It is a Cruel World

Pictures of some of the horses. Middle and bottom is Celine's Shinin Star (by Sudden Impact) with her mother L S Mountain Wind Socks.

Today was the day. I weaned this year's foals. I put them in the barn with some grain, hay and water. Blaze (by Sam I Am) didn't seem to mind. Celine ate some of her grain and then started looking for her mother.

She has always been the one who was most dependent on her mother. Blaze seemed from the first to be more independent. But for the first several weeks, Celine was not five feet from Wind Socks any time I saw them. Blaze walked right into the barn and Celine followed right behind him. It was easier than I imagined to get them into the barn and away from the mares. Wind Socks was searching and calling for Celine. And Celine was calling for the mare. But Magic Rhythm didn't seem to mind Blaze being gone. We will see tomorrow morning how she feels with a tighter bag. A side note. I read recently that a mare will give in excess of 11 gallons of milk a day. WOW

I expect she will be happy not to have to nurse a young one anymore. She is already carrying next year's foal by Blue on Black. He is standing at the Van Bert Farm and has been showing this year and having a pretty successful show season under saddle. Wind Socks did not settle on her foal heat and as luck would have it I was without my truck at the time of her next heat and the next heat was too late in the year. So I will be breeding her back later. I will be trying for a fall foal next year.

We had a very busy week last week. I think I say that pretty often. Eleanor and I went to the KMSHA show Thursday and Friday. We came home on Friday evening. We were having a birthday party on my farm. It was Melissa's 7th birthday and she had been planning on this party since last March. She had asked me back then if she could have the party here. Of course, I said yes.

But first more about the show. The show went pretty well. My horses all performed well. We won the reserve grand championship on my yearling filly, Flair for Fury. She placed second behind her brother Flashback. Better known as Flash. I hoped for the championship of course but I am happy for Mike and Judy Brummer for their successful year with Flash. He has won almost every time he entered the show ring. Flair has had a very successful year as well and will receive the High Point Award for Yearling Filly at the awards banquet coming up in December.

My yearling colt won the reserve championship for the yearling colt class. Behind Flash. There was a nice class of yearling colts and we were happy to have won reserve champion in that class behind Flash. So congratulations again to Mike and Judy for that win as well.

Rockin Andi and Velvet also gave it their all in their classes. Velvet placed 4th in her last class despite having an abscessed tooth that required an extraction the next day. She was already swelling in her jaw before that class.

In all we had more than 50 people here for the birthday party. There were around 17 children. It was hard to get a count. Counting that many children is like counting a can of worms. We had hay rides both before and after dark. There was also a pumpkin painting contest. There were balloons and decorations with a Halloween theme. The children came in costumes. And there were trophies for various categories of costumes. There was chili and hot dogs. A good time was had by children and adults alike. And Melissa had a great time at her party.

She is already planning her 8 th birthday party. Since her next birthday will be 10-10-10 she is having a 10 theme. (What else). But here is the plan. Instead of a gift, each person who wants to will contribute $10 and that will go to the children's hospital in Louisville Kentucky. A very worthy cause. She is already planning to have it at Chunky Cheese. Or was that her Mom's idea. This party was a lot of work for Mom and Granny. Aunt Debbie and Aunt Andi helped too. Uncle Mike repaired the hay wagon and drove the tractor. Greatest Grandma went to the party and ate chili.

We all did our part.

Please pray for H T. He had an accident yesterday and ended up with broken ribs. He is home and resting. H T you and Wilda please be more careful. Larry and Vera have both been sick. They are back on their feet but still not up to par. No wonder, as hard as they both go. I am keeping all of them in my prayers and hope you will do the same.

May God bless you and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary

Whatever things are true, whatever things are pure, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, think on those things.

Philippines 4: 8

A horse is the perfection of people's dream about themselves; strong, powerful, beautiful and it has the power to give us an escape from our mundane existence.

Pam Brown

From "Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul."