yesterday this came to an end. We hope to start a new streak. My cell is 530-383-2120. If you can help a horse please give me a call. On Sunday I was gone for a bit, and up our driveway came John & Alexis. They left a box of pastries and a sack of carrots. The pastries are almost gone, and my 11th chin is developing nicely. Thank you so much John & Alexis. We would also like to Thank Gary & Linda Johnson, and they live in Minnesota. Jordan Pruitt who lives in San Diego. A big Thank You to Candi Nukula. Also John Kephart. Michael Macdonald and Claudia La Cava, and they both live in Friday Harbor, Washington. Yvette Koth, and she lives in San Francisco. My little friend Tess, she lives in Citrus Heights, and she mailed us a giant Hershey chocolate bar. A special hello to Mark Eddy who lives in Seattle, and I really appreciate your good thoughts Mark. The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of praline cream. John Melancamp on the radio. Time to battle the winds and feed 107 hungry horses. Later today we could be 53 degrees. Enjoy your Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. The Kings won last night, but it was far from pretty. Gonna be a long season... Joe Tiffany Able lives near Seattle, and this is the third horse she has adopted from us. Tiffany has come with her trailer, and we are saying goodbye to Accountable Event. Tiffany gives lessons, and Accountable Event will be perfect for her barn. Across the street from our ranch, napping in the field, is this little fox. Since the big fire last year wildlife has returned. We have deer and rabbits and raccoons and skunks. And a whole bunch of foxes. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 12, 2007 12:29:25 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Wednesday, December 12th... Melanie Cox is 18, and she lives in Orangevale. Melanie has been reading the morning journal for 3 years, and it was last week when Melanie phoned to say she would like to help. Melanie said send her a horse who is hungry. Well okay then. An old quarter horse mare in Nevada City needed immediate attention. The mare was living in a field, eating only old straw and weeds. It has been years since her feet and teeth were touched. The mare is now in a warm stall, and a big Thank You to Holly Meeks for providing the transportation. Melanie Cox says this will be the best Christmas ever. Five nights in a row Melanie has sat with the old mare, reasurring her over and over life will now be better. Her teeth are to be floated later today. She has brand new feet. A big warm blanket. A tub of hot mash. The best Christmas ever, and Thank You so very much Melanie. Jordan Pruitt is 13, and she earned $100.00 by taking care of a little dog next door. Her neighbors were on vacation, so Jordan had to walk and feed the dog. Jordan told her mom lets go to Wal Mart. Jordan bought $50.00 in dog food and delivered it to a rescue shelter. With the other $50.00 Jordan bought a money order, and mailed it to Cathy and I. There was a note saying please use this money to feed a starving horse. On the phone with Jordan Pruitt, and Jordan says this will be the best Christmas ever because she feels so darn happy. Lindsey Bowman is 12, and she says this will be the best Christmas ever because her Jack Russell dog named Jack has recovered from a tumor. Jack is just fine, and Lindsey wants me to shout out to the world how much she loves him. Jack has a warm comfy bed on the floor, but he waits for Lindsey to fall asleep and then climbs in her bed and cuddles close. Kelley Austin is a high school teacher, but she looks much younger than her students. Earlier this year Kelley adopted from us the beautiful filly Inspired Floozy. Kelley asked her students to write of their compassion, kindness, and social responsibilities. You could make a book from their responses. One student wrote: With kindness and compassion you can be bigger than you ever wanted. Becoming rich may satisfy material needs, but giving yourself to the world around will satisfy your truth. This came from another student: I want to create a clear and wide path, and leave a beautiful trail behind me. Kelley Austin says this will be the best Christmas ever, because it is her first with Inspired Floozy. And because her students give hope for this world. Every single night under the cold stars Robin Gill gives Thanks for her ranch, her horses, and her dogs. Robin says this will be the best Christmas ever because each one is better than the last. Kristina Thompson is 15, and this will be the best Christmas ever because her dad has recovered from a serious medical issue. Along with mom and dad there are 3 kids, 3 horses, 4 dogs, 11 cats, and a white rat named Jerry. For Christmas there will be more than 20 relatives coming to dinner. Youngsters will ride horses. Kristina phones to say she is the luckiest girl on earth. And Kristina wants her dad to know she loves him more than words can ever describe. 31 degrees outside. It feels a lot like Christmas. Joe An adoption from 3 years ago is below on the left. Erin from San Francisco is with her new gelding Red Packet. An adoption from this week. Happy as can be Mari Peterson is with her new gelding Adams Twin. Mari is 15, and she bought Adam a bright pink blanket. Mari kept telling me Thank You. But it is Cathy and I who are so grateful to her. And to all of you who give horses good homes. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 13, 2007 13:27:53 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.comA rescue in Palmdale, Ca is closing and needs to place 100 horses; call Joe if you can help 530-383-2120. Thursday, December 13th... Thanks a bunch Katie Bunch, who is the excited new owner of Cowboy Cam. A big Thank you to Wendy Miller, who yesterday said bring me your pitiful. Her exact words. Pitiful. And so a gelding who might be 100 years old and is probably a thoroughbred was delivered to Wendy. The gelding is lame and starving. Weeds from 1993 still stuck in his mane. He came from a not so nice lady in West Sacramento, and she would only scream and cuss at the old guy. He is major league depressed. Pitiful. Wendy Miller, our hero for this week. The best Christmas ever. And a big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation. A big Thank You to a family in Vacaville, who said bring us a senior citizen. And so yesterday an old quarter horse gelding living in Rio Vista was delivered to this family. Holly Meeks never says no when I phone and ask for transportation help. We are forever grateful to Holly. The old gelding is in decent enough shape, but his days on earth were numbered. Holly taped a big red Christmas bow to his neck. He came off her trailer with a grin on his face, and little Kylie who is 7 years old had a sack of carrots waiting. The gelding is now named Hal. Well okay then. Hal was given a warm stall and a maple syrup bran mash. The best Christmas ever... A big Thank You to Linda Stillings in Henderson, Nevada. I really appreciate your phone message. And in the regular mail came a one hundred dollar bill, with only a note saying from an Animal Lover. A big Thank You to the person who sent this money. We will use it for grain. We Thank Tiffany, Mari and Lindsey for the 10 bags of Equine Senior, and for the brand new lead ropes. Anita lives in Reno, and she mailed us books and horse trinkets. One of the books is Chicken Soup For Horse Lovers, and I cannot wait to get started. Hot chocolate and strawberry cheesecake. A good book. Can life get any better? Thank you so much Anita. Lori Daniels lives in Florida, and she makes a cake called Road Kill. Unbelieveable stuff. I was battling little Allison Martino for the big pieces. Even Pony Boy enjoyed a bite. Thank You Lori Daniels. I wish you lived closer. I would be at your front door all the time. A phone message from a girl in Los Angeles, and would I send her a shoe worn by Salvino? She is a huge fan of Salvino, and watched several of his races in person. One small problem. The girl did not leave her address. You need to phone again, and I will mail you his shoes and his halter. There is a lady who owns a rescue ranch in Palmdale, or it could be Palm Springs. You were going to give me details. The lady must be rid of her horses, and there are over 100 of them. We can help, but you must get in touch with me again. Cold as can be. Later today we might be 55 degrees. The coffee is from Starbucks, and delicious cake is called Road Kill. More horses are coming to us from the race track tomorrow. A gelding comes to us from a feed lot today. Also today Jennifer Wright will pick up an older mare in Vacaville, and deliver her to a family in Lincoln. Enjoy your Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. The best Christmas ever. Coming up. I can feel it. My old (very old) friend Gaylen Strong is always saying Christmas is personal. Each of us affected in different ways. Stay outside on a cold winter night with a horse who is happy. You learn how life gives us this one chance. Anything is possible... Joe Recent mornings have been freezing cold and beautiful. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 14, 2007 10:24:25 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Friday, December 14th... If I can be of help with your free or cheap horses, please let me know. There are no guarantees. But it happened again. A family in the Sacramento area is devastated. On the internet they advertised their old mare for free. Money problems, so the mare had to go. Horse killer Wade Giles posed as a decent guy. He came with a young girl and said she was his daughter. The family in Sacramento gave horse killer Wade Giles their mare. Wade Giles then sold the poor old mare to a Canadian slaughter house, and he pockets a quick four hundred dollars or so. It becomes personal when you talk with the family. When you share in their frustrations. Horse killer Manny Phelps tells me there is no way he could earn this kind of money at a regular job. Every day there are free horses. And every day horse killer Manny Phelps makes a small fortune. California is flooded with horses in trouble. Rescue ranches are shutting down. All the time we hear of abandoned horses. People coming home from work to find strange horses at their house. A near by cattle rancher found 3 horses in his fields. During the night someone broke a lock on his gate, and the 3 horses were turned loose with 50 cows. A visit earlier this year to a feed lot in Elk Grove, and there were 3 beautiful yearlings in poor shape. Horse killer Manny Phelps bought these 3 yearlings from a lady in Vacaville. Every year the lady breeds her mares. And then she brags on the internet how she raises colorful and expensive babies. But no one ever wants these babies, so she sells them to horse killer Manny Phelps. A new batch of babies will be born soon. And horse killer Manny Phelps will be waiting for the lady in Vacaville to call him... Allison Martino is 12 years old, and once a week after school Allison stays with us until her mom can pick her up. Allison listens to my one sided phone conversations. And then she asks how come people keep breeding their mares? Even a 12 year old wonders why. Every week there are dozens of young horses waiting for the slaughter truck to transport them to Mexico or Canada. 30 cents a pound, and sometimes they are 40 cents a pound. If you would like to rescue a young horse, give me a call. They are all colors. All breeds. Most often they have not been handled. You must halter break these youngster. Each young horse averages around $400.00. Also you will spend money on vaccinations and farrier work. Their teeth will need attention We can help with transportation. Jennifer Wright, Holly Meeks, Angela Youngblood, Georgia Hartman, Jodi Tuft, Patti Lu, Jessica Spriggs... an amazing team. Waiting to help you help a horse. If you are not comfortable halter breaking a youngster, Holly Meeks or Jodi Tuft will come show you how. Anything we can do to help. 24 hour transportation. A big Thank You to a family in Lincoln, who yesterday welcomed a senior citizen into their lives. Jennifer Wright provided the transportation. A big Thank You to a lady in Wilton, who yesterday welcomed a senior citizen into her life. Angela Youngblood provided the transportation. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by dustyboots on Dec 14, 2007 18:53:53 GMT -5
You know what....after rereading the ones I had read...and reading the most recent blogs....I would like to say....Joe and all of the people who help him are my heros. No joke,
"Anything we can do to help. 24 hour transportation."
That's a big commitment!
Joe rocks!!
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 16, 2007 10:59:39 GMT -5
Joe is amazing. You can feel his frustration, but he doesn't come across negative at all. He makes us feel there is HOPE and GOODNESS in the world. People really respond to him. Sunday, December 16th... Sherry lives in a place called Penngrove, which is close to Petaluma. Her gelding was stolen. A black quarter horse mix who is 15.2 hands high. The gelding was taken sometime Thursday between 4 and 10 p.m. Sherry is sad as can be. Her gelding is 5 years old. I will check local feed lots. The current horse market becomes more and more bizarre. Dave lives near the Cache Creek Casino. Poor Dave knows nothing about horses. But someone trusted him enough to abandon their beautiful pinto filly at his house. Dave came home from work and there she was. Munching grass in his yard. Dave was scared to death. He has never been around horses before. I moved the filly to a close by foster home. Dave went to True Value and bought a heavy lock for his front gate. The times we live in. 10 or more phone calls come each day, asking please can I take their horse. The reasons are many. There is no money for hay. My husband says it is either the horse or him. My daughter has out grown her horse, so we must take him to auction or else have him destroyed. My fence fell down. My back hurts. One lady says my horse is lame, and when I ask him to trot he refuses. A girl is joining the Army, and paying board is no longer possible. A girl is pregnant, so her horse must go. A lady says please come get her horse, the neighbors are complaining about her poop pile. A girl says her horse has asthma. A lady says her gelding acts like a stud and bites. She is taking him to auction unless I come get him first. All of the above phone calls came on Friday. There were 7 more yesterday. And remember, this is just the Northern California area. And a trainer at Hollywood Park, which is in Los Angeles, phones to say I better make shipping arrangements for his filly. Or on Sunday he will have her put to sleep. I love horses. My testimony to you. There is no way you can even imagine my love for horses. Horses consume every minute of my day. And to hear a lady say she must be rid of the gelding who has lived in her back yard for more than 8 years because her daughter has out grown him. A gelding who is comfortable, and trusting with his enviorment. To hear the lady threaten to destroy her gelding if I refuse to take him. What about the daughter? Has she no say in this? A loyal gelding who carried the daughter all over her neighborhood. And poof, goodbye, thanks but no thanks. And now today is Sunday, and there will be more take my horse or else phone calls. At lunch with Jodi Tuft, and she sighs and says I guess I can take one more. Jodi has over 80 horses on her ranch, but she can always take one more. On the phone with Megan in Fairfield, and she sighs and says okay. Julia in Lincoln sighs and says okay. Rachel in Oakland sighs and says okay. Carol in Brentwood sighs and says okay. Terri in Sacramento sighs and says okay. Allison in Auburn sighs and says okay. Every time I plead with a friend to take one more horse, there is a collective sigh. We are all in this together. Befuddled yet hopeful. One day at a time. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright, who yesterday transported a once doomed yearling colt to his new home in Loomis. His name is now Hope, and how fitting is that? A special hello to my friend Kelli Chrisman, and it was so good to see you yesterday. Kelli is home for the holidays. Enjoy your Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. Rain for next week. It is almost 2008... Joe New horses from the race track include Duke Of Siam, who is posing with our friend Lindsey below on the left. Duke Of Siam is 5 years old, and a little guy. No way can he dunk a basketball. Below on the right is Dat Thing. He comes to us injured in both front legs. Dat Thing is not a happy horse right now, but he will be soon. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon. www.tbfriends.com |
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 17, 2007 10:50:08 GMT -5
Monday, December 17th... One week from tonight is Christmas Eve.
Wendy Miller says this will be the best Christmas Eve ever, because for the first time in years all family members will be in one place. There will be 26 gathered for a Christmas Eve feast. And this year Wendy Miller says there will be no gifts. Instead family members will write letters. Expressing their feelings and love to each other. And then on Christmas morning there will be another feast. And then on Christmas afternoon there will be another feast. The Miller family loves to cook. 21 year old Aaron is coming home from the Marines, and his dog Jed waits happily at the door. Merry Christmas to The Miller Family.
At a feed lot in Elk Grove, horse killer Manny Phelps gave me a $25.00 Starbucks gift card. Said Merry Christmas. In 2007 I have bought more than 100 horses from horse killer Manny Phelps. My holiday bonus. A Starbucks card.
With the 4 new arrivals on Friday, there have now been 151 horses come to us from race tracks in 2007. A new record. In 2006 the total was 149.
Over the weekend we placed 2 feed lot yearlings in new homes. Both are colts, and both are beautiful.
Over the weekend we placed a grandma mare with a wonderful family in Lincoln. The mare came from a not so good situation in Rio Linda. A big Thank You to Holly Meeks for providing the transportation.
Over the weekend we placed an untrained 4 year old colt with a lady in Dunnigan. The colt is willing but knows very little. Castration is set for this week. The colt is a quarter horse, and his new name is Jeffrey. A big Thank You to Angela Youngblood for providing the transportation.
Cathy and I are lucky enough to meet some very amazing kids. Paying their own way through life, with horses becoming their confidence. Katie Bunch is 15, and she lives in Davis. Katie is a model, and her face has been in ads. She also does fashion shows. Katie has taken riding lessons for 7 years, and she has saved money for her very own horse. She immediately fell in love with Cowboy Cam, and on Saturday the adoption papers were signed. Thanks a bunch Katie Bunch. And congratulations to Cowboy Cam, who has found himself a wonderful home. The best Christmas ever...
Rain for this week, and tomorrow it could be heavy. Well golly gee. The coffee is from Peets, and a big Thank You to Allison Martino for the home made brownies with a shot of extra chocolate. Enjoy your Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Mike Baker, my friend, and I hope you have an amazing time. Always doing for others, and you deserve this holiday. The best Christmas ever...
Joe
Katie Bunch is below on the left with her new horse Cowboy Cam.
I bought this gelding from a feed lot in Elk Grove, and there is a tattoo which says he is 8 years old. We honor Carmen Nukala and Alyssa Matas with this purchase. The gelding arrived yesterday, and he is very depressed. He is also lame. We named him Willy. We will get Willy happy.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 18, 2007 12:12:34 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Tuesday, December 18th... It is raining and windy as we speak. Which means this dial up computer stutters. The coffee is from Nob Hill, and microwave waffles were made by Eggo. Later today we could be 47 degrees. Welcome to winter. The man on the radio is saying this storm will last all day. We will cancel our shoer Tim Gee. Out comes the rain gear. 108 horses still need to eat. Already horse killer Wade Giles has phoned, and he has a filly from the race track. 40 cents a pound. The filly has a big ankle, and she is small. Total price comes to $360.00. Horse killer Wade Giles says if her ankle were normal she would only cost $260.00. And then he laughs. Transportation will be arranged, and hopefully the filly comes to us soon. Also on the phone is Mary Ann from Ohio, and she leaves a tug at your heart kind of message. Thank You Mary Ann. There are new readers to the morning journal all over the world. Even Spain. Even Alaska. Gobs of requests, mostly for old pictures and morning journals from the past. We are going to ask Webmaster Max Wilcox to put up some new links on this website. Old mumblings. Old photos. An adoptions from years ago picture section. Always there are plans on the table. Following through with those plans becomes Maybe Tomorrow. No time today, but Maybe Tomorrow. Poor Logician is going through a difficult period. We call him Logan. He sold for big time dollars at a yearling sale, and later became a stakes winner. Logan broke down in a race, and he has lived with us for almost one year. His fractured leg has healed, but his mind is bananas. Paranoid as can be. Try to touch his face and Logan rears back with crazy frightened eyes. And so we walk. And walk. Often I almost lose him. He rears at the slightest close by movement. Maybe a cat, or maybe a falling leaf. Still we walk. Logan has begun to trust me, but not really. Continually on guard. His brain racing. I cannot put Logan in the fields with other horses. The results would be tragic. And so every day we walk, and he lives in our mare motel. I am way behind on computer stuff. Outside for 16 hours a day. 108 horses, and most are from the race track. All kinds of stories. All kinds of injuries. Some race horses are normal in their brains. Loving and predictable. Others are dangerous and constantly confused. Like Logan, there are at least 40 other horses who are not available for adoption. It is better they live here and fight our flies. Deal with our mud. Waiting for the old man to put down his TV Guide and bring food. And we are one week away from Christmas. Unpredictable horses like Logan know something is up. There are more cookies. More carrots. A happy squeal to their unhappy frame of mind. Bert is bonkers. His daddy is Bertrando, and we have rescued dozens of his babies. Bonkers Bert. Bert will race in our fields, and he always wins because no one else is running with him. Bert rolls his eyes and stomps his feet and puts his entire head in the water trough and stays that way until you think for sure he has drowned. But he sleeps like a baby. Lying down, both front ankles around his face. Bert is at peace when he sleeps. He came to us from the race track missing his upper front teeth. Stud chain tread marks deep into his bleeding gums. Try to touch his face and Bert goes backwards in a hurry. Bert was not treated well. He is happiest during his naps. And sometimes Bert will follow Barbie Doll around like she is a rock star. What was my point? Oh yeah, I am outside while inside chores continue to grow. Letters to answer. Dogs to groom. Mushrooms stuffed with crab and topped with spicy red peppers. But outside is the main event. Outside is the place to be. Walking with Logan. Cookies for No Night. Scooping poop. And along the way you suddenly remember it is Christmas. That tingly, life is worth living feeling. 108 horses by your side. Norah Jones on the cd player. My wife Cathy, who I love like crazy, and there would be no ranch without her. The exhausted Fed Ex driver enjoying a nap next to our horses. And at night you should see the owls on our haystack. The ice cold stars. Collective snores from 108 horses. How did I get so lucky? Breakfast must be served. Enjoy your rainy Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Joe I keep losing the internet because of this rain. I was going to show old pictures to new readers. But sorry. I will try again later. Katie Bunch is below on the left with her new horse Cowboy Cam. I bought this gelding from a feed lot in Elk Grove, and there is a tattoo which says he is 8 years old. We honor Carmen Nukala and Alyssa Matas with this purchase. The gelding arrived on Sunday, and he is very depressed. He is also lame. We named him Willy. We will get Willy happy. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 19, 2007 11:40:32 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Wednesday, December 19th... I hope you do not have to call 911 to have your heart jump started, but all e-mails (except for those which came last night) have been answered. If you have sent us a letter and did not receive a reply, please resend. I am sorry for lagging behind. The days zip by like a race horse. My New Years list of things to improve upon includes computer anxieties. Just do it. You take the time to write and share, I need to take the time to write back and share some more. In 2003 my New Years promise was to give up doughnuts. I hung on until January 4th. Nina Brown lives in Vacaville, and Nina says her New Years promise is to be a better person. I was stunned. Because I already thought Nina could do no wrong. The nicest girl in the world. So far in 2007 Nina has help save the lives of more than 30 horses. She is a Big Sister volunteer. And the kind of person you could call for help and Nina would be there faster than Seattle Slew. There are 6 shopping days left until Christmas. A big Thank You to Kelli Chrisman, who provided much needed clothes to a young friend of mine. A big Thank You to Ryan Andrews, who went to Costco and bought a truck full of food for a family who lives not far from us. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright, who went to Safeway and bought a truck full of food for a family we know in Sacramento. And a big Thank You to Patti Lu, who took a young girl Christmas shopping in San Francisco. They saw all the lights and the Union Square Christmas tree. The young girl came home with a thousand stories to tell. I would like to Thank John & Cora Adelizzi, and they live in Illinois. John & Cora sent us a big box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. All different sizes and flavors. What a treat. Krispy Kreme moved away from our area earlier this year. We also need to Thank Brenda Tobey who lives in Vacaville. Ronald & Jessica Lotrecchio, and they live in New Jersey. Kylee Roe lives in Sacramento, and she sent us t-shirts and we very much appreciate this Kylee. Jennifer Robinson makes delicious cookies, and she lives in North Carolina. A big Thank You to Linda Meyer Ehly who lives in Sacramento. Also Lindsey Gonzalez. Rene Jennett from Oroville, California. Susan Stratton who lives in Fairfield, California. Dolores Charbonnet of Danville, Thank You Dolores. Bonnie Buron from Florida. Jamie Watkins. Holly Meeks. Holly Anderson. And Laurie Carson who lives in Florida, and Laurie sent us $100.00 in honor of her friend Linda Loman, a true Animal Lover. Also a big Thank You to Hillary Anderson for the very sweet phone message. And Paige Snyder who is 9 years old and lives in Denver. Paige wants me to tell the world how much she loves horses. And how much she loves her mom Brenda. We would like to Thank Jennifer Wright, who yesterday in the rain transported an older mare to her new home in Orinda. The mare came from a not so good situation, but now she will be treated like royalty. As always, a big Thank You to our Webmaster Max Wilcox. There are now 4 photo slots on this front page. All the time from new readers I am asked for old pictures. Readers who have been with us since the beginning also ask for a reminder of long ago. Well okay then. We are in business. 4 photos a day, unless it is raining and this computer goes dark. Enjoy your 50 degree Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. The second pot of coffee is from Tullys, and the greasy delicious doughnuts are made by Krispy Kreme. Feeding breakfast with the tractor, because the old ranch truck would sink. More rain for tonight and tomorrow. More rain for this weekend. An adventure in mud boots. Never are we dull in the boonies... Joe I know California needs water, but boy we are a mess. On the bottom left is Red River Valley, and he came to us from the race track broken down in both front ankles. Red River Valley is married to Bunny. Below on the bottom right is an adoption from the past. Melanie of Vacaville loves her gelding Houston, and earlier this summer I watched them ride together. We have known Melanie since she was 6, and now she has a job and is driving a car. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 20, 2007 12:00:16 GMT -5
Thursday, December 20th... At 2:30 this morning the rain was so loud and the winds so strong I thought for sure we would lose our electricity. But nope, we still have lights, and Bing Crosby is singing about Christmas on the oldies station. Later today we could be 51 degrees. The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of Praline cream. Horse killer Manny Phelps leaves a phone message, saying he has a thoroughbred gelding with a racing tattoo. The gelding is gray and 40 cents a pound. Amanda Knowles leaves a phone message. Amanda says she is 13 and calling from a town called Baldwin Park. Amanda wants me to write on the morning journal how much she loves Tex, her gelding from the race track with a big bowed tendon. This will be the best Christmas ever with Tex by her side. And one more phone message, this from my friend Rachel Jeffers, who says the older gelding I sent her is doing just fine, and she named him Boxer because he has a fighting spirit.
Amanda Cermak lives in Ohio and in honor of Tbfriends and her gelding Greycliffe, Amanda rescued 3 thoroughbred geldings who were out of time. The geldings were at a place called Penn National. The geldings are Electric Charlie, Skipped Twice, and Capital Crime. They will arrive to Amanda before Christmas. All 3 are injured. A big Merry Christmas to Amanda Cermak of Kingstonion Farm. Doing what needs to be done. The best Christmas ever...
A family who lives just a few miles from Cathy and I, and we love their kids. Times are tough. My friend Ryan Andrews went to Costco and bought this family a pantry full of food. Even a big delicious cheesecake. I had no clue Ryan was going to do this. Ryan was listening to a conversation of mine, and then took charge. The family now has enough food for at least a month. The kids will receive presents. A little tree with decorations in their living room. Cathy and I are lucky enough to be associated with incredibly kind people. Helping strangers, which is the ultimate in giving. The best Christmas ever...
Dylan Dunn says this will be the best Christmas ever, because her family is focusing on the spiritual side of Christmas. There will be no gifts. Dylan says the last thing she needs is another corny t-shirt. Instead her family and friends will come together for a huge meal, and later there will be mud football in the back yard. Dylan is taking riding lessons in Davis, and recently experienced her first jump.
Andrea Stevens says this will be the best Christmas ever because her gelding Boss Man has healed from his ankle surgery. Boss Man had a bone chip removed, and now he dances like that guy who drives race cars. Andrea went to work in fast food, and saved money for the surgery. Andrea wants me to know she loves Boss Man more than anything in the world. She bought him a fancy blue and white blanket for Christmas. And a leather halter with his name scribbled in gold.
The best Christmas ever. You can feel it. Just 5 days away. Even with all the yucky stuff on the news. Even with our economy down the drain. People helping people. More horses rescued than ever before.
Sara Tomlin is 10 years old, and at our front gate I gave her a halter once worn by a race horse. Sara Tomlin says she is going to put the halter under her tree. The best Christmas ever. Because some day she will own a horse to go with this halter.
Joe
A recent arrival from a feed lot is on the top left, and we named him Reggie. Poor Reggie came to us with horrible skin fungus, but already he is improving.
Top right shows the blind mare Georgia who lives in our yard.
Bottom left is an oldie but goodie. We call her Hilton, and she made a ton of money at the race track.
Bottom right is Spencer, and we rescued him from a feed lot more than a year ago. Spencer is not available for adoption, as he has painful arthritis in both front knees.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 21, 2007 12:01:25 GMT -5
Friday, December 21st... Today is the shortest day of the year...
29 degrees right now, and I had to bang the water hose against the side of our barn to force out a chunk of ice. A two pair of socks kind of day. Later another gelding comes to us from the race track, and at this very moment I have no idea where he will stay. The decision will be made when the Starbucks kicks in. A double shot of expresso please. Ryan Andrews left with his girlfriend Heather for Maui yesterday. 86 degrees on the beach, and they will dine under the stars at a fancy joint. Here in Woodland we might be 48 degrees. Cathy and I will dine on old pizza from Tuesday. In Paris Brian Gill is trying all the top restaurants. In San Francisco Jessica Talbot ate at a place where a glass of water cost her two bucks. Mike Baker is on vacation in New York, and a cheeseburger at his hotel was $15.00. But Mike Baker says you should see the magic. Times Square is lit up like the 4th of July.
107 horses on this muddy ranch. A storm that was coming is going somewhere else. No rain in sight. We have a very sad gelding from a feed lot, and Willy is his name. Willy is not doing well. He has been neglected, and his left leg is swollen. Willy is severely depressed. We have a filly from a feed lot and Peyton is her name. Poor Peyton is suffering from a mysterious illness, and our vet Lisa Wallace comes to check on her. Blood work was sent to a lab, but the results were okay. We have an older mare Gidget, and her right front foot almost fell off. The foot has reattached, and Gidget is gaining weight. Still she is sore. A recent arrival from a feed lot is Brandon, or Brannigans, or Bran Mash. He seems to have many names. Brandon or Brannigans or Bran Mash came to us very skinny and lame, but he is recovering well. Recent injuries from race tracks include 2 badly broken knees. A broken ankle. There is a gelding who is broken down in both front legs. 3 race horses with bowed tendons. One gelding with a painful back. Another gelding with a blown tendon in his right hind leg. Syringes of pain medication line our kitchen sink. Right next to the coffee grinder, and half a bag of Chips Ahoy.
Katie Stoner (love her name) lives in Sacramento, and Katie says this will be the best Christmas ever because it is her first with Milly. Katie is 17, and at an auction in Roseville she saw Milly in the back, all alone without any hope in her eyes. Milly might be a morgan, but no one really knows for sure. Katie Stoner became involved in the bidding, and for $225.00 Milly was hers. Back at the barn it was discovered Milly has some talent. Milly loves little kids and she loves to go on trails. Milly is probably 12 years old, and she has gained over 100 pounds. Katie Stoner wants us to know how much she loves her Milly. And Milly loves her back. That excited squeal when Katie comes to the barn. The best Christmas ever...
A giant Thank You to Monica Wheat and her family. They live in Thousand Oaks, California. Monica and her family sent us $500.00 to rescue a horse from slaughter. When your horse arrives we will show him on the morning journal. The best Christmas ever, and Thank You.
We would also like to Thank Kitty Esposto of Sacramento. Kitty gave us a gift card to Trader Joes. Kitty with your card we will help a family at Christmas. We cannot Thank You enough.
Brenda Fletcher lives in Davis, and she bakes delicious cookies. Thank You Brenda. Also a big Thank You Anne Blount and Shelley Hayse, and they both live in Oakland. A huge box of cookies arrived in the mail, and Pony Boy refuses to leave our back door. Thank You Anne and Shelley.
And another big Thank You to William & Margaret Jordan, and they live in New Jersey. Also Cora Mason. Also Jessica Spriggs. Also Jessica Graham. Cathy and I Thank all of you for your kindness to us and your kindness to horses.
Enjoy your cold Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. Beginning tomorrow the days grow longer. A minute here, a minute there. Anxiously awaiting our first fly...
Joe
Top left shows how the rain went away, and we are beginning to turn green.
It has been 3 years since our friend Rebecca adopted Search And Rescue, and their picture is on the top right. Rebecca loves Search And Rescue, and she is with him every day.
Another adoption is from this year. Bottom left shows Noelle with her fancy gelding Spriggs. Noelle calls him Charlie Pink.
Bottom right is an Oldie But Goodie. Timely Weave came to us from the race track more than 2 years ago. He is married to Emily.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 22, 2007 12:53:39 GMT -5
Saturday, December 22nd... So cold the mud is frozen. A water pipe blew on the small ranch of Nicole Larsen, and what a mess she has. Her horse paddocks are flooded. Last year at this time it was 18 degrees, and we too had a water pipe burst. Plumbing is not my thing. Pure torture, so we always call for help. We feel for Nicole Larsen. The joys of owning property. At least her television is working okay. Nicole is watching Season 4 of The Sopranos.
Another gelding came to us from a race track yesterday, and we are calling him Buddy. He comes to us injured, and his picture is below on the top left. A big Thank You to Sandy of Hoofbeats for providing the transportation.
Horse killer Wade Giles phones to say he has several thoroughbreds, and they come from a ranch in the San Jose area. We are discussing prices. Like going to Costco, we are trying to buy these horses in bulk. I know the farm where these thoroughbreds were living, and they have gone out of business.
Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say he has a thoroughbred mare with a racing tattoo, and she is 40 cents a pound. Transportation has been arranged, and the mare comes to us on Christmas Eve Monday.
A big Thank You to Holly Meeks, who yesterday picked up a neglected gelding in Loomis, and delivered him to his new home in Vacaville. The gelding is a quarter horse mix, and just 3 years old. There was a car accident on Interstate 80, and Holly was stuck in traffic for more than an hour. Holly never heard a peep from the gelding. The entire trip he hardly moved from his hay net.
A special Merry Christmas to Jordan Pruitt, and your essay was beautiful. Horses showing the way...
The coffee is from Dunkin Doughnuts, and tiny baked cinnamon rolls were made by Pillsbury. Kenny G on the radio. Later today we might be 50 degrees. Feeding supper last night, caught in the dark, and with the tractor I ran over our poop cart. Ooops. A giant mess unfolded. Gidget lost her blanket. Mad About The Raiders lost his leather halter. Enjoy your things will be better today Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. Only 3 shopping days left until Christmas...
Joe
Buddy came from the race track yesterday, and he is on the top left.
Lisa lives in Hawaii, and on the top right she is with her gelding Kodie. Even in Hawaii there are horses who need help, and Kodie came to Lisa in terrible shape. But look at him now. Merry Christmas Lisa.
An Oldie But Goodie. Bottom right shows a major stakes winner. His picture was once on the front page of the sports section in San Francisco. And then he was sold to slaughter. We call him Ex Man, and he has lived with us since 2002.
Another Oldie But Goodie. Oh So Sultry came to us broken down from the race track in 2005. He is now healthy, and married to the tall mare Elvira.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 23, 2007 11:21:56 GMT -5
Sunday, December 23rd... I was interviewed by a magazine and before you ask, no it was not Glamour. No it was not Fashion For Men. The magazine is for horses only, and my name will not appear. I annoy horse killers enough as it is, and I still must do business with those guys. The lady who interviewed me wanted to know why is the horse market so terrible? Her exact question: Why does the horse market suck?
Too many horses and not enough owners. Simple really. Horse killers are making a fortune because every year mares are bred and foals become grown up and owners lose interest and new owners breed their new mares because they think it has never been done before. And owners are positive their foals will never go to slaughter. Except over 100,000 horses do go to slaughter each year, and still we are left with starving horses and neglected horses and horses with very little human contact.
From Interstate 5 I spotted an old gelding living in a bare field with a couch. I went back and the owner said be careful, no one has touched this old gelding in years. His feet were in horrible shape. I told the owner there is a hundred dollar bill in my truck, would he sell the gelding? The owner said okay, but I must also take away the stinky old couch. He would like to clean up his field. I phoned Jennifer Wright who lives not far away, and she came with her trailer. The old gelding walked into her trailer like a pro. He dove into a flake of hay like I dive into a cinnamon roll. The couch was wet and moldy. The couch weighed more than the gelding. It took one minute to load the gelding. It took 20 minutes to load the couch.
And the old gelding is trying to make up for lost years. He eats like a football player, and loves human contact. The gelding gives you little space. Always standing close.
In a town called Wilton the gelding had his feet trimmed, and also 2 teeth were pulled. His name is now Nicholas, because Christmas is almost here. A very big Thank You to a foster family, who will care for Nicholas until our mud goes away. And then he will come to us.
Our good friend Sandy of Hoofbeats Horse Transportation saw another horse from the freeway. He too is starving, and hopefully we can make things better for him.
So the writer from the magazine wanted to argue. Each time I answered a question she would argue my answer. She told me horse killers feed their horses a ton of food before they are sent to slaughter. Horse killers are paid by the weight of each horse, and they make more money if the horse is well fed.
I asked her what feed lots has she ever been to? At the feed lots I visit the horses eat very little.
And the lady writer asked do I oppose horse slaughter? And when I answered of course I do, she wanted to argue ethics. Is it better to starve a horse slowly, or end his life quickly at a slaughter plant?
Neither is acceptable. And I tell the writer Thank God for kids. The answer comes from encouraging youngsters to love horses. The main reason for writing this journal each morning. The future for horses is children. Horses do not have to starve. They do not have to sell by the pound. We must show kids the magic of horses. Teach them about responsible breeding. Teach them about kindness to all living things.
Probably not many of my quotes will appear in that magazine. The lady seemed disappointed.
Yesterday was amazing. If I had more imagination I could come up with a better word. Stunning. Shocking. We are humbled. Friends Of Barbaro came to our ranch. Friends Of Tbfriends came to our ranch. We now own a 47 inch flat screen TV. We now have cash to buy doomed horses. We have a credit with our hay man, Tom Hayes. There is enough cookies and coffee and chocolate to last until July. And I will tell you all about this tomorrow, Christmas Eve, the best Christmas ever. Enjoy your Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. Later today we could be 51 degrees.
Joe
Photos from yesterday. Our driveway was busy.
Buddy is a new gelding from the race track, and he gets a green blanket. Buddy is badly injured.
Friends Of Barbaro, from left to right is Nona, Michael, Sharon, Debra, Julie, and Joe. They pose with Devil Badgett. Friends Of Barbaro gave us a framed picture of Devil Badgett winning a race in 2003. A beautiful gift, and the picture will hang in our living room when we are finished painting.
Bottom right shows Bethany from Fairfield bringing us Equine Senior. An amazing Saturday.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 24, 2007 12:14:35 GMT -5
Christmas Eve, 2007... I can be at school and stressed from life, but just thinking about Libby makes all the bad stuff go away. Libby is my everything. She sees me coming home from school from way down the street, and she starts pacing our fence. I only have one horse to love Joe. You have over 100 horses to love. You are the luckiest old dude I know... Abby Anderson, she is 14, and lives in Folsom. When Abby was 12 she came to our ranch and adopted Libby, a former pony horse from the race track. It seems like only yesterday.
I am one lucky old dude.
The night before Christmas Eve, and the big moon is on top of 107 horses. We can paint or we can clean. We can watch The Kings lose to Denver. We can do laundry or we can scrub horse blankets. Cathy and I choose to do nothing. Zilch. My big right toe is the size of a Twinkie. If I had a dollar for every horse that has stepped on me. A ginger bread man with sour worms for hair. I want so bad to eat him, but would feel like a criminal. The hot chocolate is from Ghiradelli.
I am one lucky old dude.
I wish you could have seen Taylor. He came to us almost dead. Starved. There was a racing tattoo. We spent weeks trying to get Taylor happy, but made little progress. I sent him to a large green pasture with a family in Clear Lake. The daughter is 15. The night before Christmas Eve, and the daughter phones. Is this Joe? Yep. Hi Joe, I just wanted you to know that Taylor has changed the way I feel about life. I love him so much Joe. It is Christmas, and I wanted you to know this. You gave me the best gift ever.
I am one lucky old dude.
I wish you could have seen Skinny Paul. There was not a racing tattoo, but he was a thoroughbred. Skinny Paul lived in our yard, and begged for apples at our back door. Skinny Paul was my first thought each morning. Rushing outside to see if he was okay. Skinny Paul had personality all the way to the big moon. He was the most grateful horse we have ever been around. Skinny Paul now lives in Oregon with Robin Gill. She rides him in the mountains. He swims in a lake. And Skinny Paul is still begging for apples at the back door.
I am one lucky old dude.
Friends Of Tbfriends bought us a 47 inch flat screen TV. They came with plywood for our mare motel. The wood will protect food and shavings from blowing away. There is cash to rescue horses. There is cash for our hay man. There is a one year subscription to Netflix. A 47 inch TV and Netflix. Never again will you see me outside. Friends of Barbaro brought us cash and Equine Senior. We had sandwiches and chocolate cake. And the whole time I keep thinking...
I am one lucky old dude.
This upcoming week I will share names of those who help our horses. The list is long. Georgia Hartman tells me there are over 300 members to Friends Of Tbfriends. I had no idea.
We have a recent arrival from the race track, and his name is Smoking Gears. His right knee is the size of a soccer ball. Smoking Gears can hardly walk. He is magnificent to look at. And under the big moon on the night before Christmas Eve, he tries to play. Hobbling and talking to other horses. Smoking Gears is happy to be here.
And so am I. Cathy and I wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas. The best Christmas Ever. I will be back on Wednesday to share with you more stories of life with over 100 horses.
Enjoy your Christmas Eve, and always remember to hug your horses.
Joe
The big moon rises above 107 horses.
I want so bad to eat this guy. Look at those sour worms for hair. Kathy Wachowski lives in Concord, and she created him.
Jeremy Shaw and Jenny Hartman paint the new plywood for our mare motel with used motor oil. Hopefully the oil will keep horses from chewing on the wood.
The skies are clear. If you look closely on the bottom right, you can see Gidget and Limo munching lunch from a feeder.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 26, 2007 11:14:04 GMT -5
Wednesday, December 26th... The stuff dreams are made of. Congratulations to Jessica Talbot, who on Christmas Eve opened escrow for her very own ranch. 12 acres, a beautiful house, and an 8 stall barn. In February Jessica moves in, and she will become a foster parent for us. It will take less than 2 minutes to fill her 12 acres with happy horses...
Here we are, the day after Christmas, and later it could be 52 degrees. I have eaten enough pie, cookies, chocolate, cashews, fudge, brownies, carrot cake, egg nog, suckers, cinnamon sticks, candy watermelon slices, chocolate covered raisins, and cheesecake to last a life time. To help ease the guilt I made a pot of spinach. 108 horses on this poop on top of poop ranch, and they dined on carrots and apples and cookies and sweet grains. A very special bran mash for Willy. A piece of apple pie for Pony Boy. A cinnamon bearclaw for Georgia. Christmas was picture perfect. For us Christmas is about animals and kids. A celebration of life. And now there are only a few days left for 2007, and horse killers seem to be taking a break. But we know for sure in early January there will be trailers filled with doomed horses headed to Canadian slaughter. 2008 will be a record year for horses rescued. Because every year is a record year.
And there is no way we could do this alone. Not without the help of our transportation team. Gary Duncan, Jennifer Wright, Holly Meeks, Georgia Hartman, Hoofbeats Horse Transportation, and Angela Youngblood.
There is no way we could do this without our vet Lisa Wallace. Our shoer Tim Gee. Our friends Jodi Tuft, Cheryl Rankin, Patti Lu, Jenny Hartman, Mike Baker, Sarah McDowell, Megan in Fairfield, Allison in Auburn, Rachel in Oakland, Nikki in Vacaville, Julia in Lincoln, and Mike & Kathy Monaghan. An amazing group of people who every single day help us help horses.
There is no way we could do this without readers of this website. More than 400 of you have taken new horses this year. The numbers are mind boggling.
There is no way we could do this without your generosity. We would like to Thank Ron & Jessie Lotrecchio, and they live in New Jersey. Rachel Woodcock in Washington. Rick & Kelley Senegal who live in Napa, and they sent treats for our big bird Maggie. A very sweet girl McKenna who came to our front gate. Ellis & Jennifer Eckel, and they live in far away Maine. Tora Bush (no relation to George) and she lives in far away Florida. Alexandra Smith, and she lives in really far away Italy. Julie Bridge in Petaluma. A big Thank You to Anthony Smith in Oregon. Gene & Pam Story, our neighbors. Martin Keegan and Kathleen Wachowski, and they live in Concord. Sally Diggs sent us a Friends Of Barbaro coffee mug. Laura Rackar lives in Ohio, and she sent a delicous bran mash for our gelding Willy. So good I ate some myself. Teri & Dana Paquette make fantastic suckers. A big Thank You to Shelly Kramer and her family in Burbank. Lawrence & Cindy Phelps in Nevada. My good telephone friend Susie Ingersoll. Jeanette Cavalier in New Mexico. Barbara Sario in Florida. A giant Thank You to Steven & Linda Rei, and they live in Boston. So far this year the city of Boston has won the World Series. They have an undefeated football team that will probably win the Super Bowl. The Boston Celtics have the best record in basketball. Here in Sacramento we have the Kings, and you must apply a sense of humor. We need to Thank Sally Diggs in Arizona. Also Dakota Blue. Noelle Rodgers, my friend, and you should see how she loves her gelding Chester. Jamie Watkins. Mikka Thorson. Becky & Paula Coombs. Katie & Andrea Hill. Kitty Esposto, and her family from Bakersfield. And of course Friends Of Barbaro, and they had an internet auction to raise money for us.
And we Thank Friends Of Tbfriends, and we understand there are over 300 members. I will be mentioning more names tomorrow. You cannot believe how Friends Of Tbfriends dramatically changed the year 2007. How they helped save the lives of dozens of horses. How they gave Cathy and I confidence to reach even higher...
108 hungry horses are watching the house. Waiting for the old man to come outside with room service. Enjoy your day after Christmas Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Maybe some rain for tomorrow.
Joe
Below are scenes from Christmas Day. The dates say 12-24, but the dates are wrong. These pictures were taken yesterday. A best Christmas Ever.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 27, 2007 11:58:42 GMT -5
Thursday, December 27th... All the time we hear sad stories of abandoned horses. 2 and 3 times a week abandoned horses will be found in yards and driveways. Recently there have been horses roaming aimlessly around city streets. It takes little imagination to wonder what happens to these horses if Animal Control hauls them away.
And so Cathy and I have brought together a team of friends who will come for the homeless horse. These friends live in all parts of Northern California. If an abandoned horse is found near Elk Grove or Wilton, Jennifer Wright can be there in a flash. In the Contra Costa and San Francisco areas, Patti Lu, Rachel Jeffers or Paula Coombs will come with their trailers. Here in the Sacramento region, Jodi Tuft or Holly Meeks will pick up a lost horse faster than you can say Happy New Years. We have a young lady in Redding who wishes to remain private, but if a horse is abandoned in her city she will bring him to her ranch. We have 2 helpful people in Red Bluff. A man in Placerville. And a man in a town called Cool.
We have foster homes and safe houses where these abandoned horses will be well taken care of. Do not hesitate to phone. My cell is 530-383-2120.
Here in the boonies dogs and cats are kicked out of cars and abandoned. Years ago we formed a group of dedicated pet lovers who continue to help these dogs and cats. And now it seems we must do the same for horses. The times we live in...
I sent Holly Meeks to the town of Rio Linda. The owner of a small house woke up to find a large horse munching on her dried up vegetable garden. The owner of the small house is not a fan of Animal Control. So she got on the internet and found Tbfriends under Horse Rescue. Holly Meeks transported the large horse to a foster family in Elverta. We did all the right things to make sure the large horse is not simply lost. But it now appears he was for sure abandoned.
We have access to 41 horses who need homes, or they will be put to sleep or sent to January auctions. The constant phone calls. Take my horse or else. We are hustling. Doing the best we can. But there are just too many doomed horses, and not enough homes.
And we can get into a whole other thing about hopeful homes who were turned down because their other animals look terrible. I never judge, I only move on. But people are angry because I turn them down. With all of these doomed horses needing somewhere to go, why not take a chance? Even if their other animals look neglected, why not let them care for one more horse?
Moving a horse from one terrible setting to another terrible setting is not the answer. And asking someone who cannot afford to feed the animals they have now, is also not the answer. My gratitude for your offers of help is sincere. But you must also understand our screening process. It is not better for a horse to move to another barely hanging on situation. It does not help you, and it certainly does not help the horse.
I love kids. Those of you who follow the morning journal know there are gobs of kids involved in our lives. And many of these kids have very little. I asked one young friend what she is getting for Christmas, and her answer was the sun coming up. No presents under the tree, because there is no tree. Her gift is to enjoy the miracle of another day. Cathy and I are involved with many families who struggle for money. One thing they all have in common, is their kids love horses. Not sure why this is, but horses seem to bring hope. Horses bring a sense of security. Horses make a kid feel like they belong. And there are parents who want their kids to own a horse, but of course the money is just not there. So I must say no. And I have alienated many parents. Which breaks my heart. Because I adore their kids.
And I have had several parents ask how can I refuse to give their daughters a horse? With all these doomed horses, why not just give us one?
Because there is no money for your daughters to even have a Christmas present. How are they going to feed a horse?
I am old enough to know that obstacles become part of the package. In the real world comes real horses. The expenses are enormous. We encourage your kids to love horses. They can still be with horses. They can still enjoy the magic. No need to feel bad because you cannot afford for your daughter to have her own horse. I can send her to other barns, where giving people will share their time. Where giving people will share their horses. Always there are avenues to explore. Horses could care less how much money you have. Horses love to be loved.
Joe
3 new recent arrivals from feed lots. On the top left is Monica, and she is a thoroughbred with a racing tattoo. Monica is 9 years old, and she ate all day from the old ranch truck.
On the top right is Mia, and she comes to us with facial fungus. Several recent horses from feed lots have arrived with this same fungus. Yuck. Mia has a racing tattoo which says she is 15 years old.
Bottom left, and we do not know his breed. But at the feed lot in Elk Grove I fell in love with him. We are naming him Celtic, and I have a feeling he is a quarter horse appendix cross. A very kind gelding.
A big Thank You to Friends Of Tbfriends, who bought us a 47 inch HD Flat Screen. I will list your names tomorrow, sorry, I rambled on and on about other things today. We ordered a HD receiver, and it will be here next week. Never again will I leave the couch.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 28, 2007 12:25:36 GMT -5
Friday, December 28th... A young race horse at a feed lot in Vallejo, and he has a puffy left ankle. He is gray and a hunk. Yesterday the hunky gray race horse was removed from the thingy fighting feed lot, and he is now living the good life with our friend Nikki in Vacaville. A cold cloudy day. But a day I will remember for a very long time. Yesterday had a pulse.
We begin by Thanking Rachel Jeffers, Holly Meeks, and Jennifer Wright. Those frequent freeway miles. Holly Meeks listened to the Carrie Underwood cd 5 times. Hardly leaving her truck.
An older arabian mare in awful shape was transported from Concord to Pleasanton. The mare sees a vet later today, and hopefully she will recover. A giant Thank You to the family in Pleasanton for helping this poor mare.
A young throughbred gelding who is stunning. He is also not broke to ride. The gelding was transported from his pasture in West Sacramento to his new home with an event trainer in Novato. You have to see him to believe him. Like one of those male models from a Macys ad.
While Holly Meeks was listening to Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Wright was singing along with The Doobie Brothers. A 14 year old ex race horse gelding was transported from his not so nice owner in Elk Grove, to his very nice new owner in Woodland.
A hungry quarter horse gelding headed to a January auction is instead living like a king with Julia in Lincoln. In 2007 I have asked (or begged) Julia 11 different times to take needy horses. And 11 different times Julia has said yes. And then in the mail comes a $20.00 Starbucks card from Julia. The note says Merry Christmas from all of her horses. Well golly gee. What in the world would we do without Julia?
A thoroughbred gelding we call Spencer was taken from our ranch to his new foster home in Castro Valley. Spencer will dine on green grass, and the new love of his life is an older arabian mare.
The other day I wrote to you about seeing a starving horse from the freeway, so I went back and bought him. As part of the deal I also had to haul away an old couch. Susanna lives in Clayton, and from the freeway she saw a starving gelding. He is probably a quarter horse mix. Susanna turned around (not on the freeway, but from the next exit) and went back and bought the starving gelding. His picture is below on the bottom left. Susanna of Clayton, our hero for this week.
While Holly Meeks was listening to Carrie Underwood, and while Jennifer Wright was bouncing up and down to The Doobie Brothers, Rachel Jeffers had Rascal Flatts full blast on her cd player. From a not so good situation in Gilroy, a thoroughbred gelding was transported to his new home in Orinda.
And an older thoroughbred mare who recently lost the foal she was carrying, went to live with her excited new owners in Martinez. The mare will become best friends to an older pony who recently lost his long time companion.
9 horses found new beginnings yesterday. From the bottom of my heart I Thank readers of this website.
And I also want to Thank Maddie Kiefer, she is 14, and at our front gate Maddie brought to us 5 bags of Equine Senior. A sack of horse cookies. A sack of carrots. Maddie owns a thoroughbred mare named Gina, and she would like me to tell the world how much she loves her Gina.
In 2007 members of Friends Of Tbfriends have helped save the lives of over 50 horses. They also bought us hay. Pallets of grain. A gravel pad for our mare motel. Mats for our mare motel. The list is endless. And now Friends Of Tbfriends have bought us a giant television. The screen is so big our yellow cat Tabbers is still hiding behind the couch. Tabbers can get a bit nervous...
If I leave out your name I am sorry. I am old and often confused. Here we go. We would like to Thank Mike & Kathy Monoghan. Ann Marini & Robert Lipsky. Judy Bernier. Christine Carey. Amy Achieta. Lisa Robertson. The Hartman Family, hi to Jenny. The Davenport Family, hi to Candi. Deanna Booijink. Anthony Smith. Laura Rackar. Rick & Franca Voegelin, hope you are feeling well Rick. Roxanne Key. Sandy Stapleton. Susan Ossoff. Eric Caswell. Marie Jankowski. Debra Hawk. Joy Fagan. Lorenzo & Stephanie Breaux, tell your mom hi Stephanie. Charlene Bladorn. Cheryl Dean. Donna Quinn. Teri & Dana Paquette. Teri Sherman. Shelly Felton. John & Cora Adelizzi. Mikki Shattilly. Karen Webb. MeShawn Fowler, my best to Peanuts. Jamie McNeely. Kathy Williams. Betsy Sholes. Shelley Hayse. Anne Blount, and of course Basil. Anne Harrington. Kevin & Tina Kampman. Carol from San Diego. Kathryn Buckley. And Pam Osborne.
Cathy and I have been overwhelmed with your kindness. Thank You for all you do for us.
This goofy computer keeps dying. I gotta sign off or I will once again lose all of the above. Later today we could be a whopping 46 degrees. More rain coming. Enjoy your wet Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. I am late for morning feeding. A second pot of Dunkin Doughnuts, and the blueberry muffins were made by Costco. Mike Baker is back from vacation, and he says everybody was so nice. Even on a New York subway Mike was tapped on his shoulder and told Merry Christmas by a young man with his girlfriend. And Mike was in line at Starbucks, and the cashier said your mocha has been paid by the person who was in front of you.
I am everyday told stories from readers of this website. The kindness strangers show to others. The kindness strangers show to animals. 2008 will be the best year ever. I just know it...
Joe
Top left is 11 year old Morgan with Leo, who is living at a foster home. Morgan visits Leo everyday, and loves him like crazy.
Top right is the very cute Della with her very cute rescued gelding Sunny. Della found Sunny in a horrible situation, and this was their first Christmas together.
Bottom left is the starving gelding Susanna of Clayton spotted from a freeway. As you can see, the plumbing on the gelding is working properly.
Bottom right is an adoption from this year. High school english teacher Kelly is with her new mare Inspired Floozy.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 29, 2007 11:42:10 GMT -5
Saturday, December 29th... Hey Joe, you have more horses here than we do at the race track.
The above was said yesterday by a trainer from Golden Gate Fields. He brought me a broken down gelding, a bottle of pain pills, and a turkey sandwich from Subway.
Recent arrivals from the race track include 3 broken knees. A broken ankle. 3 bowed tendons. A major hock problem. A major cannon bone problem. We can go through a bottle of pain pills in less than a week. The trainer from Golden Gate Fields says San Francisco is beautiful. All the holiday sights and smells. Later last night the trainer was going to dine at a fancy joint in North Beach. Later last night I had to give his broken down gelding another pain pill. So cold you can see your breath. A basketball game on the giant TV. Horse killer Wade Giles phones to say he is back from his Christmas holiday. 6 nights in Hawaii, and he ate scallops for almost every meal. Yesterday horse killer Wade Giles picked up a thoroughbred gelding for free, just by answering an ad from a newspaper. The gelding has a racing tattoo, and for $400.00 he can be mine. I say okay, and transportation is being arranged.
And then before bed I had a hunk of banana cream pie from Claimjumpers. Pony Boy ate the crust. The rain came, which means the owls stay away. I always wonder, where do owls go when it is raining? From far away you can hear baby foxes. Porky Pig grunts in her sleep. 109 horses on this poopy muddy ranch.
And now at 5:40 on a Saturday morning, and the rain has stopped. Later today we could be a sizzling 48 degrees. The coffee is from Folgers, and microwave waffles were made by Eggo. My wife Cathy has already left for the barn, feeding the morning grains. At sunrise we load the old ranch truck with alfalfa, and hopefully our neighbor Dennis does not have to pull us out of the mud. If I had a dollar for every time we have been stuck, I would own beautiful San Francisco. A special Happy Birthday to Aubrey Green, who today turns Sweet 16, and hey that rhymes. Tonight Aubrey will feast with friends and family at Joes Crab Shack, the birthday place to go.
And a special hello to Bonnie Buron in Florida, and Thank You for your very kind phone message.
Also a special hello to Andrea Guillot who lives in Idaho. The day after Christmas Andrea rescued a thoroughbred gelding with a racing tattoo. The gelding was living in deplorable conditions at a hog farm. Andrea is just 15 years old, and with her Christmas money she is paying a boarding stable to bring this gelding back to decent shape. Happy New Year to Andrea Guillot. Your letter made my day...
Enjoy your cold and muddy Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. 360 shopping days left until Christmas...
Joe
Yesterday was cold and gray.
Bottom right shows an adoption from 2005. Parry is with the beautiful filly Not A Clue.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 30, 2007 12:28:57 GMT -5
Sunday, December 30th... It seems everyone is sick. A horrible flu combined with a chest cold. Holly Meeks, Mikka Thorson, Tim Gee, Angela Youngblood, Stephanie Diaz, Gary Duncan, Becky Coombs, Allison Martino, along with a whole bunch of others. It begins with a sore throat, and by the next day you are stuck in bed. Tis the season. So far Cathy and I remain healthy. Unless you want to talk about my broken big toe. My broken rib. My never ending back pain. My poor vision. My poor handwriting. My lousy choice of clothing. Cathy and her swollen hand. Her poor vision. We both limp through life. A hitch to our giddy up. Jenny Hartman and myself compare notes. Every single day both of us are injured. We have one cabinet which is for medicine only. Broken down race horses. Broken down old folks. Several dogs and cats who are a combined million years old. A pig who is 14 and I wonder, how long do pigs live? We are more than a Mom and Pop ranch. We are a Grandma and Grandpa ranch. I voted for Nixon, and I still love my 8 track tape player.
And when the emergency room nurse calls you by your first name, and asks how is Pony Boy, it is time to once again examine the direction of your life.
Poor Mikka Thorson is so sick she cannot even read her new Cosmo. On the phone Mikka says everything is blurry. I tell her everything for me has been blurry for the last 30 years.
We have a gelding who just came to us from the race track, and he is badly broken down. A cutie pie, and for the most part he walks on 3 legs. The gelding should recover, and 4 or 6 months from now he will be living in our fields because seldom are forever lame horses adopted. And this gelding will be forever lame.
In the year 2007 there have been 155 horses come to us from race tracks. More than 130 of these horses arrived with injuries.
Fresh off the track horses who we purchased from feed lots total 27. Of those 27, 22 were injured.
Older thoroughbreds with racing tattoos who we purchased from feed lots total 65. Of those 65, 58 were suffering from either injuries, neglect, or both.
Older thoroughbreds without racing tattoos who we purchased from feed lots total 31. Of those 31, 18 came to us either injured, neglected, or both.
Only 2 more days to go. The above numbers will no doubt be the final numbers for 2007.
The total comes to 278 thoroughbreds rescued in 2007. For other breeds, the total comes to 141 horses. I think. We keep journals, and even with my poor vision I think I have counted correctly.
Now will come letters saying quit bragging. But I am not bragging. Only sharing. And I always tell anyone who listens, it is not about the horses we rescue. It is about the horses we were unable to rescue. There were literally thousands. And it is because of those thousands of horses we keep going on. 2008 will be another record year. New numbers to top old numbers. By the end of every June we start using a calculator.
To our friends who are sick we wish you a quick recovery. Outside it is cold and gray. We have not seen the sun for 5 days. 109 horses on this frozen muddy ranch. We wave bye bye to 2007. The hot coffee is from Peets, and we are late for feeding breakfast. Misty lives in our yard, and she gives me a hurry up look through the window. Well okay then...
Joe
An adoption from 2004. Top left is Ciara with her gelding Go Holland.
An adoption from 2005. Top right is Stacey with her filly Robin.
An adoption from 2006. Bottom left is Nicole with her filly One Fourteen.
An adoption from 2007. Bottom right is Sandy with her gelding Mr. Thatcher.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 31, 2007 11:23:41 GMT -5
Monday, December 31st... Ever since Friends Of Tbfriends bought us a beautiful new generator, not once has the electricity gone out. All night strong winds have been rocking our ranch, and I keep thinking we will lose power. Time to maybe polish the generator and give it a try. But still we have lights. We do not have a white plastic chair in our back yard anymore. The chair blew away, and when daylight comes I will go searching. Later we might be 51 degrees. The man on the radio is saying a huge storm is coming for Thursday, and there could be 4 inches of rain. Well golly gee. December, January and February are the months where mud is deepest. We are one third done. The washing machine runs all day long. Muddy shirts and muddy jeans. Almost 11 years we have lived on this ranch, and this is our third washing machine. Home is where the Bounce sheets are. Hang a Bounce sheet on your back door and flies stay away. Of course visitors ask why is there a Bounce sheet hanging from your door? And why is there a horse pooping on your barbecue? Not long ago a young girl asked how old are you Joe, a hundred? Just for that I am not sharing my Hershey Bar. The first day of 2008 is tomorrow, and we begin a New Year with a broken down horse from the race track. A big Thank You to Hoofbeats Horse Transportation for providing the shipping. The broken down gelding has a shattered sesamoid, and he will arrive just before the big storm. Welcome to our world. Another syringe of pain medication to line our kitchen sink. Leg wraps off, leg wraps on.
But before the broken down race horse comes to us on the first day of a New Year, a starving thoroughbred from a feed lot comes to us on the last day of this year. He has a racing tattoo, and on the phone horse killer Manny Phelps says I better take him. He is in awful shape.
Our year end numbers now total 279 thoroughbreds rescued for 2007. 141 horses of other breeds rescued for 2007. And later tonight we will raise our hot chocolate to another year ended. It is been years since Cathy and I have seen midnight on a New Years Eve. Our celebration usually comes around 9:30.
Cathy and I wish all of you a very safe evening. Happy 2008. Always remember to hug your horses.
Joe
Horses who came from our ranch:
Top left is Freeway, and he was a pony horse at the race track. Now he carries The Smith family around.
Top right is our good friend Kelli with her gelding At Dawn.
Bottom left is Maria and Maxibob.
Bottom right is Michelle and Diego.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Jan 1, 2008 11:47:43 GMT -5
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008... I wrote yesterday how horse killer Manny Phelps said he had a thoroughbred gelding in awful shape. And that I should buy this gelding at 40 cents a pound. I say okay, and the deal was done over the phone. But the starving horse coming up our driveway was not a gelding. She is a she. I phone horse killer Manny Phelps and tell him he must have flunked 3rd grade. This is a girl, not a boy. Manny Phelps says shoot, only he used another word instead of shoot. He sent me the wrong horse. The starving gelding is still at his feed lot. Transportation has been mostly arranged, and hopefully the gelding comes to us today or tomorrow. So now we also have a starving mare. I named her Eve, and her picture is below on the top right.
All of these starving horses. Where are they coming from?
Heather Boyce lives in Natomas, and on the Saturday after Christmas Heather was visiting friends in Lodi. Across the street was a hungry arabian mare. Nothing to eat, and you could count her ribs. Heather knocked on the front door and bought the poor mare for $50.00. On the phone Heather introduces herself, and asks if I can help with transportation. I call Jennifer Wright who lives in Elk Grove. Jennifer was playing tackle football with the neighbor boys, and she cut her nose. The football game is a whole other story, and probably I should skip over that part. Jennifer gladly hooks up her trailer, and now the hungry arabian mare is living in Orangevale. Her name is Chrissy, for Christmas, and she has an infected tooth. Chrissy has an appointment with a vet for Friday. Heather Boyce is a senior in college, and we wish her a very Happy New Year. Our hero for this week.
We begin the New Year with a broken down race horse. He arrives later today. There is mud on our couch. The chores go on and on and on, almost like many morning journals. Jessica Spriggs phones to say she too has the flu. For 3 straight days Jessica has been in bed, and she wants to know how many college football bowl games are there? Ryan Andrews is back from Maui, and instead of sharing stories of beaches and sunshine, all Ryan could talk about was how much he missed his mare Molly. Allison Martino was off to watch the New Years Eve fireworks in Old Town, Sacramento. Jessica Talbot had New Years Eve reservations at a fancy restaurant in San Francisco. Patti Lu was going dancing at a club in Walnut Creek. Mike Baker had to work. Rachel Jeffers had to work. Joe and Cathy Shelton could not even stay awake for the news at 11:00. And now it is 2008, and the starving mare Eve is doing okay this morning. Eve gave a little nicker. She dove into her tub of grains and supplements like I dive into a carton of Rocky Road. Enjoy your New Years Day, and be sure to hug your horses. Anything is possible. 2008 will be incredible. Horses needing help like never before, and a new hero appears every day.
Joe
Top left is All The Pretty Horses on New Years Eve.
Top right is Eve.
Bottom left is an adoption from last year. Lisa and Leanne live in Reno, and they are with their new gelding Unus Martin.
Bottom right is an adoption from last year. Cali and Katie are with the very handsome Easy Bull.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses.
You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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