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Post by jdw2w1 on Mar 18, 2008 10:52:00 GMT -5
Hi all. Here are 3 addresses if anyone would like to help out TB Friends. Tom is Joe's hay guy; Joe goes through 3 stacks of hay/ week ( 240 bales ) !! Georgie is a a good friend of Joe's and works with "Friends of TB Friends" to raise money for special projects that Joe gives input on. Recently, they raised enough funds to buy additional round pens for Joe.
Joe Shelton 15891 County Rd 92C Woodland, Ca 95695
Tom Hayes 15140 County Rd 91B Woodland, Ca 95695
Georgie Hartman 19504 County Rd 95 Woodland, Ca 95695
Stephanie in Ca
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Post by piopico on Mar 19, 2008 15:22:22 GMT -5
Hey, "TBfriends" has "expired!! I sure hope Joe is working on correcting it. I NEED my "fix" each morning!!
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Post by barbpurple on Mar 19, 2008 21:15:49 GMT -5
me too.. but all i got was yesterday page?  |
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Post by jdw2w1 on Mar 20, 2008 10:33:52 GMT -5
Thursday, March 20th... When will I learn? Just as soon as bragging begins, our world crumbles. On Tuesday I told you how fast our computer is working, so naturally this website disappears.
I bragged to our farrier Tim Gee, this race horse is very well behaved, you will have no problem trimming his feet. One minute later the race horse is ballistic, walking on two hind legs, and poor Tim Gee is rethinking his career choice.
I once bragged to our vet Lisa Wallace how every horse on our ranch was happy and healthy. And then for a solid week Lisa was here taking care of our many sick horses.
No more bragging.
Just like the carton of yogurt from 2006 I recently found in our fridge, the Domain Name for Tbfriends had expired. Learn to pay your bills Joe. I phoned Webmaster Max Wilcox in Oklahoma, and now we are good for the next 3 years. Max had to contact the folks in outer space who keep track of these things. For 3 more years you must put up with me, unless rumors are true, and the Senior Center begins with morning bingo. First ball drawn at 7:00 a.m. I will then write the morning journal after my noon nap.
Keeping you in the loop. More horses are coming to us from race tracks, including a gelding with screws in his cannon bone. Our brand new small round pens purchased by Friends Of Tbfriends are perfect for injured horses. They can enjoy the fresh outdoors, instead of healing inside a stall.
A gelding from a fancy barn not far away, and he came to us on Tuesday. The young owner could no longer pay board bills. A big Thank You to Holly Meeks, who loaded the gelding in her trailer and delivered him to a very surprised girl in Elk Grove. Here you go, he is exactly as you have been hoping for. Tears all around. You could have made one of those celebrating life commercials.
Also on Tuesday a thoroughbred gelding came to us from a feed lot in Vallejo. We named him Idol, and there is a racing tattoo which says he is 7 years old.
Last Saturday Bruce and Sandy came from Reno to adopt Freestrikesyourout. They had a difficult time choosing between Freestrikes and Power Blend. On the drive back to Reno Bruce and Sandy decided to adopt both horses. Georgia Hartman and her daughter Jenny will provide transportation during spring break.
Bravo has been adopted by a family in Citrus Heights, who needed a companion for their older pony. A beautiful new home for Bravo. He leaves us this morning, and a big Thank You to Ryan Andrews for providing the transportation.
A few rain drops yesterday, but today should be clear and 66 degrees. At Raleys you can get a Claim Jumpers chocolate cream pie for just $5.99. Unbelievable stuff. The coffee is from Peets, and Norah Jones is on the cd player. A special hello to The Bladorn Family of Chico. Herb, Charlie, Scott and Becca. They stopped to say hi on their way home from a San Francisco vacation. A special hello to Ashley at UCDavis, and in our driveway she left a big bag of carrots with a very sweet letter. Sorry we missed your visit Ashley. A special hello to Liz of Sacramento, and in our driveway she left a Hallmark Card, and a bag of carrots from Costco. Sorry we missed your visit Liz. Enjoy your NCAA March Madness Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. Rascal Flatts is coming to Sacramento, and from the reaction of Allison Martino you would have thought she won Super Lotto...
Joe
Top left: A big one day late Happy Birthday to our friend Marie, who yesterday turned 21. I was going to show this picture yesterday, but was punished for bragging. Marie saves horses, and here she is with Whiskey, who Marie rescued when he was just 4 months old. Last night Marie celebrated her 21st birthday with 30 friends at a restaurant in Sacramento. Happy Birthday Marie.
Top right: Mireya is with her gelding Desi, who she rescued from the race track. Mireya and Desi have been earning points at jumping and dressage shows. Mireya is a sweetheart, and thank you for sharing.
Bottom row photos are by request.
Bottom left is Flossy, who we bought at an auction when she was a yearling. Flossy is now 8, and a tiny bit spoiled.
Bottom right is Winnie, and she is loved by thousands of employees (okay, only 4 employees) at the race track. Winnie earned big time dollars as a race horse, and she was faster than a speeding train.
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 Mar 21, 2008 11:49:20 GMT -5
Friday, March 21st... So far in the month of March, 4 well trained horses from fancy barns have been dropped off in our driveway. Their owners could no longer pay rising board bills. We accept well trained horses from fancy barns and give them away. Mostly to young girls who are searching for their first horse. You must be involved with riding lessons, and have the support of your parents.
We do not shame previous owners by telling new owners where their horse came from. Previous owners feel horrible enough. Because of money problems they had to give up the horse they love. We try hard for your privacy, but the horse community is small. Several times a horse has been recognized, and the previous owner becomes embarrassed.
And once there was a previous owner who found a good job, had lots of money, and she wanted her horse back. Almost 2 years after I had given the horse to a very excited young person, the previous owner is demanding her horse be returned. Naturally I told her no. What a mess. She still sends Cathy and I nasty letters.
A roller coaster ride, this horse rescue business. We have made a gazillion best friends, but somehow earned our share of enemies. If you are not able to take good care of a horse, you will not get a horse from us. Simple really. A bruise to many egos, and some reactions should be on You Tube. One girl tossed a rock through our window. Another girl threatened to burn our house down. This was after the big Yolo fire in 2006, and all that was left was our house. When I told the girl she could not adopt a horse, the girl said sleep lightly, your house will burn next. Creepy. And as she and her mom drove away they threw empty beer bottles into our pastures. Just another day on the ranch, and who is on Letterman tonight?
A roller coaster ride, and horses remain our focal point. Sure we care about you and your troubles and your algebra test on Tuesday. But horses have and always will take center stage. A well known trainer at the race track, and he phones to say he likes my morning journal. But must I always write about broken down race horses?
106 horses on our ranch, and currently 88 are broken down from the race track. What else am I going to write about?
A horse killer named Wade Giles, and on the phone he says he likes my morning journal. But I should write about the other side of this horse killer business. Too many horses in a crappy market, and Wade Giles believes he is doing those horses a favor. A trailer he just shipped to Canadian slaughter included 4 pregnant thoroughbred mares. Wade Giles says those unborn 4 foals will not suffer from neglect. They will never know abuse. As he stuffs his pockets full of cash, Wade Giles wishes others would understand his position.
A roller coaster ride. I go to bed, and even though I have never met those 4 pregnant mares, my brain can see them.
It is the like on the late night news, and they show murders, and bad things happening to good people. The homeless who starve on our streets. A whole other world which I cannot pretend to understand. Politics and real estate and the stock market. The things I know about the outside world you could stuff into a thimble, and there would still be room. But I do understand this horse rescue business. A roller coaster ride. And Wade Giles will never know the spirit of life which is built into all of us. Horses especially. Horses rely on humans to take care of them. Horses give back to humans more than Wade Giles can ever imagine. Broken down from the race track, some have come to us just to be euthanized. Cowboy with his knee the size of a beach ball, and he was afraid to lie down because no way could he get up. But Cowboy would hobble right up to you and beg for attention. The spirit of life inside us all. Horses know about this stuff. The things they have taught me...
Joe
Top row: Before and After. In 2005 we bought Bob from a feed lot, and he was very hungry. Bob went to live as a foster horse with our friend Cheryl in Auburn. Cheryl fell in love with Bob, and he is hers forever. Top left shows Bob when he came to our ranch. Top right shows Bob today.
Bottom row pictures are by request.
Bottom left: Often injured or hungry horses will live in our yard, because field horses pick on them. We give treats, and yard horses line up and wait.
Bottom right: The most requested photos are for Pony Boy. Next is for those pictures when on that one rare moment in time there is no poop in our fields. The third most request is for birds who come each autumn to eat grain from horse poop. Here you go.
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 Mar 22, 2008 11:45:22 GMT -5
Saturday, March 22nd... In a Northern California chat room on Yahoo, PrettyInPink, RiskyBusiness, and BlondMane came together to pool their money. From horse killer Manny Phelps in Wilton, they rescued 2 ponies who have spent their entire lives with a traveling carnival. The 2 ponies were each $250.00. They are now safe with RiskyBusiness, and a big Thank You to Ryan Andrews who said no problem, he would be more than happy to transport the grateful ponies.
We have met PrettyInPink. Her name is Abbie, and she is a student at UCDavis. Abbie helps save horses like I save coupons for Sara Lee. A few months ago in the same chat room, Abbie and her internet friends came up with $300.00 to save the life of an older quarter horse gelding. A boarding facility in Davis offered the gelding a lifetime home, no charge, and Abbie brings carrots and calls him Atlas.
Jodi in Dixon saves the lives of many horses. So too does Cheryl in Auburn. Nikki in Vacaville. Julia in Lincoln. Aljean in Rescue. Megan in Fairfield. Abbie at UCDavis, with her college pals Jessica, Heidi, Britt, and Anna. Paula Coombs and her little sister Becky. Rachel Jeffers. Jennifer Wright. Jenna Malone. Tori Baze. Holly Meeks. Wendy Adams. Wendy Wainwright. Stephanie Diaz.
None of the above have a morning journal. Never do they bring attention to themselves (unlike that old guy from Tbfriends.) They struggle for money, they struggle for elbow room. In 2007 dozens of grateful horses were rescued by these amazing girls. And so on this day before Easter we salute their kindness. We know how difficult the journey becomes. But no one ever complains...
I wrote yesterday how well trained event horses are being given to us from fancy barns. 28 letters and phone calls, and they all want an already trained horse. You will be visited, and screened. And then added to our list.
And an e-mail from an event trainer in the bay area, saying thanks a lot Joe, here I am trying to sell well trained event horses, and you are giving them away.
Delicious coffee is from Tulleys, and chocolate cream pie is made by Claim Jumpers. We could be 72 degrees. A busy crazy day on the way. Weeds taller than Shaq. Poop on top of poop. Enjoy your day before Easter Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Linda in San Jose, and Thank You so much for the grain. Higbys will deliver to us soon.
Joe
Top row: Horses rescued across America.
Judy in Susanville, California saved the life of a pregnant mare, and one month later came this beautiful baby.
Top right: Rocky lives in Washington, and this is the love of her life Sarge. Sarge was once a police horse, but then he was sold to slaughter. Rocky rescued Sarge in 2006.
Bottom row pictures are by request.
Bottom left is Hottie, and he is the oldest horse on our ranch. Hottie is now 31, and he has lived with us since 1999.
Bottom right: Sarah McDowell found this filly stuck in mud in Davis. She was unable to move. Sarah climbed a fence, and then convinced the owner this was not a good situation. Soon Gary Duncan was actually lifting the poor filly out of the mud. The song Proud Mary was blasting from his truck radio, so we named the filly Proud Mary. We brought Proud Mary to our ranch, and later bought her for one dollar. Her best friend is Mimi the mustang mare, and they live in our fields.
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 Mar 23, 2008 10:16:14 GMT -5
March 23, Easter Sunday... Horses still poop on holidays, which is why we never get a day off.
The above quote came from Marshall Williams, and on his ranch Marshall has 14 horses. Joe and Cathy Shelton have 106 horses. We are talking some major league poop.
Easter comes much earlier this year, and later we could be 74 degrees. There will be fried shrimp and potato salad. Horses are treated to apples, carrots, cookies, little peppermint candies, and a banana for the old mare Georgia. Flies are arriving from their tiny winter villages. Wasps are scouting possible home sites. Behind our ranch in the grapevines, rabbits are creating large families. Feral cats watch us through tall grass. Spring has sprung, and every single horse on our ranch needs a bath. Horses love to roll when wet, so they need another bath. Then they roll again, and another bath, then another roll, and this goes on until October, when you come to your senses and hope for rain to keep them clean. College basketball tournaments, NBA playoffs, baseball begins, little Allison and her soccer games, schooling shows for horses, jumping events for horses, dressage events for horses. Trail rides. Already winter seems so long ago. It smells like every house in the county is having breakfast on their grill.
Cathy and I wish you the Happiest of Easters. Thank you for tuning in to my morning journal. Enjoy your holiday Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Top left, an adoption from 2004: Rebecca loves her gelding Search And Rescue, and she is with him every day.
Top right, an adoption from 2005: Melissa and Mary Anne transport the handsome Royal Robe at night.
Bottom left, an adoption from 2006: Rachel takes home Two Thirds Rule, and he is a sweetheart.
Bottom right, an adoption from 2007: In the rain Marta is with her new gelding Old Rocky Boy.
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 Mar 24, 2008 10:51:47 GMT -5
Monday, March 24th... The parents said okay, if you must go ahead. But no real names please.
So we will call her Annie, and she lives not far away. Annie is 13. Down the road from Annie was a neglected thoroughbred mare. Every morning when Annie walked to school she would pull grass from the side of the road. And offer the grass over the fence. Pretty soon the mare would be against the fence each morning, hoping for Annie to come by. Annie felt guilty on weekends, knowing the mare was probably waiting for her clump of green grass.
Annie phoned me, and asked if there was anything we could do for the poor mare. I said sure, I have friends at Animal Control. But because there was hay on the premises, and the mare was not in desperate need, Animal Control said keep an eye on her. Let them know if the mare becomes skinnier.
One day after school Annie approached the house where the mare lives. She asked if by chance the mare would be for sale. The owner was rude, and said I see you feeding my horse over the fence. I want you to stop it. The owner made Annie cry. She went home incredibly frustrated.
That night she told her dad, I want to buy that mare. Could you please go ask the lady if she will sell her?
So the next day Dad asked the owner, how much for your thoroughbred mare? The owner said one thousand dollars. The dad said but you never feed her, you never touch her, and my daughter heard you screaming from the house to quit eating the fence. Why not just give her to my daughter and she will have a great home?
The owner said screw you, only she used another word instead of screw. This is my horse, and I want a thousand dollars.
Dad went home and told Annie, if you want something bad enough you will find a way to do it.
Annie went to work. She would go house to house, saying I know it is raining and it would be silly to wash your car. But do you need the inside of your car cleaned? I promise to have the inside looking brand new. And so she began earning money. Several neighbors asked her to also clean the inside of their house. Annie trimmed trees. Washed windows. She collected soda cans and cashed them in for money at True Value Hardware. Every Saturday at a boarding stable not far away, Annie would clean stalls and help with afternoon feeding.
Still the money was slow to save. After more than 2 months Annie was only half way there. Every morning she would leave for school early, in the darkness, so the owner could not see her feeding the mare.
And one afternoon Dad found Annie in her bedroom crying. She felt defeated. Working all those hours, with not nearly enough money.
Dad phoned me. Said he was going to kick in the other half. Annie had proven to him she wanted this more than he had ever seen her want anything. Dad asked if I could arrange shipping. And could the mare stay with Cathy and I until they can find something more permanent?
The next day my friend Ryan was there with his trailer. The owner had grabbed the thousand dollars from Annie and slammed the door on her. Ryan did not have to ask the mare to load. Annie was inside the trailer, and the mare went right in to be with her.
And now the mare is just a few feet from our house. Her first night, and she dined on Equine Senior and all she can eat alfalfa. Annie has been searching for the right name. Maybe she will call her Shawna. Maybe she will call her Poet. Right now we are calling her Lady.
Once a horse is inside your heart, you will do anything for that horse. Scrub windows, and take out the trash of others. I told Annie, I have a brand new halter for Lady. Dark blue with white trim.
But Annie said no. Her dad said Annie could mow the back lawn and trim some bushes. And then she would have enough money for a new halter and lead rope.
Enjoy your 72 degree Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. Anything is possible. I know this for sure.
Joe
Top row shows horses who were rescued by others. Stacey lives in Ontario, and she is riding Zippy, a thoroughbred. Zippy was once hungry and scared, but now she is a lesson horse. Thank you Stacey for sharing.
Judy went to a feed lot in Nevada and saved the life of this beautiful Tennessee Walking mare. Thank you Judy for sharing.
Bottom row pictures are by request.
Bottom left is a more current picture of Sky Pilot, who came to us from the race track with a broken sesamoid bone. Sky has gained over 200 pounds, and he has began training with a close by event person.
Bottom right is Sizzle Butt, after a down pour. Kathleen Chu lives in Oakland, and she used this picture as her screen saver for almost a year.
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 Mar 25, 2008 11:19:41 GMT -5
Tuesday, March 25th... More horses coming to us from race tracks. More horses coming to us from feed lots. At the fancy barn where I earn the big bucks, 14 year old Kelli says she and her parents came to our ranch on Easter Sunday. No one home. Kelli tells me to get busy and clean up some poop.
Easter weekend came and hundreds of horses needed help. Injured race track horses with no where to go. Hungry feed lot horses, who this week will be shipped to Canadian slaughter. Mares, some pregnant, some not. Yearlings who have never been touched. A 4 year old colt in a field who has never been touched. Abandoned horses in Rio Linda. Abandoned horses near Wilton. A crippled appy mare in Stockton. A brand new foal who needed a mom, but sadly the foal did not survive. A young gelding abandoned at a vet hospital.
From Saturday morning to Monday afternoon, there were 8 phone calls either from young girls, parents, or trainers. Can Tbfriends take their horse? They can no longer afford the expenses.
A race track in Sacramento, where standardbreds pull carts really really fast. Can Tbfriends please take 3 of their really really slow horses?
And then come the shy and cute phone calls. Or the shy and cute e-mails. Saying I know Tbfriends is jam packed, and the last thing you need is another horse. But Joe could you ask around and see if anybody would like my 13 year old gelding with arthritis? My 19 year old thoroughbred who needs a place to retire? My 27 year old appy mare who I think is blind and she needs a place to retire? My tall warmblood mare who needs a place to retire? My tall thoroughbred gelding who will no longer jump, and he needs a place to retire? My quarter horse mare who can still be ridden lightly and she needs a place to retire?
From Saturday morning to Monday afternoon came 9 shy and cute phone calls. Along with 5 shy and cute e-mails.
Every owner has a story. Some would break your heart in half. Others lie right to our face. Their horse is healthy and sound, and has won millions of dollars at jumping events. But when we pick up the horse he is skinny and lame, and there is no way he could even jump over a pile of his own poop.
But none of that matters. We try to help all horses, and of course this is impossible. We would need thousand of acres and hundreds of employees. We would need Donald Trump to suddenly become my uncle.
Northern California chat rooms stayed busy on Easter weekend. Money raised to help horses in trouble, and Tbfriends was asked to provide transportation. We also accepted 2 horses temporarily from PrettyInPink and RiskyBusiness. Both girls chat on Yahoo, and they rescued these 2 horses from a not so nice situation.
From a feed lot in Vallejo we bought an older hairy gelding with a racing tattoo. He arrived yesterday, and we are calling him Harry. His tattoo is not readable, but probably he is 12 or so. Harry has horrible feet, and later this morning our farrier Tim Gee will try to help.
You are about caught up. Little stick it notes all over this tiny office. Some stick it notes are from many months ago, and I think oh shoot, this is old news and you would hardly care. For instance Epic Praise was adopted by Kathy in November, but I failed to tell you. Magic was adopted by Jennifer in October, but no one has been privy to this information except Jennifer and Magic. I could have told you how our gelding Trent prefers eating wood over hay. Or how Roman kicked me in the knee, so I watched 2 straight episodes of Law And Order, and ate half a tub of Rocky Road. There is a stick it note which says Patrick, and I have no idea what this means.
Probably you have long ago left, and clicked on to My Space. Enjoy your 66 degree American Idol Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Maybe some rain for tonight and tomorrow.
Joe
Before and After:
We bought Gidget from a feed lot last summer, and her right front foot had detached from her ankle. Prognosis was grim. Our vet Lisa Wallace took x-rays to inspect the damage. Gidget is healing, and gaining weight. The better she feels the grouchier she becomes. Gidget has not been treated kindly, so humans are the enemy. Top left is Gidget on the day she arrived, after a bath. Top right is Gidget yesterday.
Bottom left: Cute Mary Frazier from Moraga came to say hi, so I asked her to hold Harry for me. Harry just arrived from a feed lot in Vallejo, and he is hairy.
Bottom right is by request. Air Bag made lots of money as a race horse, and he is our baby sitter. When wild young horses come to us Air Bag quiets them down. Over the years Air Bag has helped raise at least 50 youngsters.
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 Mar 26, 2008 10:26:29 GMT -5
Wednesday, March 26th... A while back my friend Jodi tells me to start reading Fugly. Jodi is a big fan, and she says I will be too.
Well I am hooked. Fugly is a once in a lifetime writer, and she comes at you with both barrels. You walk away saying to yourself oh yeah, now it all makes sense.
You can read Fugly at Fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com.
And since we are talking about the internet, an event trainer in Santa Rosa e-mailed me a photo of a beautiful Warmblood mare. 16.2 hands, and 11 years old. The shy and cute request. Could I please find a good home for this mare? She comes with a sore knee and can no longer be used for eventing. But the mare loves kids, and would make a wonderful lesson horse. The trainer says there is just one requirement. Her client must be allowed to visit. The client loves this mare like crazy. So I called a boarding stable not far away, and they said you bet. They have been searching for another lesson horse, and funny how one day everything just falls into place. Transportation happens this morning.
Also today 3 more horses will come to us from the race track. We are shoulder to shoulder, hock to hock. Either today or tomorrow another gelding comes to us from a feed lot in Vallejo. And Georgia Hartman will bring us an older mare who was purchased from money raised on the internet.
Others are also busy. Cheryl in Auburn saved yet another pregnant mare, and she is a mustang. Nikki in Vacaville saved a very cute gray thoroughbred gelding from a breeding farm who is responsible for gobs of race horses going to slaughter. Julia in Lincoln saved the lives of 2 standardbred geldings from a race track in Sacramento. Kirsten lives in Vallejo, and she drove to an auction in Turlock. For a whopping $60.00 Kirsten saved the life of a paint mare who had obviously just foaled, but there was no baby. Kirsten named the mare Tina Turner, and on the phone she tells me this is the best feeling in the whole wide world.
A snag in the plans. No big deal, we are working on a solution. I have photos of horse killers to show you, and there is a girl named Maggie who hates me. Maggie is the girlfriend of horse killer Brent Sanchez. The two are busy sending horses to slaughter. Maggie approached other horse killers and said if Joe posts our pictures, do not sell him another horse. Ever. Maggie threatens a Tbfriends boycott.
In Vallejo I bought a hairy gelding named Harry from Brent Sanchez and Maggie. They charged me for 1,100 pounds, even though poor Harry is barely 900 pounds. Maggie said she has the support of every horse killer in California. If I show their faces on my morning journal they will no longer sell me horses.
So I phoned horse killers Brett Mason, Wade Giles, Manny Phelps, and Lyle Carter. We are working on a mutual solution. None of them care much for Maggie or Brent.
I once did an interview for a major newspaper, and then horse killers boycotted Tbfriends. For 6 months horses were punished. Killers would not allow me to save even one. But at the time I felt horse slaughter was out of control, and I was frustrated like never before. Years later there are many regrets. I should never have done that interview. How many horses were lost because of my frustrations?
Naturally I must be able to buy horses from these people. And I want to be able to show you their photos. Stay tuned. One day there they will be, and still I will be able to buy their doomed horses. Because just like the boarding stable not so far away, funny how life suddenly falls into place.
And now I must hurry and feed 109 horses before the race track horses arrive. Also Animal Control phoned, and they said come and get some cat food. There is employment at another ranch, earning the big bucks, and later I get to watch little Allison at her riding lesson. We might be a scalding 62 degrees. Maybe some rain. Just another day in the boonies...
Joe
Horses rescued across America.
Top left: Beth went to a feed lot in Washington and saved this mom and baby. Both are doing great.
Top right: Beth named the baby Pheonix, and here is he is now at 18 months.
Bottom row pictures are by request.
Bottom left is Almond Joy, who we rescued 2 years ago. Almond is being ridden all the time by our friend Holly, who will take him to shows this summer. He is a beautiful mover.
Bottom right is the tall mare Darby with her little friend Ashes. Thank you Krista for your request.
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 Mar 27, 2008 9:40:23 GMT -5
Thursday, March 27th... 4 more horses came to us yesterday, and there will be 2 more today. 2 more tomorrow. If you tossed an egg in the air chances are it would land on a horse.
For 11 years we have been buying our hay from a man named Tom Hayes. A long time ago we bought our grain from a man named Oates, but that is a whole other paragraph. Tom Hayes tells me alfalfa prices will soon begin to fall. The best news ever. Better than maybe Krispy Kreme is coming back. Better than Peter Paul & Mary once again going on tour. Hay prices have been killing us. We feed over 100 horses on our ranch, and we help feed more than 2 dozen at other locations. Feed and scoop poop. Feed and scoop poop. Throw in an occasional rerun of Seinfeld, and that pretty much sums up our life.
In our driveway is 16 year old Trevor (always liked that name - Trevor.) He is looking for a summer job. A nice kid with good manners. I tell Trevor I too am looking for a summer job. A nice old man with good manners. Trevor says if he hears of anything he will let me know.
In our driveway is 19 year old Megan. She is looking for a summer job. Megan is a student at UC Davis, and she hopes to one day become a large animal vet. She loves cows. I send Megan to Tom Hayes, who sells us our hay, because Tom has lots of cows. I wonder how that went?
In our driveway is 97 year old Joe Farnham. 97, and he looks 77. Joe farmed our land when he was just a teenager. He still has a house down the street. Joe Farnham is a good guy, and when he turns 100 he will have his name announced on Good Morning America.
In our driveway is Georgia and Jenny Hartman, who transport a thoroughbred mare purchased by others on the internet. The mare is named Tigress, she is 8, and comes to us with a royal pedigree.
And just as Cathy and I are sitting down to platters of spaghetti loaded with extra garlic and mushrooms, in our driveway is a big van. Honking. Hey Mister, how do we get to Cache Creek Casino?
The evening was cold, and horses who have lost their hair were wondering what happened to spring? Later today we could be 64 degrees. Maybe some rain for Friday and Saturday. And now it is time to feed and scoop poop. Enjoy your Kings barely beat Memphis Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Cindy who lives in Arizona. Last Saturday Cindy saved the life of a pregnant thoroughbred mare who is ready to pop. Cindy is suddenly on night watch. The poor mare was an after thought. At an auction they were selling pigs and lambs and goats. At the end of the auction they brought this beautiful mare into the ring, and Cindy bought her for $100.00. If no one bid, the mare was to be destroyed. Way to go Cindy, and send us pictures when the baby comes.
Joe
3 new horses from the race track yesterday.
Top left: He is cute as can be, and his name is Brother Tim.
Top right: From 14 pictures this one is the best. Sorry. His name is Poteens Rambo (I suppose we will call him Rambo) and he kept sticking his face in my camera.
Bottom left: A hunk. His name is Garros, he is 8, and he won quite a few races.
Bottom right: Only Pony Boy has had his picture on this website more than our number one helper Jenny Hartman. Jenny is posing with Tigress, who came to us after money was raised on the internet to purchase her. I love those ears. Tigress can easily pick up all 3 ESPN channels.
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 Mar 28, 2008 10:37:38 GMT -5
Friday, March 28th... Northern California chat rooms stay busy, raising money for horses in trouble. Later today a hungry gelding comes to us from Lodi. A student at Sacramento State made all the arrangements. And then on the phone she says Joe, we have never met, but if you do me this one big favor I will be forever humbled.
First time I have ever heard that phrase. Forever humbled. The student asks if the hungry gelding could live with Cathy and I, just for a little while, and could we also arrange shipping? Well okay then. The gelding comes to us today, and already he is named Beaner.
I would keep a list of horses in deep trouble, and at least twice a week I would ask (or beg) readers of tbfriends if they had space for one more. Please, oh pretty please. But the list continued to grow, and now it is ridiculous. How to even choose which horse to help, when there are hundreds, is taxing beyond belief. There are owners who threaten to shoot their horses. Or call the vet to put them down. Other horses stand in horrible fields with very little food. They are everywhere. And we are not talking about old, skinny bags of bones. Many are nice well bred young horses who fell into the wrong hands.
And this does not even count all the feed lot horses. All the auction horses. All the healthy horses that are coming to us from event barns.
Horses killers Wade Giles and Manny Phelps tell me they have never seen it like this. Both are turning down skinny horses, because they make more money with fat horses, and there is only so much room on the slaughter bound trailers. Manny Phelps jokes that maybe Paris Hilton will like him now, because he has more money than she does.
Horse killer Wade Giles prefers to be called a horse dealer. He tells me every week there are new people earning money this way. You see all these free horses, or cheap horses, and it is like finding a dollar in the streets. Better than a regular job. If you can put a halter on a horse and load him into a trailer, you can be a horse killer. There is not an application to fill out. No bosses looking over your shoulder.
And now the chilling part. Horse killer Wade Giles tells me there are peope I know, people who I think are okay, who are now selling horses to slaughter plants in Canada and Mexico. They would be embarrassed if friends or family found out. So naturally they keep it a secret.
Who are they? This is driving me crazy.
Mike Baker tells me to walk my own limited road, and then go inside and enjoy the 47 inch big TV. Because the world is what it is. A person grows rich from exploiting animals, so the next person jumps on board.
From horse killer Manny Phelps I bought Whisper, and he comes to us with that name. Apparently Whisper was born in the back yard of a nice family. Mom and daughter were excited to breed their own, and raise the babies. But one day an ad is posted in a newspaper. Free Horses, come an get em. Manny Phelps had to make 2 trips. 15 horses he took from mom and daughter, and all have been sold to slaughter. Except Whisper. He is with us now. 40 cents a pound, plus shipping.
Out of hundreds of horses in trouble, how to choose the ones to help? Beats me. I only know that Whisper has potential. He is sweet and athletic. A combination which visitors look for when they come to adopt.
1 out of 15. A tiny dent. And for all of you in those chat rooms who help horses. For all of our friends who sacrifice their lives for the lives of horses. Mike Baker is right. The world is what it is.
Joe
Oops...
Top left oops: Ranch workers from down the street crashed their farm implement into our brand new fencing. As they turned the corner the hitch came off their trailer, and went right for our fence.
Top right oops: Every filly and mare on our ranch is in heat. Which drives fresh from the race track horses who are pumped up on steroids crazy. A race horse kicked the top rail of our mare motel. Kicked it so hard the rail landed 20 feet away.
Bottom left oops: While I am trying to repair the fence, field horses tear apart bales of hay on the back of the old ranch truck. How fun it is to reload surrounded by dozens of hungry horses.
Bottom right: Whisper arrived yesterday, and after watching farm implements crash into our fencing, and after watching race horses try to mount flirty fillies, and after watching field horses tear apart my old truck, Whisper is looking for the next bus out of town.
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 Mar 29, 2008 10:12:55 GMT -5
Saturday, March 29th... I am running late. I wrote 3 paragraphs moaning and groaning, and then realized this is not my style. Zap. Thank goodness for a Delete button.
Since 2004 I have been doing the morning journal, and I focus on positive because all around is negative. I like writing to you about successful adoptions. Horses saved, horses given a new chance, and all the young girls who adore them.
Rumors were floating around about on line petitions asking for horse slaughter to return to America. So many hungry horses with no where to go. And then came rumors of a slaughter house opening later this year in Carson City, Nevada. Which is a 2 hour drive from us. I dismissed all this as nonsense. Nevada is a progressive state, growing in population more than any other state, and they would never allow this. Just so much junior high school drama. There are folks who lite the fuse, just to see fireworks.
But yesterday on the phone a friend who works with wild mustangs in Northern Nevada tells me a site in Carson City as already been picked out. She says the new slaughter plant will be owned by someone from a foreign land, and I cannot tell you how much this pisses me off. Someone can come here from another country and kill our horses. What is wrong with America? Why was this ever allowed in the first place?
So I wake up grumpy, because if Carson City is allowed to open then the hard work of thousands go right down the toilet.
I know there are hungry and neglected horses everywhere. But when you live with horses the last thing you want is for other horses to suffer the brutality of slaughter. You can only imagine the terror. Better a gentle needle and a hug goodbye. Slaughter is what cave people did a million years ago.
I sit in the middle and watch those with huge hearts try to help. Yesterday was bananas for Northern California chat rooms. Horse killer Wade Giles phones to say he has a beautiful young gelding with a deep laceration above his knee. The cut is too old to stitch. I phone Holly Meeks, who goes to a chat room on Yahoo and asks for help. This was at 9:30 yesterday morning. At 12.30 Ryan Andrews was loading the gelding into his trailer, and at 1:45 the gelding was at his new home, being treated by a vet. Holly raised more than $600.00 in less than 4 hours.
In the same chat room, a filly from a fancy barn in Petaluma found a new home with TaterTots in Walnut Creek. Stephanie Diaz provided the transportation.
Yesterday Cathy and I said goodbye to Shawna, a mare who came to us for just a little while. Shawna was purchased from a not so nice situation, and now she is at her permanent home at a boarding stable in Davis. Also yesterday Riggins left us for tall green grass at a foster home in Orangevale.
I wish all of you a very Happy Day. The last weekend in March. There are schooling shows and trail rides. We might be a balmy 64 degrees. Cool and cloudy right now. The coffee is from Tulleys, and warm pastry with melted butter was made by Costco. My wife Cathy says another gear old man. I hate it when she calls me old man. In the mist of all that is bad, Cathy says find another gear and move on.
I wish those Sacramento Kings would find another gear. They lose again, so Cathy and I might move to Cleveland.
Joe
When you request a picture, it will take about 9 or 12 days for the picture to appear. Depending on how many up to date pictures I post.
All 4 below are by request.
Top left: Several requests for a current picture of Porky Pig, and here she is. The smartest animal on our ranch. Porky has lived with us for 9 years.
Top right: The thoroughbred mare Frenchie. She made gobs of money as a race horse, and this year she turned 13.
Each year we go with friends to the Yolo Fair in Woodland. Lots of good junk food.
Bottom left is Cassandra with her favorite corn on the cob.
Bottom right is Dakota with cotton candy. Melts in your mouth.
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 Mar 31, 2008 10:42:42 GMT -5
Monday, March 31st... All the time animals are abandoned on our county roads. A few weeks ago neighbors Gene & Pam found a Queensland Heeler wandering around County Road 19. Gene & Pam put him in their car and went home. They did all the right things. Contacted the animal shelter, and ran ads in newspapers. But it soon became apparent the little guy was abandoned. He is about a year old, very sweet, but he does not get along with their other dog. If you know of anyone who could give this dog a good home, call me at 530-383-2120. There is a picture of him below on the top left. He still has his testicles (no one wants to read the word testicles on a Monday morning Joe) but we will help pay for a makeover.
More complaints that I do not answer e-mails, but oh yes I do. Since the last storm when AT&T went to work on our telephone lines, this computer is faster than Kobe Bryant. AOL tells us letters are probably erased by a spam thingamajig. Feel free to phone me. If I am earning huge sums of money scooping poop at another ranch, I will soon call you back.
There were thousands of letters and phone calls (actually only 5) from event trainers asking for a close up photo of Garros. They want to see his neck and shoulder. Below on the top right is his neck and shoulder.
In 2005 sweet Ida came to us and adopted Raise Expectations. I love these Then and Now pictures. Below on the bottom left Ida is posing with her new horse. Jessica is also in the picture, and she and her mom Melanie have adopted 8 horses from us.
The bottom right shows Ida and Raise Expectations today. Thank you very much Ida for sending us this photo. Raise Expectations is beautiful.
Oh Barry has a new home with Stephanie of Woodland, and he leaves us later today. Oh Barry came to us from a feed lot in 2006. We named him Oh Barry because Oh Mandy was playing on the radio when he arrived. But what gelding wants to be called Mandy? Since Barry Manilow was the singer, we named him Oh Barry. He was skinny with bad feet. Barry went to live on green grass with a foster family and he blossomed. It is not often when old timers from our fields are adopted, but good for Oh Barry. And good for Stephanie. Barry is the third horse she has adopted from us.
At least 5 and maybe 6 more horses come to us this week. From race tracks and feed lots. One of those horses is said to be sick with strangles, and we have made arrangements to isolate him at another barn.
111 horses are begging for breakfast, so a brand new day must get started. The man on the radio is saying rain could be heavy on Wednesday. Enjoy your last day of March, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Brianna, and I am sorry we missed your visit. Thank you for the cinnamon rolls Brianna, and your frosting is the best we have ever tasted. Pony Boy ate a cinnamon roll, and then packed his suitcase. Pony Boy wants to go live with Brianna now.
Joe
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 Apr 1, 2008 10:26:23 GMT -5
Tuesday, April 1st... Yesterday was amazing. 50 horses were adopted, our best ever day.
Okay just kidding. April Fools. But there were 2 adoptions, which is not bad for a Monday. On Sunday we met The Garat Family, and they put a saddle on the sweet gelding Hampton Way. His manners were excellent, and around our big round pen he was ridden. Yesterday mom Angela Garat phoned to say they want him. Hampton Way leaves us for his new home this weekend, and Georgia & Jenny Hartman will provide transportation. There is a photo below on the top left of The Garat Family with their new horse.
By No Means (we call him Big Mo) found a new home with The Hansen Family, and he leaves us on Thursday. Holly Meeks provides transportation. Big Mo will become best friends forever to Casper, an older quarter horse gelding who recently lost his long time companion. Big Mo has arthritis in both front ankles, and with Casper the ground is soft. There are orchards with grass, and a 9 year old girl to bring them both carrots.
3 months are gone for 2008, and there have been 41 adoptions.
Taxes must be completed in two weeks, and Cathy found a receipt for a 2007 dinner at Applebees in Vacaville. We have not been to Applebees in several years. Where did this receipt come from? And who stuck it in our receipt box?
We spent more than $600.00 on carrots last year. Mostly from Pedricks Produce and Costco. Now that is a lot of carrots.
What we paid for gasoline in 2007 could easily erase the national debt. And now comes word gas will be the highest ever this week. $4.20 for Diesel, and $3.69 for Regular. Always at the gas station there is a $1.25 cup of coffee. Lots of cream, a bit of sugar. Sometimes a doughnut that is so stale you know for sure it was made in 2004. But if you dunk that doughnut in your $1.25 cup of coffee it becomes chewable. The little tricks in Woodland to survive. At the Taco Truck ask for mild, otherwise you will not sleep that night.
I love this time of year. Baseball and softball and receipts for a meal you cannot remember. Trees come alive. Horses shed their coats, and old mares flirt with old geldings. I would like to send out a Special Hello to Grace who lives in Ireland. I told you how our friend Holly Meeks is going to Ireland for vacation, so Grace has offered Holly a room on her ranch. I would like to send out a Special Hello to Eric & Carla in Reno, and it was really good to hear from you. Eric is a pilot for an airline, and he looks down for our ranch when flying above. I would like to send out a Special Hello to Susie in Whittier, California. Thank you so much for all you do for horses Susie. And I would like to send out a Special Hello to Jessie in Orangevale. You mean the world to Cathy and I Jessie, and we hope you are doing okay.
Enjoy your a storm is coming Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Top left: The Garat Family, Igancio, Angela, and Cielo. With their new gelding Hampton Way.
Top right: Hard to believe it has been 4 years since Eric & Carla came from Reno to adopt Patricks Slew. They love him like crazy, and he has many toys.
Bottom row pictures are by request.
Bottom left: We have 2 mustangs on our ranch, and we must watch what they eat. Feeding a mustang is not the same as feeding a race horse. A mustang can gain weight just from looking at food. Here is Mimi, and we must often bring her to the barn to keep her from stealing food from other horses.
Bottom right: We call him Red Machine, and he won a Cal Cup race and made a gazillion dollars. Red has a friend at the race track who often sends him a bag of sweet corn.
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 Apr 2, 2008 10:41:39 GMT -5
Wednesday, April 2nd... This Saturday in Hayward is the annual plastic horse show. You can bring your plastic horse and for $1.00 enter him in a class. There are auctions and sales. A Breyer Barbaro is up for grabs. Go to fantasticplasticclassic.com to learn more. Fun stuff.
Our friend Jessica Spriggs has more than 2,000 plastic horses. Jessica has been collecting since she was 5. Jessica says there is no poop and no flies. But you must dust once in a while.
Joe & Cathy Shelton have more than 200 real horses, and 111 are outside our door. Real poop and real flies. All night long flirty fillies enjoy teasing confused geldings. Our ranch sounds like a drive in theater. We must shut the bedroom window to get some sleep.
We have been feeding neglected horses at other places, and they are beginning to shine. These horses need good homes. Several older thoroughbreds. There are 2 young unbroke quarter horse colts. A morgan mare, and at first we thought she might be navicular, but it was only an abscess which at last erupted on the top of her coronet. You could actually see the relief in her eyes. There is a beautiful young thoroughbred filly, and I finally got a halter on her. Never been touched before, but now she comes for carrots. You must deal with me, not the owners, and you will be screened. I can also help with transportation. My cell is 530-383-2120. As always, I give a big Thank You to those who help horses in need.
And there are bunches. Race horses, feed lot horses, horses on their way to public auctions. There are literally hundreds of giving people who everyday volunteer their money, their time, and their gasoline. I have been around forever. Voted for Lincoln. And I have never seen this kind of response from those who love horses.
One of my favorite e-mails in the last few days. This is part of a letter from Taylor, and she is 9: I wish I could help, but I am just a kid. So every night in bed I pray for all the horses and I pray for Joe and Cathy. I ask God to keep everybody safe and I ask God to bring food to horses that are hungry.
Who knows why horses do this to us? Even plastic horses bring happiness to our lives.
Jodi Tuft says there will be no rain. Tom Hayes is cutting alfalfa because he says a big storm is on the way. Mike Baker is with the fire department, and he says there will be lightning. Holly Meeks says today will be beautiful, with lots of sunshine. Channel 10 says the storm is going elsewhere. 95.3 on your FM dial says maybe some sprinkles. No one seems to know for sure. But they all say we might be 80 degrees on Saturday. Well okay then. Enjoy your beautiful no rain big storm coming with lightning and lots of sunshine Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. The coffee is from Peets, and microwave waffles were made by Eggo. Bryan Adams singing on the radio. Cathy just left for her day job, and I gotta go feed 111 horses. Not a bad gig at all...
Joe
Top left: Friends Of Tbfriends bought us a used harrow to help with raking our never ending supply of poop. This thing is heavy. It took 3 of us to guide it off the trailer. Thank You Friends Of Tbfriends.
Top right: The Stillings Family in Nevada rescued Tor from a feed lot. Tor just arrived at his new home and he meets Lance for the first time.
Bottom row photos are by request.
Bottom left: It was one year ago when Biscuit came to us from the race track. A big storm just hit, and Biscuit looks at me as if to say do I really have to live here?
Bottom right: I showed you this picture in 2005. Pony Boy licking the bowl. Long time reader Amanda lives in Concord, California. Amanda asks please show this picture again.
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 Apr 3, 2008 9:39:29 GMT -5
Thursday, April 3rd... A big Happy Birthday to our friend Jodi Tuft, who we have known since she was a kid, and now she is an older kid.
In 2003 Jodi bought 40 bare acres in Dixon. There was water and electricity, but not much else. 5 years later, and Jodi has created a thriving boarding and training center. Lots of barns, lots of trees, dozens of paddocks and pastures. Jodi built a beautiful house, and I would trade my autographed Bart Simpson t-shirt to have her kitchen.
Jodi did this on her own. Boyfriend Adam is there to help with repairs, but all by herself Jodi has developed the largest training center in our area. More than 85 horses at her ranch.
At least once a week for the last 15 years I have phoned Jodi and begged please, can you help me out? Injured horses, starving horses, horses who need transportation, stallions who need a private paddock, yearlings who have never been touched, older horses who have never been touched. Jodi always says you bet. Take yesterday for instance...
Our friend Aljean phones to say there is a man driving around the San Francisco area with 2 older horses in his trailer. The man tried to take these horses to Animal Control in Contra Costa County, but Animal Control would not accept them. The poor horses have been on his trailer for more than 2 days. No food. No water. The man does not have money for gasoline.
I tell Aljean to call the man back and give him my phone number.
Pretty soon the man calls and he is sitting in a parking lot in Richmond, California. He tells me the horses are both thoroughbreds, both older, and they are hungry and thirsty. I ask the man if he has enough gasoline to get to Dixon. He says yes.
I call Jodi and tell her the story. If Jodi had one dollar for every one of my stories, Jodi could buy another 40 acres. Jodi says you bet, the 2 horses could live together in one of her paddocks until Aljean can get them home.
Jodi phones later to say the horses have eaten 5 flakes of hay so far. They were happy to get off that trailer and stretch their legs. Today Georgia & Jenny Hartman will transport both horses to their new lifetime home with Aljean.
Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe a week from Tuesday. I will phone Jodi with another story. And Jodi will say you bet.
Tonight Jodi and boyfriend Adam celebrate at their favorite restaurant. Happy Birthday Jodi.
I tell you all the time about Megan in Fairfield. Julia in Lincoln. Aljean in a town called Rescue. Nikki in Vacaville. Mike & Kathy Monoghan. Rachel Jeffers. Stephanie Diaz. Holly Meeks. Jodi Tuft. Patti Lu. Jennifer Wright. Ryan Andrews. The list of those who help horses is staggering. And they never ask for money. I told Aljean maybe I could get her some funds to care for those 2 older thoroughbreds. Aljean says forget it, she is happy to help. I told Megan in Fairfield about a sale on Equine Senior, and maybe I could find some money to stock her feed room. After all, Megan is taking care of 6 horses who belong to Tbfriends. Megan says forget it, she is happy to help. Whenever I offer anything to Jodi, she tells me to get lost.
Amazing giving people who every day are there to help horses.
And a special Thank You to our vet Lisa Wallace, who for only a small sum of money is going to help our blind mare Georgia. Georgia needs an operation, and Lisa says she is happy to help. Enjoy your beautiful 69 degree Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Top left: Jodi Tuft in front of the house that Jodi built.
Top right is by request: In July of 2006 we suffered through 13 straight days of 110 degrees or more. It was horrible. All the flies moved to Portland. Here is a picture of day 12.
Then and Now:
Bottom left: It was a year ago when Sandy adopted the very cute Mr. Thatcher.
Bottom right: Today Sandy and Mr. Thatcher are getting ready for the 2008 show season.
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 Apr 4, 2008 9:38:10 GMT -5
Friday, April 4th... Keeping in you in the loop. Earlier this week I showed you a picture of a Queensland Heeler found by our neighbors Gene & Pam. Told you how he needed a new home. There were many inquiries, and the dog will be going to Hannah who lives in Cool, California. What a great name for a town. Cool. Hannah works at a veternary clinic, which is handy, because the dog needs to be neutered. Thank you to all who responded.
114 horses on our ranch, and if each one poops 10 times, we are talking almost 1,200 piles of poop every day. But that is a whole other paragraph. Several horses will be leaving us soon for their new homes. Freestrikesyourout and Power Blend go to Reno. Monty Crisco has a new family in Los Gatos. Hampton Way and the gray gelding Summer Jazz both leave us this Saturday for their new digs in Marin County. Saving Private Ryan Andrews has a new home with an incredible young girl in Sacramento. We love Jello, he has lived with us since 2006, and on Saturday Jello will be introduced to his new best friend Freddy. It was last week when Freddy lost his long time companion, and he is waiting at the fence for Jello to appear.
Still keeping you in the loop. Earlier this week I told you how horses we are feeding at other places are doing well, and now they need good homes. A giant Thank You to the Beehman Family, as they are the happy new owners of an older thoroughbred gelding who is sweet as can be. And a trainer in Petaluma phones to say hey, I can provide a great home to one of those unbroke quarter horse colts. The trainer promises to turn him into a gelding, and later this summer she will break him to ride. The colt arrived at her barn yesterday, and a big Thank You to Holly Meeks for providing the transportation.
The older thoroughbreds who were stuck on a trailer for 2 days are now at their lifetime home with Aljean, and a big Thank You to Jodi for filling their bellys. And a big Thank You go Georgia Hartman for providing the transportation.
More horses are coming to us from race tracks in Los Angeles. More horses are coming to us from horse killers Wade Giles and Lyle Carter.
We welcome 3 new foster families. Sara has 4 beautiful acres in Vacaville. Robin lives in Rio Linda, and she is building a new barn. Staci lives in Grass Valley, and on her 5 acres are 3 former race horses. Sara, Robin, and Staci will each receive a horse from us this weekend. Georgia Hartman and Ryan Andrews will provide transportation. I am trying to decide which horses will go to who. Just like that dating service on television, with brand new foster families it is important to find the right match. And since Friday is here, a decision must be made.
I always feel anxious when writing a paragraph thanking those who help us and help horses. Because in my mind I know I am leaving someone out. Cheryl Rankin in Auburn saves horses, including several pregnant mares this year, and yesterday I forgot to say her name. Also in Auburn is our long time friend Allison. If there is a neglected horse who needs a home, Allison has her gates open. There is Tori Baze and Paula Coombs. Robin Gill. Kelli Hunter, and Kelli is a full time student with 2 part time jobs. Still Kelli finds time to attend livestock auctions and help horses who need help. Kristen lives in Vallejo, and in 2007 she rescued 3 horses, and 1 so far in 2008. There is Caroline in Los Angeles, and Caroline has become a big time buyer at auctions and feed lots. Sarah McDowell lives in Utah, and she is coming for the 4th of July fireworks under the Golden Gate Bridge. Jessica Parsley does incredible work saving horses, and she calls herself JD Acres. Our friend Michelle at the race track, and she saves horses like I save reruns of Malcolm In The Middle.
I would also like to take this time to Thank Gabriella Howard, who lives in Augusta, Maine. A huge Thank You to Friends Of Tbfriends, for all you do for us. Rebecca Head, and it was great to meet you. Susie Ingersoll. The girl who sent us coffee from Oakland, the coffee is delicious, and Thank You for thinking of us. Jamie Watkins, a long time supporter. Patti Lu and Jodi Tuft, always there when we need them. Thank You to Dakota Blue, my little friend, and watch out for the Chicago Cubs this year. Thank You Catherine Moses in North Carolina. Teri & Dana Paquette in Texas, Thank You for all you do for us. Jamie Coughlin we love our plastic Pony Boy, and not once has he pooped on our shelf. Cynthia Miles in Maryland, we cannot Thank You enough. Ann & Robert also in Maryland, and you will always be in our thoughts. Bonnie Buron in Florida. Robin West is the Best. Mary Frazier in Moraga, she is so cute. Elizabeth Tuoto. Frances Harrington from Palo Alto. Henry Martin and Elaine Garrison, Thank You for your continued support. Lorenzo and Stephanie Breaux. Pamela Short, and Pamela would like the world to know she loves her gelding Rocky like crazy.
I would like to Thank the girl who calls herself Horsequeen 08. The girl who calls herself Brawny. And the girl who calls herself Last Chance. I wish we knew your real names, and Thank You for your support.
I would like to Thank Cora Mason, Becky Coombs, Allison Martino, Amber, Brianna, Maddie, and Julia. Your treats at our front gate, and our horses are forever grateful.
To Jenny Hartman, our number one helper, I hope you are feeling better soon.
A big Thank You to Lori Stewart in Iowa, for the box of fly masks and leg wraps. We really appreciate you thinking of us.
Most likely I have left someone out, and later when scooping 1,200 piles of poop I will remember. Please know Cathy and I are grateful for all that is done for us and for our horses. Enjoy your just right 75 degree Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. The Kings have won 3 in a row. Our world is begining to make sense again...
Joe
Horses rescued across America, and horses rescued with donations from readers.
Top left: Tyler lives in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Tyler saves her money and helps horses in need. She went to Gentle Giant Draft Horse Rescue in Maryland and adopted Jezzie, her best friend forever. Tyler also attends horse auctions. On this Friday morning we salute Tyler, and she makes us feel good.
Top right: Davina lives in Nebraska, and she rescued Jordan from a horrible situation. Here is a picture of Jordan, who will not stop eating.
Bottom left: From horse killer Wade Giles we bought this chestnut mare, and there is a racing tattoo which says she is 6. Our favorite female singer on American Idol is Brooke, so we named her Brooke. She is in poor shape.
Bottom right: From horse killer Manny Phelps we bought this pretty filly, and there is a racing tattoo which says she is 4. Our second favorite female singer on American Idol is Carli, so we named her Carli. She is in really good shape.
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 Apr 5, 2008 10:36:34 GMT -5
Saturday, April 5th... There were thousands of phone calls and letters (actually only 18) asking for pictures of the 2 thoroughbreds who were stuck on a trailer for more than 2 days. The owner was out of money, and he tried to surrender his horses to Animal Control, but they refused. A giant effort from Aljean, Kathy Monoghan, Jodi Tuft and Georgia Hartman, and now the horses are safe and happy. Below on the top left is the gelding, and top right shows you the mare.
I goofed up the name of the girl who lives in Cool, California. I told you her name was Hannah, but Hannah is a girl in Placerville who also wanted the dog. The girl in Cool is Krystal, and so yesterday morning both girls were wondering who is the real new owner of this dog. Sorry for the mix up. Great work Joe.
Red face, Red face.... When thanking those who help us and help our horses, I forgot to tell you about Jennifer Milshap in San Jose. Friends Of Barbaro member Judy. Friends Of Barbaro member Alice. And Friends Of Barbaro member Peggi Loveless. I forgot to tell you about Cyndi George, she lives in Los Angeles, and twice she has been to a taping of American Idol. Cyndi sent us $50.00 to buy special feed for the crippled mare Gidget. I forgot to tell you about the Larsen family, and 10 year old Tora Larsen. Tora sends us pictures of her gelding Cee Cee, who used to be a race horse. And I forgot to tell you about Steve who lives in Dixon, and to our front gate he brought 5 bags of sweet corn.
They make pills for my sore back. They make pills for my allergies. I wish they could come up with a pill that would help me become better organized. I always feel terrible when leaving someone out.
How Lou Doin is doin just fine. There have been thousands of letters and phone calls (actually only 4) asking where is Lou now? He has a fan club. Lou shuttles between us and his foster family in Auburn. How Lou Doin is the perfect baby sitter. With orphan foals or with wild yearlings, Lou loves to be with kids. Right now Lou is on tall green grass with 5 youngsters, and he will return to us at the end of this summer. There is a picture of How Lou Doin below on the bottom left. He is not available for adoption.
The picture on the bottom right shows my best friend Jules. He has been with us since 1998. Jules has allergies, and this is the toughest time of year for him.
And now it is time to bring hay and grain to 113 hungry horses. We must get 3 horses ready for shipping, as they leave this morning for their new homes. An endless supply of poop has to be dealt with. Currently 3 horses receive daily bute. There are legs to unwrap. Weeds to pull, water buckets to wash, race horses to walk, and the inside of our shed looks as if a bomb went off. The man on the radio is saying today could be a cool 69 degrees. The man on television is saying today could be a beautiful 76 degrees. Enjoy your spring time Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special one day late Happy Birthday to Wendy Carlisle. For her birthday last night Wendy and friends were going to do a sushi walk on J street in Sacramento. From restaurant to restaurant they planned on sampling Sushi. 8 different restaurants were on their list. At the end of the night there was to be cake and coffee at The Sheraton. What a great birthday...
Joe
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 Apr 6, 2008 10:03:06 GMT -5
Sunday, April 6th... Apparently Tbfriends was off the air overnight. When the little cell phone rings at 1:00 a.m. it scares the crap out of me. I am certain the neighbors are calling to say our horses are loose, and they are headed for the 505 freeway. But it was only a long time reader in San Diego (what are you doing up?) asking is everything okay? She wants to know where is my website? Beats me, I was dreaming about hot fudge sundaes. And there was a man sitting on the next stool, and I think it was the older brother on Everybody Loves Raymond.
Webmaster Max Wilcox made some phone calls to our server, and here we are. Thank you Max. A hard to describe picture perfect Sunday morning, and later we could be 66 degrees.
For you pedigree lovers we rescued a mare yesterday with unbelievable bloodlines. Her name is Tapatio, she is 7, and she comes to us in terrible shape. Her half sister is Final Fling, a stakes winner who recently finished 3rd in the Santa Anita Oaks. A big Thank You to Georgia & Jenny Hartman for providing the transportation. There is a photo of Tapatio and Jenny below on the top left.
So Cathy and I were working on taxes last night, because April 15th is almost here and as usual we are behind in all the important stuff. Tapatio got us talking about the huge sums money in our fields. Stakes winners and hard knockers who earned a small fortune at the race track. Our taxes were pushed aside, they can wait for another night, and we began counting with our fingers. If you count together stakes winners and horses who never won a stakes race but they won plenty of others, we currently have 3.3 million dollars in our fields.
And if you add the money earned by stakes horses who have since left our ranch for a much better home, the total comes to 5.2 million dollars.
Keep in mind, sometimes we are never told the real name of a horse. So naturally these figures could be much higher.
Tapatio also had Cathy and I discussing well bred mares we rescue, and 3 or 4 years ago these mares would have been worth a fortune. But today they are 40 cents a pound. The horse market down the toilet. In 2007 we purchased a young filly from a feed lot, and her sire was Distorted Humor. Since last year fillies and mares have came to us by Gone West, Holy Bull, In Excess, Tale Of The Cat, Mountain Cat, Stormin Fever, Wild Again, Skip Away and Phone Trick.
On our ranch we have some impressive bloodlines, and I am not talking about Joe & Cathy Shelton.
We promise to get serious about our taxes tonight. What a mess. And where did this receipt from Toys R Us come from?
I am late for feeding 111 horses. Enjoy your Lakers are in town to play the Kings Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Alexis Meehan in Oakland, and it was really good to hear from you. Another special hello to our friend Stephanie Breaux, and thank you for all your computer help.
Joe
Top left: Jenny Hartman with the very sweet 7 year old mare Tapatio.
Top right: I have been telling you how Cheryl Rankin in Auburn saves horses like I save reruns of Northern Exposure. On Monday of this week Cheryl said hello to this beautiful mare, and Friday the mare delivered a handsome colt. Cheryl named him Spirit. She is always rescuing pregnant mares, and we are proud to call her our friend.
Bottom left: An Oldie but Goodie. Cinderella has lived with us since 2000, and she is a character. There are days when Cinderella is in your lap, loving and sweet. There a days when she turns into the wicked witch of the north. When approaching Cinderella you never know which of 52 different personalities will greet you.
Bottom right: An Oldie but Goodie. Old Mizzou came to us from the race track in 2004, and he made okay money. Another horse with multiple personalities. Pictured with Mizzou is Dave Barrett, who for years was our regular horse hauler. Dave has since retired.
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 Apr 7, 2008 13:14:20 GMT -5
Joe's got internet problems.
hello?
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 Apr 7, 2008 14:36:27 GMT -5
You gotta know it must be Monday. This website would not appear. I lost my gloves. The gelding Rambo escapes from his stall, and when I try to put on a halter Rambo rears and takes off. 109 horses go bonkers. Arthritic old mares are suddenly moving like Ruffian. At last I get Rambo back to his stall, and I hear the dreaded gushing noise. Another broken water float. On the phone with horse killer Manny Phelps, and he wants me to buy an old gelding with sore feet. Manny Phelps says no way can this gelding stay upright for the long trip to Mexican slaughter.
And now I am inside for a sandwich, and a giant Thank You to Webmaster Max Wilcox for getting Tbfriends back on the air. Technical difficulties with our internet provider. Mercury is having drama with Venus.
Please do not call 911 and ask for mouth to mouth, but all e-mails have been answered. Except for the letters which came this morning. If you have sent us an e-mail and have yet to receive a reply, please send again.
New photos will be up soon under the age links.
Yesterday I told you about the incredible pedigrees of rescued mares coming to our ranch. We are talking Holy Bull and Gone West and Tale Of The Cat and Cherokee Run. This morning I bought a filly from a horse killer with the last name of Heart. Ironic. A man who sells horses to slaughter in Canada and Mexico is named Heart. Well anyway this filly is from a sire called Thatsusintheolbean. Horse killer Heart says Thatsusintheolbean was at one time standing at stud in New Mexico.
More chores are waiting. It is freezing outside. What happened to spring? I will be back tomorrow morning, and once again we are very grateful to Max Wilcox. Enjoy what is left of Monday. Thatsusintheolbean...
Joe
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 Apr 8, 2008 9:46:22 GMT -5
Tuesday, April 8th... Been called lots of things in my life. But this is the first time I have ever been called a bigot.
About one month ago a black family came to adopt a horse, and I said no. The teenage girl was scared to death. She held the lead rope tight with both hands, and was very uncomfortable with horses. Her parents refused to go near a horse. I do what I always do. I gave this family a list of trainers I trust. Trainers who help beginners. I told them to try a few lessons to make sure this is what they really want.
Well what they want is money. A cash settlement. Or else they will sue me for discrimination. The mom says all the time I show pictures of adoptions on my webpage, and the new owners are always white. She called me a bigot.
Not true I told her. People of all races have adopted horses from us. So go ahead and sue.
If you do not have an income, or if your horse skills are poor, you cannot get a horse from us. Simple really. We will send you to competent trainers. There are boarding stables we highly recommend. All we can do to help we will. But first you must be qualified.
The fun continues...
Twice I refused a 19 year old girl. Her horse skills are okay, but she has no income. The girl kept saying she was getting a job at Save Mart, so paying board would not be a problem. Something was not quite right. I trusted my instincts. So after her second visit, and after her second rejection, she went into a chat room and told everybody Joe Shelton is inbred, just like his horses. (quit laughing, I can hear you.)
And it was last month when a mom and daughter were in our yard. The beginning of their visit was good. The mom said all the right things. But after watching her with a gentle off the track thoroughbred, it soon became apparent she has never been with horses. So I gave mom my list of trainers. Told her to begin with lessons, and when she becomes more comfortable with horses to come back and see me.
Mom does not take rejection well. In front of her daughter she called me names. Using words I normally only hear in movies starring Al Pacino.
And then mom and daughter get in their car and refuse to leave. There they sit, in our driveway. And I seriously begin to ponder a career change.
My cell phone rings. Puff The Magic Dragon is my ring tone. It is the husband of the mom in our driveway. Now remember, this was a month ago. The following conversation is not word for word, but you get the point:
Husband: My wife and daughter are sitting in your driveway.
Joe: Lucky me.
Husband: Sell my wife a horse.
Joe: No.
Husband: Sell my wife a horse!
Joe: Oh I get it. You want your wife to get killed huh?
Husband: Are you going to sell my wife a horse?
Joe: Nope.
Husband: You are going to regret this.
Joe: Wanna bet?
Finally their car pulled away, and all I could think about was the daughter. Maybe 8 or 9, cute and quiet, and I hope she turns out okay.
If you count horses from feed lots going directly to new owners, and if you count unwanted horses going directly from their old homes to their new homes, and if you count the horses from our ranch who were adopted, then we placed 529 horses in 2007.
In 2007 we also turned away at least 20 people. No income, or poor horse skills. The numbers we turn away are tiny compared to the numbers we accept. But it is those 20 who want to make our lives difficult.
One teenage girl drove back and forth in front of our ranch for weeks. I suppose just to let me know she is still out there.
We have a good friend, and when she said no to a person who wanted to buy a horse, the person ran over her mailbox with a big Dodge Ram.
And now I get to go feed 108 hungry horses, and the day begins early. Freestrikesyourout and Power Blend leave us for their new home in Reno. Another race horse comes from Bay Meadows. Tim Gee our farrier will soon be here, and while he trims feet we both moan about The Sacramento Kings. This afternoon there is employment at another ranch, earning the big bucks, and in our crock pot is chicken with celery, onions, carrots, sweet red peppers, and a bag of Lipton onion soup. A big Thank You to Jenny Hartman for delicious cheese enchilladas. A big Thank You to Rebecca Vargas for creamy marble cheesecake made by The Cheesecake Factory. And a big Thank You to Shannon Reicht, cute as can be, and at our front gate Shannon brings apple cinnamon pie from Costco. My 10th chin is developing nicely. Enjoy your 64 degree American Idol Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Top left: I will begin showing you a few horses from other places who need homes. These horses are free, but you will be screened. You must deal with me, not the owners. Here is a thoroughbred, he is 8, and lives in Davis. He is not for a beginner.
The remaining pictures are by request.
Top right: Saylor came to us from a feed lot last year, and he is gaining good weight. A special hello to Robin West, and she is the Best.
Bottom left: He made tons of money at the race track, and won multiple stakes. We call him X Man, and his sire is In Excess. A special hello to Sarah McKinna.
Bottom right: Garlic Country, and he is loved by many. Garlic shuttles between us and his foster home in Half Moon Bay. Garlic loves to go for rides on the beach. A special hello to The Wainwright Family. Also Becky Coombs.
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 Apr 9, 2008 14:52:01 GMT -5
Wednesday, April 9th... Feed lots in Northern California are elbow to elbow. We have come full circle. Over crowded feed lots to empty feed lots to feed lots with only 5 or 6 horses. And now they are once again jammed packed with doomed horses on their way to slaughter plants in Canada and Mexico.
My old truck is making a funny noise, so shopping trips for doomed horses is done by phone. There is Vallejo and Wilton and Turlock. Sometimes in Roseville a feed lot appears, only they do not call it a feed lot. They call it a Holding Cell. Horse killers Wade Giles, Manny Phelps, Lyle Carter, Brent Sanchez and his girlfriend Maggie, are mostly who I buy from. I finally remembered where I have seen Maggie before. She looks just like that girl who played on the Buffy Vampire show. I told Maggie this on the telephone. I said you look like Buffy Vampire and Maggie said yeah, but I make more money than she does.
Brent Sanchez and his girlfriend Maggie operate out of Vallejo, and if Maggie had her way they would never sell me a horse. Maggie hates me. I know this for sure, because she said so. Maggie said me and my stupid website are stupid. And that about sums up her entire vocabulary...
But her boyfriend Brent Sanchez likes me. I know this for sure, because he said so. I am allowed to rescue their horses. 30 cents a pound if you are old and lame and no one has ever wanted you. 40 cents a pound if you are middle of the road with possibilities. 50 cents a pound if you are drop dead gorgeous. And then Brent Sanchez laughs. He thinks he is clever, using the drop dead pun.
A large stock trailer carring 10 or more horses to slaughter in Canada can bring a horse killer 5 or 6 thousand dollars. A double decker trailer can bring a horse killer $15,000.00. Depending on how much the horses weigh.
And do not kid yourself, there are beautiful, magnificient horses who find themselves on a slaughter bound trailer. Hunter jumper horses who only a few years ago would have sold for big dollars. All breeds. All ages. Lost in the shuffle of mankind.
And there are sad, pathetic horses. Neglected for years, never known love, and soon they will be dinner in Europe. Strange, the way neglected horses are all so sweet. Wired race horses or shiny show horses higher than the moon, causing all kinds of trouble. But neglected hungry horses with bad feet are the ones who hang their heads in your belly. Hoping for just a tiny bit of affection.
It is those sad, pathetic horses who we mostly bring home. A friend is always telling me, geez Joe, you have no chance of ever finding these horses a new family. Look how neglected and miserable they are. Why not spend your money on saving a fancy show horse? At least you will get your money back.
I know my friend is right. Common sense dictates you must have cash flow to stay in business. But when horse killer Brent Sanchez tells me about a crippled filly with deformed feet, I say sure, I can help her. And so I bought this filly yesterday from the feed lot in Vallejo.
And when horse killer Brent Sanchez tells me about a gelding with decent weight who has fencing hanging from his mane, his tail in knots, his feet in horrible condition, and his nose is bleeding, I say sure, I can help him. And so I bought this gelding yesterday from the feed lot in Vallejo.
During the phone conversation with horse killer Brent Sanchez, I did not ask how many drop dead, 50 cents a pound beautiful event horses he has. I quit with those questions a long time ago. Living in the dark is acceptable.
On Kentucky Derby day Saturday, HBO is doing a special on horse slaughter.
I have no doubt rambled on enough for one morning. The coffee is from Peets, and incredible apple cinnamon pie was made by Costco. Later we could be 70 degrees. Last year American Idol raised 76 million dollars for hungry kids all over the world, and they do it again tonight. Amazing stuff. Enjoy your perfect spring Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
3 new horses arrived yesterday.
Top left: She is so cute. From a race track came Top It Off, and I suppose we will call her Topper. She comes with a jell cast, and is very lame. We will get her well.
Top right: From a feed lot in Vallejo came this deformed filly, and we are naming her Alice. We will get her well.
Bottom left. From a feed lot in Vallejo came this gelding, and we spent 2 hours cutting knots from his tail. There is a racing tattoo which says he is 9 years old. He came off the van with lots of jewelry hanging from his mane and tail, so we named him Dude.
Bottom right picture is by request. This is Logician, we call him Logan, and he came to us from the race track last year with a broken leg. Logan has healed, and his very best friend in life is Devil Badgett.
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 Apr 10, 2008 10:11:01 GMT -5
Thursday, April 10th... The following is a word for word quote from horse killer Manny Phelps:
I provide a service. People are revolted when I tell them I process horses for a living, but without me there would be thousands of starving horses living on our streets. On that girlie website of yours you wrote how I exploit horses. Wrong. I exploit alcohol. I exploit Burger King. But with horses I provide a service. I mop up. I clean up the mess left by morons who just have to breed their mare. A few years later no one wants the baby anymore, so I come in to mop up. How come you never write about those morons who just have to breed their mare? Every spring I send dozens of mares and new foals to the meat plant. And every spring there are idiots breeding more babies. All of your do right for horses cause they built America is crap. The only way to do right for horses is to stop breeding them.
The following is a word for word quote from a man named Pete, and he is in charge of a major Northern California auction:
Kill buyers represent 80 percent of our business. The only market for the $250.00 horse is the butcher market. We provide a service for unwanted horses.
The following is a word for word quote from a large thoroughbred breeding farm in Northern California:
Can you send a hauler to pick up 6 mares? They have great bloodlines, but we are cutting back. Also we have several 2 and 3 year olds that need to go. I understand you are full, but if you turn us down we will have to sell them to slaughter. For you they are $300.00 each.
The following is a word for word quote from Allison Martino, and she is 12. Once a week Allison stays with us after school, while her mom is in a computer class:
What is wrong with people? I would go postal on these clowns.
We sometimes receive 50 or 75 e-mails daily, and I do a decent job of keeping up. This past Monday, April 7th, there were 37 letters asking me to take their horse. 37. All kinds of stories. Many of these letters would break your heart. Money problems, lost jobs, boarding rates keep rising, divorces, feeding costs, their horse is lame, their horse is mean, their daughter has a boyfriend, or their horse is 30 and it is time move on.
All 37 letters have the same dark theme. You are our last chance Joe. Otherwise we will have to take him to auction. Otherwise we will have to put him down. Otherwise could you give me the phone number of a horse killer?
The majority of these requests always come on Mondays. During the weekend is when owners decide they must say goodbye.
The following is a word for word quote from horse killer Brent Sanchez, and this came yesterday:
I got a gelding with a tattoo and he is 8. He has one shoe and he needs at least 100 pounds. A lady in Vacaville gave him to me. What a witch. She has all these horses, and when her little boy came to say hi she screamed and cussed him out. Told him to quit bothering everybody. I am going to give you this gelding Joe. He is sweet. You just have to cover transportation costs from Vallejo. Call Maggie, and she will have him ready at the south gate.
One thing I have learned about most horse killers. They become really angry when kids are treated badly.
Another gelding comes to us from horse killer Manny Phelps later today. We could be 75 degrees. I am experimenting with this posting pictures thing. New pictures will soon be up under the age links. Enjoy your beautiful sun is up Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
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 Apr 11, 2008 9:36:33 GMT -5
Friday, April 10th... Yesterday Channel 3 said we were going to be 75 degrees. What they meant was 75 below zero. A strong cold wind all day, and sweatshirts stayed on. We had a dust storm. Horses with gunky eyes, and fly masks came out of the closet. Channel 3 is now saying this weekend will be warm. Maybe 85 for Saturday. Flies are arriving from Bakersfield.
The winds have been crazy all night, and we keep losing our dial tone. After 53 cups of extra strength Folgers, you should see how fast I am typing.
If 4 new pictures do not appear below each day, just hit your Refresh key. F5 does it for us. There are e-mails saying I must be drunk. My descriptions do not match the photos. F5 will get you there...
From a major thoroughbred breeding farm in Northern California, we are in the process of buying a whole lot of horses. The farm threatens to have these horses sold to Canadian slaughter. There are broodmares and there are horses of racing age. Our foster families have been put on alert. And we are making room in our poop on top of poop fields.
Two geldings arrived from feed lots yesterday, and with the exception of neglected feet, both are in good shape.
Our vet Lisa Wallace is coming soon to take X-rays of our new mare Tapatio, and we call her Tap Dancer. Jenny Hartman found maggots eating away the right front foot of Tap Dancer. A deep hole in her heel, and who knows how long maggots have been feasting? Tap Dancer came to us last Saturday. She is unable to walk. Her sire is Cherokee Run, and he is the sire of champion 2 year old War Pass, a Kentucky Derby favorite.
And since we are talking Kentucky Derby, HBO has chosen this day to show a documentary on horse slaughter. It is said to be very graphic.
Yesterday in a Northern California chat room, 3 chatters (is chatters the right word?) came together to save the life of an older arabian mare. Holly Meeks provided transportation, and the mare is now with our friend Megan in Fairfield. She arrived in okay shape, and is probably 20 years old. There is good all over, and we hear about it everyday...
Mike Baker brings us kids from a youth shelter, and I must hurry and spruce up the joint. Horses living in our yard, and there is poop on our porch. A giant mountain of dirt from the dust storm, and our windows are so dusty you could draw faces. Enjoy your warm, windy, dusty, flies are making themselves comfortable Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. Home is where the crock pot is...
Joe
Top Left: I will often be showing you pictures of horses in Northern California who need good homes. These horses are always free, but you will be screened. Here is Red, he is a 19 year old thoroughbred, and he loves kids. My cell is 530-383-2120.
Top Right: I love this picture. Play Misty For Me lives in our yard, and she is sharing carrots with our friend Becky.
Bottom Left and Bottom Right: Two new arrivals from feed lots, and both are in good shape. Both need a bath. Top Left is Bear, and he has clumps of dirty hair hanging from his belly. Top Right is Cola, and he is wearing mud from 1989.
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 Apr 12, 2008 9:18:09 GMT -5
Saturday, April 12th... A thousand times a week (okay not a thousand, but at least once a week for sure) I am asked who is my favorite horse to ever live on our ranch. And I always answer truthfully: They all are.
Hunter Jumper kids want to know my favorite build of a horse. I love the small and compact thoroughbred. But lately in show rings I have been watching as long bodied, long neck, with an intelligent face take all the honors.
Yesterday from a race track came a baby, just 3 years old. He has a long body. He has a long neck. And in his face you can see how smart he is. Which is why below on the top row I am showing you 2 different pictures of the same horse. His registered name is Middletown Road, and I suppose we will call him Roadie.
This past week has been nuts. Horses coming, horses leaving, and I lost count of the number of horses on our ranch. I think we are at 106. But it could be 108. Endless chores, and at the ranch where I earn the big bucks there are yearlings to walk. My old feet are killing me. Kaitlyn Murray is 13, and at our front gate she meets me for the first time and says how old are you, a hundred? Kaitlyn Murray brought delicious pastries from Costco, so I allow her stings to slide. A young man named Ryan, and he lives at a youth shelter in Sacramento. He tells me his life story. Ryan has been arrested for burglary and for being a chronic runaway. He walks unescorted into our house and I think oh swell, there goes the 47 incher. Later, as Ryan and his group are leaving, he hugs me. And he says all these horses man. All this life. Your ranch gave me lots to think about.
We have gone from winter to summer in about 8 hours. Later today we could be 87 degrees. Congratulations to Melanie, who is the happy new owner of a well trained gelding. If you would like to be on our list for an already trained horse, give me a call at 530-383-2120. These horses are incredible, and they are also free. Times are tough. Well trained event horses are given to us from fancy barns. They are perfect for a first time horse owner. In 2007 we found new homes for 14 well trained horses. They were literally dropped off in our driveway. More than one horse a month. So far in 2008 we have given away 3 already trained event horses. Melanie has been on our list for 7 months. And at last she has her dream horse.
If your single horse is lonely, we have access to over 100 horses who would make a great companion. Give me a call. We will help with shipping.
Enjoy your warm, birds are singing and bugs are hatching Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Top row is Middle Town Road, front and back. He is 3, and very quiet.
Bottom row pictures are by request.
Bottom left is Pappas Honor, and he has lived with us since 2004. We call him Pappa. My wife Cathy has ridden him all over our ranch, and he is mostly goofy.
Bottom right is the old mare Elvia, and we rescued her from a breeding farm in 2004. She is now 24 years old, and her husband is Timely Weave.
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 chocolatemoose on Apr 13, 2008 9:51:47 GMT -5
Sunday, April 13th... As usual, I do not explain things right. Much confusion about well trained horses from fancy barns who are given to us. So we give them to good homes. We keep a list, and yesterday I told you how young Melanie had been on our list for 7 months before she received her perfect horse. This does not mean you will be on our list for that long. It all depends on the horse. Melanie had made it to the top of our list 3 months ago, but we had to wait for the right horse for Melanie. Just because you are next on the list does not mean you get the next horse. We match horse with rider.
If you are on our list and you find a horse someplace else, of course we cross off your name and everybody else moves up.
We promise privacy to previous owners. Which is why a picture of the horse is never shown. New owners are seldom allowed to contact old owners, unless old owners say it is okay.
Some of these well trained horses have been advertised For Sale, but there was little interest. Owners trust Tbfriends to find the right home for their horse.
I have been posting pictures of horses around Northern California who need good homes. These horses are also free. Yesterday a young girl in Granite Bay became the excited new owner of Red, a 19 year old thoroughbred gelding who I just showed you a couple of days ago.
Yes, there are free horses everywhere. All breeds, with all different levels of training. One girl in Woodland asks for a wild young horse. She wants to break her horse to ride, and they can grow old together. Another girl in Davis asks for a quiet gentle trail horse. Both girls have received their new horses. We even help with transportation costs.
I must meet you. And I usually ask to see your other animals. I want to know where your new horse is going to live. I will ask about your finances. If your new horse is injured or becomes ill, can you pay the vet bills? And that about covers our screening process.
Upcoming horse auctions include Petaluma, Turlock, and today in Roseville. Unwanted horses are flooding the market. Horse killer Wade Giles is charging us 40 cents a pound to rescue a horse. Horse killer Manny Phelps charges as little as 25 cents a pound. And horse killer Lyle Carter informed me yesterday he will no longer sell horses to Tbfriends. Because I talk too much on my morning journal.
On Friday night for dinner in Las Vegas, Brian Gill and his date Andrea ate fresh seared salmon in a spicy orange sauce. There were oysters on the half shell. A clam pesto pasta. Fried calamari with grilled green onions. And for dessert chocolate cake covered with dark chocolate syrup.
On Friday night in Woodland, Pony Boy ate a scoop of vanilla ice cream. One peppermint candy. And we watched a billion mosquitoes and moths play in front of the security light. Summer came at us quick. Later today we could be 88 degrees. Enjoy your NBA playoffs begin next weekend Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
Top Left: An adoption from 2005. Alex is with her new horse Charlie.
Top Right: An adoption from 2006. Keri is with her new horse Ink Spot.
Bottom Left: An adoption from 2007. Rebecca is with her new horse Strauss.
Bottom Right: An adoption from 2008. Wendy is with her new filly Lehanne.
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 Apr 14, 2008 10:28:07 GMT -5
Monday, April 14th... Mostly I was not a fan of chat rooms because I know nothing about them. Ignorance in my own little world. But now from the sidelines I am a huge cheerleader. On Saturday in a Northern California chat room 4 girls, including PepperSpray and ArabTeen, came together to save the life of a race horse. The 4 girls raised $400.00 in less than 2 hours. Holly Meeks provides transportation, and the gelding will come to us later today.
Recent adoptions include Carli, who came to us from a feed lot last week, and we named her after an American Idol singer. Middletown Road, who came to us from the race track on Friday, and we hardly got to know him. Chicago Bear, who also came to us from a feed lot, and he has a beautiful new home in Clear Lake. And Holy Bit, who goes to a girl in Stockton and she has been waiting for just the right horse.
Lots of readers of this website who live in Florida. Which is why I am going to tell you about Helen, and her phone number is 386-755-3454. Helen has an amazing trail horse who she must say goodbye to. Helen lives in a place called Lake City. Her horse is free. Give Helen a call for more information, and hopefully the horse finds a great new home.
The market is flooded with unwanted horses. 34 phone calls and e-mails over the weekend asking please, can I take their horse? If you can help a horse in need, phone me at 530-383-2120. I might not answer because my hands are full (with doughnuts) but I will call you back. We can even arrange transportation for your new horse.
Yesterday we were 86 degrees, but today could be only 67. A brand new week. I would like to send out a special hello to Heather Caster, and Thank You for the apples. Stephanie Breaux, and Thank You for the box of goodies. Cora Mason, and the oatmeal cookies are delicious. Pony Boy wants to go live with Cora now. A very special Thank You to Becky OReilly who lives in Pleasanton. Dawn Singleton Olson in Nebraska. Kathy Breakall in Florida. Heather Johnson in Florida. Randi Howser in Florida. Jessica in Montana, I really appreciate your letter, and sorry for your loss. And a very special hello to Hannah Sample, and it was great to finally meet you. Hannah is 17, and she is cool. Hannah works in a town called Cool. This summer Hannah goes to New Orleans to help rebuild homes. And how cool is that?
Enjoy your taxes are due tomorrow and we need to file for an extension Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. The coffee is from Dunkin Doughnuts, with 3 eggs scrambled, and 2 slices of toast. A long day ahead. Weeds up to my giant nose. This year the flies are biting. As if they are angry. We provide flies with over 1,000 piles of poop each day. They should be happy. At least you would think...
Joe
Top Left: Adoption number 50 for 2008. George and Joanna live in Napa, and they are the happy new owners of Middletown Road.
Top Right: That one rare moment in time when there is no poop in our north field.
Bottom Left: With Key Maker and half of Pony Boy watching, Rowdy Red gets rowdy in a round pen. A special hello to Ann & Robert in Maryland.
Bottom Right: A picture perfect Sunday comes to an end, and horses dine on alfalfa and Equine Senior. A special hello to Lindsey in Vacaville, and your poem is 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 Apr 15, 2008 11:12:47 GMT -5
Tuesday, April 15th... A nasty letter from an event trainer in Sacramento, and here is the hearty part: You are the reason our economy is broken. After putting months into training I only ask for a reasonable sum when selling a horse. Your trained horses are free, and two of my clients who would have spent money with me have instead gotten their horses from you. For free. Needless to say they are no longer my clients. You do those of us trying to earn a living no favors when you give away these horses.
Oh brother... now I am blamed for our lousy American economy. Good one.
More from the mail room. This came from a mother in Sacramento: What if we get a free well trained horse from you, and the horse does not work out? Can we bring him back?
Always. I prefer the horse returns to us. This way we get another chance to put him with the right family.
This is from a girl in Elk Grove: My best friend got a filly from you, and 3 months later she sold her for $2,500.00. Does this make you mad?
Nope. Friday Night Lights almost being cancelled makes me mad. Krispy Kremes no longer at Raleys makes me mad. But when you place over 500 horses a year, there will be many who change owners. The way of our horse world.
This is from Melinda in Concord, California: Are you ever going to write a book?
Funny you should ask. I have been approached by a publisher. The money is beyond belief, and with all that money we could rescue a gazillion horses. The book would be about life with unwanted horses. But I can hardly find time to answer e-mails. The publisher tells me to write one chapter a month. After 18 months there should be a book. Well golly gee. If he says so...
This is from 3 different people: How come you are not non profit?
Because we prefer a mom and pop operation. I never ask for funds, but without the help of many there would only be 250 horses rescued each year, instead of more than 500. I like the open road. Being a mom and pop operation gives confidence to those at the race track. And it is those at the race track who matter most to us.
From a girl in Oregon: Can I come live with you and Cathy? My parents suck.
Up at 4:30 to grain the barn, make breakfast, write the morning journal, feed over 100 horses, scoop poop all day, fight flies all day, deal with horse killers all day, pray the old ranch truck will not fall apart, give baths, unwrap and wrap legs, feed special supplements, give meds, walk injured race horses, go to work at a fancy barn and earn the big bucks, find a few minutes to play with the dogs, and you want to live with us? There was cat vomit on our couch last night. This ranch would make you go crazy.
Which by the way, happened a long time ago. Cathy is the only one who can put up with me. 104 horses to begin a Tuesday morning with. We might be a scalding 64 degrees. Our farrier Tim comes this morning. We will say goodbye to Cola, who goes to live on green grass with a foster family in Tracy. Enjoy your American Idol is down to 7 Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Alicia Keys on the radio. What a great way to begin a new day...
Joe
Top Left: Our friend Cheryl Rankin in Auburn rescues pregnant mares. Yesterday morning came this colt, and look at those legs.
Top Right: In 2006 Kelli Chrisman adopted At Dawn, and take a look at them now.
Bottom Left: Mia in California saved the life of this beautiful 23 year old thoroughbred mare. Mia named her Dixie.
Bottom Right: This is by request. Always Calm came to us last year from the race track. I gave her to a young friend and they are doing the schooling shows and 4-H thing together.
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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