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I am horse racing, because it was my life for so many years. It was my family. It was in my daily thoughts. How were our horses? When did I get to go see them? Horse Racing for me was and always will be about the horses.

Horse racing started for me by my grandfather’s side listening to him talk with his friends about our horses, and telling me stories about his horses from days gone by. I remember him teaching me how to feed a horse, so my thumb didn’t get sucked into the horse’s mouth. If I close my eyes, I can see him holding my hand encouraging me to keep my fingers together as the horse took the carrot. I can see him showing me how to hold my hand, so the horse could sniff me as he said, “It’s your way of introducing yourself.”

Horse racing started for me as a kid at the breeding end of it. My grandpa had a couple of mares that he bred, so I started out with watching them grow big tummies and delivering these beautiful foals. My grandpa gave me Big Ruckus, this beautiful chestnut that looked a lot like Secretariat. He had so much energy as a foal that my grandpa put in a tetherball, and I would play tetherball with him. I remember my mom had a sweater the color of alfalfa, and the foals were always trying to eat it off of her. I remember watching them run and play. I remember one night being told to go into the barn and stay. I climbed the hay bales and peered out between two slats of wood to see my grandpa and dad struggling to keep one of our mares up as she struggled with colic a week after giving birth to Inga. They fought so hard to save her in the middle of a storm. She didn’t make it, and we had to raise Inga on goat milk. Horses come first…always….that is what my experience in horse racing taught me.

Horse racing exposed me to different cultures, different beliefs, and different ways of looking at the world. Horse racing is filled with all sorts of amazing people and characters.

Horse racing showed me what real riding was all about. I learned a lot from all of the jockeys as they often gave me riding tips. I am forever grateful to all of them for bringing our horses home safely, and if you think a jockey just sits on a horse during a race, you are very wrong. Only people that don’t ride would think a jockey did nothing. They are the most balanced, strong riders out there.

Horse racing introduced me to my favorite people on the backstretch; the grooms. I watched them constantly. I learned from them on how to be patient, compassionate, yet determined when it came time to take care of a horse. I watched them communicate quietly with each horse, I watched them care for their legs after a race, I watched how they monitored every single thing about each horse they cared for, and I saw how much they loved each one.

Horse racing brought me closer to my grandpa in so many ways. I’d sit at his feet as we strolled through the memories in his horse albums, and then we’d move on to his Richard Stone Reeves books studying all the greats. He taught my brother and I how to do fractions out of the Racing Form, because all of the times are done in fractions. He taught me how to look at horses, what to look for, but more importantly to realize that sometimes the horses with the worst conformations, were the best horses because of their hearts; never judge a book by its cover. We claimed a couple of horses nobody would have touched because of their looks, yet they were the best we ever had. My grandpa had a way with horses that I wish I had. He could move so easily with them, he always seemed to know what to do, and his love for them was amazing. He was in absolute awe of them, and it was something he wanted me to know and understand

God, how I love watching them run. There is nothing like watching a thoroughbred in full stride gliding above the ground.

Horse racing allowed me to go down to the barn one night when my whole world came crashing down. My friends were murdered, my parents were struggling to stay together, and then my horse Scubber died at the Pomona Racetrack after a strange virus killed so many. We thought he was going to survive it when he suddenly died. I drove to the track, snuck into Vehicle’s stall and curled up at his hooves crying….sobbing my heart out. He stood over me not moving a muscle as I finally let it all out. He got it, and that beautiful horse of ours helped me not do anything drastic by being there for me.

Horse racing taught me to care on so many levels for all and how to respect those in my life.

With all of this said, with all of my love for this sport, American horse racing needs to change. I have no idea why 23 deaths have happened at Santa Anita. Maybe it is because of one cause, but I doubt it. I think many choices have led up to this moment. Lasix, Bute, Osphos, Cortisone, anabolic steroids, and any other drug they find out there to hide problems….all of these choices lead to tragic endings. People who own horses need to take charge of their horses instead of going along with what they are told is needed. Research, research and research your horse’s issues to decide the best course of action. Horses first.

We never raced on Lasix, and our horses never came back to the barn drowning in their own blood or collapsed on the track. If they are bleeders, they should be retired and rehomed my grandpa would say and I say. We need to adopt the International Standards and then ask what else we can do. Horses come first.

Yes, there are some bad apples out there working with horses on the track, and the International Standards will help eject more of them out of the sport. They have no business being on the track, and we need universal rules across the country for violations.

This whole drugging thing has to stop. Horse’s are addicted to drugs, because people are addicted to speed and money. Horses come first. I just got back from Kentucky. The last time I was there, I got to play with Affirmed and Alydar about eight months before Alydar died. There is a lot of controversy around his death, and it revealed one of the ugliest sides of the horse world in all horse sports. Horses come first. Last weekend we drove through rolling, green pastures filled with thoroughbreds. Everywhere I looked I was reminded of this wonderful history my grandpa taught me as a child. It’s an amazing place, and I wonder if it will exist in ten years.

I am now on the other side of horse racing. I take in OTTB’s, and I will champion them as long as I can breath. I love them with every ounce of my being. They deserve to have good homes and a good life after everything they give to us. My recent adoptee needs a lot of work to get to a healthy place, but he’s worth it. Chaco is worth it. They all are worth it, so this is my horse racing.

We finally pulled in after 7pm last night. I must say that Dulce is one heck of a trooper. Two days in a row he stood in that trailer for 11 hours as we barreled down freeways, highways, dirt roads, detours, and our winding mountain roads without any complaint or problem. We were sure he would balk at loading up in Chapman yesterday morning not wanting to go another day, but he walked in calmly and munched on his hay.

I don’t know how I would have done this without Jessica Rummel coming along with me. Several times I told her she didn’t have to go, and I meant it. She has a lot going on. However, she was such a big help with everything that I’m relieved and grateful she chose to come. I needed someone that knew how to handle horses and how to pull a trailer through all of these crazy conditions, and she sure made this 2,800 mile trip easier. While we only found a few music groups that we both liked, and we completely disagree on vegetables, we totally meshed even though she turned my brains to mashed potatoes with some of her crazy logic about geography and how to pronounce things. She and I both were so frazzled by the constant downpour of rain, but we got through it all, and we brought home the sweetest horse out there.

I don’t even know how to express how happy I am that we went through heck and back to get him. It was all worth it. He is so cuddly and trusting. Last night when we got home, I cleaned out his hoof abscess, repacked it with a sugar/betadine/honey mix, wrapped his hoof, and put a boot on him, and he stood so quietly for me. He never tried to pull his hoof away once. Ever since we got on the road he’s been like that. He is such a good, calm, intelligent horse.

Chaco and Harley went to the races when we pulled in. They ran laps around the pasture in glee when they saw that I brought home another horse. For right now they are separated by some panels as they get to know one another. Chaco dotes on him, and Harley is gently expressing how he is the boss around here. He seems like he is going to fit right in with Chaco and Harley. We’ll start working on bringing the three of them together here over the coming days.

He lost a lot of weight due to an ulcer issue in his mouth and one in his hindgut. Now, it is time to focus on keeping those healed up, healing the hoof, and slowly but surely putting weight and muscle back on him. I started him on flax seed, beet pulp, and timothy hay pellet mash this morning. I also ordered some Copra, and he will get marshmallow root and aloe vera gel added to his feed soon. Taking it in slow steps.

I also want to thank my husband. I’m the one that takes care of the horses, so I really was asking a lot of him to do this for me when we went to pick up Dulce. He did an amazing job, and this whole thing never would have happened without his help and support. I also want to thank Heather and Brigham for coming down to see us, which meant the world to me, and for Heather’s constant support through all of this. I also want to thank everyone that has been following our trip and this blog. You cheered us on when we needed it the most; thank you.

Time to go out and work with the horses…..

Well, the drive yesterday was so much better than going to Kentucky. It was sunny without any major wind or the constant downpours. We could see the road, which was a good thing. We also could see the countryside, and it was so beautiful everywhere we went. We drove through rolling hills of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Forests and farms lined the roads with beautiful old barns.

Dulce travels so well. He stayed calm after we got on the road. Loading him was a different matter. He was scared, cold, and shaking so hard. He loaded, but he didn’t want to step forward into the trailer enough for us to close the slant. He pawed my leg one time without hurting me before he finally came forward enough to tie him in. I’ve never had a horse shake so hard on me, and I worried for the first part of the trip as to how he would handle everything. We closed all the windows until it hit 40 degrees, and then we cracked a couple of them to give him air. It stayed the perfect temperature, and he hasn’t shook again and never got sweaty.

The first time we stopped to check on him, he would only let me pet his nose lightly. When I jumped into the trailer to check on him, he flinched when I stroked his back. The second time we checked on him, I fed him more hay, because he ate everything down. He let him pet his neck and stroke his back without any turning away from me at all. Third stop, more hay, and he let me kiss his nose, and he watched me everywhere I went. Fourth stop was Chapman, and he ate everything down again.

We didn’t think we were going to make it to Chapman, because of traffic. When we got outside of St. Louis, the traffic to Columbia, MO was all stop and go as the college students headed back to school after a night on the town. From Columbia to Kansas City we were making great time until we hit road construction. The freeway was backed up for miles and miles. It took us an hour to get through this ridiculously, small area of construction. After we got out of Kansas City, Jessica and I became slap happy over everything. The stress eased as we left the final big city behind as we rushed towards Chapman. We were sure we wouldn’t make it to Chapman, but the people at the B&B were so kind telling us we could show up later than their check-in.

Somehow, we still got there at 9:30pm. I have no idea how we did that. Chapman, Kansas is a small farming community off of I-70. The town consists of a few old buildings and a cobblestone street. We drove through a few miles of farm land before we got to Pretty Horses B&B, and I don’t even know how to express how grateful we are to the people that run this place. I don’t know what we would have done without this Kansas oasis.

Julie, the host, was simply wonderful and helpful. She could have left us to do what needed to be done for Dulce, but she stayed and helped out. Dulce was stiff to say the least poor guy, but he was happy to be out and move around. Luckily, the owners had their two horses close by, so he wasn’t alone in a strange place. He drank a lot of water, and immediately began chowing down on more hay. I checked on him several times throughout the night, and there was only one time that he wasn’t eating.

The space at the Pretty Horses B&B is so comfortable; better than any hotel room we’ve stayed at on this trip. We felt like we were at a home away from home. The rooms were so nice, and she made sure we had plenty of food and drinks to help ourselves to. We had the entire bottom floor to ourselves, and it was the first time I relaxed on this trip.

We loaded him up this morning, and it was so much easier. He seems to know that he is with me now, and his gaze follows me as I walk around. He even started to follow me around a bit last night. He is eating away as we drive down I-70 through Kansas towards home.

You would think I’d take a picture of Dulce, but I didn’t. I’m struggling to write this blog as we drive out of Kentucky, because the countryside is so amazing. Beautiful rolling, green hills with budding trees everywhere. The rivers are all in their banks here compared to the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and all of their tributaries. Beautiful thoroughbreds are everywhere. When I die, this is where I want to go for Heaven.

Dulce is a lot thinner than he was in the pictures I posted of him earlier due to the winter cold. It will take some time to get weight and muscle back on him. I’m looking forward to bringing him home and working on him and with him. I will change his diet to Flax Seed, Timothy Pellets, and Beet Pulp to get weight on him. I will let him rest for a couple of weeks to adjust to the altitude and keep him blanketed until our nights warm up. We will start with desensitizing work when he’s ready and do some groundwork over poles to start building up his muscle and create good balance on both sides of his body. Most importantly, we will get to know one another these next two weeks. He and I have quite the journey ahead of ourselves.

He was staying with his breeder in Paris, Kentucky, and we saw some amazing farms as we drove in including Claiborne. The road was narrow, old and lined with trees and horse fencing all around. Thoroughbreds grazed, ran and played over acre after acre of beautiful pastures. We felt like we drove into the past, into the all the rich history or thoroughbred racing and breeding.

After I said goodbye to Dulce last night at our first meeting, we went back to our room where my dear, pen pal Facebook friend Heather Dwire met up with us. She and her husband Brigham drove over two hours from Ohio to take us out to dinner. Heather is a lifesaver to me. She taught me so much about barefoot trimming, and she helped me get Harley’s hooves back on track. Seeing her meant the world to me. They took us out to this restaurant called Josie’s, and I went for all of the traditional Kentucky food. I had fried green tomatoes, which I haven’t had in years, and Kentucky Hot Brown. They were so delicious and made better by sitting with three good friends.

I didn’t sleep as well as I hoped. I kept feeling the road move beneath me. Eventually, I fell asleep giving thanks for everything about this trip, my friends, my husband, my horses, Jessica for coming with me, and for the ability to give Dulce a home.

Why are we driving to Kentucky to get Dulce? Well, that’s a good question. Growing up in horse racing you hear about states that are more likely to funnel horses to the kill pens, and Louisiana was one of the worst. I always wanted to take in a horse from Louisiana because of this.

National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization started with the promise that they would never turn away any horse from Louisiana, which spoke to my heart. They have lived up to this promise taking in all the horses no matter what kind of injuries they may have. The vets at Rood & Riddle, which is one of the premiere thoroughbred veterinary and surgical hospitals in the country, inspect all of the horses. If a horse has a chip, they do the surgeries for free. They do everything they can to get these horses into good shape to be adopted out, and they are upfront and honest about their conditions and what they may or may not do.

Because of them and others, things are changing in Louisiana.

Dulce raced 16 times in Louisiana before he ended up at the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization. He was never involved in a wreck, and it seems he wasn’t too enthusiastic about racing. He is a bit on the thin side still, and he needs work done on his hooves, but I know he can go far. I saw it in his eyes the first time I saw pictures of him. This is why I’m driving to Kentucky to get him. I know it would make my grandpa happy to know that we are taking in a horse from Louisiana.

I have no idea what he will want to do, but he’ll tell me as we try new things out. One thing I hope to do with Chaco and Dulce is to show everyone on the Western Slope how wonderful thoroughbreds are by doing demonstrations at rodeos. I haven’t worked it all out in my mind yet, but I have time. Chaco needs time for his leg to get stronger, and Dulce needs training. I figure next summer hopefully. What will Harley do? He is going to be their teacher on the trails, and be with us every step of the way.

So, we continue driving east losing time with the time zone changes through misty clouds and winds on I-70. We drove through mainly hay fields on the Colorado plains, and now we are driving past corn field after corn field with a huge house here and there and church steeples trying to stand higher than the trees around it.

Soon enough we’ll be in Thoroughbred country meeting Dulce. Keeping my fingers crossed for a great meeting. So many butterflies!

This has been such a hard secret to keep. I didn’t know if it would even happen considering the weather here in Colorado, flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi, the distance, my friend having jury duty, a mare that may or may not foal, and trying to coordinate schedules.

A couple of months after Shandoka died, the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization posted a few pictures of this horse they were hoping to adopt out. I immediately was drawn to him. The only thing that bothered me were his hooves, but I felt I could fix those thanks to all that Chaco, Shandoka, and Harley have taught me. I fell in love, but I wasn’t ready. I thought he would be adopted immediately.

When I researched him some more and found out his breeding, I exclaimed, “He’s my dream foal!” As much as I would love to breed my own foal, I’ve committed to not breeding due to the fact that there are so many thoroughbreds that need homes and way too many end up in kill pens. However, I have this app on my phone called Global Stallions that I look at often when I want to research a horse that catches my eye. I also play “Fantasy Foal” instead of “Fantasy Football, which is my own creation. I research the nicks of different stallions, and look for the mares that fulfill those nicks. Well, this horse wasn’t out of any of the dams that I looked up, but she had all the lines that I would love to breed this stallion too.

As the months went by I would contact them to see if he was still available, and he was. I still wasn’t ready, and our weather was horrible. The thought of trying to haul a horse over our avalanche prone passes was terrifying.

When I finally felt ready to take in another horse, I contacted NTWO, and they told me they no longer had him; the breeder took him back. I was so bummed. I blew it. My husband suggested I contact the breeder. I looked up his information on Pedigree Query, found the name of the breeder, and then I found them on Facebook. I sent a message, and there was no response.

Finally, at the end of the day, there was a ding. I picked up my phone, and the breeder said he was available and to apply for him through NTWO. I quickly downloaded the application, went through a rigorous vetting process, and now we are on our way to Kentucky to pick him up. I still can’t believe we are on the road. We didn’t know until the last minute about whether we would leave on Friday or Saturday. The weather forecast has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, and the mare still hasn’t had her foal. However, off we go to get another thoroughbred with the hopes of Chaco and Dulce helping educate people as to how wonderful thoroughbreds can be as part of my dream.

Dulce? Yes, that will be his barn name as a way to honor his sire. All the while as we drive towards him, I’m thinking about my boys back home. I miss them so much, and it is the first time we’ve all been apart except for the one day Chaco was away for surgery. I keep thinking how happy they will be to be a three horse herd again…..so Kentucky, here we come.

If you would like to find out more about NTWO.org, or would like to adopt a retired racehorse from them, please visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NTWO.org/ or go to their website at http://ntwo.org/

Broken skyline, which way to love land
Which way to something better
Which way to forgiveness
Which way do I go

Time to move on, time to get going
What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing
It’s time to move on, it’s time to get going

Sometime later, getting the words wrong
Wasting the meaning and losing the rhyme
Nauseous adrenaline
Like breakin’ up a dogfight
Like a deer in the headlights
Frozen in real time
I’m losing my mind

It’s time to move on, time to get going
What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing
But under my feet, baby, grass is growing
It’s time to move on, it’s time to get going

Tom Petty lyrics from Time to Move On

This about sums up my life up for the next few days.

Last night I found out that a dear friend of mine died. She helped me through a difficult time in my life, took me in when I had no place to go, and I can’t imagine life without her. I went outside to feed the horses, and I brought the dogs with me not knowing how to deal with this; so I stuck with my routine.

I went up to Harley crying a little, and he nickered gently in my ear before giving me one of his hugs. Chaco continued munching on his hay while watching us. I went to go get some hay, and as I was walking back it all began.

The sun hit that sweet spot on the horizon that lit up the peaks of the Cimmaron’s and the Sneffels in the richest alpenglow I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t move it was so beautiful. I felt like I was witnessing something beyond the normal; magic. The clouds above me were filled with ribbons of reds and purples. Geese sailed through the sky while the air sung beneath their outstretched wings. A pair of owls hooted in the cottonwoods across the street as the sunset increased its depth and vibrancy.

I remembered a similar night many years ago. I was about to go into a sweat lodge with my uncle when the sun hit that sweet spot. I stood in the dancing grass on the plains watching light and colors dancing through the thunderheads when Marie came up behind me and said, “Watch it close, because you’ll never see it again.” She said that a lot to me, and I do watch it all closely because of her.

I whispered her words to the horses, dogs, geese and owls, “Watch it close guys, because you will never see this again.” With that, the light switch went off, and the sun was gone.

I walked to the gate when I felt Chaco following me. I turned to face him, and he gave me one of his sweet, loving nuzzles.

During Chaco’s rehab sessions, I rode him on the upper pasture when an old timer pulled his truck over to talk with me. “What kind of horse is that? I’ve been wondering for awhile.” I told him Chaco was a thoroughbred, and his jaw dropped before exclaiming, “What the heck are you doing on a thoroughbred? Aren’t you scared?” The whole time Chaco stood there quietly and relaxed. Hmmmmm.

Yesterday, I took the boys out for a short trail ride after several weeks of continuous snow, rain, and mud. The ground is finally dry enough to ride without fear of sinking horse knee deep in mud. I wondered, without much work of late, how they would do. Would they act up? Would they be hot?

Well, for all of you that insist Thoroughbreds can’t be ridden out on the trail, because they are so spooky, skittish, hot and hard to handle, it was a wonderful ride! Chaco is still green on the trail, and he went back to it as if we’ve been riding all winter long. Harley and Chaco stood calmly as I climbed on. I can’t get on Chaco from the ground he is so tall, so I climb onto something to be able to get onto him. They moved off calm and relaxed without one spook the entire way.

When I ride Chaco, I don’t steer him with my reins. I use my legs, and he moves off the leg pressure perfectly. I solely use my reins to keep him square and balanced. I ride him one handed while I pony Harley with my other hand. Chaco has never spooked at anything on the trail. Mind you, I did do a lot of groundwork with him when he came here, and I desensitized him to anything I saw him look at too long.

For instance, he never had a bush touch his tummy before, so I got a branch from my tree that still had leaves and gently rubbed it all over him several days. I would touch his tummy, legs, barrel, put it between his front and back legs with it, and rub his neck and hindquarters with it until he would stand there relaxed and let out a sigh. I left it in the paddock, so he could explore and play with it; this way he teaches himself it’s nothing to be afraid of. I put white rocks all over the paddock area, because white rocks always seem to stop horses in their tracks. Why? I don’t know, but I’m determined to figure that one out. I put down a blue tarp for him to walk over simulating water and to desensitize him to walking on something that makes different sounds. Racehorses generally stay on the most perfect ground all the time that doesn’t make sounds like walking on branches or leaves. I also put out poles for them to walk over, so when we come across a downed tree, no big deal.

But remember, racehorses run, walk, stand with thousands of people running around and screaming while they are in the paddock or out on the track. There is an ambulance that follows them as they race, and this ridiculously loud bell goes off when they break from the gate. As they run at 45mph, people are waving at them, running along the fence, jumping up and down, eating all kinds of weird smelling foods, and wearing all sorts of colored clothing. These horses are desensitized! People wear these insane hats to races all over the country, and if those don’t scare them, not much will.

Today, Chaco moved off my leg nicely. He always listens to me, and he loves to be out there looking at all there is to see. Harley is by his side, and I listen to their barefoot hooves moving across the soft ground. My back and hips sway with Chaco’s as I chant to myself which foot is taking the next step forward. I slow my breathing down, and that is when the smile rises on my face. I get to ride my horses one more time by the grace of all that is good. I talk to both Harley and Chaco as we move down the trail about all sorts of things as my dogs Chewy and Bella follow us. Harley and Chaco ride along well together, their rhythm is in synch today. I love seeing Harley happy and moving along so nicely, and he brings comfort to me having him by my side. They both have come through their issues in such a good way. I’m excited for the warm months ahead of us.

I love my boys. Besides my sweet husband, the happiest place in the world for me is out on any trail or arena riding my boys with my dogs playing behind us. There is nothing like it, and it lifts any sadness off my shoulders. It’s our bliss. There is nothing like this in the world, and I want to share it in whatever way I can with you. So, get ready. I think we’re going to go for some rides!

I haven’t posted any updates, because I’ve been doing taxes, which causes my brain to implode. Luckily, I had the horses to go out to and let it all go. Taxes are really hard for people that are right brained.

Chaco is doing great. He shows no signs of being sore, although I think this weather may bother him a bit. Chaco has a high tolerance of pain from living with those chips in his leg for two years. I’m learning his different ways of communicating before it shows up. I wish we could do more, but so much rain and snow has fallen, I decided to take a break until the weather dries out a bit. I’m not complaining at all mind you, we’re still in a drought, but I don’t want to push things if the dampness is affecting his joint. My main concern is keeping their hooves cleaned out and to make sure they can get out of the mud. All I can say is how grateful I am to have pasture.

If you remember, Chaco had a horrible reaction to the antibiotic given to him after the surgery. Ever since I’ve struggled to get his bowel movements back to normal. He wasn’t having diarrhea anymore, but his pellets were way too mushy. He would get better, and then it would collapse. I tried several excellent probiotics, but they couldn’t get him over the hump. I tried cabbage, which helped some. The aloe vera gel, not juice, got him to about 90% of normal. What finally got him back to being regular was this wonderful probiotic called Priobiotic Wise by Wise Concepts, which I saw advertised in one of my magazines. Within one week, he’s at 100%. I highly recommend this to anyone who has a horse struggling with digestive issues.

Harley is always doing well. As long as I scratch his rump, he is a happy man. We may not be going off to do work, but we do a lot of walking work here at our place. Harley seems to love the challenges with the poles, and we work on strengthening his core.

My husband always asks me why Harley goes to the barn when it rains while Chaco seems to like hanging out in it. Well, Harley has been out in it his whole life, and he’s thrilled that he can get out of it. Chaco has been stalled most of his life, and he loves to run and play with the elements now. He still uses the barn, but he needs to get some playing done first.

It is amazing how just bringing something out into the air allows it to heal. By talking about my struggle with deciding to bring in another horse or not, I realized how I was ready. Then my friend Boni made one statement that basically said I would be honoring Shandoka by bringing in another OTTB. She’s right of course. He LOVED it when I brought Harley and then Chaco home. I don’t think there was a horse he didn’t like, and he was always sensitive to those that weren’t doing well. I remember when a little boy came to the fence crying; they just put his dog to sleep. Shandoka, towering over him, dropped his head to him and let the little boy cry on him. When Chaco wasn’t feeling well, he’d stand over him or make him walk around when he thought it was time.

I really do want to bring in another horse. I want to keep another OTTB from entering the slaughter houses, and I want to show everyone how amazing they are. Shandoka would want that, and so do I. I have some goals again, which I’ve barely said out loud, but I’m ready to figure out how to get there. I’m reshaping my goals for Chaco, because I want to keep it easy on his joints. I’m excited about what he and I can do together. Of course Harley will accompany him on this journey. They are a team effort.

I love working with horses. I love developing new relationships, and I fall in love with every horse I meet. If I could, I would work with them all.

So, I’m going to start looking for another horse to bring into our little herd. I have no plans for what this horse and I will do together, because I want the horse to show me what he wants to do. I want us to be happy together on our journey. I’ll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, my friends’ mare had a foal this weekend. Derek Green delivered him, and I’m so proud of Derek. He did such a good job bringing this guy into the world. Derek calls him Bones. He was born looking like a one month old and already filled out! I’m totally in love. Here is a shot of cuteness for your week ahead.