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Post by jdw2w1 on Nov 28, 2007 11:57:43 GMT -5
Please read Joe's journal this morning at www.tbfriends.comA lot of free horses in California. Everyone contacts Joe, because they know he can get the word out. ALSO---This morning Joe said to call him if you want to save horses from a feedlot!!! Joe's phone # 530-383-2120
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Post by jenm on Nov 28, 2007 16:26:42 GMT -5
Wow...this was a tough one to read today...
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Post by rocky on Nov 28, 2007 17:20:50 GMT -5
I know and he can't do it all by himself>>>>>even though he is trying to.
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Post by beejoyfulmk on Nov 28, 2007 17:48:21 GMT -5
ok so this is what I did, called Joe, what a nice person!!! ...............................call Patty at the feed store chamberlain feed also called windmill feed 1-530-662-2620 thay can take cards over the phone and put $ on tbs acct. that is my bday gift this year and crystal pecks will be my chirstmas
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Post by rocky on Nov 28, 2007 20:45:16 GMT -5
Yeah!! beejoyfulmk!! Did you tell him you were calling from WA state??
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Post by beejoyfulmk on Nov 29, 2007 1:39:18 GMT -5
yes!! and that we get our horses off a feed lot in yak. Also he told me a guy in SF has saved all his past log and asked if he could post the link. I hope!!!
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Post by jdw2w1 on Nov 29, 2007 11:53:34 GMT -5
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Read Joe's journal today! Californians came out of the woodwork yesterday to help Joe. He said his phone rang off the hook! Many, many horses were delivered to new homes yesterday!!!
WOW!! Someone posted on the AB board: "Too bad there wasn't a Joe in every state to get the word out" How true.
Thank you Joe! You are FABULOUS!!
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Post by mickeyfan3 on Nov 29, 2007 15:23:41 GMT -5
We have angels here on earth, and Joe is one of them.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Nov 30, 2007 12:25:33 GMT -5
He IS an angel!! Every morning I wake up and start my day with his journal. He is so dedicated to following through with writing FOR THE HORSES. That's a huge responsibility! He knows we're all out here waiting for the next page of the novel and the horses need him to get the word out. Wish I could do more $$. I'm trying to get more people to read his journal Stephanie
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 3, 2007 14:10:24 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.comUnwanted horses all over California. Please call Joe if you can save a horse BEFORE it is sent to auction : 530-383-2120. Call Joe if you would like to save a horse directly off a feedlot. The kill buyers call Joe every day; Joe is the last hope for these horses.
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Post by frr2 on Dec 3, 2007 15:26:09 GMT -5
A club-footed filly.... so hard to hear when I know we did such good things for Hobbs.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 4, 2007 14:56:51 GMT -5
So many generous horse lovers coming forward to help ;D www.tbfriends.comPlease call Joe if you can help the horses in danger in California 530-383-2120. Many of us have saved horses from out of state and paid $$$ to have them shipped in. Call Joe if you want to save a horse directly from a feedlot in California.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 5, 2007 11:12:54 GMT -5
Good Morning ;D Here is Joe's journal Wednesday, December 5th... My old (very old) friend Gaylen Strong always says life is not complicated at all. As long as you know how to say NO.
In the last 2 months I have learned how to say NO. It is a rare day indeed when only 1 or 2 blackmail phone calls come. Take my horse or else. Usually there are 5 or 6 of these kinds of calls.
It is easier to say NO when you have never met the horse. At a killer auction, or at a feed lot, when you are actually up close and personal, saying NO makes you feel terrible. Saying NO puts the fate of a horse right square on your shoulders.
So I tried other ways to help horses. All the time on the morning journal I tell you about horses who need homes. Doomed horses. Sharing their fate. And a reader in San Francisco is angry. The reader phones to say that when I ask for help with doomed horses, I am making the public feel guilty. I am removing their fate from my shoulders, and placing their future in your hands.
This was not my intention. I am grown up, and I can handle the guilt of saying NO to a doomed horse. I would never want another person to feel awful because they are unable to help.
I tell you about adoptions, and needy horses finding good homes. I like to share in the happiness of a horse. I do not tell you about adoptions and show pictures of those adoptions just to make you feel guilty. To make you feel left out.
A crazy thing this internet. All kinds of emotions in play. A young reader who lives far away and writes us letters says I have really hurt her feelings because not once have I mentioned her name on the morning journal.
The morning journal was started 3 years ago to help horses find good homes. Your response has been over the top. Way more than expected. Along the way comes other gunk, and if you are upset with my intentions well sure I feel bad, but we are not going to change course. More horses than ever before are in trouble. We need to find them homes. One day at a time. One horse at a time.
Here we go. If you can help, give me a call at 530-383-2120. If you are unable to help please do not feel bad.
Lots and lots of senior citizens. They are all breeds, they are located from Fresno to Redding, and most have been neglected. These old guys and gals would make wonderful companions to your single horse, or your single goat, or your apple tree out back.
A young thoroughbred gelding who is too hot for his owner.
A young paint colt who was rescued from a killer auction in Turlock, and he is stunning. Red and white, and his owner will pay for castration.
A 9 year old morgan mare who is blind in her left eye. She recently miscarried, and if no one takes her she will go to auction this Sunday.
Lots and lots of young kids. They are all breeds, and they are located from Fresno to Redding. Some are wild and never had a halter on. Some are truly neglected, and not once have their feet been trimmed. None are broke to ride. Many will be going to auction this Sunday. Others will go straight to a feed lot.
Today will be the 29th straight day we have placed a needy horse in a new home. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation. We might be 57 degrees. Enjoy your Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Mandy, and I love your letters. Please keep them coming.
Joe
What a good guy. I came home to find Cowboy Cam with his broken gate. Cowboy could have escaped, maybe running off to Vegas to live under a different name. Instead Cowboy waits for me to come home and fix his gate.
Never saw the sun yesterday. Cold and wet all day. Another storm is suppose to come on Friday. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 6, 2007 11:46:37 GMT -5
Thursday, December 6th... All the time on television they tell us how California is in big time trouble. No water for the last 2 years, which is the main reason for the high prices of hay. Grass does not grow for cows, which means they must be given hay, which means we are quickly running out. Major horse farms are buying their hay from other states. With gasoline prices gone nuts, it is costing these farms a fortune. A large thoroughbred operation in Santa Rosa has rid themselves of half of their horses. There is just not enough money for feed. In the last 3 weeks we have helped place 11 of their horses. Others are going straight to auction.
A nice lady not too far from us is having terrible financial problems. There is a divorce, and her horses must go. We have helped place 4 of her horses in good homes, and the remaining 4 are older with arthritis. We need to find homes for these 4, or they are going to auction.
A nice lady right here in Woodland is having terrible financial problems, and her 2 older quarter horses must go.
A family in Sacramento must be rid of their old grandma mare, or she will be sent to auction this Sunday.
A family in Stockton must be rid of their yearling colt and 14 year old appendix mare. They would like $650.00, cash only, because this is what horse killer Wade Giles has already offered them.
We have gobs and gobs of senior citizens available. They are free, and we only have to meet you first. Many of these old horses are not being fed properly. Some are going to auction on Sunday.
Another Jessica has come into our life. Her full name is Jessica Johnson, and yesterday she became the new owner of a yearling thoroughbred colt. Jessica wanted a young horse to break and grow old with, and now she has him. A big Thank You to Gary Duncan for providing the transportation.
Still another Jessica has come into our life. Her full name is Jessica Parsley, and I drive past her place all the time but who knew? Jessica is now the owner of a beautiful red and white paint, but he will first be castrated. Surgery should take place next week. Transportation will be provided by Gary Duncan.
Carol Thornton is the happy new owner of a young quarter horse gelding, and yesterday she welcomed him into her home. Literally. Right off the trailer the gelding stuck his face through her back door. He asked where is lunch? His new name is Bingo, and a big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation.
Keeping you in the loop. Recent adoptions from our ranch include Cookie and Cardinal. Cookie has a beautiful new home right here in Woodland. Cardinal was adopted by a very nice lady in Citrus Heights.
In the last week we have rescued 2 horses, both thoroughbreds, from a thingy fighting farm in Vallejo. In the last week we have rescued 3 horses, all thoroughbreds, from a feed lot in Elk Grove.
19 shopping days left until Christmas. Tis the season. The coffee is from Nob Hill, and the man on the radio says get ready for a doozy. Always liked that word. Doozy. Much needed rain has already begun, and later today it should be coming down in buckets. Lots of snow in the mountains. Our first major winter storm. 105 wet and hungry horses are watching the house. Waiting for the old man to put his apple fritter down and start serving breakfast. A big Thank You to Allison Martino for the sack of pastries. Enjoy your cold and soggy Thursday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Kirsten Stevens, who lives in Sacramento. Kirsten says this will be the best Christmas ever because it is her first with Dougie, a gelding she bought at an auction in Roseville. There was something in his eye. A foxtail, and out back behind the auction ring Kirsten pulled the foxtail free. And then she watched as a scary man hiding in an alcove was bidding on Dougie. Kirsten figured he had to be a horse killer (he was) so she kept jumping up the bid until Dougie was hers. A whopping $250.00. At a boarding stable in Davis Kirsten discovered Dougie is very well trained. His eye was infected, but now he is healed. They trail ride almost daily, and Kirsten wants us to know she loves her Dougie like crazy. For Christmas Dougie gets a warm red blanket, and a package of his favorite peppermints. The best Christmas ever...
Joe
Taken from the top of our haystack, horses in the south fields wait for their supper.
A new arrival from a feed lot in Elk Grove, and we named her Magic. There is a racing tattoo that says Magic is 13 years old. Magic is lame and scared, but in the last few days she has settled down just fine. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by loveforall on Dec 6, 2007 22:00:36 GMT -5
what a special man he seems to be
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 7, 2007 15:19:58 GMT -5
Hi Loveforall! I hope some day I am able to meet Joe ;D
Can anyone help Joe find Martha?! Friday, December 7th... Our yard is a bit flooded. It rained until even the ducks complained, and now we must deal with cold winds. Always an adventure in the boonies. There are 2 more race horses at Golden Gate Fields who await transportation to our ranch. There is an older thoroughbred gelding at a feed lot in Elk Grove who is waiting for Gary Duncan to come with his trailer. The gelding has an unreadable tattoo, but we think he is about 20. Horses up and down our driveway. Yesterday was the 30th day in a row we have placed a horse in a new home. In steady rain we said goodbye to Holly, and we hardly got to know her. Holly was dropped off in our driveway last week. The lady said here ya go, I have no other options. Holly is an appendix mare, maybe 12 or so, and our friend Holly Meeks took Holly the mare on a little trail ride Sunday. Holly the mare is kind, even tiny kids can ride her, and she is now at her perfect new home with a family in Winters.
Also yesterday we arranged transportation for a grandma mare to be moved to her new home in Woodland. The mare might be part arabian, but who really knows for sure? She is skinny and sad, and her new husband is Radar. Radar is also a senior citizen, and the two old folks went for a stroll in their large pasture. Those first awkward getting to know you moments. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright for providing the transportation.
Ask and you shall receive. On the phone with Jodi Tuft, and I am telling her about neglected horses who need good homes. When I mentioned a tall older thoroughbred in Petaluma, Jodi says bring him to me. Well okay then. Transportation is being arranged, and Thank You Jodi.
Ask and you shall receive. On the phone with Rachel Jeffers, and I am telling her about neglected horses who need good homes. When I mention Knock Knock, an older gelding with two bad knees, Rachel says bring him to me. Well okay then. Transportation has been arranged, and Knock Knock will go to Rachel this morning.
A giant Thank You to a private donor who yesterday paid a family in Stockton for their 14 year old appendix mare and her yearling colt. Both horses were being sold to a local horse killer, but instead today they leave for their new home. A big Thank You to Gary Duncan for providing the transportation.
Here we are on a winter Friday morning, less than 3 weeks until Christmas, and the hot coffee is from Dunkin Doughnuts. All night I have been thinking about Martha, and I am not crying on your shoulder, only sharing. It is never about the horses we rescue. We instead honor those horses we are not able to save. I met Martha last week in a town called Brooks, which is 20 minutes from us. Martha was maybe 15, skinny and lame, and I told the owner give me a week or two and I will find her a new home. In the meantime I took 2 bales of alfalfa to her. Told the owner to give Martha 4 flakes a day. Yesterday I stopped to see if Martha needed more hay. She was not there. The man said he sold her to a horse dealer named Rick. I do not know a horse dealer in our area named Rick. I phoned other horse killers, and they have never heard of him either.
And my 2 bales of alfalfa had never been opened. There they sat, soaked from the rain.
I know it is a long shot. Been through this crap several times before. But if any of you know a horse dealer named Rick who drives a red truck with a red stock trailer and buys horses in Yolo County, please get me in touch with him. Martha will not leave my brain. I really want to find her.
Martha is a quarter horse mix, a darker chestnut in color with a shaggy coat. All 4 feet are long, and she is lame on her right front. There is a white dash between her eyes, and if I remember right there is no white on her ankles. The auction houses are on alert. Horse killers I am on speaking terms with also know to call if they see her.
So many neglected horses. Never seen it like this. Upcoming auctions include Turlock, Roseville and Petaluma. If you would like to help, my cell is 530-383-2120. Please do not feel bad if you are unable to help.
And what on earth would Cathy and I do without you? We need to thank Tamara Watson, who came to our front gate with one hundred dollars. Jim & Jamie Espinoza, and they live in Victorville, California. Dina Canzoneri, and she lives in Maryland. Barbara Brownlee in New Jersey, and Barbara sent us delicious cookies and coffee and peppermints. We thank Sally Smith in Sacramento, and we have not seen her in a long time. Robin West in Pennsylvania. A big Thank You to Mary Frazier in Moraga, California. Roxane Key lives in Arroyo Grande, California. Roxane sent us horse blankets and lead ropes, Thank You Roxane. There is Catherine Moses in North Carolina. Dakota Blue in Castro Valley. Jamie Watkins. Stephen & Jerri Hardy in Vacaville. Toby Reed. Carrie Fox who lives in Antioch, California. Bonnie Buron in Florida, and Thank You Bonnie. Kathleen Wachowski in Concord, California. Linda Loman. William & Peg Jordan in New Jersey. Peggy Hetcage, and it was really nice talking to you. Jeanette Cavalier in New Mexico. Patti Lu. Mikka Thorson. A nice lady in Minnesota, we had a great talk on the phone, and she sent some money to Windmill Feed Store for us. I forgot your name, sorry, but we really appreciate your kindness. And a special Thank You to Nina Brown in Vacaville. All she does for us, and all she does for horses.
If I left you out please know that I am old and pitiful, but we cannot Thank You enough. This tiny office will never make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens. What a mess. There can be a really good chance I lost you in the shuffle.
Enjoy your still more chances of rain Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. The Kings play tonight but Kevin Martin is injured. Happy Birthday to Staci Miller, and have fun tonight at sushi.
Joe
An Oldie But Goodie. We bought Train from a killer at the race track in 2000. He came to us with a broken ankle, and each summer he lives on green grass with a foster family in Clear Lake. Train just returned to us for the winter. What a lousy deal he says...
Below on the right is Kelly of Placerville with 2 of our former horses. On the left is Blake, and on the right is Copeland. Kelly loves them both like crazy, and a big Thank You to Aljean for sending us this picture.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 8, 2007 11:10:44 GMT -5
Poor Martha has been shipped to Canada. Yet another life lost.
"Concentrate on GOOD and GOOD takes over..." Joe Shelton
He's right. There are so many good people stepping up to save the horses in danger. Saturday, December 8th... A reader of the morning journal put me in touch with horse killer Richard Wertz. He likes to be called Rick. Just so you know, the mare Martha was taken to slaughter in Canada.
Richard Wertz has been working our area for 2 years. He looks for free horses and buys cheap horses and then sells them to slaughter. He was nice enough on the phone. Refers to himself as a cowboy. Says he has an ex wife and 2 teenagers to support. He travels the country roads of Vacaville, Dixon, Winters and Woodland. Searching for Free Horse signs, or Horses For Sale signs. Richard Wertz says he has no problem with rescue folks. Their money is as good as any. And when he gets a doomed thoroughbred he will call me.
I feel completely out of the loop. This is my area. For 2 years horse killer Richard Wertz has been cruising our roads, and I had no clue he even existed. New horse killers are on the scene all the time. The money is unbelievable. Way better than a regular job.
Before hanging up horse killer Richard Wertz says times are getting tougher. He is making less money. Horse killers are paid by the weight of a horse. And since there are many hungry horses who weigh less than they should, his earnings are down.
Horse killer Richard Wertz would like owners to start feeding their horses properly. His ex wife is nagging him for more money.
God Bless Martha. A kind old gal.
Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say he has a young thoroughbred gelding without a tattoo, but he came from the race track. His morning workouts were apparently slow. $475.00, and horse killer Manny Phelps says the young gelding is gorgeous. Transportation has been arranged, and the gorgeous gelding will come to us on Monday.
Later today more race horses will arrive at our ranch. There might be 2, or there might be 3. And as I sit here, 5:40 on a cold Saturday morning, I am trying to decide where these new horses will live. Our stalls are full. Our round pens are full. Our mare motel is full. Our yard is full. The only empty spot on the entire ranch is the second bathroom, and no way can a horse fit in there. Executive decision time. Which horses will leave the comfort of a stall to go live in our muddy fields? Well golly gee. There will be pouting and kicking and screaming. The barn radio will be full blast. Neighbors quickly put out their For Sale signs. Just another day on a ranch filled with thoroughbreds.
The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of cinnamon cream. A big Thank You to Kaitlin Cross for the delicious carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Kaitlin is 14, and she found the carrot cake recipe in a magazine. Kaitlin says this will be the best Christmas ever because her dad has a better job, her mom has started with riding lessons, and Kaitlin herself is working at the barn. 2 days a week after school Kaitlin does the evening cleaning while her mom has a lesson. Their old quarter horse gelding Sam can no longer be ridden, but he lives like a king. This will be their 10th Christmas with Sam. He loves mashed bananas with peanut butter. Gives a little squeal when he sees Kaitlin coming.
Enjoy your muddy Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. Concentrate on Good, and Good takes over...
Joe
No time for new pictures yesterday, sorry. Here are adoptions from earlier this year. Becky and Brooke are with the handsome Super Coy. Brooke now has 2 horses that came from our ranch.
Below on the right is Elizabeth with the very lucky Diddylicious.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 9, 2007 11:11:29 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Sunday, December 9th... We have rescued close to 500 horses this year, and every once in a while one comes up our driveway which makes us stop and say Oh Goodie. For example the gray gelding R Tax Man. Wage A Kiss. Smokey White Eyes. Flaming Al. Devil Badgett. Sweet Emma Pie. El Real. Storm Drain. Prideov Fappiano. Gidget. And who can ever forget Save The Last Dance, and she was not even a thoroughbred. Oh Goodie. Yesterday from the race track came Salvino, and for me it was love at first sight. Winds are crazy, so crazy my hat is now in Stockton. 105 horses go bonkers. Salvino will be 9 years old next month, and he is a race horse warrior. He comes to us without a right eye. Off the trailer in a hurricane, the rest of this ranch going nuts, he only has one eye, and Salvino never moves an inch. On goes a new warm blanket. He munches a little alfalfa. Right off the race track it is custom to give horses a week of quiet time. Settling in to a new beginning. But I could not get enough of Salvino, so we went for a long walk. It was like being with an old friend who hardly says much. The strong silent type. Salvino is broken down badly in his right hind leg. He will heal fine and dandy. And about 164 times during the night I went to the barn just to see him again. There is a picture of Salvino below on the left. I wish you could feel his kindness. We are so lucky to meet him. And then off the trailer came a hunk. 16.3 hands, he seems to be sound, and at the race track his name is Adams Twin. 4 years old, and he too was very quiet as his blanket was introduced. Pony Boy came to tell him hi, and they did the kissy kissy thing. Much of the day was spent moving horses until they all seemed to be happy. New friendships. Simms Blur is in heat. Here we are, almost Christmas, and a filly from the race track is searching for a date. Old geldings splash on their cologne. Pushing and shoving along the fences to catch a better glance of Simms. It is like an episode of Bay Watch. There is a picture of Adams Twin below on the right. You would need a ladder to climb aboard. And now it is Sunday, and the coffee is from Hills Brothers. Strong cold winds will not let up. Normally our electricity would be lost, but this morning we still have music. The man on the radio is saying today could be 53 degrees. You can almost reach out and touch Christmas. Noelle Jenkins lives in Citrus Heights, and she says this will be the best Christmas ever because she and her sister Tess will be helping at a shelter for unwanted dogs and cats. Feeding and cleaning while the regular staff enjoys a day off. There will be lots of treats and lots of hugs. Noelle and Tess voluntered at this same shelter last Christmas, and later they could not get a yellow cat named Scrunches out of their mind. They went back and adopted Scrunches, and now she sleeps with Tess and is the boss of their house. Merry Christmas to all the little critters. Thank goodness for Noelle and Tess, who give up their holidays to take care of homeless dogs and cats. And how cool is that? Enjoy your cold Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Natalie Parker, and thank you so much for the poem. 8 years old, and Natalie loves horses more than anything in the world. Merry Christmas Natalie. Joe Salvino is below on the left, and we are calling him Sal. Adams Twin is below on the right, and we are calling him Adam. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 10, 2007 12:35:51 GMT -5
Monday, December 10th... I love sharing with you stories of kids who love horses. Your letters and phone calls tell me you enjoy this too. Cathy and I have been amazed by some of these kids who do inspiring things because horses are their central theme. Horses in their background give kids a boost of confidence. There is a girl, she is 16 and lives not far away. She has been visiting us for over a year, but I am not allowed to tell you her name. So lets call her Jane. There is not a dad in the family. Jane lives with her mom and a little sister.
I knew about this a long time ago, though it is suppose to be a secret. Jane goes to nursing homes and reads to senior citizens. 2 and 3 nights a week. Patients with poor eye sight, and patients with shaky hands who are not able to hold a newspaper. But they still like to know what is going on in the world. So Jane reads to them the news. Holds their hands. Talks to these old folks about the outside world. There is a terminal lady who loves chocolate, so Jane brings her Hershey Kisses. There is a man without a family, no one ever visits him, so the man is always the first stop for Jane. She usually spends an hour with him.
Jane has been going to these senior citizen homes since she was 13.
Last year, when we first met Jane, she adopted a hunk of a gray horse, and changed his name to Desi. Jane rides Desi everyday. She proudly brings us pictures, and tells of their growth together. The two have learned from each other, and when Jane talks about Desi her face becomes so excited. Proud as can be.
But Jane would not allow me tell her story on the morning journal. She is good friends with Sarah McDowell who lives in Utah now, and it was Sarah who started bringing Jane to the senior homes. It was Sarah who brought Jane to us. Jane says she likes doing things privately, and senior citizens have become her passion. Almost as much as horses.
I have been writing to you about horses in need. The worst I have ever seen. Yesterday morning Jane brought to us $500.00. Said here Joe, I have been saving all year. For Christmas I would like you to spend this money on a horse who is about to die.
And then later in the day came the nicest couple on earth, and they gave me $450.00. Said here Joe, this is for Christmas. Please use this money to rescue a horse who is about to die.
And up our driveway came Katie Bunch. Katie has been saving her money, and she is almost ready for her first horse.
And up our driveway came sisters Rhianna and Tawnee, and it was last year when they adopted the gray filly Dreams.
Up our driveway came an older thoroughbred mare named Sedona, and she was recently rescued by a very caring lady named Becky.
Up our driveway came a thoroughbred gelding from a feed lot in Turlock, and there is a racing tattoo which says he is 12 years old. We are naming him Reggie, because he looks like a Reggie.
The obvious future for horses is kids. We must encourage their passion. Support their growing pains. We have watched over the years as shy and confused kids were changed by their horses. These kids are now confident and able. Horses change lives. I know this for sure. My guarantee to you.
Enjoy your 54 degree Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. 15 shopping days left until Christmas.
Joe
Visitors yesterday included sisters Tawnee and Rhianna. Along with Katie Bunch they spent time with Cowboy Cam.
Vistors yesterday included Candy and John from Petaluma, and they spent time with Salvino.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 11, 2007 11:52:04 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Tuesday, December 11th... Winds are rocking our house. Feels like we are on a boat. The dial up computer keeps shutting down. Went to check on the barn, and my Homer Simpson For President hat is now in Lodi. 38 degrees outside. Horses huddled together like they are a football team. Serving alfalfa will be a challenge. A million things to talk about, but we will probably only cover 5 or 10. There are more horses at the race track waiting to come here. There is a gorgeous thoroughbred gelding at a feed lot, and he was suppose to arrive yesterday. But instead he will come to us on Thursday. I must tell you about Gary Duncan, our number one horse hauler. Gary is in pain, and his doctor has him on serious medication. Gary has a sore shoulder, and his back is a mess. If rest does not help, then surgery might be next. We love Gary Duncan. Hopefully Gary will return to those freeways soon. A big Thank You to Sandy of Hoofbeats Horse Transportation, who always takes care of us. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright, who has been helping transport horses in need. Also Georgia Hartman. Also Angela Youngblood. Jodi Tuft drove to Petaluma to pick up an old thoroughbred gelding in need. Jessica Spriggs drove to Brentwood to pick up an old morgan mare in need. Holly Meeks drove to a town called Coarsegold to pick up an old arabian mare in need. What a team. Every one coming together to help horses who need it most. And here are more horses who are asking for help. There is a 16 year old appendix mare who lives 45 minutes east of Sacramento. She is having balance problems, and requires a flat pasture to live on. This mare will make a wonderful companion horse. Outside of Fresno there are 2 older thoroughbred mares in horrible shape. Enough to make you cry. Gobs and gobs of older horses, all breeds, and many of them are skinny. Some are in real trouble. For 33 straight days we placed horses in new homes. But yesterday this came to an end. We hope to start a new streak. My cell is 530-383-2120. If you can help a horse please give me a call. On Sunday I was gone for a bit, and up our driveway came John & Alexis. They left a box of pastries and a sack of carrots. The pastries are almost gone, and my 11th chin is developing nicely. Thank you so much John & Alexis. We would also like to Thank Gary & Linda Johnson, and they live in Minnesota. Jordan Pruitt who lives in San Diego. A big Thank You to Candi Nukula. Also John Kephart. Michael Macdonald and Claudia La Cava, and they both live in Friday Harbor, Washington. Yvette Koth, and she lives in San Francisco. My little friend Tess, she lives in Citrus Heights, and she mailed us a giant Hershey chocolate bar. A special hello to Mark Eddy who lives in Seattle, and I really appreciate your good thoughts Mark. The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of praline cream. John Melancamp on the radio. Time to battle the winds and feed 107 hungry horses. Later today we could be 53 degrees. Enjoy your Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. The Kings won last night, but it was far from pretty. Gonna be a long season... Joe Tiffany Able lives near Seattle, and this is the third horse she has adopted from us. Tiffany has come with her trailer, and we are saying goodbye to Accountable Event. Tiffany gives lessons, and Accountable Event will be perfect for her barn. Across the street from our ranch, napping in the field, is this little fox. Since the big fire last year wildlife has returned. We have deer and rabbits and raccoons and skunks. And a whole bunch of foxes. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 12, 2007 12:30:40 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Wednesday, December 12th... Melanie Cox is 18, and she lives in Orangevale. Melanie has been reading the morning journal for 3 years, and it was last week when Melanie phoned to say she would like to help. Melanie said send her a horse who is hungry. Well okay then. An old quarter horse mare in Nevada City needed immediate attention. The mare was living in a field, eating only old straw and weeds. It has been years since her feet and teeth were touched. The mare is now in a warm stall, and a big Thank You to Holly Meeks for providing the transportation. Melanie Cox says this will be the best Christmas ever. Five nights in a row Melanie has sat with the old mare, reasurring her over and over life will now be better. Her teeth are to be floated later today. She has brand new feet. A big warm blanket. A tub of hot mash. The best Christmas ever, and Thank You so very much Melanie. Jordan Pruitt is 13, and she earned $100.00 by taking care of a little dog next door. Her neighbors were on vacation, so Jordan had to walk and feed the dog. Jordan told her mom lets go to Wal Mart. Jordan bought $50.00 in dog food and delivered it to a rescue shelter. With the other $50.00 Jordan bought a money order, and mailed it to Cathy and I. There was a note saying please use this money to feed a starving horse. On the phone with Jordan Pruitt, and Jordan says this will be the best Christmas ever because she feels so darn happy. Lindsey Bowman is 12, and she says this will be the best Christmas ever because her Jack Russell dog named Jack has recovered from a tumor. Jack is just fine, and Lindsey wants me to shout out to the world how much she loves him. Jack has a warm comfy bed on the floor, but he waits for Lindsey to fall asleep and then climbs in her bed and cuddles close. Kelley Austin is a high school teacher, but she looks much younger than her students. Earlier this year Kelley adopted from us the beautiful filly Inspired Floozy. Kelley asked her students to write of their compassion, kindness, and social responsibilities. You could make a book from their responses. One student wrote: With kindness and compassion you can be bigger than you ever wanted. Becoming rich may satisfy material needs, but giving yourself to the world around will satisfy your truth. This came from another student: I want to create a clear and wide path, and leave a beautiful trail behind me. Kelley Austin says this will be the best Christmas ever, because it is her first with Inspired Floozy. And because her students give hope for this world. Every single night under the cold stars Robin Gill gives Thanks for her ranch, her horses, and her dogs. Robin says this will be the best Christmas ever because each one is better than the last. Kristina Thompson is 15, and this will be the best Christmas ever because her dad has recovered from a serious medical issue. Along with mom and dad there are 3 kids, 3 horses, 4 dogs, 11 cats, and a white rat named Jerry. For Christmas there will be more than 20 relatives coming to dinner. Youngsters will ride horses. Kristina phones to say she is the luckiest girl on earth. And Kristina wants her dad to know she loves him more than words can ever describe. 31 degrees outside. It feels a lot like Christmas. Joe An adoption from 3 years ago is below on the left. Erin from San Francisco is with her new gelding Red Packet. An adoption from this week. Happy as can be Mari Peterson is with her new gelding Adams Twin. Mari is 15, and she bought Adam a bright pink blanket. Mari kept telling me Thank You. But it is Cathy and I who are so grateful to her. And to all of you who give horses good homes. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 14, 2007 10:25:26 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Friday, December 14th... If I can be of help with your free or cheap horses, please let me know. There are no guarantees. But it happened again. A family in the Sacramento area is devastated. On the internet they advertised their old mare for free. Money problems, so the mare had to go. Horse killer Wade Giles posed as a decent guy. He came with a young girl and said she was his daughter. The family in Sacramento gave horse killer Wade Giles their mare. Wade Giles then sold the poor old mare to a Canadian slaughter house, and he pockets a quick four hundred dollars or so. It becomes personal when you talk with the family. When you share in their frustrations. Horse killer Manny Phelps tells me there is no way he could earn this kind of money at a regular job. Every day there are free horses. And every day horse killer Manny Phelps makes a small fortune. California is flooded with horses in trouble. Rescue ranches are shutting down. All the time we hear of abandoned horses. People coming home from work to find strange horses at their house. A near by cattle rancher found 3 horses in his fields. During the night someone broke a lock on his gate, and the 3 horses were turned loose with 50 cows. A visit earlier this year to a feed lot in Elk Grove, and there were 3 beautiful yearlings in poor shape. Horse killer Manny Phelps bought these 3 yearlings from a lady in Vacaville. Every year the lady breeds her mares. And then she brags on the internet how she raises colorful and expensive babies. But no one ever wants these babies, so she sells them to horse killer Manny Phelps. A new batch of babies will be born soon. And horse killer Manny Phelps will be waiting for the lady in Vacaville to call him... Allison Martino is 12 years old, and once a week after school Allison stays with us until her mom can pick her up. Allison listens to my one sided phone conversations. And then she asks how come people keep breeding their mares? Even a 12 year old wonders why. Every week there are dozens of young horses waiting for the slaughter truck to transport them to Mexico or Canada. 30 cents a pound, and sometimes they are 40 cents a pound. If you would like to rescue a young horse, give me a call. They are all colors. All breeds. Most often they have not been handled. You must halter break these youngster. Each young horse averages around $400.00. Also you will spend money on vaccinations and farrier work. Their teeth will need attention We can help with transportation. Jennifer Wright, Holly Meeks, Angela Youngblood, Georgia Hartman, Jodi Tuft, Patti Lu, Jessica Spriggs... an amazing team. Waiting to help you help a horse. If you are not comfortable halter breaking a youngster, Holly Meeks or Jodi Tuft will come show you how. Anything we can do to help. 24 hour transportation. A big Thank You to a family in Lincoln, who yesterday welcomed a senior citizen into their lives. Jennifer Wright provided the transportation. A big Thank You to a lady in Wilton, who yesterday welcomed a senior citizen into her life. Angela Youngblood provided the transportation. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 16, 2007 11:02:41 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Sunday, December 16th... Sherry lives in a place called Penngrove, which is close to Petaluma. Her gelding was stolen. A black quarter horse mix who is 15.2 hands high. The gelding was taken sometime Thursday between 4 and 10 p.m. Sherry is sad as can be. Her gelding is 5 years old. I will check local feed lots. The current horse market becomes more and more bizarre. Dave lives near the Cache Creek Casino. Poor Dave knows nothing about horses. But someone trusted him enough to abandon their beautiful pinto filly at his house. Dave came home from work and there she was. Munching grass in his yard. Dave was scared to death. He has never been around horses before. I moved the filly to a close by foster home. Dave went to True Value and bought a heavy lock for his front gate. The times we live in. 10 or more phone calls come each day, asking please can I take their horse. The reasons are many. There is no money for hay. My husband says it is either the horse or him. My daughter has out grown her horse, so we must take him to auction or else have him destroyed. My fence fell down. My back hurts. One lady says my horse is lame, and when I ask him to trot he refuses. A girl is joining the Army, and paying board is no longer possible. A girl is pregnant, so her horse must go. A lady says please come get her horse, the neighbors are complaining about her poop pile. A girl says her horse has asthma. A lady says her gelding acts like a stud and bites. She is taking him to auction unless I come get him first. All of the above phone calls came on Friday. There were 7 more yesterday. And remember, this is just the Northern California area. And a trainer at Hollywood Park, which is in Los Angeles, phones to say I better make shipping arrangements for his filly. Or on Sunday he will have her put to sleep. I love horses. My testimony to you. There is no way you can even imagine my love for horses. Horses consume every minute of my day. And to hear a lady say she must be rid of the gelding who has lived in her back yard for more than 8 years because her daughter has out grown him. A gelding who is comfortable, and trusting with his enviorment. To hear the lady threaten to destroy her gelding if I refuse to take him. What about the daughter? Has she no say in this? A loyal gelding who carried the daughter all over her neighborhood. And poof, goodbye, thanks but no thanks. And now today is Sunday, and there will be more take my horse or else phone calls. At lunch with Jodi Tuft, and she sighs and says I guess I can take one more. Jodi has over 80 horses on her ranch, but she can always take one more. On the phone with Megan in Fairfield, and she sighs and says okay. Julia in Lincoln sighs and says okay. Rachel in Oakland sighs and says okay. Carol in Brentwood sighs and says okay. Terri in Sacramento sighs and says okay. Allison in Auburn sighs and says okay. Every time I plead with a friend to take one more horse, there is a collective sigh. We are all in this together. Befuddled yet hopeful. One day at a time. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright, who yesterday transported a once doomed yearling colt to his new home in Loomis. His name is now Hope, and how fitting is that? A special hello to my friend Kelli Chrisman, and it was so good to see you yesterday. Kelli is home for the holidays. Enjoy your Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. Rain for next week. It is almost 2008... Joe New horses from the race track include Duke Of Siam, who is posing with our friend Lindsey below on the left. Duke Of Siam is 5 years old, and a little guy. No way can he dunk a basketball. Below on the right is Dat Thing. He comes to us injured in both front legs. Dat Thing is not a happy horse right now, but he will be soon. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 17, 2007 10:51:29 GMT -5
Monday, December 17th... One week from tonight is Christmas Eve.
Wendy Miller says this will be the best Christmas Eve ever, because for the first time in years all family members will be in one place. There will be 26 gathered for a Christmas Eve feast. And this year Wendy Miller says there will be no gifts. Instead family members will write letters. Expressing their feelings and love to each other. And then on Christmas morning there will be another feast. And then on Christmas afternoon there will be another feast. The Miller family loves to cook. 21 year old Aaron is coming home from the Marines, and his dog Jed waits happily at the door. Merry Christmas to The Miller Family.
At a feed lot in Elk Grove, horse killer Manny Phelps gave me a $25.00 Starbucks gift card. Said Merry Christmas. In 2007 I have bought more than 100 horses from horse killer Manny Phelps. My holiday bonus. A Starbucks card.
With the 4 new arrivals on Friday, there have now been 151 horses come to us from race tracks in 2007. A new record. In 2006 the total was 149.
Over the weekend we placed 2 feed lot yearlings in new homes. Both are colts, and both are beautiful.
Over the weekend we placed a grandma mare with a wonderful family in Lincoln. The mare came from a not so good situation in Rio Linda. A big Thank You to Holly Meeks for providing the transportation.
Over the weekend we placed an untrained 4 year old colt with a lady in Dunnigan. The colt is willing but knows very little. Castration is set for this week. The colt is a quarter horse, and his new name is Jeffrey. A big Thank You to Angela Youngblood for providing the transportation.
Cathy and I are lucky enough to meet some very amazing kids. Paying their own way through life, with horses becoming their confidence. Katie Bunch is 15, and she lives in Davis. Katie is a model, and her face has been in ads. She also does fashion shows. Katie has taken riding lessons for 7 years, and she has saved money for her very own horse. She immediately fell in love with Cowboy Cam, and on Saturday the adoption papers were signed. Thanks a bunch Katie Bunch. And congratulations to Cowboy Cam, who has found himself a wonderful home. The best Christmas ever...
Rain for this week, and tomorrow it could be heavy. Well golly gee. The coffee is from Peets, and a big Thank You to Allison Martino for the home made brownies with a shot of extra chocolate. Enjoy your Monday, and be sure to hug your horses. A special hello to Mike Baker, my friend, and I hope you have an amazing time. Always doing for others, and you deserve this holiday. The best Christmas ever...
Joe
Katie Bunch is below on the left with her new horse Cowboy Cam.
I bought this gelding from a feed lot in Elk Grove, and there is a tattoo which says he is 8 years old. We honor Carmen Nukala and Alyssa Matas with this purchase. The gelding arrived yesterday, and he is very depressed. He is also lame. We named him Willy. We will get Willy happy. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 18, 2007 12:13:50 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Tuesday, December 18th... It is raining and windy as we speak. Which means this dial up computer stutters. The coffee is from Nob Hill, and microwave waffles were made by Eggo. Later today we could be 47 degrees. Welcome to winter. The man on the radio is saying this storm will last all day. We will cancel our shoer Tim Gee. Out comes the rain gear. 108 horses still need to eat. Already horse killer Wade Giles has phoned, and he has a filly from the race track. 40 cents a pound. The filly has a big ankle, and she is small. Total price comes to $360.00. Horse killer Wade Giles says if her ankle were normal she would only cost $260.00. And then he laughs. Transportation will be arranged, and hopefully the filly comes to us soon. Also on the phone is Mary Ann from Ohio, and she leaves a tug at your heart kind of message. Thank You Mary Ann. There are new readers to the morning journal all over the world. Even Spain. Even Alaska. Gobs of requests, mostly for old pictures and morning journals from the past. We are going to ask Webmaster Max Wilcox to put up some new links on this website. Old mumblings. Old photos. An adoptions from years ago picture section. Always there are plans on the table. Following through with those plans becomes Maybe Tomorrow. No time today, but Maybe Tomorrow. Poor Logician is going through a difficult period. We call him Logan. He sold for big time dollars at a yearling sale, and later became a stakes winner. Logan broke down in a race, and he has lived with us for almost one year. His fractured leg has healed, but his mind is bananas. Paranoid as can be. Try to touch his face and Logan rears back with crazy frightened eyes. And so we walk. And walk. Often I almost lose him. He rears at the slightest close by movement. Maybe a cat, or maybe a falling leaf. Still we walk. Logan has begun to trust me, but not really. Continually on guard. His brain racing. I cannot put Logan in the fields with other horses. The results would be tragic. And so every day we walk, and he lives in our mare motel. I am way behind on computer stuff. Outside for 16 hours a day. 108 horses, and most are from the race track. All kinds of stories. All kinds of injuries. Some race horses are normal in their brains. Loving and predictable. Others are dangerous and constantly confused. Like Logan, there are at least 40 other horses who are not available for adoption. It is better they live here and fight our flies. Deal with our mud. Waiting for the old man to put down his TV Guide and bring food. And we are one week away from Christmas. Unpredictable horses like Logan know something is up. There are more cookies. More carrots. A happy squeal to their unhappy frame of mind. Bert is bonkers. His daddy is Bertrando, and we have rescued dozens of his babies. Bonkers Bert. Bert will race in our fields, and he always wins because no one else is running with him. Bert rolls his eyes and stomps his feet and puts his entire head in the water trough and stays that way until you think for sure he has drowned. But he sleeps like a baby. Lying down, both front ankles around his face. Bert is at peace when he sleeps. He came to us from the race track missing his upper front teeth. Stud chain tread marks deep into his bleeding gums. Try to touch his face and Bert goes backwards in a hurry. Bert was not treated well. He is happiest during his naps. And sometimes Bert will follow Barbie Doll around like she is a rock star. What was my point? Oh yeah, I am outside while inside chores continue to grow. Letters to answer. Dogs to groom. Mushrooms stuffed with crab and topped with spicy red peppers. But outside is the main event. Outside is the place to be. Walking with Logan. Cookies for No Night. Scooping poop. And along the way you suddenly remember it is Christmas. That tingly, life is worth living feeling. 108 horses by your side. Norah Jones on the cd player. My wife Cathy, who I love like crazy, and there would be no ranch without her. The exhausted Fed Ex driver enjoying a nap next to our horses. And at night you should see the owls on our haystack. The ice cold stars. Collective snores from 108 horses. How did I get so lucky? Breakfast must be served. Enjoy your rainy Tuesday, and be sure to hug your horses. Joe I keep losing the internet because of this rain. I was going to show old pictures to new readers. But sorry. I will try again later. Katie Bunch is below on the left with her new horse Cowboy Cam. I bought this gelding from a feed lot in Elk Grove, and there is a tattoo which says he is 8 years old. We honor Carmen Nukala and Alyssa Matas with this purchase. The gelding arrived on Sunday, and he is very depressed. He is also lame. We named him Willy. We will get Willy happy. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 19, 2007 11:41:35 GMT -5
www.tbfriends.com Wednesday, December 19th... I hope you do not have to call 911 to have your heart jump started, but all e-mails (except for those which came last night) have been answered. If you have sent us a letter and did not receive a reply, please resend. I am sorry for lagging behind. The days zip by like a race horse. My New Years list of things to improve upon includes computer anxieties. Just do it. You take the time to write and share, I need to take the time to write back and share some more. In 2003 my New Years promise was to give up doughnuts. I hung on until January 4th. Nina Brown lives in Vacaville, and Nina says her New Years promise is to be a better person. I was stunned. Because I already thought Nina could do no wrong. The nicest girl in the world. So far in 2007 Nina has help save the lives of more than 30 horses. She is a Big Sister volunteer. And the kind of person you could call for help and Nina would be there faster than Seattle Slew. There are 6 shopping days left until Christmas. A big Thank You to Kelli Chrisman, who provided much needed clothes to a young friend of mine. A big Thank You to Ryan Andrews, who went to Costco and bought a truck full of food for a family who lives not far from us. A big Thank You to Jennifer Wright, who went to Safeway and bought a truck full of food for a family we know in Sacramento. And a big Thank You to Patti Lu, who took a young girl Christmas shopping in San Francisco. They saw all the lights and the Union Square Christmas tree. The young girl came home with a thousand stories to tell. I would like to Thank John & Cora Adelizzi, and they live in Illinois. John & Cora sent us a big box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. All different sizes and flavors. What a treat. Krispy Kreme moved away from our area earlier this year. We also need to Thank Brenda Tobey who lives in Vacaville. Ronald & Jessica Lotrecchio, and they live in New Jersey. Kylee Roe lives in Sacramento, and she sent us t-shirts and we very much appreciate this Kylee. Jennifer Robinson makes delicious cookies, and she lives in North Carolina. A big Thank You to Linda Meyer Ehly who lives in Sacramento. Also Lindsey Gonzalez. Rene Jennett from Oroville, California. Susan Stratton who lives in Fairfield, California. Dolores Charbonnet of Danville, Thank You Dolores. Bonnie Buron from Florida. Jamie Watkins. Holly Meeks. Holly Anderson. And Laurie Carson who lives in Florida, and Laurie sent us $100.00 in honor of her friend Linda Loman, a true Animal Lover. Also a big Thank You to Hillary Anderson for the very sweet phone message. And Paige Snyder who is 9 years old and lives in Denver. Paige wants me to tell the world how much she loves horses. And how much she loves her mom Brenda. We would like to Thank Jennifer Wright, who yesterday in the rain transported an older mare to her new home in Orinda. The mare came from a not so good situation, but now she will be treated like royalty. As always, a big Thank You to our Webmaster Max Wilcox. There are now 4 photo slots on this front page. All the time from new readers I am asked for old pictures. Readers who have been with us since the beginning also ask for a reminder of long ago. Well okay then. We are in business. 4 photos a day, unless it is raining and this computer goes dark. Enjoy your 50 degree Wednesday, and be sure to hug your horses. The second pot of coffee is from Tullys, and the greasy delicious doughnuts are made by Krispy Kreme. Feeding breakfast with the tractor, because the old ranch truck would sink. More rain for tonight and tomorrow. More rain for this weekend. An adventure in mud boots. Never are we dull in the boonies... Joe I know California needs water, but boy we are a mess. On the bottom left is Red River Valley, and he came to us from the race track broken down in both front ankles. Red River Valley is married to Bunny. Below on the bottom right is an adoption from the past. Melanie of Vacaville loves her gelding Houston, and earlier this summer I watched them ride together. We have known Melanie since she was 6, and now she has a job and is driving a car. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas. When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose. At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars. Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 20, 2007 12:01:05 GMT -5
Thursday, December 20th... At 2:30 this morning the rain was so loud and the winds so strong I thought for sure we would lose our electricity. But nope, we still have lights, and Bing Crosby is singing about Christmas on the oldies station. Later today we could be 51 degrees. The coffee is from Peets, with just the right amount of Praline cream. Horse killer Manny Phelps leaves a phone message, saying he has a thoroughbred gelding with a racing tattoo. The gelding is gray and 40 cents a pound. Amanda Knowles leaves a phone message. Amanda says she is 13 and calling from a town called Baldwin Park. Amanda wants me to write on the morning journal how much she loves Tex, her gelding from the race track with a big bowed tendon. This will be the best Christmas ever with Tex by her side. And one more phone message, this from my friend Rachel Jeffers, who says the older gelding I sent her is doing just fine, and she named him Boxer because he has a fighting spirit.
Amanda Cermak lives in Ohio and in honor of Tbfriends and her gelding Greycliffe, Amanda rescued 3 thoroughbred geldings who were out of time. The geldings were at a place called Penn National. The geldings are Electric Charlie, Skipped Twice, and Capital Crime. They will arrive to Amanda before Christmas. All 3 are injured. A big Merry Christmas to Amanda Cermak of Kingstonion Farm. Doing what needs to be done. The best Christmas ever...
A family who lives just a few miles from Cathy and I, and we love their kids. Times are tough. My friend Ryan Andrews went to Costco and bought this family a pantry full of food. Even a big delicious cheesecake. I had no clue Ryan was going to do this. Ryan was listening to a conversation of mine, and then took charge. The family now has enough food for at least a month. The kids will receive presents. A little tree with decorations in their living room. Cathy and I are lucky enough to be associated with incredibly kind people. Helping strangers, which is the ultimate in giving. The best Christmas ever...
Dylan Dunn says this will be the best Christmas ever, because her family is focusing on the spiritual side of Christmas. There will be no gifts. Dylan says the last thing she needs is another corny t-shirt. Instead her family and friends will come together for a huge meal, and later there will be mud football in the back yard. Dylan is taking riding lessons in Davis, and recently experienced her first jump.
Andrea Stevens says this will be the best Christmas ever because her gelding Boss Man has healed from his ankle surgery. Boss Man had a bone chip removed, and now he dances like that guy who drives race cars. Andrea went to work in fast food, and saved money for the surgery. Andrea wants me to know she loves Boss Man more than anything in the world. She bought him a fancy blue and white blanket for Christmas. And a leather halter with his name scribbled in gold.
The best Christmas ever. You can feel it. Just 5 days away. Even with all the yucky stuff on the news. Even with our economy down the drain. People helping people. More horses rescued than ever before.
Sara Tomlin is 10 years old, and at our front gate I gave her a halter once worn by a race horse. Sara Tomlin says she is going to put the halter under her tree. The best Christmas ever. Because some day she will own a horse to go with this halter.
Joe
A recent arrival from a feed lot is on the top left, and we named him Reggie. Poor Reggie came to us with horrible skin fungus, but already he is improving.
Top right shows the blind mare Georgia who lives in our yard.
Bottom left is an oldie but goodie. We call her Hilton, and she made a ton of money at the race track.
Bottom right is Spencer, and we rescued him from a feed lot more than a year ago. Spencer is not available for adoption, as he has painful arthritis in both front knees.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 21, 2007 12:02:13 GMT -5
Friday, December 21st... Today is the shortest day of the year...
29 degrees right now, and I had to bang the water hose against the side of our barn to force out a chunk of ice. A two pair of socks kind of day. Later another gelding comes to us from the race track, and at this very moment I have no idea where he will stay. The decision will be made when the Starbucks kicks in. A double shot of expresso please. Ryan Andrews left with his girlfriend Heather for Maui yesterday. 86 degrees on the beach, and they will dine under the stars at a fancy joint. Here in Woodland we might be 48 degrees. Cathy and I will dine on old pizza from Tuesday. In Paris Brian Gill is trying all the top restaurants. In San Francisco Jessica Talbot ate at a place where a glass of water cost her two bucks. Mike Baker is on vacation in New York, and a cheeseburger at his hotel was $15.00. But Mike Baker says you should see the magic. Times Square is lit up like the 4th of July.
107 horses on this muddy ranch. A storm that was coming is going somewhere else. No rain in sight. We have a very sad gelding from a feed lot, and Willy is his name. Willy is not doing well. He has been neglected, and his left leg is swollen. Willy is severely depressed. We have a filly from a feed lot and Peyton is her name. Poor Peyton is suffering from a mysterious illness, and our vet Lisa Wallace comes to check on her. Blood work was sent to a lab, but the results were okay. We have an older mare Gidget, and her right front foot almost fell off. The foot has reattached, and Gidget is gaining weight. Still she is sore. A recent arrival from a feed lot is Brandon, or Brannigans, or Bran Mash. He seems to have many names. Brandon or Brannigans or Bran Mash came to us very skinny and lame, but he is recovering well. Recent injuries from race tracks include 2 badly broken knees. A broken ankle. There is a gelding who is broken down in both front legs. 3 race horses with bowed tendons. One gelding with a painful back. Another gelding with a blown tendon in his right hind leg. Syringes of pain medication line our kitchen sink. Right next to the coffee grinder, and half a bag of Chips Ahoy.
Katie Stoner (love her name) lives in Sacramento, and Katie says this will be the best Christmas ever because it is her first with Milly. Katie is 17, and at an auction in Roseville she saw Milly in the back, all alone without any hope in her eyes. Milly might be a morgan, but no one really knows for sure. Katie Stoner became involved in the bidding, and for $225.00 Milly was hers. Back at the barn it was discovered Milly has some talent. Milly loves little kids and she loves to go on trails. Milly is probably 12 years old, and she has gained over 100 pounds. Katie Stoner wants us to know how much she loves her Milly. And Milly loves her back. That excited squeal when Katie comes to the barn. The best Christmas ever...
A giant Thank You to Monica Wheat and her family. They live in Thousand Oaks, California. Monica and her family sent us $500.00 to rescue a horse from slaughter. When your horse arrives we will show him on the morning journal. The best Christmas ever, and Thank You.
We would also like to Thank Kitty Esposto of Sacramento. Kitty gave us a gift card to Trader Joes. Kitty with your card we will help a family at Christmas. We cannot Thank You enough.
Brenda Fletcher lives in Davis, and she bakes delicious cookies. Thank You Brenda. Also a big Thank You Anne Blount and Shelley Hayse, and they both live in Oakland. A huge box of cookies arrived in the mail, and Pony Boy refuses to leave our back door. Thank You Anne and Shelley.
And another big Thank You to William & Margaret Jordan, and they live in New Jersey. Also Cora Mason. Also Jessica Spriggs. Also Jessica Graham. Cathy and I Thank all of you for your kindness to us and your kindness to horses.
Enjoy your cold Friday, and be sure to hug your horses. Beginning tomorrow the days grow longer. A minute here, a minute there. Anxiously awaiting our first fly...
Joe
Top left shows how the rain went away, and we are beginning to turn green.
It has been 3 years since our friend Rebecca adopted Search And Rescue, and their picture is on the top right. Rebecca loves Search And Rescue, and she is with him every day.
Another adoption is from this year. Bottom left shows Noelle with her fancy gelding Spriggs. Noelle calls him Charlie Pink.
Bottom right is an Oldie But Goodie. Timely Weave came to us from the race track more than 2 years ago. He is married to Emily.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 22, 2007 12:54:45 GMT -5
Saturday, December 22nd... So cold the mud is frozen. A water pipe blew on the small ranch of Nicole Larsen, and what a mess she has. Her horse paddocks are flooded. Last year at this time it was 18 degrees, and we too had a water pipe burst. Plumbing is not my thing. Pure torture, so we always call for help. We feel for Nicole Larsen. The joys of owning property. At least her television is working okay. Nicole is watching Season 4 of The Sopranos.
Another gelding came to us from a race track yesterday, and we are calling him Buddy. He comes to us injured, and his picture is below on the top left. A big Thank You to Sandy of Hoofbeats for providing the transportation.
Horse killer Wade Giles phones to say he has several thoroughbreds, and they come from a ranch in the San Jose area. We are discussing prices. Like going to Costco, we are trying to buy these horses in bulk. I know the farm where these thoroughbreds were living, and they have gone out of business.
Horse killer Manny Phelps phones to say he has a thoroughbred mare with a racing tattoo, and she is 40 cents a pound. Transportation has been arranged, and the mare comes to us on Christmas Eve Monday.
A big Thank You to Holly Meeks, who yesterday picked up a neglected gelding in Loomis, and delivered him to his new home in Vacaville. The gelding is a quarter horse mix, and just 3 years old. There was a car accident on Interstate 80, and Holly was stuck in traffic for more than an hour. Holly never heard a peep from the gelding. The entire trip he hardly moved from his hay net.
A special Merry Christmas to Jordan Pruitt, and your essay was beautiful. Horses showing the way...
The coffee is from Dunkin Doughnuts, and tiny baked cinnamon rolls were made by Pillsbury. Kenny G on the radio. Later today we might be 50 degrees. Feeding supper last night, caught in the dark, and with the tractor I ran over our poop cart. Ooops. A giant mess unfolded. Gidget lost her blanket. Mad About The Raiders lost his leather halter. Enjoy your things will be better today Saturday, and be sure to hug your horses. Only 3 shopping days left until Christmas...
Joe
Buddy came from the race track yesterday, and he is on the top left.
Lisa lives in Hawaii, and on the top right she is with her gelding Kodie. Even in Hawaii there are horses who need help, and Kodie came to Lisa in terrible shape. But look at him now. Merry Christmas Lisa.
An Oldie But Goodie. Bottom right shows a major stakes winner. His picture was once on the front page of the sports section in San Francisco. And then he was sold to slaughter. We call him Ex Man, and he has lived with us since 2002.
Another Oldie But Goodie. Oh So Sultry came to us broken down from the race track in 2005. He is now healthy, and married to the tall mare Elvira.
Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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Post by jdw2w1 on Dec 23, 2007 11:22:39 GMT -5
Sunday, December 23rd... I was interviewed by a magazine and before you ask, no it was not Glamour. No it was not Fashion For Men. The magazine is for horses only, and my name will not appear. I annoy horse killers enough as it is, and I still must do business with those guys. The lady who interviewed me wanted to know why is the horse market so terrible? Her exact question: Why does the horse market suck?
Too many horses and not enough owners. Simple really. Horse killers are making a fortune because every year mares are bred and foals become grown up and owners lose interest and new owners breed their new mares because they think it has never been done before. And owners are positive their foals will never go to slaughter. Except over 100,000 horses do go to slaughter each year, and still we are left with starving horses and neglected horses and horses with very little human contact.
From Interstate 5 I spotted an old gelding living in a bare field with a couch. I went back and the owner said be careful, no one has touched this old gelding in years. His feet were in horrible shape. I told the owner there is a hundred dollar bill in my truck, would he sell the gelding? The owner said okay, but I must also take away the stinky old couch. He would like to clean up his field. I phoned Jennifer Wright who lives not far away, and she came with her trailer. The old gelding walked into her trailer like a pro. He dove into a flake of hay like I dive into a cinnamon roll. The couch was wet and moldy. The couch weighed more than the gelding. It took one minute to load the gelding. It took 20 minutes to load the couch.
And the old gelding is trying to make up for lost years. He eats like a football player, and loves human contact. The gelding gives you little space. Always standing close.
In a town called Wilton the gelding had his feet trimmed, and also 2 teeth were pulled. His name is now Nicholas, because Christmas is almost here. A very big Thank You to a foster family, who will care for Nicholas until our mud goes away. And then he will come to us.
Our good friend Sandy of Hoofbeats Horse Transportation saw another horse from the freeway. He too is starving, and hopefully we can make things better for him.
So the writer from the magazine wanted to argue. Each time I answered a question she would argue my answer. She told me horse killers feed their horses a ton of food before they are sent to slaughter. Horse killers are paid by the weight of each horse, and they make more money if the horse is well fed.
I asked her what feed lots has she ever been to? At the feed lots I visit the horses eat very little.
And the lady writer asked do I oppose horse slaughter? And when I answered of course I do, she wanted to argue ethics. Is it better to starve a horse slowly, or end his life quickly at a slaughter plant?
Neither is acceptable. And I tell the writer Thank God for kids. The answer comes from encouraging youngsters to love horses. The main reason for writing this journal each morning. The future for horses is children. Horses do not have to starve. They do not have to sell by the pound. We must show kids the magic of horses. Teach them about responsible breeding. Teach them about kindness to all living things.
Probably not many of my quotes will appear in that magazine. The lady seemed disappointed.
Yesterday was amazing. If I had more imagination I could come up with a better word. Stunning. Shocking. We are humbled. Friends Of Barbaro came to our ranch. Friends Of Tbfriends came to our ranch. We now own a 47 inch flat screen TV. We now have cash to buy doomed horses. We have a credit with our hay man, Tom Hayes. There is enough cookies and coffee and chocolate to last until July. And I will tell you all about this tomorrow, Christmas Eve, the best Christmas ever. Enjoy your Sunday, and be sure to hug your horses. Later today we could be 51 degrees.
Joe
Photos from yesterday. Our driveway was busy.
Buddy is a new gelding from the race track, and he gets a green blanket. Buddy is badly injured.
Friends Of Barbaro, from left to right is Nona, Michael, Sharon, Debra, Julie, and Joe. They pose with Devil Badgett. Friends Of Barbaro gave us a framed picture of Devil Badgett winning a race in 2003. A beautiful gift, and the picture will hang in our living room when we are finished painting.
Bottom right shows Bethany from Fairfield bringing us Equine Senior. An amazing Saturday. Located in Northern California, TB Friends is dedicated to the rescue and placement of horses that have been abandoned or neglected. Usually these horses arrive from the race track. The horses obtained by TB Friends are often saved from the brutal trip to rendering facilities in Texas.
When possible TB Friends takes care to select horses well suited to make the transformation to riding mount or show horse. Our proximity to the bay area race tracks, along with the throwaway nature of the racing industry, unfortunately results in a situation where there are many horses in need of rescue, and therefore many horses from which to choose.
At TB Friends we manage to rescue about two hundred horses every year. When we place a horse there is no charge for the care that we provide them here at Shelton Farms. We only ask for the cost of a horse's rescue and transportation to the farm. For most horses this amounts to less than $1000 dollars.
Sadly, we can not save them all. We are limited by the number of horses that we can care for at any one time. However, as we find homes for the horses we have rescued, we replace them by rescuing others. For this reason we ask you to consider purchasing a horse from our farm. Not only are you likely to obtain a beautiful animal, but you will also help us to save more horses. You can call me on my cell at 530-383-2120. If I do not answer it means I am probably busy with a horse. Or on the couch with a rerun of Malcolm In The Middle. Just leave a message and I will call you back soon.
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