This blog is for updates on the horse rescues and other activities of FalconRidge Equine Rescue, Inc. This project made possible by a grant from the ASPCA.
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Up for adoption
She is up for adoption!
Great on trail, anyone can ride, and up for adoption
Kharma has cushings disease
May 21
Scott created the Oregon Horse Council
Take a look at the Keebler Elf Blog, http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com
Lucky was rescued from a killer auction
I am not sure who has the cutest expression
April 12, 2010
ASPCA Announces $200,000 Grant for San Diego County Horses
Funding Will Provide Care and Support for Abused and Neglected Horses
NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the awarding of a $200,000 grant—to be distributed over the next two years—to the San Diego Equine Safety Net Coalition for support of San Diego County’s abandoned and neglected horses. The funds were made possible by the estate of Edith Hakes, a long-time resident of San Diego. An initial amount of $50,000 has been distributed.
“The ASPCA is determined to identify the diverse needs of the equine community and support those exemplary organizations that provide care and shelter for horses in need,” said ASPCA Senior Director of Community Outreach Jacque Schultz. “San Diego Equine Safety Net Coalition has presented a strong model of collaboration that is needed to improve the lives of San Diego County’s horses; an example we hope will inspire similar partnerships across the country.”
The San Diego Equine Safety Net Coalition includes: Blue Apple Ranch in Ramona, Calif., Horses of Tir Na Nog in Descanso, Calif., FalconRidge Equine Rescue in Valley Center, Calif., and Tijuana River Valley Rescue in Jamul, Calif., as well as equine veterinarians and representatives from local animal welfare organizations. Together, they provide support and consultation for the county’s horse guardians.
The grant will also provide funding for the development of a public Web site, which will offer guidance on topics such as breeding and end-of-life decisions and educate the community on responsible equine stewardship. In addition, the coalition, with the support of veterinary partners, will initiate an emergency voucher program to be offered to low-income county residents in need of veterinary assistance for emergency horse care.
In 2009, the ASPCA awarded a total of more than $540,000 in the form of 164 grants to equine rescue groups and humane organizations across the country. The ASPCA works to protect and aid horses through legislation, advocacy, education, targeted grants, and enforcement of the carriage horse and cruelty laws in New York City.
For more information on the ASPCA’s equine programs, please visit http://www.aspcapro.org/saving-lives/equine-program.
15 yr old QH/Arab cross gelding
Congratulations to a wonderful woman named Judy, friend of Capt. DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society!
Rescued 8/22/09 - 3/28/10
up for adoption
up for adoption
Up fpr adoption
2 yr old curly mustang mare, arriving soon
I wonder what they are looking at
contact me if interested, nickbranch@aol.com
Looking for her adoptive home
I never got to meet you Markie, but you were a spectacular horse!
Weeee!
They look great for 33 and 25 yrs old
Looking for a sponsor
"At a time when horses are no longer required to work in our fields and carry us to war, they can do something arguably more important -----work on us." From The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov
"I swear officer, I am innocent!"
"I was born and raised in San Diego, CA and school or jobs have taken me to the Bay Area, Massachussetts, and to Miami. During the summer I worked in MA, there was an equine center on campus. On my morning run, I would always stop to gaze at the beautiful horses. I finally returned back home this past fall.
I started volunteering at FalconRidge because I've always been fascinated by horses. They are such graceful and magnificent creatures. I've loved horses all my life, but never really had the chance to be around them, and when I heard about FalconRidge, I knew I had to volunteer!
One of the things I enjoy the most about volunteering is meeting new people and new horses every week. I looked forward to chatting about the other great volunteers' lives and the stories and histories of all of the horses. Aside from meeting new horses and people, I really enjoyed grooming the horses and just spending time with them.
Over time, I loved watching the progress of many of the horses which were once untouchable transform into very affectionate horses ready to be adopted. During my time at the ranch, I was able to walk Jocko, and spend a lot of time with the minis, Buddy and Zeus. I grew to love all of the horses, particulary Tejon. He has always been friendly, sweet and special.
Volunteering at FalconRidge has truly been a rewarding experience. Not only have I learned more about horses, spending time with them and knowing that I was contributing to a bigger cause was heartwarming. Coming to FalconRidge was an escape from the daily rush of everyday life. It was calming to return to nature and take care of the horses.
I am super sad that I'm leaving FalconRidge, but I will be moving to New Haven, CT and working in an HIV/AIDS lab at Yale School of Medicine. I'm looking forward to visiting when I can! I will miss everyone, Tuesdays won't be the same...
Love,
Rosaline"
Run free girl
The horse we knew less than 24 hrs will touch many hearts
Donations are appreciated to help Sir Rocky
Sapphire, Native Winds, Pow Wow, Jody, Moriah and Marley
She needs a home
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LIttle Seguro and Ayah rescued in the nick of time!
Saturday September 4th - Panda, Ayah and Seguro
We have been incredibly busy lately and I am still trying to figure out how to archive all the posts on this blog to make it easier to load and read for people so please bear with me. I post daily on Facebook about our rescue activities so please join us there as well http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1017905423.
Jordan and I took a four day vacation to Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park to get away before he started high school on August 30th. We enjoyed hiking, playing in the river and going in Crystal Cave.
Arriving back from vacation, I was called by Leighann Giddings up in Elsinore who left me a message about a starved pregnant mare whose owner was giving her up and she could not take her, would I? The owner tried to give away this mare to five different people that day and had no takers. I said yes. I drove up to Elsinore and with Leighann went to the property where the mare lived. She was thin and had been driven off her feed by the two other horses in with her in pasture. She was a little arabian mare and very pregnant, already bagged up with milk. Leighann agreed to trailer her back to her ranch, 10 minutes away and I would arrange transport of the mare down to FalconRidge. We brought her back and fed her at Leighanns and the next day I had a volunteer on the way to pick her up when I received a phone call from Leighann that the mare had just delivered a colt that morning! He was healthy and fine. I asked my dear friend Margot Foley, who recently lost her husband Tom and who asked people to donate to FalconRidge in his memory to name the mare and foal. She christened them Ayah for the mare and Seguro for the colt. Beautiful! They will stay up at Leighanns for a few weeks until baby can travel. They were rescued just in time from a horribly neglected property and situation.
Panda, a very nice 21 yr old registered paint mare arrived to FalconRidge with a pulling back while saddled problem. She had been given away to several owners in the last few years due to money issues, and lately ended up at a nice home but she flipped over backwards upon saddling, a behavior which is dangerous and therefore we were called. Panda is very nice, loves to be petted and hugged on. Her poll is out from pulling back so Dr. Don Moore the chiropractor will be out this Friday to adjust her. David worked with her today on pulling back at the rail while being saddled and found out she was afraid of having the girth tightened down too hard in the past on her, poor girl~ this was a human created problem, which most are for horses! They get pain and they try and avoid it. She will be very easy to rehabilitate and will be up for adoption. This mare is great on trail and used to be shown by a child and has jumped in the past. Looking for a committed special home for Panda...no more moving around for her~!
We are having a fundraising dinner dance at the Valley Center Community Center on October 16th. Live band, dinner and dancing, raffle, and silent auction. It will be a super event and I hope you all can come! We hope to raise $10,000 to build a hay shed and protect our hay from the rain this winter so we dont have to use just tarps. For tickets contact thequickbooksguru@gmail.com.
The horses need you..........
Love,
Nicki
Jordan and I took a four day vacation to Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park to get away before he started high school on August 30th. We enjoyed hiking, playing in the river and going in Crystal Cave.
Arriving back from vacation, I was called by Leighann Giddings up in Elsinore who left me a message about a starved pregnant mare whose owner was giving her up and she could not take her, would I? The owner tried to give away this mare to five different people that day and had no takers. I said yes. I drove up to Elsinore and with Leighann went to the property where the mare lived. She was thin and had been driven off her feed by the two other horses in with her in pasture. She was a little arabian mare and very pregnant, already bagged up with milk. Leighann agreed to trailer her back to her ranch, 10 minutes away and I would arrange transport of the mare down to FalconRidge. We brought her back and fed her at Leighanns and the next day I had a volunteer on the way to pick her up when I received a phone call from Leighann that the mare had just delivered a colt that morning! He was healthy and fine. I asked my dear friend Margot Foley, who recently lost her husband Tom and who asked people to donate to FalconRidge in his memory to name the mare and foal. She christened them Ayah for the mare and Seguro for the colt. Beautiful! They will stay up at Leighanns for a few weeks until baby can travel. They were rescued just in time from a horribly neglected property and situation.
Panda, a very nice 21 yr old registered paint mare arrived to FalconRidge with a pulling back while saddled problem. She had been given away to several owners in the last few years due to money issues, and lately ended up at a nice home but she flipped over backwards upon saddling, a behavior which is dangerous and therefore we were called. Panda is very nice, loves to be petted and hugged on. Her poll is out from pulling back so Dr. Don Moore the chiropractor will be out this Friday to adjust her. David worked with her today on pulling back at the rail while being saddled and found out she was afraid of having the girth tightened down too hard in the past on her, poor girl~ this was a human created problem, which most are for horses! They get pain and they try and avoid it. She will be very easy to rehabilitate and will be up for adoption. This mare is great on trail and used to be shown by a child and has jumped in the past. Looking for a committed special home for Panda...no more moving around for her~!
We are having a fundraising dinner dance at the Valley Center Community Center on October 16th. Live band, dinner and dancing, raffle, and silent auction. It will be a super event and I hope you all can come! We hope to raise $10,000 to build a hay shed and protect our hay from the rain this winter so we dont have to use just tarps. For tickets contact thequickbooksguru@gmail.com.
The horses need you..........
Love,
Nicki
Felicity Skip
Up for adoption
Monday August 16 - Felicity Skip Arrives
I apologise for not posting the last two weeks on the blog. I have lost my digital camera, which I have never lost anything, and decided to take a short break. I also lost a friend and coworker, Tom Foley, who passed suddenly and leaves an empty void in many hearts. He was a horseman and happiest and uplifting spirit who is now gone too soon from this earth. Live life now...he has taught me...as you never know when you will be gone.
The blog takes long to load on my computer and I will have to archive it to make it more easily accessible to people. I do like this format though as I can scroll down and read what has happened for years!
There are many horses in need and hardly any time for me to ask for donations or do any fundraising. My focus tends to be on rescuing horses, as many as we can, period. Hopefully you all will spread the word or send in some donations so we can continue to do so! Requests to take horses are increasing, so are foreclosures. Adopt a horse, tell a friend to adopt a horse, share our link, come volunteer, help us rehab horses so they can move on to new homes!
This weekend another horse in need arrived, Felicity Skip, a darling quarter horse mare. Her owners brother in law died suddenly in Idaho and they agreed to move there to take care of her and her family and cannot bring a horse there. She is a nice riding trail horse now looking and screening potential new parents. Take a look! http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com
I have been posting on Facebook so please check us out on there, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1017905423
You can read about the misadventures of Panda, a paint mare shuffled from home to home to home...
Also read about Ki0wa, a 9 yr old thoroughbred stallion, untrained, whose owner can no longer afford him...
There are many others. Luckily, we were able to help the woman with 5 paint horses and 2 ponies by posting them on Facebook and some generous soul adopted them as she had run out of funds to feed them!
You can also read on Facebook how Pixie rescued a human today...
Help us... donate now, adopt now..spread the word now. Horses need you.
Love,
Nicki
The blog takes long to load on my computer and I will have to archive it to make it more easily accessible to people. I do like this format though as I can scroll down and read what has happened for years!
There are many horses in need and hardly any time for me to ask for donations or do any fundraising. My focus tends to be on rescuing horses, as many as we can, period. Hopefully you all will spread the word or send in some donations so we can continue to do so! Requests to take horses are increasing, so are foreclosures. Adopt a horse, tell a friend to adopt a horse, share our link, come volunteer, help us rehab horses so they can move on to new homes!
This weekend another horse in need arrived, Felicity Skip, a darling quarter horse mare. Her owners brother in law died suddenly in Idaho and they agreed to move there to take care of her and her family and cannot bring a horse there. She is a nice riding trail horse now looking and screening potential new parents. Take a look! http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com
I have been posting on Facebook so please check us out on there, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1017905423
You can read about the misadventures of Panda, a paint mare shuffled from home to home to home...
Also read about Ki0wa, a 9 yr old thoroughbred stallion, untrained, whose owner can no longer afford him...
There are many others. Luckily, we were able to help the woman with 5 paint horses and 2 ponies by posting them on Facebook and some generous soul adopted them as she had run out of funds to feed them!
You can also read on Facebook how Pixie rescued a human today...
Help us... donate now, adopt now..spread the word now. Horses need you.
Love,
Nicki
Sarah on Kharma with instructor Meagan
Sunday July 26 - Darth Vader is On TV, Peanut & Dreamcatcher Find Homes
David and Meagan took Darth Vader to San Diego Channel 6 news station this Wednesday for our debut on Animal House, a presentation by Darlene White on the morning news. http://www.sandiego6.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=815680%40xetv.web.entriq.net&navCatId=2510 . David and Darth were on TV and did so well they would like us to bring two next month so that another horse can be featured on Channel 51 KUSI morning news. Congrats to our new stars! Big thanks to volunteer Meagan for getting our horses a spot on this program so that more horses can be adopted and the word gets out about FalconRidge and what we do here.
I was contacted by City of Los Angeles officials to ask if I would testify against the owner of the Keebler Elf herd as they are taking him to court and charging him with cruelty and neglect. They also asked permission to use our photos on the blog. I said a resounding YES! We still have a few ponies available for adoption so please let people know.
I was contacted by another rescue in Riverside County in Winchester who was in extreme need. The owner lost his job after 25 years, had 19 horses and only two bales of hay. I got the information and posted it on Facebook and emailed a few people I know in Riverside County. The rescue is Deans Horse Town USA and thankfully many people stepped forward to assist with purchasing hay for them and helping place his horses. If you can help, here is the information. "Equine Rescue UPDATE- Kim went over there, 32255 Scott Road, Winchester, CA..this rescue needs hay badly. People can call Round Up Feed at 951-674-5154 to donate hay on credit card, say it is for Deans Horse Town USA. it will be delivered. Most horses in 20s, two 6 yr olds ponies. Take a horse, take them hay, order hay.... Owner is distraught, just lost his job after 25 yrs. She said its a sad situation. Thank you!" and here are the horses available for adoption, http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsmilebox.com%2FplayBlog%2F4d5467774f544d314d6a673d0d0a%26blogview%3Dtrue&h=fdfa4
On Friday I went over to the owner of the five arabians who need rehoming due to her terminal illness to take photos of the horses for the blog. These are beautiful horses, all looking much like Khemosabi, their relative. Two stallions and three mares. Please help with the Arabians Last Wish to get these guys into homes. http://arabianslastwish.blogspot.com
On Saturday we had two great adoptions! Kandies Peanut found a home with the loving Green family of Valley Center where she will be spoiled to death. Congrats to Peanut! and Dream Catcher, one of the spotted walking horse mares was adopted by Regina who will enjoy riding on trail with her in Carmel Del Mar area. Congrats to Dream Catcher !
Sarah came out on Sunday with volunteer Meagan and had her lesson with Kharma who she loved. Sarah is our first student in the Puzzle Piece Ponies Program for autistic children and is doing wonderfully. Meagan has her do everything from grooming, to carrying the saddle, tacking up the horse and much more! A super interactive program.
I was called this weekend about two different horses in nee. Both of the callers had "rescued" the horse. One was from Craigslist and one was abandoned at a home. Horses are not sound so they wanted us to take them. Please, if you are going to rescue a horse, rescue it. Yourself. Do not expect someone else to take it, especially if it is not sound. That is nearly impossible. Know what you are getting into when you get a horse. It is a commitment. We are full and cannot take in unsound horses at this time. Another person called me this week and said her daughters horse had become lame and was no longer rideable, would I take it? Um, no, I won't. Just because the horse cannot be ridden does not mean you dump it on someone else. It is YOUR HORSE, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, YOUR CHILD! Keep it, care for it, get it the medical attention it needs! Be responsible for it. Do not abandon it or want some else to take it because you now see it as unworthy in your eyes. Horses do NOT have to be ridden. They are family pets. Same as your dog or cat. When they break a leg you don't get rid of them do you? No. You help them...for life. Until they die. Horses deserve the same respect.
The Icelandic Rehoming Project is going well. Horses are getting adopted and going to loving icelandic homes all over the country, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin, etc. Spread the word so we can continue until all 50 are adopted out. A few at a time are taken over to Monty Roberts farm where you can view them and talk with Maya his head trainer about the horse prior to adoption. Thank you for caring so much for these wonderful horses. They are all champions! http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com
Scout, the most beautiful horse in the world, will be arriving this week. He is very special. He is magic. He is a million dollar horse. His adoption fee is a million dollars. If you do not think he is worth it, think again....
Priceless, yes they are.
Love,
Nicki
I was contacted by City of Los Angeles officials to ask if I would testify against the owner of the Keebler Elf herd as they are taking him to court and charging him with cruelty and neglect. They also asked permission to use our photos on the blog. I said a resounding YES! We still have a few ponies available for adoption so please let people know.
I was contacted by another rescue in Riverside County in Winchester who was in extreme need. The owner lost his job after 25 years, had 19 horses and only two bales of hay. I got the information and posted it on Facebook and emailed a few people I know in Riverside County. The rescue is Deans Horse Town USA and thankfully many people stepped forward to assist with purchasing hay for them and helping place his horses. If you can help, here is the information. "Equine Rescue UPDATE- Kim went over there, 32255 Scott Road, Winchester, CA..this rescue needs hay badly. People can call Round Up Feed at 951-674-5154 to donate hay on credit card, say it is for Deans Horse Town USA. it will be delivered. Most horses in 20s, two 6 yr olds ponies. Take a horse, take them hay, order hay.... Owner is distraught, just lost his job after 25 yrs. She said its a sad situation. Thank you!" and here are the horses available for adoption, http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsmilebox.com%2FplayBlog%2F4d5467774f544d314d6a673d0d0a%26blogview%3Dtrue&h=fdfa4
On Friday I went over to the owner of the five arabians who need rehoming due to her terminal illness to take photos of the horses for the blog. These are beautiful horses, all looking much like Khemosabi, their relative. Two stallions and three mares. Please help with the Arabians Last Wish to get these guys into homes. http://arabianslastwish.blogspot.com
On Saturday we had two great adoptions! Kandies Peanut found a home with the loving Green family of Valley Center where she will be spoiled to death. Congrats to Peanut! and Dream Catcher, one of the spotted walking horse mares was adopted by Regina who will enjoy riding on trail with her in Carmel Del Mar area. Congrats to Dream Catcher !
Sarah came out on Sunday with volunteer Meagan and had her lesson with Kharma who she loved. Sarah is our first student in the Puzzle Piece Ponies Program for autistic children and is doing wonderfully. Meagan has her do everything from grooming, to carrying the saddle, tacking up the horse and much more! A super interactive program.
I was called this weekend about two different horses in nee. Both of the callers had "rescued" the horse. One was from Craigslist and one was abandoned at a home. Horses are not sound so they wanted us to take them. Please, if you are going to rescue a horse, rescue it. Yourself. Do not expect someone else to take it, especially if it is not sound. That is nearly impossible. Know what you are getting into when you get a horse. It is a commitment. We are full and cannot take in unsound horses at this time. Another person called me this week and said her daughters horse had become lame and was no longer rideable, would I take it? Um, no, I won't. Just because the horse cannot be ridden does not mean you dump it on someone else. It is YOUR HORSE, YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, YOUR CHILD! Keep it, care for it, get it the medical attention it needs! Be responsible for it. Do not abandon it or want some else to take it because you now see it as unworthy in your eyes. Horses do NOT have to be ridden. They are family pets. Same as your dog or cat. When they break a leg you don't get rid of them do you? No. You help them...for life. Until they die. Horses deserve the same respect.
The Icelandic Rehoming Project is going well. Horses are getting adopted and going to loving icelandic homes all over the country, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin, etc. Spread the word so we can continue until all 50 are adopted out. A few at a time are taken over to Monty Roberts farm where you can view them and talk with Maya his head trainer about the horse prior to adoption. Thank you for caring so much for these wonderful horses. They are all champions! http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com
Scout, the most beautiful horse in the world, will be arriving this week. He is very special. He is magic. He is a million dollar horse. His adoption fee is a million dollars. If you do not think he is worth it, think again....
Priceless, yes they are.
Love,
Nicki
Scout, the Most Beautiful Horse in the World
Sunday July 18 - Scout, Son of DocOLena, & Arabs in Need
This week warmed up with temperatures in the high 90's at FalconRidge. Summer if finally here in a big way.
We had our monthly new volunteer orientation meeting yesterday. Our volunteers work wonders cleaning stalls, keeping fences maintained, waterers fixed, and the huge amount of ranch maintenance we need to keep things running smoothly. We have a formal volunteer program with assigned supervisors. If interested in volunteering please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Peg Wozniak at winnie@roadrunner.com
Chewie went home to his new adoptive family in Orange County. Congrats to Chewie!
Darth Vader will be featured on the Channel 6 morning news this coming Wednesday morning on their feature Animal World which shows adoptable animals.
Many horses in need this week. A son of Doc O Lena who is a 30 year old stallion whose family can no longer afford to keep him.
Another great San Diego Equine Coalition meeting today! At the end of the meeting we bring up special cases of horses in need and see which rescues can possibly help. So now?...16 horses in Fallbrook will be assisted, 16 horses in South Bay will be assisted and 6 horses in Pauma Valley. All have owners who needed help ...and with nowhere to go. We save horses...yes we do! Website will be up by next month.
Scout is a 17 yr old TB trailhorse whose owner can also no longer afford him. He is beautiful. You see...we think THIS is the most gorgeous horse in the world...yes he is. Owner was trying to sell him for a long time for $150. No takers. THAT makes him precious. HE is a dreamhorse. He is pure luck. He is a sage, a seer, I know Scout knows all. We know he is magic. He will affect everyone he comes in contact with.... We feel blessed to have this special horse arrive here. HOW INCREDIBLY LUCKY WE ARE TO GET HIM. Can't you see it in his photo? I can.
Scouty Scout is coming August 1st to FalconRidge.
Be a visionary..See More
69 yr old woman got a staph infection(mersa) from a surgery in 05. She had her leg amputated above the knee after that. Her condition is terminal, she has less than a year to live. She has 5 arabian horses in need of rehoming as she is dying. We will help her place them. All untrained, 2 stallions, 3 mares. Spread the ...word and we will get a page up with pics and info soon. http://arabianslastwish.blogspot.com/
Help thy neighbor....Give.
Donations are down. Please consider donating to FalconRidge. Every dollar helps and goes directly to feeding and caring for the 60 rescued horses at the ranch. A five dollar donation is greatly appreciated. Please help and spread the word if you know of someone looking for a horse. They are looking for a family to bring good luck to.
With Love from under the stars from Bryce Canyon,
Nicki
We had our monthly new volunteer orientation meeting yesterday. Our volunteers work wonders cleaning stalls, keeping fences maintained, waterers fixed, and the huge amount of ranch maintenance we need to keep things running smoothly. We have a formal volunteer program with assigned supervisors. If interested in volunteering please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Peg Wozniak at winnie@roadrunner.com
Chewie went home to his new adoptive family in Orange County. Congrats to Chewie!
Darth Vader will be featured on the Channel 6 morning news this coming Wednesday morning on their feature Animal World which shows adoptable animals.
Many horses in need this week. A son of Doc O Lena who is a 30 year old stallion whose family can no longer afford to keep him.
Another great San Diego Equine Coalition meeting today! At the end of the meeting we bring up special cases of horses in need and see which rescues can possibly help. So now?...16 horses in Fallbrook will be assisted, 16 horses in South Bay will be assisted and 6 horses in Pauma Valley. All have owners who needed help ...and with nowhere to go. We save horses...yes we do! Website will be up by next month.
Scout is a 17 yr old TB trailhorse whose owner can also no longer afford him. He is beautiful. You see...we think THIS is the most gorgeous horse in the world...yes he is. Owner was trying to sell him for a long time for $150. No takers. THAT makes him precious. HE is a dreamhorse. He is pure luck. He is a sage, a seer, I know Scout knows all. We know he is magic. He will affect everyone he comes in contact with.... We feel blessed to have this special horse arrive here. HOW INCREDIBLY LUCKY WE ARE TO GET HIM. Can't you see it in his photo? I can.
Scouty Scout is coming August 1st to FalconRidge.
Be a visionary..See More
69 yr old woman got a staph infection(mersa) from a surgery in 05. She had her leg amputated above the knee after that. Her condition is terminal, she has less than a year to live. She has 5 arabian horses in need of rehoming as she is dying. We will help her place them. All untrained, 2 stallions, 3 mares. Spread the ...word and we will get a page up with pics and info soon. http://arabianslastwish.blogspot.com/
Help thy neighbor....Give.
Donations are down. Please consider donating to FalconRidge. Every dollar helps and goes directly to feeding and caring for the 60 rescued horses at the ranch. A five dollar donation is greatly appreciated. Please help and spread the word if you know of someone looking for a horse. They are looking for a family to bring good luck to.
With Love from under the stars from Bryce Canyon,
Nicki
A very proud young Sarah on Cisco Sunday
Volunteer Kelsey riding Dream Catcher
She is up for adoption!
Jackie, 30 yr old quarterhorse mare in Bonita needs a home
Excaliber, a mustang abandoned on the 15 freeway arrives
Sunday July 11th - Sarah's Day
This week we were contacted about a few horses in need. There is "Jackie", a 30 yr old quarterhorse mare down in Bonita. The owner says Jackie has been stabled in the same area for her entire life. He got her 3 yrs ago and now is going through a bitter divorce and can no longer afford her board or care. Please contact me if interested in providing the last few loving years for this grand ole girl. The owner has reached out to 49 rescues by email with no responses...perhaps one of you is where Jackie really needs to go? In your backyard so she can get individual love and care from your family, your kids, your grandkids. Hugs would be most welcome. She gives better hugs than Winnie the Pooh and is warmer...
I visited a holsteiner mare this week who has a puzzling lameness issue. She is an excellent jumper and was for sale. Daughter is off to college and the father no longer wants to pour money into diagnosing her lameness. She is big, white and beautiful.
DJ Gove of San Diego Humane Society and the Animal Rescue Reserve team delivered Rodney and the black mustang gelding who had been abandoned on the 15 freeway to our foster Karen's house on Wednesday. Thank you so much guys for transporting these two precious horses. Both horses were tucked into stalls and breathed a sigh of relief for now they are safe and in loving arms for the remainder of their lives. No more being at-risk for these boys! No more being left on the freeway or being abandoned at a rented home in Encinitas!
Sarah, our first student in our Puzzle Piece Ponies Program for autistic children came and worked with her instructor Meagan on Sunday. She got to ride Cisco, her first ride and she did wonderfully and was proud and happy at the end of the session, smiling away. Horses and kids..there is no better combo~
I received a request to place a mustang mare from a therapeutic riding facility in San Diego. "hi Nicki and David-I'm the director of San Diego Hippotherapy in Ramona. I was writing to see if you would be able to take one of our horses. Sashi is a 17-18 year old Mustang mare who has been in our program for about 4 years. She is almost 15hh, very heavy build, with a gorgeous walk and an amazing trot. We have always used her for older kids and adults in our hippotherapy program (which is all on-lead at the walk). Now we are seeing mostly very little kids for hippotherapy. We are beginning to see more clients for therapeutic riding, and are beginning a Horses for Heroes program (working with injured service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan). For both of those programs, we need the horses to be reliable off-lead for beginners for more independent riding. Sashi requires an intermediate rider. She's not bad, she just needs a soft seat and hands. I think she never really had the right foundation, and is not very respectful of her handler's space. We have a natural horsemanship trainer who volunteers with our program, and she responds very well with him, but neither of us think she will be a beginner horse off lead, even with a lot of work. We have downsized our program in the last year (due to cuts in funding and staffing changes), and really need to find her a home, as we are currently even keeping one of our horses at a volunteer's house. Sashi is healthy and sound; we have never had any medical issues with her. She is light gray and does have melanomas, but these have not really changed in the four years we've had her.
I have heard many good things about your rescue, and I think Sashi would respond really well in your program. We simply don't have the time or staff to put in the work she needs, but I think with even 1 to 2 months of consistent handling, especially groundwork, she will be an amazing horse for someone. You can read more about our programs at www.sandiegohippotherapy.org. Thank you so much for your time."
If you can help give Sashi a home, please contact them. She sounds like a nice girl.
The horses of FalconRidge were a pleasure to be around this weekend. I love watching them relax, develop socially, see their personality blossom by being around a herd of horses when they get playtime in the arena, or if they go to one of our pastures where they learn how to be a horse again. Moriah is doing fantastic, so is Blaze, and little Sassy will spend her time growing as she is a yearling amongst other mares and develop friends. The four arab stallions are coming along with their halter training. The new spotted saddle horse mares are beautiful and a dream for riding. They are champion trail horses and ready for families to call their own.
Everyone deserves a family and love and security. That is all these horses are looking for.
Be the one who makes a difference.
Be their shining light.
Love,
Nicki
I visited a holsteiner mare this week who has a puzzling lameness issue. She is an excellent jumper and was for sale. Daughter is off to college and the father no longer wants to pour money into diagnosing her lameness. She is big, white and beautiful.
DJ Gove of San Diego Humane Society and the Animal Rescue Reserve team delivered Rodney and the black mustang gelding who had been abandoned on the 15 freeway to our foster Karen's house on Wednesday. Thank you so much guys for transporting these two precious horses. Both horses were tucked into stalls and breathed a sigh of relief for now they are safe and in loving arms for the remainder of their lives. No more being at-risk for these boys! No more being left on the freeway or being abandoned at a rented home in Encinitas!
Sarah, our first student in our Puzzle Piece Ponies Program for autistic children came and worked with her instructor Meagan on Sunday. She got to ride Cisco, her first ride and she did wonderfully and was proud and happy at the end of the session, smiling away. Horses and kids..there is no better combo~
I received a request to place a mustang mare from a therapeutic riding facility in San Diego. "hi Nicki and David-I'm the director of San Diego Hippotherapy in Ramona. I was writing to see if you would be able to take one of our horses. Sashi is a 17-18 year old Mustang mare who has been in our program for about 4 years. She is almost 15hh, very heavy build, with a gorgeous walk and an amazing trot. We have always used her for older kids and adults in our hippotherapy program (which is all on-lead at the walk). Now we are seeing mostly very little kids for hippotherapy. We are beginning to see more clients for therapeutic riding, and are beginning a Horses for Heroes program (working with injured service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan). For both of those programs, we need the horses to be reliable off-lead for beginners for more independent riding. Sashi requires an intermediate rider. She's not bad, she just needs a soft seat and hands. I think she never really had the right foundation, and is not very respectful of her handler's space. We have a natural horsemanship trainer who volunteers with our program, and she responds very well with him, but neither of us think she will be a beginner horse off lead, even with a lot of work. We have downsized our program in the last year (due to cuts in funding and staffing changes), and really need to find her a home, as we are currently even keeping one of our horses at a volunteer's house. Sashi is healthy and sound; we have never had any medical issues with her. She is light gray and does have melanomas, but these have not really changed in the four years we've had her.
I have heard many good things about your rescue, and I think Sashi would respond really well in your program. We simply don't have the time or staff to put in the work she needs, but I think with even 1 to 2 months of consistent handling, especially groundwork, she will be an amazing horse for someone. You can read more about our programs at www.sandiegohippotherapy.org. Thank you so much for your time."
If you can help give Sashi a home, please contact them. She sounds like a nice girl.
The horses of FalconRidge were a pleasure to be around this weekend. I love watching them relax, develop socially, see their personality blossom by being around a herd of horses when they get playtime in the arena, or if they go to one of our pastures where they learn how to be a horse again. Moriah is doing fantastic, so is Blaze, and little Sassy will spend her time growing as she is a yearling amongst other mares and develop friends. The four arab stallions are coming along with their halter training. The new spotted saddle horse mares are beautiful and a dream for riding. They are champion trail horses and ready for families to call their own.
Everyone deserves a family and love and security. That is all these horses are looking for.
Be the one who makes a difference.
Be their shining light.
Love,
Nicki
Beau, in Las Vegas, needs a home now
Beau, Registered Quarterhorse Gelding Parelli Trained Needs a Home
Posting this for his owner. Beau is in Las Vegas but he is hoping for a nice home in So Cal where he can play on nice green grass and be pampered. Contact me at nickbranch@aol.com and I will forward your info to the owner.
"Beautiful 7 yr old reg. quarter horse gelding out of CW Major. Great grandsire is Major Bonanza. I have had him since he was 3 and he has not been neglected in anyway. Recent financial difficulties and loss of job force me to rehome him. He is Parelli trained, ridden western and english. Been ridden on trails in just rope halter and been ridden bridleless. He does everything and lead changes are to die for. He went thru check ligament surgery on both front legs in 09 and his recovery has gone well. Can do everything but jump. Very handsome and great personality"
"Beautiful 7 yr old reg. quarter horse gelding out of CW Major. Great grandsire is Major Bonanza. I have had him since he was 3 and he has not been neglected in anyway. Recent financial difficulties and loss of job force me to rehome him. He is Parelli trained, ridden western and english. Been ridden on trails in just rope halter and been ridden bridleless. He does everything and lead changes are to die for. He went thru check ligament surgery on both front legs in 09 and his recovery has gone well. Can do everything but jump. Very handsome and great personality"
Happy 4th of July from FalconRidge!
Sarah and Meagan with Lady Gwen in Puzzle Piece Ponies Program for Autistic Children
Dreamcatcher, a registered spotted walking horse mare
Great on trail, anyone can ride, and up for adoption
Pharoah, a 3 year old grey arabian stallion
Sunday July 4th - Happy Independence Day for Rory, the Abandoned Red Dun Gelding!
Another wonderfully busy week here in the horse rescue world. We had four mares pregnancy tested recently, three of them from the Keebler Elf herd rescue, http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com, since they were running with 7 stallions. Angel, the mare that was adopted by Candace, gave birth to a little colt named Banner on July 3rd who is doing well. Dr. Moss confirmed that Pixie and Teenie, two mares still available for adoption, are indeed pregnant.
Trinket and Xena have been adopted by Justin, our volunteer photographer, and will be going to his newly purchased horse property in Vista next weekend. Congrats to Trinket and Xena!
Chewie, one of the Keebler stallions rescued, has been adopted by Lynn Hall and her family of Orange County where he will enjoy being taken on daily walks with the family dogs! Congrats to Chewie for finding his forever home! He was castrated on Monday so is now a nice gelding.
Sassy, the recently rescued young paint mare abandoned by her owner at a boarding facility, had the lump on her jaw analyzed and the results of the histology report are inconclusive that she has a juvinile ossifying fibroma, http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2006/Winter/emjof.htm, so that is good news, sort of. It was also not malignant. So we will keep watch on the lump for rapid growth. She was found to be not pregnant and vet feels she is less than 2 yrs old.
On Tuesday David picked up Dreamcatcher, a 14 year old registered spotted saddle horse mare from her owners in Ramona. She rides great on trail and used to mountain trails in Utah and anyone can ride her we were told. She is a beautiful black and white paint color. Then on Friday David brought the other two, Mandella, another 14 yr old good trail horse same as Dreamcatcher and also Dustys Little Dancer, a 7 yr old daughter of Mandella with bright blue eyes. All three are up for adoption.
On Wednesday, Kandies Peanut, a super nice 13 yr old registered Quarter horse mare arrived from Fallbrook. King, Hancock and Driftwood bred. She is a very nice trail horse and looking for her adoptive forever home.
On Friday we found a barn kitty is living in the barn! He was in the rafters and is half wild but does allow a head pet or two. I am calling him Barney since he is in the barn. He will be on rodent patrol.
We will be starting a horsemanship program for autistic children. Called Puzzle Piece Ponies, the program is given by our volunteer Meagan, who used to work with autistic children in lesson programs and therapeutic riding. Our first student Sarah has been out twice so far and is doing great!
I was contacted by a woman in Las Vegas who would like to place her 7 year old registered quarter horse gelding immediately who is very well Parelli trained. He does flying lead changes and rides well. Please contact me if interested. He is very cute!
Please continue to vote for the Chase Community Giving contest on Facebook for FalconRidge to win a $20,000 grant to help the 57 horses we currently have! Visit my page on Facebook for information, or read below on last weeks post. We need more votes and it is easy! Thank you!
David worked with the four 3 year old arabian stallions who recently came in. They can be adopted now if adopters agree to get them castrated and trained or work with a trainer. We need the room. These boys are super smart and very handsome and healthy and will make someone wonderful and talented geldings who can do anything!
Lastly,
Rory, a red dun quarterhorse gelding who was at FalconRidge for a month and a half last April, was found abandoned at his owners rented home in Encinitas recently. I was contacted by County Animal Control this weekend about two abandoned horses in the north county facility a black draft cross gelding and Rory, who I recognized by his description. He is down on his pasterns and a red dun. The owner (he was temporarily boarded here for a month) told me he was coming to her home to be a pet for the kids she babysat at her childrens academy when he left on May 1st. Well turns out she left the home and went to Brazil and LEFT RORY THERE ABANDONING HIM! One of our compassionate volunteers, Karen Jones, emailed me after seeing my rant on Facebook and agreed to foster both horses. Bless her heart. Rory and the black gelding will be delivered to her home on Wednesday thanks to Captain DJ Gove of San Diego Humane Society. Rory's story is on this blog if you scroll down to April of 2010 where you will see him.
Rory will be safe now, and never ever discarded or abandoned or unwanted again! There are NO unwanted horses!
Love,
Nicki
Trinket and Xena have been adopted by Justin, our volunteer photographer, and will be going to his newly purchased horse property in Vista next weekend. Congrats to Trinket and Xena!
Chewie, one of the Keebler stallions rescued, has been adopted by Lynn Hall and her family of Orange County where he will enjoy being taken on daily walks with the family dogs! Congrats to Chewie for finding his forever home! He was castrated on Monday so is now a nice gelding.
Sassy, the recently rescued young paint mare abandoned by her owner at a boarding facility, had the lump on her jaw analyzed and the results of the histology report are inconclusive that she has a juvinile ossifying fibroma, http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/2006/Winter/emjof.htm, so that is good news, sort of. It was also not malignant. So we will keep watch on the lump for rapid growth. She was found to be not pregnant and vet feels she is less than 2 yrs old.
On Tuesday David picked up Dreamcatcher, a 14 year old registered spotted saddle horse mare from her owners in Ramona. She rides great on trail and used to mountain trails in Utah and anyone can ride her we were told. She is a beautiful black and white paint color. Then on Friday David brought the other two, Mandella, another 14 yr old good trail horse same as Dreamcatcher and also Dustys Little Dancer, a 7 yr old daughter of Mandella with bright blue eyes. All three are up for adoption.
On Wednesday, Kandies Peanut, a super nice 13 yr old registered Quarter horse mare arrived from Fallbrook. King, Hancock and Driftwood bred. She is a very nice trail horse and looking for her adoptive forever home.
On Friday we found a barn kitty is living in the barn! He was in the rafters and is half wild but does allow a head pet or two. I am calling him Barney since he is in the barn. He will be on rodent patrol.
We will be starting a horsemanship program for autistic children. Called Puzzle Piece Ponies, the program is given by our volunteer Meagan, who used to work with autistic children in lesson programs and therapeutic riding. Our first student Sarah has been out twice so far and is doing great!
I was contacted by a woman in Las Vegas who would like to place her 7 year old registered quarter horse gelding immediately who is very well Parelli trained. He does flying lead changes and rides well. Please contact me if interested. He is very cute!
Please continue to vote for the Chase Community Giving contest on Facebook for FalconRidge to win a $20,000 grant to help the 57 horses we currently have! Visit my page on Facebook for information, or read below on last weeks post. We need more votes and it is easy! Thank you!
David worked with the four 3 year old arabian stallions who recently came in. They can be adopted now if adopters agree to get them castrated and trained or work with a trainer. We need the room. These boys are super smart and very handsome and healthy and will make someone wonderful and talented geldings who can do anything!
Lastly,
Rory, a red dun quarterhorse gelding who was at FalconRidge for a month and a half last April, was found abandoned at his owners rented home in Encinitas recently. I was contacted by County Animal Control this weekend about two abandoned horses in the north county facility a black draft cross gelding and Rory, who I recognized by his description. He is down on his pasterns and a red dun. The owner (he was temporarily boarded here for a month) told me he was coming to her home to be a pet for the kids she babysat at her childrens academy when he left on May 1st. Well turns out she left the home and went to Brazil and LEFT RORY THERE ABANDONING HIM! One of our compassionate volunteers, Karen Jones, emailed me after seeing my rant on Facebook and agreed to foster both horses. Bless her heart. Rory and the black gelding will be delivered to her home on Wednesday thanks to Captain DJ Gove of San Diego Humane Society. Rory's story is on this blog if you scroll down to April of 2010 where you will see him.
Rory will be safe now, and never ever discarded or abandoned or unwanted again! There are NO unwanted horses!
Love,
Nicki
Silver Slippers
Sunday June 27, Chase Community Giving Grant
Please see the link below and cast your vote for FalconRidge who has a chance to win at least $20,000 from Chase Community Giving on Facebook. It only takes you two clicks and you can help us get funds to help horses in need, which is increasing lately due to the economy, thanks!
This week we were contacted by a woman losing her home who has three horses who would have soon been homeless. They are trail horses and will be arriving this week. She was extremely grateful as her placement of them had fallen through.
We were also contacted by a woman who has a very cute bay quarterhorse gelding who is Parelli trained and riding well, does nice flying lead changes, etc, and she is in a financial bind and can no longer afford him.
There is a paint horse in San Marcos who needs a home. He is a project horse and 17 hands I was told and had been traumatized by a previous trainer.
There is a blue roan horse who needs a home and I do not know much about him other than I was contacted by TIER to take him. Let me know if any of you are interested in helping these horses please!
Kandy Peanuts, and nice quarterhorse mare who rides on trail will also be coming into FalconRidge this week. Her owner is battling breast cancer and we are assisting by taking care of her horse so that she can focus on getting healthy!
David worked with most of the arabian stallions this weekend who got their first roundpen training session to learn to be halterbroke. They are beautiful guys.
Dalton and Blinky, two previously adopted FalconRidge horses came back Sunday due to their owners both finding out they were losing jobs in the same week. This economy is tough, but it will get better, never fear! Dalton is a pasture puff quarterhorse who would love a family to call his own. He is sweet. Blinky is a National Show horse and just a love. Both horses are 17 years old.
Silver Slippers is waiting to get adopted. She is so pretty and perfect for children.
Dr. Don Moore came out on Friday and adjusted several of the horses who needed his chiropractic hands and expertise. He is the best!
Please pass the word on the Chase Community Giving to all your friends and family so that we can get funds which are greatly needed. We have taken in 46 horses just since January of this year! We are helping horses and the community as best we can and need your help to continue.
Thanks so much and happy Summer!
Love,
Nicki
This week we were contacted by a woman losing her home who has three horses who would have soon been homeless. They are trail horses and will be arriving this week. She was extremely grateful as her placement of them had fallen through.
We were also contacted by a woman who has a very cute bay quarterhorse gelding who is Parelli trained and riding well, does nice flying lead changes, etc, and she is in a financial bind and can no longer afford him.
There is a paint horse in San Marcos who needs a home. He is a project horse and 17 hands I was told and had been traumatized by a previous trainer.
There is a blue roan horse who needs a home and I do not know much about him other than I was contacted by TIER to take him. Let me know if any of you are interested in helping these horses please!
Kandy Peanuts, and nice quarterhorse mare who rides on trail will also be coming into FalconRidge this week. Her owner is battling breast cancer and we are assisting by taking care of her horse so that she can focus on getting healthy!
David worked with most of the arabian stallions this weekend who got their first roundpen training session to learn to be halterbroke. They are beautiful guys.
Dalton and Blinky, two previously adopted FalconRidge horses came back Sunday due to their owners both finding out they were losing jobs in the same week. This economy is tough, but it will get better, never fear! Dalton is a pasture puff quarterhorse who would love a family to call his own. He is sweet. Blinky is a National Show horse and just a love. Both horses are 17 years old.
Silver Slippers is waiting to get adopted. She is so pretty and perfect for children.
Dr. Don Moore came out on Friday and adjusted several of the horses who needed his chiropractic hands and expertise. He is the best!
Please pass the word on the Chase Community Giving to all your friends and family so that we can get funds which are greatly needed. We have taken in 46 horses just since January of this year! We are helping horses and the community as best we can and need your help to continue.
Thanks so much and happy Summer!
Love,
Nicki
Chase Community Giving, Vote Now and Help FalconRidge Receive $20,000
Please go on Facebook and vote for FalconRidge Equine Rescue now! Chase Community Giving is giving away at least $20,000 to the top 200 charities with the most votes and it will not take many for us to get up there!
Vote now and spread the word and you can help us help more horses without it costing you a dime! Five possibly six horses are needing to come into the rescue right now, with more waiting in the wings. We cannot help more horses without donations to pay for their food and care. We can do this!
Here is the link!
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/205984168-falconridge-equine-rescue-incorporated?src=charity-details-wall-post-self&ref=mf
Frodo thanks you!
Love,
Nicki
Vote now and spread the word and you can help us help more horses without it costing you a dime! Five possibly six horses are needing to come into the rescue right now, with more waiting in the wings. We cannot help more horses without donations to pay for their food and care. We can do this!
Here is the link!
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/205984168-falconridge-equine-rescue-incorporated?src=charity-details-wall-post-self&ref=mf
Frodo thanks you!
Love,
Nicki
The latest rescue mare
Kharma looking much better
Kharma has cushings disease
Visiting Blue Apple Ranch
Sunday June 20th - Father's Day, 3 Horses Adopted Out, 3 Come In
This has been a whirlwind week here at FalconRidge. On Monday, we received a special invite from Petsmart Charities to participate in a pilot program, the Equine Crisis Intervention Program. This idea is fantastic and we will be participating. Thank you Petsmart Charities!
"The purpose of the Equine Crisis Intervention Program is to provide a short-term, limited intervention to bridge “good owners” to self-sustainability in their horse care. This is not a program to provide long-term or complicated care for owners who choose not to take care of their horses or for owners whose future prospects are so grim that assistance would just delay the inevitable. We know that so many pet owners are living “just on the edge” who normally take care of their pets adequately, but that “one thing” happens and they cannot provide the standard of care that they have had in the past and the situation goes from tenuous to neglect. There are also those owners, who should know better, but really never learned-or don’t understand the particular needs of an older horse/pregnant horse/etc. This program is an opportunity to provide assistance alongside the needed education to make life better for the horse, keep him/her out of your rescue and help the owner provide proper care."
On Monday, Pokey the donkey arrived from Morningstar Ranch down the road. Pokey had been used at the organic farm to pull a cart and haul avocados down from the groves. After awhile, Pokey would stop and they thought something was wrong with him. Well donkeys do that when they are hauling and tired or want a break, hee hee, so Pokey was just being a donkey. His caretaker took off to Brazil so they asked us to take him as he was no longer useable. Pokey is a jack and very handsome donkey. He is up for adoption and trained to pull a cart.
On Tuesday Dr. Joe Cannon of San Luis Rey Equine Hospital and Dr. Jeff Moss of Creekside Veterinary both brought interns and castrated five of our stallions, Smoke, Aramus, Apollo, Saxon and Darth Vader the shetland. Our volunteers assisted and everything went well. We now have five new GELDINGS. We still have the four new arabian stallions to be castrated but they need to be halter trained first and will be done in a few weeks.
On Wednesday, a 20 yr old quarterhorse gelding named Red Wagon arrived at FalconRidge. He was the victim of a divorce situation, very much loved by his owner but she wanted him to find a new home while she got her life situated. Fortunately, one of our supporters and sponsors Cindi saw him and knew he was exactly the horse she had been looking for so Red Wagon found a loving home with a wonderful mom.
We were contacted by a boarding facility in Bonita regarding a mare that was purchased by an inexperienced owner. She was told the mare was a yearling warmblood and when it arrived from the Bay area and was evaluated by a vet, it was found shes at least 2 and possibly pregnant, so most likely a pony mare. The owner then lost her job and never paid board so we were contacted to take her in. The mare also has a lump on her jaw. She arrived Sunday, thanks to Capt. DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society and the Animal Rescue Reserve team who trailered her to FalconRidge. The mare is darling and will be assessed Tuesday by Dr. Moss. She is barely halterbroke.
We are helping a woman in Fallbrook with her two horses she needs to place. She has breast cancer and undergoing treatment for that and has to pay high medical costs. She also felt it was just time to place her two mares. We will be taking her 16 year old mare Kandy and her other arabian mare will be taken by TIER rescue. We will coordinate their pickup so one is not left alone on the property.
On Thursday we had another San Diego Equine Coalition meeting at Blue Apple Ranch and are working on our voucher program, website, discussing issues of cruelty such as donkey roping, and figuring out different ways to help horses and the community of San Diego. Another super meeting with great rescues, vets and animal control officials of our county.
On Friday I treated my volunteers to a trip to Blue Apple Ranch which is not open to the public yet. Lynn Wells was gracious enough to give us a tour to see our sanctuary horses which she took in for us and they were all fat and happy and looking wonderful, living in luxury. Blue Apple will be open in the future to the public and will be having wonderful childrens programs with the horses. A super organization!
On Saturday Mary and her daughter Amanda came by to see Pow Wow and Baron and both fell in love and adopted them. Both boys will be going to Ramona to ride on trail and get loved on. Congrats to Pow Wow and Baron!
On Sunday it was Fathers Day and I wrote something to my dad who passed 12 years ago:
Happy Father's Day Dad. Your passing was sudden, there were no goodbyes. It made me realize how short life really is, and take a look at my own. Was I living the life I wanted? Not really. Making money, getting "things", keeping up with the Joneses.
Thanks to you, I remembered my dream as a kid, what was ingrained in my... soul, what was truly me.
I always wanted horses, and a horse ranch.
You made it happen....
Love,
Nicki
"The purpose of the Equine Crisis Intervention Program is to provide a short-term, limited intervention to bridge “good owners” to self-sustainability in their horse care. This is not a program to provide long-term or complicated care for owners who choose not to take care of their horses or for owners whose future prospects are so grim that assistance would just delay the inevitable. We know that so many pet owners are living “just on the edge” who normally take care of their pets adequately, but that “one thing” happens and they cannot provide the standard of care that they have had in the past and the situation goes from tenuous to neglect. There are also those owners, who should know better, but really never learned-or don’t understand the particular needs of an older horse/pregnant horse/etc. This program is an opportunity to provide assistance alongside the needed education to make life better for the horse, keep him/her out of your rescue and help the owner provide proper care."
On Monday, Pokey the donkey arrived from Morningstar Ranch down the road. Pokey had been used at the organic farm to pull a cart and haul avocados down from the groves. After awhile, Pokey would stop and they thought something was wrong with him. Well donkeys do that when they are hauling and tired or want a break, hee hee, so Pokey was just being a donkey. His caretaker took off to Brazil so they asked us to take him as he was no longer useable. Pokey is a jack and very handsome donkey. He is up for adoption and trained to pull a cart.
On Tuesday Dr. Joe Cannon of San Luis Rey Equine Hospital and Dr. Jeff Moss of Creekside Veterinary both brought interns and castrated five of our stallions, Smoke, Aramus, Apollo, Saxon and Darth Vader the shetland. Our volunteers assisted and everything went well. We now have five new GELDINGS. We still have the four new arabian stallions to be castrated but they need to be halter trained first and will be done in a few weeks.
On Wednesday, a 20 yr old quarterhorse gelding named Red Wagon arrived at FalconRidge. He was the victim of a divorce situation, very much loved by his owner but she wanted him to find a new home while she got her life situated. Fortunately, one of our supporters and sponsors Cindi saw him and knew he was exactly the horse she had been looking for so Red Wagon found a loving home with a wonderful mom.
We were contacted by a boarding facility in Bonita regarding a mare that was purchased by an inexperienced owner. She was told the mare was a yearling warmblood and when it arrived from the Bay area and was evaluated by a vet, it was found shes at least 2 and possibly pregnant, so most likely a pony mare. The owner then lost her job and never paid board so we were contacted to take her in. The mare also has a lump on her jaw. She arrived Sunday, thanks to Capt. DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society and the Animal Rescue Reserve team who trailered her to FalconRidge. The mare is darling and will be assessed Tuesday by Dr. Moss. She is barely halterbroke.
We are helping a woman in Fallbrook with her two horses she needs to place. She has breast cancer and undergoing treatment for that and has to pay high medical costs. She also felt it was just time to place her two mares. We will be taking her 16 year old mare Kandy and her other arabian mare will be taken by TIER rescue. We will coordinate their pickup so one is not left alone on the property.
On Thursday we had another San Diego Equine Coalition meeting at Blue Apple Ranch and are working on our voucher program, website, discussing issues of cruelty such as donkey roping, and figuring out different ways to help horses and the community of San Diego. Another super meeting with great rescues, vets and animal control officials of our county.
On Friday I treated my volunteers to a trip to Blue Apple Ranch which is not open to the public yet. Lynn Wells was gracious enough to give us a tour to see our sanctuary horses which she took in for us and they were all fat and happy and looking wonderful, living in luxury. Blue Apple will be open in the future to the public and will be having wonderful childrens programs with the horses. A super organization!
On Saturday Mary and her daughter Amanda came by to see Pow Wow and Baron and both fell in love and adopted them. Both boys will be going to Ramona to ride on trail and get loved on. Congrats to Pow Wow and Baron!
On Sunday it was Fathers Day and I wrote something to my dad who passed 12 years ago:
Happy Father's Day Dad. Your passing was sudden, there were no goodbyes. It made me realize how short life really is, and take a look at my own. Was I living the life I wanted? Not really. Making money, getting "things", keeping up with the Joneses.
Thanks to you, I remembered my dream as a kid, what was ingrained in my... soul, what was truly me.
I always wanted horses, and a horse ranch.
You made it happen....
Love,
Nicki
Nora, rides wonderfully, looking for a home
One of the new stallions
Trinket with volunteer Kona
Volunteer Pony Tamers
Sunday June 13 - Stallion-O-Rama
This last week our volunteers did a great job of moving the Keebler Elf mares Pixie, Teenie and Trinket from a pasture to a stall so we can get hands on them to gentle them. Catching unhandled shetland ponies is quite tricky as they are small and fast. Big thanks to the volunteers who did a fantastic job! These little mares got their first brushing by humans in their lives. 7 Keebler Elf shetland ponies still need loving homes as pets. Is that you? Adoption fee is only $150 and take a look at their blog for contact information. http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com
On Saturday we had volunteers out helping groom and turn out horses. We had to move horses and prepare stalls as four arabian stallions were coming in on Sunday and they are not halter broke. Cindi came out and visited us. Cindi sponsors Jaguar and is a great supporter and we appreciate her very much!
On Sunday David went and picked them up and they were loaded into stud pens by using panels from the trailer and they unloaded perfectly, two at a time and went into their stalls. Very handsome 3 year old grey arabs with nice personalities. They will be halter broke and trained and up for adoption after they are castrated in a few weeks.
On Tuesday Dr. Cannon and his interns from San Luis Rey Equine Hospital and Dr. Jeff Moss of Creekside Veterinary are coming to FalconRidge to castrate stallions Smoke, Aramus, Apollo, Saxon and Darth Vadar. Our volunteers will assist in this large gelding event. We will have to do it again in a few weeks to geld the new stallions. Funds are needed to assist with the cost of gelding, which is not cheap, so any donations are appreciated which will turn these stallions into gentlemen. Thank you!
David evaluated Kharma under saddle since her hair is now falling out and getting normal (Kharma has Cushings), her back has come up and her belly is no longer pot bellied. He said she has a good handle on her and neck reins even! We were pleasantly surprised.
Volunteer Meagan is putting together a FalconRidge Day Planner Calendar which will feature the previously adopted horses of FalconRidge and can be purchased online as a fundraiser. The link will be coming. Thanks to Meagan!
Last Friday David and I went to evaluate two horses whose owner want us to take them in. She has breast cancer and has to pay high medical bills and can no longer afford them. We have also received several more requests this week. Thoroughbreds, appendix, pregnant pony mare, arabs, quarterhorses...and more. As long as the requests for adoptions keep up...we can continue to help! Thanks for spreading the word about the super horses here at FalconRidge. Banjo and Jody will be going to their home on Wednesday.
Pow Wow wants a home,
Baron wants a home,
Mystery wants a home,
Nora wants a home,
Blaze wants a home,
Nemo wants a home,
Cimarron wants a home,
Snowbell wants a home,
several Keebler Elf ponies want homes~!
They are not supposed to be here...they are supposed to be with "you" at home and getting loved on until the end of their natural born lives.
Love,
Nicki
On Saturday we had volunteers out helping groom and turn out horses. We had to move horses and prepare stalls as four arabian stallions were coming in on Sunday and they are not halter broke. Cindi came out and visited us. Cindi sponsors Jaguar and is a great supporter and we appreciate her very much!
On Sunday David went and picked them up and they were loaded into stud pens by using panels from the trailer and they unloaded perfectly, two at a time and went into their stalls. Very handsome 3 year old grey arabs with nice personalities. They will be halter broke and trained and up for adoption after they are castrated in a few weeks.
On Tuesday Dr. Cannon and his interns from San Luis Rey Equine Hospital and Dr. Jeff Moss of Creekside Veterinary are coming to FalconRidge to castrate stallions Smoke, Aramus, Apollo, Saxon and Darth Vadar. Our volunteers will assist in this large gelding event. We will have to do it again in a few weeks to geld the new stallions. Funds are needed to assist with the cost of gelding, which is not cheap, so any donations are appreciated which will turn these stallions into gentlemen. Thank you!
David evaluated Kharma under saddle since her hair is now falling out and getting normal (Kharma has Cushings), her back has come up and her belly is no longer pot bellied. He said she has a good handle on her and neck reins even! We were pleasantly surprised.
Volunteer Meagan is putting together a FalconRidge Day Planner Calendar which will feature the previously adopted horses of FalconRidge and can be purchased online as a fundraiser. The link will be coming. Thanks to Meagan!
Last Friday David and I went to evaluate two horses whose owner want us to take them in. She has breast cancer and has to pay high medical bills and can no longer afford them. We have also received several more requests this week. Thoroughbreds, appendix, pregnant pony mare, arabs, quarterhorses...and more. As long as the requests for adoptions keep up...we can continue to help! Thanks for spreading the word about the super horses here at FalconRidge. Banjo and Jody will be going to their home on Wednesday.
Pow Wow wants a home,
Baron wants a home,
Mystery wants a home,
Nora wants a home,
Blaze wants a home,
Nemo wants a home,
Cimarron wants a home,
Snowbell wants a home,
several Keebler Elf ponies want homes~!
They are not supposed to be here...they are supposed to be with "you" at home and getting loved on until the end of their natural born lives.
Love,
Nicki
Sunday June 5th - Joaquin Finds Love and Summer is Coming
Joaquin has been adopted by Candace, the sister of Kelly who is a FalconRidge volunteer and adopter of Sienna. Congrats to Joaquin and Candace! They will be riding together at Green Acres in Temecula.
Tuxedo and Tejon's adoption fell through so both handsome geldings are still available for adoption to some lucky families. http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com/
Keebler Elf Pony Rescue Update - We still have 7 Keebler Elf shetland ponies for adoption, three of the stallions, Darth, Chewie and Frodo, and four mares, Teenie, Pixie, Smurf and Trinket. Please spread the word so we can get these little guys into loving homes! http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
Icelandic Horse Rehoming Project Update - Several horses have been adopted already, 22 so far. Pass the word to anyone you know who wants a free icelandic horse. We have received a generous grant from Petsmart Charities that goes directly to assisting these 50 horses only (not FalconRidge, we still need generous donations to help our horses here!) by providing hay, farrier, vet and feed for them until adopted. The horses are located at Monty Roberts Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, CA http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com/
Toby has been adopted to previous FalconRidge adopter of Dusty, Lisa and family! Congrats to Lisa and Toby! Lisa also told me that Dusty, who used to be somewhat shy, actually ran up to her husband to say hi when he was in the pasture. Fantastic progress with him!
I was contacted to save an 8 yr old quarterhorse mare from euthansia that belonged to a friend of the caller. She said it had the skin wrinkling disease. It was HERDA. Here is the information on HERDA :
http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/ment2befarms/herda.html
I sadly had to recommend and agree with the euthansia for this horse and told her sorry, we cannot bring it in to the rescue.
I received a request to take in 3 older horses, 28 yrs or so, who had been abandoned at a boarding stable.
I received a request to take in Chip, a gelding with a hoof problem. The owners are retiring to Idaho and will not be taking their horses with them and can place the other one easily.
I received a request to take in a 20 yr old quarterhorse gelding who rides well..the victim of a divorce.
I received a request to take in a 4 yr old quarter horse mare from Hacienda De Los Milagros rescue.
I received a request for volunteers to assist us from The Special Friends Foundation in Poway, http://www.specialfriendsfoundation.com/inside.html
It will be fantastic to have special needs adults help us out here at FalconRidge.
I was contacted about a loose horse in Julian whose owner had abandoned it. They tried to catch it but the horse was very difficult to catch so they gave it up. The horse was running loose on the street. I contacted County Dept. of Animal Services along with Captain DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society and she picked up the horse on Monday. Thank you DJ!
Our volunteers have been doing a great job with the horses and their rehabilitation. Jubilee now can be approached and haltered by most everyone and is enjoying all the normal things like grooming, going over the obstacle course in the arena, hand walks. This little mare is an Alada Baskin daughter and will make someone a fantastic horse in the future! To think we saved her from euthansia just for being untouched by humans before and to see her now is heartwarming.
On Sunday we wormed 50 horses, thanks to help from adopter LaCretia who assisted. LaCretia has adopted Geronimo, Gunner and Princess Lea and has been very helpful helping us around the ranch, wrangling the Keebler Elf ponies all day long when they arrived from animal control. Thanks to LaCretia!
Thank you to our supporters and those of you who have donated to help the horses here at FalconRidge. Each donation is graciously appreciated and goes directly to support the horses here by providing food and necessary care for their rehabilitation until they can be rehomed into loving homes. Every dollar counts and no donation is too small! Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the horses thank you! We need to do better at fundraising and Meagan has agreed to help. She has experience from working at Helen Woodward Animal Center and coming up with great ideas to help us generate income to keep going and assisting more horses. Sadly I have to turn down many, which is hard.
Last night I got a call from a daughter whose mother is 88 years old and has a dozen or so pure bred arabian horses in San Diego that need rehoming and placement...3 stallions and the rest are mares.
We will assist somehow...because we realize it is not the horses faults, and because its the right thing to do.
The real happiness in life comes from giving and doing for others....
Love,
Nicki
Tuxedo and Tejon's adoption fell through so both handsome geldings are still available for adoption to some lucky families. http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com/
Keebler Elf Pony Rescue Update - We still have 7 Keebler Elf shetland ponies for adoption, three of the stallions, Darth, Chewie and Frodo, and four mares, Teenie, Pixie, Smurf and Trinket. Please spread the word so we can get these little guys into loving homes! http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
Icelandic Horse Rehoming Project Update - Several horses have been adopted already, 22 so far. Pass the word to anyone you know who wants a free icelandic horse. We have received a generous grant from Petsmart Charities that goes directly to assisting these 50 horses only (not FalconRidge, we still need generous donations to help our horses here!) by providing hay, farrier, vet and feed for them until adopted. The horses are located at Monty Roberts Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, CA http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com/
Toby has been adopted to previous FalconRidge adopter of Dusty, Lisa and family! Congrats to Lisa and Toby! Lisa also told me that Dusty, who used to be somewhat shy, actually ran up to her husband to say hi when he was in the pasture. Fantastic progress with him!
I was contacted to save an 8 yr old quarterhorse mare from euthansia that belonged to a friend of the caller. She said it had the skin wrinkling disease. It was HERDA. Here is the information on HERDA :
http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/ment2befarms/herda.html
I sadly had to recommend and agree with the euthansia for this horse and told her sorry, we cannot bring it in to the rescue.
I received a request to take in 3 older horses, 28 yrs or so, who had been abandoned at a boarding stable.
I received a request to take in Chip, a gelding with a hoof problem. The owners are retiring to Idaho and will not be taking their horses with them and can place the other one easily.
I received a request to take in a 20 yr old quarterhorse gelding who rides well..the victim of a divorce.
I received a request to take in a 4 yr old quarter horse mare from Hacienda De Los Milagros rescue.
I received a request for volunteers to assist us from The Special Friends Foundation in Poway, http://www.specialfriendsfoundation.com/inside.html
It will be fantastic to have special needs adults help us out here at FalconRidge.
I was contacted about a loose horse in Julian whose owner had abandoned it. They tried to catch it but the horse was very difficult to catch so they gave it up. The horse was running loose on the street. I contacted County Dept. of Animal Services along with Captain DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society and she picked up the horse on Monday. Thank you DJ!
Our volunteers have been doing a great job with the horses and their rehabilitation. Jubilee now can be approached and haltered by most everyone and is enjoying all the normal things like grooming, going over the obstacle course in the arena, hand walks. This little mare is an Alada Baskin daughter and will make someone a fantastic horse in the future! To think we saved her from euthansia just for being untouched by humans before and to see her now is heartwarming.
On Sunday we wormed 50 horses, thanks to help from adopter LaCretia who assisted. LaCretia has adopted Geronimo, Gunner and Princess Lea and has been very helpful helping us around the ranch, wrangling the Keebler Elf ponies all day long when they arrived from animal control. Thanks to LaCretia!
Thank you to our supporters and those of you who have donated to help the horses here at FalconRidge. Each donation is graciously appreciated and goes directly to support the horses here by providing food and necessary care for their rehabilitation until they can be rehomed into loving homes. Every dollar counts and no donation is too small! Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the horses thank you! We need to do better at fundraising and Meagan has agreed to help. She has experience from working at Helen Woodward Animal Center and coming up with great ideas to help us generate income to keep going and assisting more horses. Sadly I have to turn down many, which is hard.
Last night I got a call from a daughter whose mother is 88 years old and has a dozen or so pure bred arabian horses in San Diego that need rehoming and placement...3 stallions and the rest are mares.
We will assist somehow...because we realize it is not the horses faults, and because its the right thing to do.
The real happiness in life comes from giving and doing for others....
Love,
Nicki
Tuxedo
LaCretia on Geronimo
Silfur and Halti Free to Loving Homes
Memorial Day Weekend 2010 - Two Icelandic Horses Arrive & Rescues
This weekend at FalconRidge I was contacted by a private party about 4 very skinny horses in Perris, Riverside area. County authorities were contacted to help. When you see pictures it is very disturbing. Makes it hard to happily barbeque away with friends or family, or attend rodeos or parades when you know 4 horses are now depending on your actions to get them safely out of a neglectful situation and starvation.
Along with the trauma of rescuing neglected horses we sometimes have, we also have much good news to report since it is our mission to rehabilitate horses and move them into happy homes where they are loved as family. Toby will be adopted to Lisa, the adopter of Dusty and her family. Congrats to Toby boy! Joaquin will also be adopted to Candace, sister of FalconRidge adopter Kelly who owns Sienna. Congrats to Joaquin!
Frodo is stealing the hearts of David and I...he is beyond cute.
Pixie and Trinket's adoption fell through so they are now available again. 4 Keebler mares are available and 3 stallions.
http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
The Icelandic Horse Rehoming Project is going well. We were given a generous grant from Petsmart Charities for emergency rescue funds which will provide vaccines, wormers, farrier, vet and castrations for the herd. Thank you Petsmart! 2 horses are going to Hawaii, 9 to Texas, Jill Curtis of Shiloh Rescue has agreed to take 10, bless her heart! 1 came to Ramona and 2 came to FalconRidge, Silfur and Halti, both wonderfully cute pasture pets who are free to qualified homes. They are perfect for grooming or around kids. 12 more horses are up on the blog, take a look and spread the word!
http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com/
The Black Beauty Story, Again
This is the reason I continue to rescue horses. We are working on helping this poor mare as soon as possible...I got the email on Memorial Day.
"About a year ago I gave my arabian mare. Today I stopped by to see how she was doing unnannounced and found her in a holding pen. She was so thin that my heart broke. I could count her ribs. Her beautiful neck was so thin and her croup and hip bones were sticking out. She was joyful to see me. I was told they allowed the stallions to be turned out with her while she was in heat. All other horses were in pristine condition. Can you help?"
In honor of our veterens...just like them...
Be the one that helps.
Love,
Nicki
Along with the trauma of rescuing neglected horses we sometimes have, we also have much good news to report since it is our mission to rehabilitate horses and move them into happy homes where they are loved as family. Toby will be adopted to Lisa, the adopter of Dusty and her family. Congrats to Toby boy! Joaquin will also be adopted to Candace, sister of FalconRidge adopter Kelly who owns Sienna. Congrats to Joaquin!
Frodo is stealing the hearts of David and I...he is beyond cute.
Pixie and Trinket's adoption fell through so they are now available again. 4 Keebler mares are available and 3 stallions.
http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
The Icelandic Horse Rehoming Project is going well. We were given a generous grant from Petsmart Charities for emergency rescue funds which will provide vaccines, wormers, farrier, vet and castrations for the herd. Thank you Petsmart! 2 horses are going to Hawaii, 9 to Texas, Jill Curtis of Shiloh Rescue has agreed to take 10, bless her heart! 1 came to Ramona and 2 came to FalconRidge, Silfur and Halti, both wonderfully cute pasture pets who are free to qualified homes. They are perfect for grooming or around kids. 12 more horses are up on the blog, take a look and spread the word!
http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com/
The Black Beauty Story, Again
This is the reason I continue to rescue horses. We are working on helping this poor mare as soon as possible...I got the email on Memorial Day.
"About a year ago I gave my arabian mare. Today I stopped by to see how she was doing unnannounced and found her in a holding pen. She was so thin that my heart broke. I could count her ribs. Her beautiful neck was so thin and her croup and hip bones were sticking out. She was joyful to see me. I was told they allowed the stallions to be turned out with her while she was in heat. All other horses were in pristine condition. Can you help?"
In honor of our veterens...just like them...
Be the one that helps.
Love,
Nicki
Updated photo of Sultan at his adopters
May 26 - Sultan Update and Sage Finds a Family!
Sage will be going home Thursday with previous adopters of Cajun. Congratulations to Sage for finding her forever home!
And here is an update on Sultan, the peruvian paso who was rescued from a neglectful home in Sylmar by Los Angeles City Dept. of Animal Services...
"Hi Nicki and David,
I am attaching a picture of Sultan gaiting yesterday. He is progressing quite fast. My trainer turned him out two nights ago and the peruvian trainer that introduced her to the breed came by. She tacked up Sultan because Oscar wanted to see him in action. Oscar and his brother are two of the top trainers of peruvian pasos in the country. Oscar watched him take 5 steps and was quite impressed with him. Then Oscar rode him and thought not only was his gait incredible but that he could do quite well in the show ring. That said, I am enjoying the hell out of my little peruvian. He is fun, hard working, loves to go fast and he is so smooth! Have a great day, Chris. "
And here is an update on Sultan, the peruvian paso who was rescued from a neglectful home in Sylmar by Los Angeles City Dept. of Animal Services...
"Hi Nicki and David,
I am attaching a picture of Sultan gaiting yesterday. He is progressing quite fast. My trainer turned him out two nights ago and the peruvian trainer that introduced her to the breed came by. She tacked up Sultan because Oscar wanted to see him in action. Oscar and his brother are two of the top trainers of peruvian pasos in the country. Oscar watched him take 5 steps and was quite impressed with him. Then Oscar rode him and thought not only was his gait incredible but that he could do quite well in the show ring. That said, I am enjoying the hell out of my little peruvian. He is fun, hard working, loves to go fast and he is so smooth! Have a great day, Chris. "
Mystery, Quarter Horse Gelding
Volunteers Kelsey & Fiona Grooming Rod Stewart
Saturday May 22nd - Pony Taming & The Great Escape
This last week has been incredibly busy so forgive me for not keeping up with the blog. Now that I have a blog to place the Icelandic horses, as well as the Keebler Elf Herd, both of which are going well, my time to write is getting shorter. Things are going well here at FalconRidge. The volunteers are doing a great job with catching ponies, grooming them, getting them to lead and used to being touched by humans. A few of them are difficult to catch and I have a new term, called pony-wrangling sore!
We had another super meeting with the San Diego Equine Safety Net Coaltion at Blue Apple Ranch on Thursday. Our team of four rescues, four veterinary practices, San Diego Humane Society and County Dept. of Animal Services is working on creating a website for education and resources for the equine community. It will help at risk horses and owners who need information or services for their horses. We are also creating a voucher program that will allow veterinarians to give vouchers for horse owners who cannot afford emergency services for their horse. These programs are funded by a grant from the ASPCA. I spoke with Scott Heckstead of the Humane Society of the United States who is interested in our coalition since he has formed the Oregon Horse Council, a similar collaborative effort which involves groups coming together to help the entire state. We shared ideas and thoughts on organization of county vs. state coalitions. He has a wonderfully successful hay bank progam that provides hay for people in need that I would like to think we can create here to help San Diegans who are in financial need with their horses. A future horse-helping program our equine coalition can create!
On Saturday night at 11pm I heard the dogs barking outside and thought perhaps it was from the coyotes howling nearby. I was just finishing a long soak in the tub in epsom salts to nurse muscle aches from pony wrestling and so looking forward to much needed bed and sleep. Then I heard horses whinnying. More barking. Then a lot of horses whinnying. I peeked out the window and see horses, not one, but more than I could count, running by on the lawn in the moonlight...lovely! There has been a breakout...a big one. We grab flashlights I tell David we have horses out. So much for relaxation and rest! By the time I get out there horses are running around and we see it is the pool pasture...six of them. They had lifted the gate off the hinges and it was open. Brave Eagle, Lancelot, Jiminy, Rocket, Apollo and Saxon were running everywhere. A few went in the gate, then came back out as Brave Eagle had run down to where Dreams and Nicole are...very beautiful mares! I went down and caught him with my hands holding onto his neck while David got a halter. We led him back and since he is the leader of that herd, the rest followed. It was short lived breakout, but a lively one! They keep us on our toes around here. Silver Slippers now is in love with Brave Eagle, her knight in shining armor who came and talked to her in the moonlight...
Horse antics keep you smiling.
I received more requests to take in horses this week. Paints, thoroughbreds and more. We are in need of space so please spread the word that we have wonderful horses and ponies for adoption here. We are also in need of funds for castrating the pony stallions, 6 of them, plus Aramus, Smoke, Apollo and Saxon, so please consider donating for that cause. We will be having Dr. Moss and Dr. Cannon here with interns and will be getting a reduced rate, just the cost for drugs...but to geld ten stallions will still be very costly. Thank you~ !
David got on Mystery today for a first ride and it went very well. Mystery was nice and calm and will do great under saddle....a very handsome quarterhorse gelding!
Have a super Sunday and be thankful you are alive and well~ May the horse be with you....
Love,
Nicki
We had another super meeting with the San Diego Equine Safety Net Coaltion at Blue Apple Ranch on Thursday. Our team of four rescues, four veterinary practices, San Diego Humane Society and County Dept. of Animal Services is working on creating a website for education and resources for the equine community. It will help at risk horses and owners who need information or services for their horses. We are also creating a voucher program that will allow veterinarians to give vouchers for horse owners who cannot afford emergency services for their horse. These programs are funded by a grant from the ASPCA. I spoke with Scott Heckstead of the Humane Society of the United States who is interested in our coalition since he has formed the Oregon Horse Council, a similar collaborative effort which involves groups coming together to help the entire state. We shared ideas and thoughts on organization of county vs. state coalitions. He has a wonderfully successful hay bank progam that provides hay for people in need that I would like to think we can create here to help San Diegans who are in financial need with their horses. A future horse-helping program our equine coalition can create!
On Saturday night at 11pm I heard the dogs barking outside and thought perhaps it was from the coyotes howling nearby. I was just finishing a long soak in the tub in epsom salts to nurse muscle aches from pony wrestling and so looking forward to much needed bed and sleep. Then I heard horses whinnying. More barking. Then a lot of horses whinnying. I peeked out the window and see horses, not one, but more than I could count, running by on the lawn in the moonlight...lovely! There has been a breakout...a big one. We grab flashlights I tell David we have horses out. So much for relaxation and rest! By the time I get out there horses are running around and we see it is the pool pasture...six of them. They had lifted the gate off the hinges and it was open. Brave Eagle, Lancelot, Jiminy, Rocket, Apollo and Saxon were running everywhere. A few went in the gate, then came back out as Brave Eagle had run down to where Dreams and Nicole are...very beautiful mares! I went down and caught him with my hands holding onto his neck while David got a halter. We led him back and since he is the leader of that herd, the rest followed. It was short lived breakout, but a lively one! They keep us on our toes around here. Silver Slippers now is in love with Brave Eagle, her knight in shining armor who came and talked to her in the moonlight...
Horse antics keep you smiling.
I received more requests to take in horses this week. Paints, thoroughbreds and more. We are in need of space so please spread the word that we have wonderful horses and ponies for adoption here. We are also in need of funds for castrating the pony stallions, 6 of them, plus Aramus, Smoke, Apollo and Saxon, so please consider donating for that cause. We will be having Dr. Moss and Dr. Cannon here with interns and will be getting a reduced rate, just the cost for drugs...but to geld ten stallions will still be very costly. Thank you~ !
David got on Mystery today for a first ride and it went very well. Mystery was nice and calm and will do great under saddle....a very handsome quarterhorse gelding!
Have a super Sunday and be thankful you are alive and well~ May the horse be with you....
Love,
Nicki
Frodo
May 21
Keebler Elf Blog Update
http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
The Keebler Elves have been busy this week. They have been getting caught by volunteers, handled, groomed, learning to lead. The stallions are easier to handle as they are in smaller stalls and we can catch them. The mares, with the exception of Princess Lea and Smurf, are in a larger pasture so they have just been eating, gaining weight and will come up to people who have food. Six have been adopted as of May 21st, and eleven are still available.
Justin, a professional photographer, has agreed to photograph the FalconRidge horses to have photos for a fundraising calendar. Plus, he will have photos or prints and create an online shop for people to purchase their favorite FalconRidge horse photo or print with the donation going to paying for feed and vetcare for the rescued horses which are constantly coming in. Thank you Justin!
The Keebler Elves have been busy this week. They have been getting caught by volunteers, handled, groomed, learning to lead. The stallions are easier to handle as they are in smaller stalls and we can catch them. The mares, with the exception of Princess Lea and Smurf, are in a larger pasture so they have just been eating, gaining weight and will come up to people who have food. Six have been adopted as of May 21st, and eleven are still available.
Justin, a professional photographer, has agreed to photograph the FalconRidge horses to have photos for a fundraising calendar. Plus, he will have photos or prints and create an online shop for people to purchase their favorite FalconRidge horse photo or print with the donation going to paying for feed and vetcare for the rescued horses which are constantly coming in. Thank you Justin!
Icelandic Horse Rehoming Blog
The Icelandic horses are not coming to FalconRidge. They are located in Solvang, CA and will be adopted from there. Please read information on them here. Donations are appreciated for them.
http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com/
http://icelandicrehomingproject.blogspot.com/
Maya with 2 Icelandic horses
Icelandic Stallion
Friday May 14 - Drive up to Solvang to see 100 Icelandic horses
Today I took the day off work to drive up the coast near Santa Barbara to meet with the owners of 100 icelandic horses who asked me to help rehome them. They signed 5o of the horses over to FalconRidge and I met her and her husband at their 100 acre ranch. I also met with Maya Horsey, head trainer of Flag Is Up Farms, who offered to house small groups of the horses and trailer them over so they can be adopted.
Jill Anderson of Return to Freedom put me in touch with Maya and has been key in making this huge rescue effort a success. We toured the ranch and met all 100 icelandic horses. They were gorgous, bright and curious, fat and healthy. Some horses are trained to ride but most have had minimal handling. They have been living in large pastures and there are several stallions. Horses will be moved to Flag Is Up Farms and available for adoption. I will have a blog up for them soon.
It is wonderful to have people working together to make this situation a success for all. Each and every horse owner out there, each person reading this blog... if you have horses, you are at some point going to reach a stage in life where it is time to give them up. Age sneaks up on us all and we are no longer the young whippersnappers we once were. Our bodies give out, we need medications and surgeries and at some point, we will not be able to take care of ourselves, let alone our horses. It is inevitable. Our children will be taking care of us..and in some cases, strangers who run rescues will be helping take care your horses. The owners were sad, but thankful, emotional and knew each and every horse. You could tell the horses were loved.
Stephanie LaFarge of the ASPCA assisted me and the owner by spending time on the phone and numerous calls to envision how this transfer of horses could take place and to make things easier for the owners. For her I am greatful.
Jill Anderson of Return to Freedom, the mustang sanctury in Lompoc was of great assistance and organized facilities and haulers for this enormous rescue. She is a lifesaver.
Maya Horsey and Monty Roberts of Flag Is Up Farms have graciously offered their stalls, staff, and trailers for hauling the icelandics and keeping them there for adopters to come pick up. The students will be handling the horses and making sure they halter, can be led and pick up feet, etc. Thank you so much for caring about these horses and stepping up to the plate in a very big way so that they can safely transition to loving families for life!
Collaboration between many people to help horses...when that happens? miracles can take place. Miracles like herds of 50 horses or more soon on their way to making their new families happy with their greatness, and their old owners confident that they are in good hands now.
On the way home from Solvang I got a voice message from a reporter of the Los Angeles Daily news. She wanted information on the Keebler Elf Herd Rescue and ran an article on them on Saturday's paper. http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_15089801
The Keeblers are famous and the emails are coming in and phones ringing with people wanting to help or adopt a shetland pony.
Saving horses who are in neglected or at risk situations and finding them new homes...its what we do.
Love,
Nicki
Jill Anderson of Return to Freedom put me in touch with Maya and has been key in making this huge rescue effort a success. We toured the ranch and met all 100 icelandic horses. They were gorgous, bright and curious, fat and healthy. Some horses are trained to ride but most have had minimal handling. They have been living in large pastures and there are several stallions. Horses will be moved to Flag Is Up Farms and available for adoption. I will have a blog up for them soon.
It is wonderful to have people working together to make this situation a success for all. Each and every horse owner out there, each person reading this blog... if you have horses, you are at some point going to reach a stage in life where it is time to give them up. Age sneaks up on us all and we are no longer the young whippersnappers we once were. Our bodies give out, we need medications and surgeries and at some point, we will not be able to take care of ourselves, let alone our horses. It is inevitable. Our children will be taking care of us..and in some cases, strangers who run rescues will be helping take care your horses. The owners were sad, but thankful, emotional and knew each and every horse. You could tell the horses were loved.
Stephanie LaFarge of the ASPCA assisted me and the owner by spending time on the phone and numerous calls to envision how this transfer of horses could take place and to make things easier for the owners. For her I am greatful.
Jill Anderson of Return to Freedom, the mustang sanctury in Lompoc was of great assistance and organized facilities and haulers for this enormous rescue. She is a lifesaver.
Maya Horsey and Monty Roberts of Flag Is Up Farms have graciously offered their stalls, staff, and trailers for hauling the icelandics and keeping them there for adopters to come pick up. The students will be handling the horses and making sure they halter, can be led and pick up feet, etc. Thank you so much for caring about these horses and stepping up to the plate in a very big way so that they can safely transition to loving families for life!
Collaboration between many people to help horses...when that happens? miracles can take place. Miracles like herds of 50 horses or more soon on their way to making their new families happy with their greatness, and their old owners confident that they are in good hands now.
On the way home from Solvang I got a voice message from a reporter of the Los Angeles Daily news. She wanted information on the Keebler Elf Herd Rescue and ran an article on them on Saturday's paper. http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_15089801
The Keeblers are famous and the emails are coming in and phones ringing with people wanting to help or adopt a shetland pony.
Saving horses who are in neglected or at risk situations and finding them new homes...its what we do.
Love,
Nicki
Obi Wan Finds His Loving Home
Wed May 12 - Two Keeblers & Nick & Cochise Find Loving Homes
On Monday Taffy went to her loving home in Encinitas. Congratulations to Taffy!
Nick and Cochise have been adopted by a loving couple in Julian. Congratulations to both super horses for finding their parents for life!
Candaces Angel and Obi Wan went home today with Candace, one of our volunteers. That leaves 15 keebler ponies up for adoption. I believe Niblet will be adopted to a previous adopter so it is actually 14 available. Please take a look at their blog and spread the word. http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
All the Keebler stallions were handled by our volunteers on Tuesday and they learned how to be haltered as well as led around and were briefly brushed. Everyone is settling in well and they all have normal length hooves now. Donations to help with castrations, wormers, vaccinations and teeth floating for these little shetland ponies would be appreciated.
Compassion and collaboration are what make anything possible.
Love,
Nicki
Nick and Cochise have been adopted by a loving couple in Julian. Congratulations to both super horses for finding their parents for life!
Candaces Angel and Obi Wan went home today with Candace, one of our volunteers. That leaves 15 keebler ponies up for adoption. I believe Niblet will be adopted to a previous adopter so it is actually 14 available. Please take a look at their blog and spread the word. http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com/
All the Keebler stallions were handled by our volunteers on Tuesday and they learned how to be haltered as well as led around and were briefly brushed. Everyone is settling in well and they all have normal length hooves now. Donations to help with castrations, wormers, vaccinations and teeth floating for these little shetland ponies would be appreciated.
Compassion and collaboration are what make anything possible.
Love,
Nicki
Homes for Horses Conference, Scott Beckstead of HSUS
Scott created the Oregon Horse Council
Tuesday May 11 - The HSUS Homes For Horses Conference
Today was day 2 of the Homes for Horses Conference, a gathering of HSUS, AWI, equine rescues, humane officials and charitable organizations to discuss ways to improve the lives of horses in our country. We had two days of presentations on everything from working with law enforcement, making horses more adoptable, building your donor base, working with the media, GFAS accreditation, ASPCA programs, and using social networking such as Facebook to increase donations. Some great ideas were shared and lots of networking going on between everyone. It was good to see old friends made from the last conference: Keith Dane and Stacy Segal of the HSUS, Jacque Schultz of ASPCA, Patty Finch of GFAS, Jen Reid of Best Friends, Beth DeCaprio of Grace Foundation, Jill Curtis of Shiloh Rescue, Jo Deibel of Angel Acres, Cathy Atkinson aka Fugly and many many more.
Sat May 8th, Keebler Elf Herd Arrives Today to FalconRidge
Take a look at the Keebler Elf Blog, http://keeblerelfrescue.blogspot.com
The Keebler Elf Herd in need
Keebler Ponies
Gunner, 6 yr old paint gelding
Thursday May 6 - Gunner Arrives & Keebler Herd Shetland Pony Rescue
We were so proud to see the update and pictures of Lucky, who was shown by young Zoe Zeller last weekend in jumping classes at the ECHO show. Junior (Wizard) is also doing well and Opal (Little Owl) we heard is running the ranch. Good stuff.
On Wednesday Gunner a 6 yr old paint gelding arrived. Gunner was bought 3 yrs ago by his owners for 8k and has been used for jumping. He has periodic bouts of bucking with his owner and we will see if Gunner is in pain anywhere. By looking at him after arrival he has small feet, a large hind end, and be better suited therefore for a western saddle and some trail riding. We will pull his shoes and get him going barefoot and allow him to relax and be a horse again. He is very handsome and will be up for adoption after he is evaluated.
Taffy will be going to her forever home in Encinitas on Monday...congratulations to Taffy and family!
I received notice that the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, where I will be speaking at the HSUS Homes For Horses Conference next week, was drastically flooded in Nashville, Tennessee. HSUS organizers told us to plan on coming while they scrambled to find additional hotels in non flooded areas. We will be having the event at the Tennessee Conference Center and I was able to get a room at the Marriott nearby. I will be speaking on the formation of our San Diego Equine Coalition and how wonderfully groups have come together here to help San Diego equines in need and at risk. http://www.homesforhorses.org/
I have been working with Jill Anderson of Return to Freedom on a very large rescue case in Santa Barbara County, which is moving forward and more info will be available soon. Positive things are happening, great collaborative efforts, thanks to rescue groups and individuals working together to help these 100 horses. Networking...a good thing for horses.
I received a photo from Officer Dancy of LA City animal control of 18 ponies who were in Sylmar and a possible seizure case. I was shocked to see extremely long hoofs on these poor little shetland ponies. They looked like elf slippers. The owner was asked to get them farrier work last month and did not comply. The DA was shown the info and the herd was seized. FalconRidge agreed to take the ponies to help with farrier care and adopt them out to loving homes. The herd, dubbed the Keebler Elf Herd, was seized yesterday from the owner who will be charged with neglect and cruelty. One mare was so badly disabled as a 3 yr old by her neglected feet that she was euthanized by the AC vet. I found out 7 were stallions and half the herd is wild. The Keelber Herd will be transported to FalconRidge on Saturday afternoon where we have Juan Aguilar and David and volunteers ready to sedate them and trim the 9 who are extremely in bad shape. Volunteers will be here to help hold and handle the herd. Dr. Jeff Moss is also on standby if needed. These little guys will be gentled by our wonderful volunteer team here and up for adoption for a minimal fee in the future. Luckily they are not thin.
Please help with any donations you can for this herd of tiny neglected horses. Funds will be needed for castration and vet bills on them. I found out that the stallions were of course housed with the mares, and there is one gelding..yep..one. 17 Ponies to arrive late Saturday.
Help us help the ponies and provide them with a better life.
The pictures of the Keebler ponies tell it all....
Thank you Officer Dancy of LA City AC for being the change in these ponies lives, saving them, and giving them great hope for a wonderful future because we WILL find super homes for each and very one of these darlings....!
Yes we will.
Email me if you personally want to save a pony and give it a loving home for life....
Think of elfin names...
Love,
Nicki and the Keebler Elfs
On Wednesday Gunner a 6 yr old paint gelding arrived. Gunner was bought 3 yrs ago by his owners for 8k and has been used for jumping. He has periodic bouts of bucking with his owner and we will see if Gunner is in pain anywhere. By looking at him after arrival he has small feet, a large hind end, and be better suited therefore for a western saddle and some trail riding. We will pull his shoes and get him going barefoot and allow him to relax and be a horse again. He is very handsome and will be up for adoption after he is evaluated.
Taffy will be going to her forever home in Encinitas on Monday...congratulations to Taffy and family!
I received notice that the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, where I will be speaking at the HSUS Homes For Horses Conference next week, was drastically flooded in Nashville, Tennessee. HSUS organizers told us to plan on coming while they scrambled to find additional hotels in non flooded areas. We will be having the event at the Tennessee Conference Center and I was able to get a room at the Marriott nearby. I will be speaking on the formation of our San Diego Equine Coalition and how wonderfully groups have come together here to help San Diego equines in need and at risk. http://www.homesforhorses.org/
I have been working with Jill Anderson of Return to Freedom on a very large rescue case in Santa Barbara County, which is moving forward and more info will be available soon. Positive things are happening, great collaborative efforts, thanks to rescue groups and individuals working together to help these 100 horses. Networking...a good thing for horses.
I received a photo from Officer Dancy of LA City animal control of 18 ponies who were in Sylmar and a possible seizure case. I was shocked to see extremely long hoofs on these poor little shetland ponies. They looked like elf slippers. The owner was asked to get them farrier work last month and did not comply. The DA was shown the info and the herd was seized. FalconRidge agreed to take the ponies to help with farrier care and adopt them out to loving homes. The herd, dubbed the Keebler Elf Herd, was seized yesterday from the owner who will be charged with neglect and cruelty. One mare was so badly disabled as a 3 yr old by her neglected feet that she was euthanized by the AC vet. I found out 7 were stallions and half the herd is wild. The Keelber Herd will be transported to FalconRidge on Saturday afternoon where we have Juan Aguilar and David and volunteers ready to sedate them and trim the 9 who are extremely in bad shape. Volunteers will be here to help hold and handle the herd. Dr. Jeff Moss is also on standby if needed. These little guys will be gentled by our wonderful volunteer team here and up for adoption for a minimal fee in the future. Luckily they are not thin.
Please help with any donations you can for this herd of tiny neglected horses. Funds will be needed for castration and vet bills on them. I found out that the stallions were of course housed with the mares, and there is one gelding..yep..one. 17 Ponies to arrive late Saturday.
Help us help the ponies and provide them with a better life.
The pictures of the Keebler ponies tell it all....
Thank you Officer Dancy of LA City AC for being the change in these ponies lives, saving them, and giving them great hope for a wonderful future because we WILL find super homes for each and very one of these darlings....!
Yes we will.
Email me if you personally want to save a pony and give it a loving home for life....
Think of elfin names...
Love,
Nicki and the Keebler Elfs
The Grulla Stallion
Monday May 3 - The Grulla Stallion Arrives
I had been contacted by Captain DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society regarding two stallions and a colt who were at risk and in need of new homes. A woman had gone to a home to buy pipe panels and saw this grulla stallion tethered to a pole. The rope had wrapped around the pole so that he had about two feet to move his head. He could not get to food or water and she wondered how often this happened for him. He was thin. He has rope burns on his back fetlocks from being staked out and getting caught up in the rope. The owner was moving and gave up the horses. I agreed to take the grulla stallion. He is supposedly rideable and goes on trail. He has a sweet personality and arrived at FalconRidge today.
See horses in need and do something to make a difference in their lives.
Love,
Nicki
See horses in need and do something to make a difference in their lives.
Love,
Nicki
Zoe Zeller on Lucky, aka My Lucky Penny, at the ECHO show this weekend
Lucky was rescued from a killer auction
Sunday May 2nd - Cochise Socialization Day
Today we turned out Cochise in the arena for him to get better socialized with other horses. In the past, he was kept isolated from other horses since he was a stallion. When people do that, the stallion does not learn how to interact with other horses naturally and socially. After he was castrated here we turned him out with Toby and Sunka in the roundpen and he is very alpha. So today, we turned him out with Captain, my 17 hand thoroughbred gelding, who is top alpha horse around here and Cochise did well with him. We then added Toby, the new black paint gelding, and Sunka to the arena so there would be a herd for him to deal with and he did fine. Cochise rides well and is looking for his own family to adopt him and take him home.
One of the new paint mares that came in yesterday needed her teeth floated badly so that was done this morning, as well as Sandtwister. She was groomed and her mane untangled and got tender loving care. She is 21 years old and has two marks above her eyes that look like large eyebrows.
Amber and Elani came out to volunteer and work on grooming horses, walking them, turning out, cleaning stalls and got to ride Meshewa.
With the four horses that came in yesterday we need to make room and get horses adopted. If you know someone who is looking for a horse as a family member for life, please tell them about our super horses here, http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com. Toby needs a home, as does Cochise, Nora, Nick, Tejon, Blaze, Pow Wow and more...
You can make a difference in a horses life today.
Thank you!
Love,
Nicki
One of the new paint mares that came in yesterday needed her teeth floated badly so that was done this morning, as well as Sandtwister. She was groomed and her mane untangled and got tender loving care. She is 21 years old and has two marks above her eyes that look like large eyebrows.
Amber and Elani came out to volunteer and work on grooming horses, walking them, turning out, cleaning stalls and got to ride Meshewa.
With the four horses that came in yesterday we need to make room and get horses adopted. If you know someone who is looking for a horse as a family member for life, please tell them about our super horses here, http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com. Toby needs a home, as does Cochise, Nora, Nick, Tejon, Blaze, Pow Wow and more...
You can make a difference in a horses life today.
Thank you!
Love,
Nicki
Three paints arrive today at sunset at FalconRidge
Apollo and Saxon with the pool pasture herd
Saxon, a yearling colt
Saturday May 1st - Chicaboom Goes Home & More Arrive
This morning Valerie came out and groomed Baron for us, who had a potential adopter coming to look at him. She also worked with learning how to pet on Jubilee the arab mare. Jubilee has spent her last 8 years of life learning how not to be touched by humans so she is a special case but has come around to allow the volunteers to come in and pet on her, halter her and take her out of her stall.
David worked with Saxon, one of the yearling arab colts recently rescued in the roundpen on his halter training so that he could go up to the pool pasture with Apollo, his buddy. Both colts were then introduced to the herd which will be their new playmates....Brave Eagle, Lance, Rocket and Jiminy the burro. The two boys integrated very easily into the herd and were playing and running around with the others and enjoying themselves in their new large pasture.
Jaguar is feeling so much better on his antibiotics. He was found to have a bladder infection, thanks to the animal communicator Laura Stinchfield, http://www.thepetpsychic.com/. After talking to her, the vet was called out again for Jaguar and sure enough he was found to have a bladder infection. He was started on antibiotics and has perked up significantly, eating great and feeling much better. We will try anything when diagnoses are difficult to figure out. Jaguar is happy about that!
Chicaboom went home today with her new adoptive family where she will be loved on and a trail horse. Congratulations to Chicaboom for finding her forever family! Rory went home to his owner as she found a new horse property to house him at.
Silver Slippers arrived today. She is childrens welsh pony who is being donated to FalconRidge to find her a new adoptive home and to raise funds for the rescue. This is a very nice and gorgeous little riding pony who will be up for adoption soon and available mid June.
I have received requests to take in horses by phone and email, a never ending plea from horse owners who need to place their horses. I received a letter from an owner with a gorgeous mustang gelding who is great on trail but was recently diagnosed with mild ringbone and can only be ridden at a walk. She has an arab she is boarding and can't afford to board two. My answer to her is to place the arab and keep the mustang. Period. I am frankly tired of the owners who want to discard the unrideable horse for others to be responsible for, and to keep the rideable one. The rideable horses have a better chance at being placed in another home, not the lame horses. Commit to the one who needs you more.
I received a request to take in a very pregnant mare from a case a friend of mine is working on. I can't as we have several horses here for adoption and more coming in already that I have committed to. Just since January, our first meeting of the San Diego Equine Coalition, FalconRidge has taken in 17 horses who were at risk.
We figured out Cheyenne has stringhalt, which was brought on by injesting toxic weeds years ago when he was starving in a pasture. The vets will be consulted to see if he is a good candidate for surgery or not.
As the sun went down, a trailer pulled up with three paint horses. The owner of eleven paints who had contacted me months ago who lost her home and now is losing the leased horse property she was on is at the end of her rope and can no longer keep her beloved horses. Three gorgeous paints, two mares and a gelding are now here. They will all be evaluated and trained and adopted out. I told the owner you are not alone, several people are losing their homes due to the economy and also losing their horses. She will be bringing more in the future as she has until June 1. Help is needed for funds to feed and care for horses such as these. Please consider sending a donation of any amount, even a dollar will help these horses and help us help them.
Compassion makes the world go round. Be there for others, and they will be there for you if you need them later on.
Drastic times require acts of magic.
Be magic.
Love,
Nicki
David worked with Saxon, one of the yearling arab colts recently rescued in the roundpen on his halter training so that he could go up to the pool pasture with Apollo, his buddy. Both colts were then introduced to the herd which will be their new playmates....Brave Eagle, Lance, Rocket and Jiminy the burro. The two boys integrated very easily into the herd and were playing and running around with the others and enjoying themselves in their new large pasture.
Jaguar is feeling so much better on his antibiotics. He was found to have a bladder infection, thanks to the animal communicator Laura Stinchfield, http://www.thepetpsychic.com/. After talking to her, the vet was called out again for Jaguar and sure enough he was found to have a bladder infection. He was started on antibiotics and has perked up significantly, eating great and feeling much better. We will try anything when diagnoses are difficult to figure out. Jaguar is happy about that!
Chicaboom went home today with her new adoptive family where she will be loved on and a trail horse. Congratulations to Chicaboom for finding her forever family! Rory went home to his owner as she found a new horse property to house him at.
Silver Slippers arrived today. She is childrens welsh pony who is being donated to FalconRidge to find her a new adoptive home and to raise funds for the rescue. This is a very nice and gorgeous little riding pony who will be up for adoption soon and available mid June.
I have received requests to take in horses by phone and email, a never ending plea from horse owners who need to place their horses. I received a letter from an owner with a gorgeous mustang gelding who is great on trail but was recently diagnosed with mild ringbone and can only be ridden at a walk. She has an arab she is boarding and can't afford to board two. My answer to her is to place the arab and keep the mustang. Period. I am frankly tired of the owners who want to discard the unrideable horse for others to be responsible for, and to keep the rideable one. The rideable horses have a better chance at being placed in another home, not the lame horses. Commit to the one who needs you more.
I received a request to take in a very pregnant mare from a case a friend of mine is working on. I can't as we have several horses here for adoption and more coming in already that I have committed to. Just since January, our first meeting of the San Diego Equine Coalition, FalconRidge has taken in 17 horses who were at risk.
We figured out Cheyenne has stringhalt, which was brought on by injesting toxic weeds years ago when he was starving in a pasture. The vets will be consulted to see if he is a good candidate for surgery or not.
As the sun went down, a trailer pulled up with three paint horses. The owner of eleven paints who had contacted me months ago who lost her home and now is losing the leased horse property she was on is at the end of her rope and can no longer keep her beloved horses. Three gorgeous paints, two mares and a gelding are now here. They will all be evaluated and trained and adopted out. I told the owner you are not alone, several people are losing their homes due to the economy and also losing their horses. She will be bringing more in the future as she has until June 1. Help is needed for funds to feed and care for horses such as these. Please consider sending a donation of any amount, even a dollar will help these horses and help us help them.
Compassion makes the world go round. Be there for others, and they will be there for you if you need them later on.
Drastic times require acts of magic.
Be magic.
Love,
Nicki
Ryder and Popcorn
Popcorn with her adoptive Dad Steve
Baby Blitzen
Friday April 30 - Popcorn, Ryder, Blitzen Update & Gunner is Coming
"Hi, Nicki, David and everyone at Falconridge,
We just wanted to drop everyone a line on how everyone is doing.
Blitzen (aka O'Hana) is growing up beautifully. She is now about 16 months old. With the way she carries her head, we believe she may be part American Saddlebred. She clearly thinks Popcorn is her mom, and has a fit if Popcorn goes for a walk without her. We take her to the round ring and arena all the time, and walk her around the campground at O'Neill Park. We've been learning to walk up to "port-a-potties" since they clearly eat fillies. She hard ties, gets fly sprayed without issue, has her feet done without drama. She is truly a beautiful mover and loves to run. We've had a bareback pad on her and keep sacking her out on everything we can imagine. Monday we had to walk by 5 police cars and a fire engine to get home from the arena (all running with lights and radios going). She stepped right into procession between two cars as the fire engine drove away and we walked through without incident or fear. She has a great personality and likes to play with one of our terriers.
Popcorn (aka PC) is coming on well. She was the mare that was rescued with Maui in utero on the way to slaughter, and she is rising 8. She is our rock on the ground and has learned really great manners. We've taken her for walks into the local community, and on very difficult trails. She is going well under saddle. We're currently working her on water crossings. I had taken her through wide (more than 5 feet) crossings, but hadn't done much with narrow streams. She showed me on Friday that she doesn't like to get her feet wet, by leaping over 2 and 3 foot wide creeks. So, we are working on walking through water. PC is so beautiful we get comments every time we go out. She is now well known in our area.
Ryder (aka Stryder) is also doing very well. Stryder is rising 4 now. He's slimmed down and become much quieter and more calm. His lope is so smooth you can hardly feel it. He does great roll backs. He really loves PC and O'Hana. We are also sacking him out on everything we can think of, and he is doing very well. All the local women swoon over his good looks.
As a fun aside, we brought in an equine chiropractor to make sure everyone was doing well. He walked in and said, "I know this horse!" And that's how Dr. Don Moore got to see Ryder and Popcorn again! A great chiropractor doing great things for horses. Keep up all your good work!
Steve Conkling"
And this latest email from Sparkles adopter Lynn:
" I’ve taken on the “ranch” pony who’s owner hasn’t seen him in at least three years & is no longer paying board. She used to send money for his board & care but then just stopped. The ranch owner is currently going through the process of getting him signed over to her. Between the manager, trainer & me we are now taking care of his needs so that he doesn’t go without. Between the three of us we are hoping to keep him. Everyone loves him. My farrier even donated a trim a few weeks ago. Skeeter was never thin, as the managers always feed him. He was a sad lonely pony until recently. I’ve watched him transform over the past few months. I don’t know how such an amazing horse could be left behind. The owner bought a new high dollar horse for her daughter, moved it to Del Mar and left him behind. Skeeter loves kids so much. His heart is so much bigger than his 13h size. He whinnies every time my girls walk in the barn. He has gone from a stall soured grumpy pony to one who can’t wait to get out with any kid weather it’s for a brushing, bath, arena work or trail ride.
I’m guess I’m telling you a little about Skeeter because prior to reading all the stories on your blog, visiting and then adopting Sparkles I would have never done anything or spoken up about him. There is also a another horse at the ranch who’s owner I’ve never seen. She’s supposedly a rescue & came in very thin and scared. Her feet were so long I mentioned it to the manager & ranch owner and they got after the horses owner to get her feet done. Two days later they were trimmed. I’ve also asked if I could start taking her out just to brush and turn out. I’m awaiting for a reply from the owner. Being neglected isn’t just about lack of feed. It’s lack of care, love, & companionship. I may not be changing the lives of as many horses that you have but I’m trying to make a difference in the lives of a few at a time.
Lynn Olsen"
Latest Rescues - Gunner is a 6 year old beautiful paint gelding who will be arriving to FalconRidge next week. The grulla stallion should be here by then too. Behind the scenes I am working on a huge case with 100 icelandics who will need rehoming and a friend of mine is assisting with another case of 80 horses in need. Tiki went home with her new adopter Catherine today, congratulations to Tiki!
Make a difference in a life today....
Love,
Nicki
We just wanted to drop everyone a line on how everyone is doing.
Blitzen (aka O'Hana) is growing up beautifully. She is now about 16 months old. With the way she carries her head, we believe she may be part American Saddlebred. She clearly thinks Popcorn is her mom, and has a fit if Popcorn goes for a walk without her. We take her to the round ring and arena all the time, and walk her around the campground at O'Neill Park. We've been learning to walk up to "port-a-potties" since they clearly eat fillies. She hard ties, gets fly sprayed without issue, has her feet done without drama. She is truly a beautiful mover and loves to run. We've had a bareback pad on her and keep sacking her out on everything we can imagine. Monday we had to walk by 5 police cars and a fire engine to get home from the arena (all running with lights and radios going). She stepped right into procession between two cars as the fire engine drove away and we walked through without incident or fear. She has a great personality and likes to play with one of our terriers.
Popcorn (aka PC) is coming on well. She was the mare that was rescued with Maui in utero on the way to slaughter, and she is rising 8. She is our rock on the ground and has learned really great manners. We've taken her for walks into the local community, and on very difficult trails. She is going well under saddle. We're currently working her on water crossings. I had taken her through wide (more than 5 feet) crossings, but hadn't done much with narrow streams. She showed me on Friday that she doesn't like to get her feet wet, by leaping over 2 and 3 foot wide creeks. So, we are working on walking through water. PC is so beautiful we get comments every time we go out. She is now well known in our area.
Ryder (aka Stryder) is also doing very well. Stryder is rising 4 now. He's slimmed down and become much quieter and more calm. His lope is so smooth you can hardly feel it. He does great roll backs. He really loves PC and O'Hana. We are also sacking him out on everything we can think of, and he is doing very well. All the local women swoon over his good looks.
As a fun aside, we brought in an equine chiropractor to make sure everyone was doing well. He walked in and said, "I know this horse!" And that's how Dr. Don Moore got to see Ryder and Popcorn again! A great chiropractor doing great things for horses. Keep up all your good work!
Steve Conkling"
And this latest email from Sparkles adopter Lynn:
" I’ve taken on the “ranch” pony who’s owner hasn’t seen him in at least three years & is no longer paying board. She used to send money for his board & care but then just stopped. The ranch owner is currently going through the process of getting him signed over to her. Between the manager, trainer & me we are now taking care of his needs so that he doesn’t go without. Between the three of us we are hoping to keep him. Everyone loves him. My farrier even donated a trim a few weeks ago. Skeeter was never thin, as the managers always feed him. He was a sad lonely pony until recently. I’ve watched him transform over the past few months. I don’t know how such an amazing horse could be left behind. The owner bought a new high dollar horse for her daughter, moved it to Del Mar and left him behind. Skeeter loves kids so much. His heart is so much bigger than his 13h size. He whinnies every time my girls walk in the barn. He has gone from a stall soured grumpy pony to one who can’t wait to get out with any kid weather it’s for a brushing, bath, arena work or trail ride.
I’m guess I’m telling you a little about Skeeter because prior to reading all the stories on your blog, visiting and then adopting Sparkles I would have never done anything or spoken up about him. There is also a another horse at the ranch who’s owner I’ve never seen. She’s supposedly a rescue & came in very thin and scared. Her feet were so long I mentioned it to the manager & ranch owner and they got after the horses owner to get her feet done. Two days later they were trimmed. I’ve also asked if I could start taking her out just to brush and turn out. I’m awaiting for a reply from the owner. Being neglected isn’t just about lack of feed. It’s lack of care, love, & companionship. I may not be changing the lives of as many horses that you have but I’m trying to make a difference in the lives of a few at a time.
Lynn Olsen"
Latest Rescues - Gunner is a 6 year old beautiful paint gelding who will be arriving to FalconRidge next week. The grulla stallion should be here by then too. Behind the scenes I am working on a huge case with 100 icelandics who will need rehoming and a friend of mine is assisting with another case of 80 horses in need. Tiki went home with her new adopter Catherine today, congratulations to Tiki!
Make a difference in a life today....
Love,
Nicki
Cheyenne
The Story of Cheyenne
Cheyenne is an eleven year old quarterhorse gelding that came to FalconRidge last month in obvious pain in his rear legs. He has been on bute and Lubrisyn and seen by the vet and chiropractor so far. When asked to back up he is in obvious discomfort and grits his teeth and pins his ears, poor little guy. He appears to have some sort of damage to his hind legs, either hock, stifle or ligaments, and is in a slow recovery process of rest, joint supplements and pain relievers.
I received a letter from his previous owner detailing how his life has been so far in this world. She included photographs along with her letter of how he looked when she rescued him. His story made me cry. Just like in the story Black Beauty, horses can go from great loving homes to hell as they go from owner to owner. Here is little Cheyenne's life so far...
Cheyenne's first owner was 16 and she used him for barrel racing. When he was 4 to 5 years old, Cheyenne was sold to a 55 plus year old woman who used him for trail and pleasure riding. During the last year she had him he went for long periods of time without food or water. I have pictures, too graphic to post, of open sore wounds on Cheyennes withers from an improperly fitting saddle and pad where it dug into him and opened up the skin. I have pictures of him when he was rescued and he is thin.
In July of 2006 Cheyenne was left behind during a major brush fire.
He was LEFT BEHIND...
From December 2007 to April of 2008, Cheyenne and his other stablemate, a horse, and a buffalo, were left with no food and water other than the weeds. The buffalo died. That is when the neighbor, who is telling me his story, decided to take in Cheyenne and the other horse on her own and care for them. She cared for him for almost a year and found him a home. The new owner, seeing that Cheyenne was acting out and rearing upon being asked to back up, called me and asked me to take him right away, so I did. That is how he came to FalconRidge.
We will get little Cheyenne out of pain. If it takes injections in his stifles, or massage, or more chiropractic work, or special meds...we will find the way.
This little neglected trooper deserves nothing less than affection, love, security, and to be out of pain for the remainder of his entire life after all he has been through...
With loving care,
Nicki
I received a letter from his previous owner detailing how his life has been so far in this world. She included photographs along with her letter of how he looked when she rescued him. His story made me cry. Just like in the story Black Beauty, horses can go from great loving homes to hell as they go from owner to owner. Here is little Cheyenne's life so far...
Cheyenne's first owner was 16 and she used him for barrel racing. When he was 4 to 5 years old, Cheyenne was sold to a 55 plus year old woman who used him for trail and pleasure riding. During the last year she had him he went for long periods of time without food or water. I have pictures, too graphic to post, of open sore wounds on Cheyennes withers from an improperly fitting saddle and pad where it dug into him and opened up the skin. I have pictures of him when he was rescued and he is thin.
In July of 2006 Cheyenne was left behind during a major brush fire.
He was LEFT BEHIND...
From December 2007 to April of 2008, Cheyenne and his other stablemate, a horse, and a buffalo, were left with no food and water other than the weeds. The buffalo died. That is when the neighbor, who is telling me his story, decided to take in Cheyenne and the other horse on her own and care for them. She cared for him for almost a year and found him a home. The new owner, seeing that Cheyenne was acting out and rearing upon being asked to back up, called me and asked me to take him right away, so I did. That is how he came to FalconRidge.
We will get little Cheyenne out of pain. If it takes injections in his stifles, or massage, or more chiropractic work, or special meds...we will find the way.
This little neglected trooper deserves nothing less than affection, love, security, and to be out of pain for the remainder of his entire life after all he has been through...
With loving care,
Nicki
Dusty and Jody Updates
"Wanted to touch base and say hi. Dusty is doing well. He lets us walk right up and put his halter/lead rope on. That's saying alot. He even lets me put his fly mask and fly spray on him. He's become so much more trusting. Initially I was the only one who could put the bit in his mouth. Now Aaron does it easily.
He's a great horse out on trail. Likes to be the head of the pack. He's so calm and confident under saddle. We use him to pony and/or take the babies from the ranch out on trail. Aaron adores him....almost obsessive over him. Had to talk him out of setting up a tent and staying the night in Dusty's pen the other day. Our pasture is almost done and we should have all the horseys at our house by this weekend.
If you ever need anything please let me know. I will do what I can. You provide such a wonderful service and would love to help. I can even foster a horse if you run out of space (cochise!pretty please!I love him!j/k...but seriously. ).
Talk to you soon!
With Love,
Lisa Bone"
"How are you doing?? Jody and I are doing great.. I love her dearly.. I can't believe how good she is, calm and the best ever..
Thank you..Toni"
He's a great horse out on trail. Likes to be the head of the pack. He's so calm and confident under saddle. We use him to pony and/or take the babies from the ranch out on trail. Aaron adores him....almost obsessive over him. Had to talk him out of setting up a tent and staying the night in Dusty's pen the other day. Our pasture is almost done and we should have all the horseys at our house by this weekend.
If you ever need anything please let me know. I will do what I can. You provide such a wonderful service and would love to help. I can even foster a horse if you run out of space (cochise!pretty please!I love him!j/k...but seriously. ).
Talk to you soon!
With Love,
Lisa Bone"
"How are you doing?? Jody and I are doing great.. I love her dearly.. I can't believe how good she is, calm and the best ever..
Thank you..Toni"
Amber on Lady Gwen today
Mystery, looking for his own dedicated and loving owner
Little Kenny says "Me and my horse got places to go!"
Sienna with her adoptive mom Kelly
Amber with Apollo, a yearling arabian colt
Nick and Rachel
I am not sure who has the cutest expression
Aramus, 3 yr old arabian stallion
Jaguar and Zeus today
Sunday April 25th - Grulla Stallion and more horses in need
This morning I turned out the Black Jaguar with little Zeus to get Jag to exercise. He has been feeling better lately and not acting colicy. Dr. Moss will be coming by to see him Monday or Tuesday. David was in Texas doing a clinic this weekend and will be back Monday.
Volunteers Rachel and Amber came out, along with Kenny and Andy. Rachel rode Nick and Nora, groomed and turned out several horses. Amber groomed lots of horses and rode Meshewa and had her first bareback ride on Lady Guinivere. Kenny and Andy walked Jocko and Zeus.
A military retirement home conacted us recently for a tour of FalconRidge and set up a date in May so the retirees will be shown the horses of FalconRidge and what we do here.
A professional photographer has contacted me and wants to volunteer and donate his services to shoot photos of the horses for adoption photos as well as create a fundraising calendar for FalconRidge. He will be starting soon.
We had our fourth meeting of the APCA funded San Diego Equine Coalition and it is going extremely well. We are four local horse rescue organizations, four large veterinary practices, and the two humane organizations, San Diego County Dept. of Animal Services and San Diego Humane Society. We are planning a website which will have information on it for horse owners and help for those people who need to place horses. We are also creating a voucher program for people who need assistance financially with their horse for vet care, farrier, euthanasia or castration. Our group is looking forward to be able to help more horses by assisting those who have them to be able to keep them in their homes, therefore creating less unwanted horses or horses at-risk. Thanks to a generous donation to the ASPCA, funds will be used for these programs for the next two years to help horses in San Diego.
Our three latest rescued horses are Aramus, a three year old arabian stallion. Apollo and Saxon are yearling arab colts. All three are getting halter trained and Aramus has already been saddled and had David on him.
I was contacted today by Captain Gove of San Diego Humane Society about some horses in need, one is a grulla stallion who is a little underweight and has rope or some sort of burns on both hind legs below the fetlock. There is also a paint and a bay mare needing a home. We shall see what happens. Nick and Nora and many others are ready for adoption here. If they leave and go home with their forever family, it makes room for us to help others in need.
Have a super week!
Love,
Nicki
Volunteers Rachel and Amber came out, along with Kenny and Andy. Rachel rode Nick and Nora, groomed and turned out several horses. Amber groomed lots of horses and rode Meshewa and had her first bareback ride on Lady Guinivere. Kenny and Andy walked Jocko and Zeus.
A military retirement home conacted us recently for a tour of FalconRidge and set up a date in May so the retirees will be shown the horses of FalconRidge and what we do here.
A professional photographer has contacted me and wants to volunteer and donate his services to shoot photos of the horses for adoption photos as well as create a fundraising calendar for FalconRidge. He will be starting soon.
We had our fourth meeting of the APCA funded San Diego Equine Coalition and it is going extremely well. We are four local horse rescue organizations, four large veterinary practices, and the two humane organizations, San Diego County Dept. of Animal Services and San Diego Humane Society. We are planning a website which will have information on it for horse owners and help for those people who need to place horses. We are also creating a voucher program for people who need assistance financially with their horse for vet care, farrier, euthanasia or castration. Our group is looking forward to be able to help more horses by assisting those who have them to be able to keep them in their homes, therefore creating less unwanted horses or horses at-risk. Thanks to a generous donation to the ASPCA, funds will be used for these programs for the next two years to help horses in San Diego.
Our three latest rescued horses are Aramus, a three year old arabian stallion. Apollo and Saxon are yearling arab colts. All three are getting halter trained and Aramus has already been saddled and had David on him.
I was contacted today by Captain Gove of San Diego Humane Society about some horses in need, one is a grulla stallion who is a little underweight and has rope or some sort of burns on both hind legs below the fetlock. There is also a paint and a bay mare needing a home. We shall see what happens. Nick and Nora and many others are ready for adoption here. If they leave and go home with their forever family, it makes room for us to help others in need.
Have a super week!
Love,
Nicki
Graceful Gold & her new mom Judy
Maui with her proud parents
Friday April 23 - Graceful Gold and Maui Updates
I received this email from Judy, adopter of the palomino mare Graceful Gold:
"Grace has settled in nicely and is a jewel on the trail. We enjoy going out on the trail with my 9 year old granddaughter and her Icelandic and are looking forward to certifying her as a CVMP (Chula Vista Mounted Police) horse. Her potential and desire to please is great. She fits right in and loves "horsing" around.
Thanks Falconridge.
Judy and Grace"
and from Gene and Dana, adopters of Maui. Maui and her mother were saved from going to slaughter in Colorado.
"MAUI AT ALMOST 4
WE’RE JUST BEGINNING TO RIDE HER.
SHE’S AN ABLSOLUTELY SWEET, CURIOUS LITTLE MARE & SASSY AT TIMES
HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AT FALCONRIDGE
GENE & DANA"
"Grace has settled in nicely and is a jewel on the trail. We enjoy going out on the trail with my 9 year old granddaughter and her Icelandic and are looking forward to certifying her as a CVMP (Chula Vista Mounted Police) horse. Her potential and desire to please is great. She fits right in and loves "horsing" around.
Thanks Falconridge.
Judy and Grace"
and from Gene and Dana, adopters of Maui. Maui and her mother were saved from going to slaughter in Colorado.
"MAUI AT ALMOST 4
WE’RE JUST BEGINNING TO RIDE HER.
SHE’S AN ABLSOLUTELY SWEET, CURIOUS LITTLE MARE & SASSY AT TIMES
HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AT FALCONRIDGE
GENE & DANA"
Voodoo at a show
Monday April 19 - Voodoo Update
Hey Nicki, & Hey David!
Well Voodoo did his first kid's show with my daughter, Sophia last Sunday. He's a good boy & showing lots of potential for being a star in the ring. He spent the day next to a mare in season, and he was just fine. I sent some pictures, be sure and zoom in on his fanciness!
In January he and I did our first 25 mile ride in Warner Springs, and we've done a couple fun shows/games. Last fall we did some 15 milers, and camping! David, you told me it takes one year to make a great trail horse, well you are right, & yes he is! Now it's time to slow down and do some serious rail work, but he is all in. All the best.
Thanks for all you do,
Geanna Schmidt
Well Voodoo did his first kid's show with my daughter, Sophia last Sunday. He's a good boy & showing lots of potential for being a star in the ring. He spent the day next to a mare in season, and he was just fine. I sent some pictures, be sure and zoom in on his fanciness!
In January he and I did our first 25 mile ride in Warner Springs, and we've done a couple fun shows/games. Last fall we did some 15 milers, and camping! David, you told me it takes one year to make a great trail horse, well you are right, & yes he is! Now it's time to slow down and do some serious rail work, but he is all in. All the best.
Thanks for all you do,
Geanna Schmidt
Milk Dud, 30 year old abandoned gelding
FalconRidge Supporter Cindy today with Cochise
Saturday April 17 - New Volunteer Orientation Day, Chicaboom Gets Adopted & Milk Dud Arrives
This morning David and I took Jaguar to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital to be seen by Dr. Joe Cannon and xrayed to see the cause of his bouts of mild colic. We were thinking he had stones, or enteroliths. He took several xrays and found no stones and also no sand. We were greatly relieved. He did a rectal exam and found no masses and everything appeared normal. They took blood and also found nothing abnormal, other than he was dehydrated. So we happily brought Jaguar back home and we will monitor him closely for water intake. Good news for Jaguar! His sponsor, Cindy Schultz came to FalconRidge today and perhaps she is good luck for him as no stones were found by the vet.
Volunteers where out cleaning stalls, grooming and working with the horses.
We had our monthly new volunteer orientation today, led by Volunteer Coordinator Peg Wozniak and Christe Respess. Everyone was introduced to all the horses and got to hear all the great stories we have here of the rescued horses.
A super family, the Oatmans, have decided to adopt Chicaboom. Congratulations to Chicaboom for finding her forever home!
Juan Aguilar and his nephew Luis came out to trim several horses. We love Juan and he is a super farrier, donating his services to the rescue which is greatly appreciated.
And officer Dancy of LA City Animal Control drove up to Bakersfield to the Kern County Animal Shelter to pick up Milk Dud, the 30 year old quarter horse who was abandoned at the 99 freeway and highway 46 last January. Milk Dud will be going to Blue Apple Ranch on Tuesday, thanks to Lynn Wells who fell in love with him and his name. Congrats to Milk Dud!
Tonight I went out to check on Jaguar and he was fine in the upper pasture. I heard a whinny and a squeel down near the corrals, which didn't sound normal, so I walked down there in robe and tennies in the dark to check things out. The horses
all got quiet when I walked up. I paused and didn't hear anything and was going to walk back up to the house. I shined the flashlight over near Apollo and Saxon the two arab colts. Hmm, someone big and dark was outside of their stall. It was Pow Wow who came over to say hi to them! I put him back in his stall, picking up Kharmas grain bin that had been raided and said Ok everyone...party is over! Go back to bed!
Goodnight Moon,
Love,
Nicki
Volunteers where out cleaning stalls, grooming and working with the horses.
We had our monthly new volunteer orientation today, led by Volunteer Coordinator Peg Wozniak and Christe Respess. Everyone was introduced to all the horses and got to hear all the great stories we have here of the rescued horses.
A super family, the Oatmans, have decided to adopt Chicaboom. Congratulations to Chicaboom for finding her forever home!
Juan Aguilar and his nephew Luis came out to trim several horses. We love Juan and he is a super farrier, donating his services to the rescue which is greatly appreciated.
And officer Dancy of LA City Animal Control drove up to Bakersfield to the Kern County Animal Shelter to pick up Milk Dud, the 30 year old quarter horse who was abandoned at the 99 freeway and highway 46 last January. Milk Dud will be going to Blue Apple Ranch on Tuesday, thanks to Lynn Wells who fell in love with him and his name. Congrats to Milk Dud!
Tonight I went out to check on Jaguar and he was fine in the upper pasture. I heard a whinny and a squeel down near the corrals, which didn't sound normal, so I walked down there in robe and tennies in the dark to check things out. The horses
all got quiet when I walked up. I paused and didn't hear anything and was going to walk back up to the house. I shined the flashlight over near Apollo and Saxon the two arab colts. Hmm, someone big and dark was outside of their stall. It was Pow Wow who came over to say hi to them! I put him back in his stall, picking up Kharmas grain bin that had been raided and said Ok everyone...party is over! Go back to bed!
Goodnight Moon,
Love,
Nicki
April 13 - Geronimo Gets Adopted !
April 12 - Our San Diego Equine Coalition Press Release
April 12, 2010
ASPCA Announces $200,000 Grant for San Diego County Horses
Funding Will Provide Care and Support for Abused and Neglected Horses
NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the awarding of a $200,000 grant—to be distributed over the next two years—to the San Diego Equine Safety Net Coalition for support of San Diego County’s abandoned and neglected horses. The funds were made possible by the estate of Edith Hakes, a long-time resident of San Diego. An initial amount of $50,000 has been distributed.
“The ASPCA is determined to identify the diverse needs of the equine community and support those exemplary organizations that provide care and shelter for horses in need,” said ASPCA Senior Director of Community Outreach Jacque Schultz. “San Diego Equine Safety Net Coalition has presented a strong model of collaboration that is needed to improve the lives of San Diego County’s horses; an example we hope will inspire similar partnerships across the country.”
The San Diego Equine Safety Net Coalition includes: Blue Apple Ranch in Ramona, Calif., Horses of Tir Na Nog in Descanso, Calif., FalconRidge Equine Rescue in Valley Center, Calif., and Tijuana River Valley Rescue in Jamul, Calif., as well as equine veterinarians and representatives from local animal welfare organizations. Together, they provide support and consultation for the county’s horse guardians.
The grant will also provide funding for the development of a public Web site, which will offer guidance on topics such as breeding and end-of-life decisions and educate the community on responsible equine stewardship. In addition, the coalition, with the support of veterinary partners, will initiate an emergency voucher program to be offered to low-income county residents in need of veterinary assistance for emergency horse care.
In 2009, the ASPCA awarded a total of more than $540,000 in the form of 164 grants to equine rescue groups and humane organizations across the country. The ASPCA works to protect and aid horses through legislation, advocacy, education, targeted grants, and enforcement of the carriage horse and cruelty laws in New York City.
For more information on the ASPCA’s equine programs, please visit http://www.aspcapro.org/saving-lives/equine-program.
Cochise today with volunteer Rachel...he is up for adoption
Tiki and her adoptive mom Catherine
Taffy and her new family...Mom, Dad and Willow
The volunteers with Jubilee
Sunday April 11 - Taffy Gets Adopted
This weekend was extremely busy here at FalconRidge. Lots of activity with volunteers, horses, people coming and going. Horses getting ridden, trained and adopted! Yes, Taffy, the palomino mare will be going home to a wonderful Encinitas couple to be their pet, family member and compadre to their super cool dog, a kelpie named Willow.
Peg, Melissa and Shirley got Jubilee out on Friday...yes, Jubilee the untouchable arab mare. Lots of hands on and this girl has come a long way.
I was contacted about several horses. We cannot say yes to them all unfortunately. Many super horses here need to find adoptive homes before we can bring in more. Pow Wow is still here, Snowbell, Nemo, Nick, Nora, Geronimo, Cochise, Tejon, Baron...all super horses just lookin for love...lookin for you...lookin for a family to call their own. Is that you?
We have been contacted by a retirement home who wishes to come out and see our wonderful horses here at FalconRidge. Our horses heal people.
A big thank you to all of you who have donated towards our cause. Your funds go directly to help feed and care for our 50 or so horses here. Without you we cannot do what we do, rescue, rehab, retrain and rehome horses. You rock!
Good news for Milk Dud the stray grulla gelding at the Kern County Animal Shelter in Bakersfield. This 30 year old boy is wanted, by a special person. He will be going to the spa at the Ritz...he was thrown away by someone in Bakersfield and now he will be pampered the rest of his life on lush grass pastures during the day and nice warm barn at night and the best place on earth, Blue Apple Ranch.
Milk Dud is a champion, he is wanted, he will give and get love.
And so it shall be.
Officer Dancy of Los Angeles Animal Control has graciously agreed to transport the super Milk Dud boy down to San Diego County for us. Bless her heart for wanting to help Milk Dud too.
Goodnight and good love,
Nicki
Peg, Melissa and Shirley got Jubilee out on Friday...yes, Jubilee the untouchable arab mare. Lots of hands on and this girl has come a long way.
I was contacted about several horses. We cannot say yes to them all unfortunately. Many super horses here need to find adoptive homes before we can bring in more. Pow Wow is still here, Snowbell, Nemo, Nick, Nora, Geronimo, Cochise, Tejon, Baron...all super horses just lookin for love...lookin for you...lookin for a family to call their own. Is that you?
We have been contacted by a retirement home who wishes to come out and see our wonderful horses here at FalconRidge. Our horses heal people.
A big thank you to all of you who have donated towards our cause. Your funds go directly to help feed and care for our 50 or so horses here. Without you we cannot do what we do, rescue, rehab, retrain and rehome horses. You rock!
Good news for Milk Dud the stray grulla gelding at the Kern County Animal Shelter in Bakersfield. This 30 year old boy is wanted, by a special person. He will be going to the spa at the Ritz...he was thrown away by someone in Bakersfield and now he will be pampered the rest of his life on lush grass pastures during the day and nice warm barn at night and the best place on earth, Blue Apple Ranch.
Milk Dud is a champion, he is wanted, he will give and get love.
And so it shall be.
Officer Dancy of Los Angeles Animal Control has graciously agreed to transport the super Milk Dud boy down to San Diego County for us. Bless her heart for wanting to help Milk Dud too.
Goodnight and good love,
Nicki
Smokette with her new mom, having fun sorting
Thursday April 8 - Smokette Update
"Hi Nicki! Just wanted to forward some pics of sorting last weekend. I'm on Smokette, my son Braden is on the paint and my son Garrett is on the arab. Smokette is doing very well. Her only issue is that she is buddy sour but she is getting better, the more time I spend with her. She is just so beautiful and joy to ride! How often was she ridden before I got her? I have a snaffle bit on her and she stops on a dime. I am so anxious to see how she does through the summer."
Dear Kim,
Smokette has maybe 25 rides on her. With the right foundation and training which we give... our horses are wonderful under saddle. Thanks for the update and for giving her a wonderful home and life.
Way to go Kim and Smokette!
Dear Kim,
Smokette has maybe 25 rides on her. With the right foundation and training which we give... our horses are wonderful under saddle. Thanks for the update and for giving her a wonderful home and life.
Way to go Kim and Smokette!
Horse in need at Kern County Animal Shelter, Bakersfield
Wednesday April 7 - Graceful Gold Goes Home & Little Gabriella Brings a Surprise
Yesterday, we got a surprise from young fundraiser phenomenon Gabriella Cinquini when she came to FalconRidge with her mom, Jane, and presented David with another check from her birthday fundraiser for FalconRidge. She proudly handed a check over for $1,000. Thanks to Gabriella, many horses will be helped! An amazing young lady with a bright future.
Perhaps some of those horses Gabriellas donation will help will be one of the three paint horses coming in? They need a new home and are in Valley Center.
One 18 year old stallion, one 18 year old gelding who rides well, and a 10 year old gelding who has never been trained under saddle.
There are two other quarter horses I was called about who need new homes as well from a woman in Julian.
Or? there is a little gelding up at the Kern County Animal Shelter in Bakersfield who needs to be adopted. If you can stop by and see him please contact me. I was told he was 30, but his original ad said 8, and he looks more like 8! He was an abandoned stray picked up.
There is a black mare in Descanso who is 5 and was saved from euthanasia by her previous owner due to finances. The gal that saved her cannot afford her and I was called. The mare is scared and nervous and needs a ride from Descanco. Her name is Penguin. If you can help Penguin please contact me. nickbranch@aol.com.
Chief will be going home on Friday and Taffy is most likely adopted. :-)
The other day someone asked me if one of our horses kicks? I said no, our horses dont. We have at least 60 horses on the property. Horses that kick are with someone who is not handling them properly or they have not been trained properly and safely by humans. Horses that kick at you also do not respect you, and they can be kicking out of fear. Please train your horses which would therefore ensure their future, just in case you have to place them elsewhere. Training horses safely...a good thing.
The Ritchie Herd will be arriving soon from Northern California. We are collaborating with Norcal Equine Rescue and Blue Apple Ranch. The horses need training and will get training by David and our wonderful volunteers at FalconRidge. They get handled, learn to lead, back up, pick up feet, tie for grooming, get a bath, work in hand and then learn to go under saddle. They will be up for adoption. They belonged to a famous actor, Clint Ritchie, who passed away.
Come volunteer and help us out..watch these wonderful horses transform! BE a part of their learning and growing and transition from untrained horses to confident and happy horses...horses who will go on to their new loving families in the future.
Be the change.
Love,
Nicki
Perhaps some of those horses Gabriellas donation will help will be one of the three paint horses coming in? They need a new home and are in Valley Center.
One 18 year old stallion, one 18 year old gelding who rides well, and a 10 year old gelding who has never been trained under saddle.
There are two other quarter horses I was called about who need new homes as well from a woman in Julian.
Or? there is a little gelding up at the Kern County Animal Shelter in Bakersfield who needs to be adopted. If you can stop by and see him please contact me. I was told he was 30, but his original ad said 8, and he looks more like 8! He was an abandoned stray picked up.
There is a black mare in Descanso who is 5 and was saved from euthanasia by her previous owner due to finances. The gal that saved her cannot afford her and I was called. The mare is scared and nervous and needs a ride from Descanco. Her name is Penguin. If you can help Penguin please contact me. nickbranch@aol.com.
Chief will be going home on Friday and Taffy is most likely adopted. :-)
The other day someone asked me if one of our horses kicks? I said no, our horses dont. We have at least 60 horses on the property. Horses that kick are with someone who is not handling them properly or they have not been trained properly and safely by humans. Horses that kick at you also do not respect you, and they can be kicking out of fear. Please train your horses which would therefore ensure their future, just in case you have to place them elsewhere. Training horses safely...a good thing.
The Ritchie Herd will be arriving soon from Northern California. We are collaborating with Norcal Equine Rescue and Blue Apple Ranch. The horses need training and will get training by David and our wonderful volunteers at FalconRidge. They get handled, learn to lead, back up, pick up feet, tie for grooming, get a bath, work in hand and then learn to go under saddle. They will be up for adoption. They belonged to a famous actor, Clint Ritchie, who passed away.
Come volunteer and help us out..watch these wonderful horses transform! BE a part of their learning and growing and transition from untrained horses to confident and happy horses...horses who will go on to their new loving families in the future.
Be the change.
Love,
Nicki
Chief showing off his new mom and dad, Joann & Ken!
Superstar Nick under saddle and up for adoption
15 yr old QH/Arab cross gelding
Sunday April 4th - Chief Gets A Family
Today was lucky for Chief as he got adopted to a wonderful couple, Joann and Ken, with two children, to be a member of their family. Happy Easter to Chief!
Volunteer Elani came out and did her spa grooming of several horses and turned horses out for us.
David rode Nick again and found him to be pretty good under saddle and definitely calmer now that he has settled in. He is up for adoption now and is one of our super horses.
More people came out to see Taffy and Nemo so cross fingers for them that they just might have a new loving home in the future....we were outside on the ranch when the earthquake hit so we didn't feel it.
Happy Easter and Marshmallow Peeps to You!
Love,
Nicki
Volunteer Elani came out and did her spa grooming of several horses and turned horses out for us.
David rode Nick again and found him to be pretty good under saddle and definitely calmer now that he has settled in. He is up for adoption now and is one of our super horses.
More people came out to see Taffy and Nemo so cross fingers for them that they just might have a new loving home in the future....we were outside on the ranch when the earthquake hit so we didn't feel it.
Happy Easter and Marshmallow Peeps to You!
Love,
Nicki
Happy Easter From FalconRidge!
Cochise and Toby
Christe With Blaze
Cochise With My Son Jordan
Taffy
The Amazing Nora, Up For Adoption
Saturday April 3 - Tiki's Special Day & Blaze Gets Evaluated
This morning we had our volunteer Rachel out at the ranch and she rode Nora and Taffy. Nora is a super horse up for adoption! She rides light on the bit and stops on a dime. Even though she is a cribber, she is an easy keeper and gained weight quickly after her rescue from LA.
Christe came out and helped with several of the horses. She calmly walked up to Jubilee and was petting on her. Amber came out too and helped with grooming and turning out horses and assisted David with evaluating Rory.
A super lady named Catherine came out and adopted Tiki and took a lesson with David. Congratulations to Catherine and Tiki!
David evaluated Blaze for the first time and found that she rides ok, but needs work on giving to the bit and being able to flex vertically and laterally when asked.
Cochise and Chief got their teeth floated. Toby and Cochise were turned out together in the roundpen and played. Cochise is being socialized and was fine.
I received no requests to take horses in today. Amazing!
I received a super update and pics of her riding from Chris, the woman who adopted Sultan and who has him with a peruvian paso trainer.
Tomorrow is Easter and we will be here, open, and showing horses for adoption. Don't forget to bring Marshmallow Peeps for David...he likes them.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~ Dalai Lama
Love,
Nicki
Christe came out and helped with several of the horses. She calmly walked up to Jubilee and was petting on her. Amber came out too and helped with grooming and turning out horses and assisted David with evaluating Rory.
A super lady named Catherine came out and adopted Tiki and took a lesson with David. Congratulations to Catherine and Tiki!
David evaluated Blaze for the first time and found that she rides ok, but needs work on giving to the bit and being able to flex vertically and laterally when asked.
Cochise and Chief got their teeth floated. Toby and Cochise were turned out together in the roundpen and played. Cochise is being socialized and was fine.
I received no requests to take horses in today. Amazing!
I received a super update and pics of her riding from Chris, the woman who adopted Sultan and who has him with a peruvian paso trainer.
Tomorrow is Easter and we will be here, open, and showing horses for adoption. Don't forget to bring Marshmallow Peeps for David...he likes them.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~ Dalai Lama
Love,
Nicki
Nick, rescued from the streets of LA
Thursday April 1st - A Good Day for Statistics
I know we have been pretty busy lately rescuing horses. So? I took a tally....and this is what we have done in the last 6 months here at FalconRidge Equine Rescue:
We took in and rescued 38 horses from various situations such as neglect, abandonment, or owners who could no longer afford them.
2 of those horses passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Miles, and Markie, who did not even make it here.
7 of those horses were sent to sanctuary at Blue Apple Ranch.
16 of those horses are here undergoing rehabilitation or they are up for adoption (take a look!)
13 of those horses have been adopted into loving homes.
and I am betting a few more will be adopted this weekend.
I think that is pretty amazing given our limited resources. Funds are needed for our hay bill and vet bills, both of which are very large. We are not heavily into asking for donations, or doing fundraising, so please realize every little bit helps. Even $5 goes to helping horses such as these 38 who have been rescued in the last 6 months. We cannot keep up the pace like this without receiving donations to care for the horses who need homes. There are several I have had to say no to, and many who are waiting to come in. Once our coalition website is up and our rescue is listed, the phone calls and emails will increase and they are already overwhelming. Several of our horses need sponsors. Take a look at our sponsorship page, the link is on the right.
You can make a difference.
You can help save a horse.
You can be their Superstar and Champion.
You would not only be helping a horse, you would be helping another human being, it could be a neighbor, it could be someone just like you, a horse owner who is in desperate need to place their horse and will most likely be losing their home that they have known for several years. I take the calls with the tears and the shaky voice pleading for help. You can come to their aid by helping temporarily pay for feed and vet care, until the horse is adopted. Caring and compassion...a good thing!
Love,
Nicki
We took in and rescued 38 horses from various situations such as neglect, abandonment, or owners who could no longer afford them.
2 of those horses passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Miles, and Markie, who did not even make it here.
7 of those horses were sent to sanctuary at Blue Apple Ranch.
16 of those horses are here undergoing rehabilitation or they are up for adoption (take a look!)
13 of those horses have been adopted into loving homes.
and I am betting a few more will be adopted this weekend.
I think that is pretty amazing given our limited resources. Funds are needed for our hay bill and vet bills, both of which are very large. We are not heavily into asking for donations, or doing fundraising, so please realize every little bit helps. Even $5 goes to helping horses such as these 38 who have been rescued in the last 6 months. We cannot keep up the pace like this without receiving donations to care for the horses who need homes. There are several I have had to say no to, and many who are waiting to come in. Once our coalition website is up and our rescue is listed, the phone calls and emails will increase and they are already overwhelming. Several of our horses need sponsors. Take a look at our sponsorship page, the link is on the right.
You can make a difference.
You can help save a horse.
You can be their Superstar and Champion.
You would not only be helping a horse, you would be helping another human being, it could be a neighbor, it could be someone just like you, a horse owner who is in desperate need to place their horse and will most likely be losing their home that they have known for several years. I take the calls with the tears and the shaky voice pleading for help. You can come to their aid by helping temporarily pay for feed and vet care, until the horse is adopted. Caring and compassion...a good thing!
Love,
Nicki
Graceful Gold, 17 yr old reg. palomino - UPDATE, adopted!
Congratulations to a wonderful woman named Judy, friend of Capt. DJ Gove of the San Diego Humane Society!
Blaze, 19 yr old registered paint mare for adoption
Rosalee
Dusty
Updates from Rosalee and Dusty's adopters
"Hi Nicki,
The trial ride went very well. I gave her a bath and trimmed her mane even and her face cleaned up. She was really good seems to love being groomed. I measured her today and she is 14.3 barefooted. My trail horse. Sky, is 14.2 with shoes. Anyway Raymond rode Little Bit today. She was very forward. He had to work with her to slow down. After a mile or so she realized that she needed to slow down. She was not familiar with water crossings but seem to be ok once she saw Sky go in. The photos are not very good but you know that she was ok and enjoyed so grass on some of the stops. It was a fairly advance trail she did really well up and down some short steep hills. Raymond does not have his saddle yet he had to use my daughters saddle it was a little small for him.
Thanks so much for Little Bit:)
Valerie"
"Good Morning Nicki,
Wanted to touch base and say hi. Dusty has settled in nicely. I'd like to say that his problems are gone but it's only been two weeks and he's a "two steps forward-one step back" kind of guy. That being said, we are now taking him out on trail and he is amazing. He seems to really enjoy it and wants to go exploring. He always wants to see whats behind the row of bushes or trees. It's fun to watch him. Everything is new and exciting. I'm going to assume a guy beat Dusty and it's pretty evident when we work with him that he is more receptive to me then to my husband. Aaron is still unable to put a bit in his mouth. I have to do it. It bums Aaron out. I have to remind him that it took 15 yrs to get Dusty in this condition. It's going to take a lot longer than two weeks to get Dusty to forget or forgive. Aaron understands and loves him but needs a reminder from time to time. So, he hangs out with Dusty everyday and grooms him and feeds him and just hangs out. I think the time spent will pay off. I enclosed a pic of Aaron and Dusty on their first ride together. I know it's the beginning of an amazing relationship between those two. I hope all is well at Falconridge. I love reading your blog and seeing the progress of all the horses.....Jaguar looks great. I'll write/talk to you soon. If you ever need an extra hand or help please let me know.
Sincerely, Lisa"
The trial ride went very well. I gave her a bath and trimmed her mane even and her face cleaned up. She was really good seems to love being groomed. I measured her today and she is 14.3 barefooted. My trail horse. Sky, is 14.2 with shoes. Anyway Raymond rode Little Bit today. She was very forward. He had to work with her to slow down. After a mile or so she realized that she needed to slow down. She was not familiar with water crossings but seem to be ok once she saw Sky go in. The photos are not very good but you know that she was ok and enjoyed so grass on some of the stops. It was a fairly advance trail she did really well up and down some short steep hills. Raymond does not have his saddle yet he had to use my daughters saddle it was a little small for him.
Thanks so much for Little Bit:)
Valerie"
"Good Morning Nicki,
Wanted to touch base and say hi. Dusty has settled in nicely. I'd like to say that his problems are gone but it's only been two weeks and he's a "two steps forward-one step back" kind of guy. That being said, we are now taking him out on trail and he is amazing. He seems to really enjoy it and wants to go exploring. He always wants to see whats behind the row of bushes or trees. It's fun to watch him. Everything is new and exciting. I'm going to assume a guy beat Dusty and it's pretty evident when we work with him that he is more receptive to me then to my husband. Aaron is still unable to put a bit in his mouth. I have to do it. It bums Aaron out. I have to remind him that it took 15 yrs to get Dusty in this condition. It's going to take a lot longer than two weeks to get Dusty to forget or forgive. Aaron understands and loves him but needs a reminder from time to time. So, he hangs out with Dusty everyday and grooms him and feeds him and just hangs out. I think the time spent will pay off. I enclosed a pic of Aaron and Dusty on their first ride together. I know it's the beginning of an amazing relationship between those two. I hope all is well at Falconridge. I love reading your blog and seeing the progress of all the horses.....Jaguar looks great. I'll write/talk to you soon. If you ever need an extra hand or help please let me know.
Sincerely, Lisa"
Peapod
Rescued 8/22/09 - 3/28/10
Toby, the most playful horse ever
up for adoption
Nick
San "Tejon" Tego Rey, King bred reg. quarter horse
up for adoption
Chief today
Up fpr adoption
Sunday March 28 - Chief is available, and Peapod Passes over the Rainbow Moon
Today was a warm quiet day at FalconRidge. Two volunteers came, Dianne and Elani. They groomed and turned out several horses. Jaguar is doing well and I am pleased. He is now running again and playing with the horses in the arena. Nick has filled out too and is looking plump. Cochise is ending up to be the sweetest boy now that his testosterone is leaving his body. I gave him a bath under the tree and he stood stock still watching the horses run in the arena.
Chief is now available for adoption as Kellys family situation has changed, and she informed me she sadly would not be adopting him. Chief is bombproof and a super gelding.
Toby was turned out in the roundpen and he is so playful, he grabs a saddle pad and races around with it for an hour! He smooshes it up against the rail if you come near, much like a dog giving you a ball to throw for them. He was quite entertaining to watch.
I got a call mid-morning. There is a woman up in Big Bear. She is hurting financially, has been trying to hang onto, but now wants us to take her very nice 17 year old palomino mare who is wonderful on trail. Heartbreak for her with the finances, then having to give up her horse. I say yes. The mare will be arriving tomorrow. We help those in need. It doesn't make financial sense for us to do so, but it makes compassionate sense. I care. I make you care. I know one of you will contact me and want to adopt this mare. I have not seen her yet but know she is greatness from hearing about her. If she is not, we will bring out her greatness. Her adoption fee will help pay for our huge vet bills and our feed bill to help more horses...just like her.
As I was starting to feed tonight I noticed Peapod did not eat his breakfast. I checked him and he was not well. His heart rate was elevated and he appeared to have a stroke, unsure of his surroundings. The vet was called and I gave him some banamine. Pea is about 40 years old and was rescued last year. As I finished feeding the other horses I was in tears. I wondered why I do this. Why expose myself to the sorrow of losing horses? Losing Pea was hitting hard on the heart. If you have met him, I am sure it is hitting you too right now deeply. I looked at the 40 something horses waiting for me to bring them their dinner. That's why. Because of them. They will go on to loving homes. These horses have gotten better here, healthier, and will continue to move on in life with those that love them. They represent hope and the goodness in all of us. They are our teachers. They help spread the word about horses in need, horses who get neglected, horses who go to slaughter, or horses who are just owned by someone hurting now due to the economy. Just like the palomino mare that is coming tomorrow. One is coming in. That means one is going out.
After I finished feeding I spent time with Pea. The moon was up and it looked full. Pea was now walking around in his pen, continuously. The vet Dr. Binder came and felt he had a stroke, which can cause the heart to race and body to shut down. He was neurologic. He gave him a muscle relaxer and some anti inflammatories and thought we would give him a chance to see if he will pull through. He left and I went up to the house and cried some more. I let my volunteers know..Pea is in distress. I checked him a little while later and he was gone. He passed. Zeus was staring at him in the moonlight. He was a brave and strong little pony and we will miss him dearly.
Goodnight Pea. We love you...
Love,
Nicki
Chief is now available for adoption as Kellys family situation has changed, and she informed me she sadly would not be adopting him. Chief is bombproof and a super gelding.
Toby was turned out in the roundpen and he is so playful, he grabs a saddle pad and races around with it for an hour! He smooshes it up against the rail if you come near, much like a dog giving you a ball to throw for them. He was quite entertaining to watch.
I got a call mid-morning. There is a woman up in Big Bear. She is hurting financially, has been trying to hang onto, but now wants us to take her very nice 17 year old palomino mare who is wonderful on trail. Heartbreak for her with the finances, then having to give up her horse. I say yes. The mare will be arriving tomorrow. We help those in need. It doesn't make financial sense for us to do so, but it makes compassionate sense. I care. I make you care. I know one of you will contact me and want to adopt this mare. I have not seen her yet but know she is greatness from hearing about her. If she is not, we will bring out her greatness. Her adoption fee will help pay for our huge vet bills and our feed bill to help more horses...just like her.
As I was starting to feed tonight I noticed Peapod did not eat his breakfast. I checked him and he was not well. His heart rate was elevated and he appeared to have a stroke, unsure of his surroundings. The vet was called and I gave him some banamine. Pea is about 40 years old and was rescued last year. As I finished feeding the other horses I was in tears. I wondered why I do this. Why expose myself to the sorrow of losing horses? Losing Pea was hitting hard on the heart. If you have met him, I am sure it is hitting you too right now deeply. I looked at the 40 something horses waiting for me to bring them their dinner. That's why. Because of them. They will go on to loving homes. These horses have gotten better here, healthier, and will continue to move on in life with those that love them. They represent hope and the goodness in all of us. They are our teachers. They help spread the word about horses in need, horses who get neglected, horses who go to slaughter, or horses who are just owned by someone hurting now due to the economy. Just like the palomino mare that is coming tomorrow. One is coming in. That means one is going out.
After I finished feeding I spent time with Pea. The moon was up and it looked full. Pea was now walking around in his pen, continuously. The vet Dr. Binder came and felt he had a stroke, which can cause the heart to race and body to shut down. He was neurologic. He gave him a muscle relaxer and some anti inflammatories and thought we would give him a chance to see if he will pull through. He left and I went up to the house and cried some more. I let my volunteers know..Pea is in distress. I checked him a little while later and he was gone. He passed. Zeus was staring at him in the moonlight. He was a brave and strong little pony and we will miss him dearly.
Goodnight Pea. We love you...
Love,
Nicki
Cheyenne running with Lady Guinevere today
Valerie riding Pow Wow, a thoroughbred gelding up for adoption
Christe with Tonka instructing Amber with Jaguar in the arena
Baron, up for adoption and getting his spa treatment by Melissa
Sat Mar 27th - Super Volunteer Day, Chief and Pow Wow Need Homes
Today we had several volunteers out helping at FalconRidge. It was nice to see Valerie who helps us out with riding some of the adoptable horses. She rode mister Pow Wow and he is fantastic..and up for adoption. New volunteers Sue and Kim came out and helped with mucking stalls, grooming and turning out horses. Amber, Andy and Kenny walked horses too. Christe, one of our volunteer supervisors was out working with horses and helping with the volunteers. Candy and Kelly came and rode.
Chief is now up for adoption. He is pretty much bombproof and a super calm horse. He is 12 yrs old and was recently rescued after his owner passed away. Baron is also for adoption and he is a tall 17 hand grey thoroughbred gelding, named Midnight Love. Melissa came and worked with and groomed Baron and several more horses. Two lovely ladies came and visited Rory and took him for a walk to eat grass. Super busy day and a warm windy one too. Almost all of the horses got handled, worked with, or turned out...everyone helping with each of the horses rehabilitation and handling so that they may find a loving home of their own.
I want to acknowledge and pay tribute to all the super volunteers who come here and work tirelessly to help with all these rescued horses here at FalconRidge. We have 47 rescued horses here and 20 up for adoption. The volunteers work by giving ground manners, grooming, helping exercise and train, giving of themselves and their time to help improve the horses lives. They help to transform them into the magnificent horses they were meant to be.
Thank you so much my volunteers for giving of yourself so that they may have a better future with a nice loving family. The horses thank you too!
Perhaps Chief and Pow Wow will be dining in their own homes by next weekend? They can only hope...
This is not meant to be their home...your home is.
I got a very nice email from Chris who adopted Sultan. She thanked me from the bottom of her heart for letting her adopt Sultan, saying how curious, sweet, and wonderful he is. I answered her back and said Yes, yes he is...he is pure gold.
All of our horses are.
They are products of love.
Have a lovely evening,
Love,
Nicki
Chief is now up for adoption. He is pretty much bombproof and a super calm horse. He is 12 yrs old and was recently rescued after his owner passed away. Baron is also for adoption and he is a tall 17 hand grey thoroughbred gelding, named Midnight Love. Melissa came and worked with and groomed Baron and several more horses. Two lovely ladies came and visited Rory and took him for a walk to eat grass. Super busy day and a warm windy one too. Almost all of the horses got handled, worked with, or turned out...everyone helping with each of the horses rehabilitation and handling so that they may find a loving home of their own.
I want to acknowledge and pay tribute to all the super volunteers who come here and work tirelessly to help with all these rescued horses here at FalconRidge. We have 47 rescued horses here and 20 up for adoption. The volunteers work by giving ground manners, grooming, helping exercise and train, giving of themselves and their time to help improve the horses lives. They help to transform them into the magnificent horses they were meant to be.
Thank you so much my volunteers for giving of yourself so that they may have a better future with a nice loving family. The horses thank you too!
Perhaps Chief and Pow Wow will be dining in their own homes by next weekend? They can only hope...
This is not meant to be their home...your home is.
I got a very nice email from Chris who adopted Sultan. She thanked me from the bottom of her heart for letting her adopt Sultan, saying how curious, sweet, and wonderful he is. I answered her back and said Yes, yes he is...he is pure gold.
All of our horses are.
They are products of love.
Have a lovely evening,
Love,
Nicki
Whiskey Skye
2 yr old curly mustang mare, arriving soon
Cheyenne
Dr. Don Moore adjusting Blaze
The Black Jaguar
Sage & Melissa
I wonder what they are looking at
Tom
Horses in the fields at Blue Apple Ranch
Friday March 26 - Blue Apple, Dr. Don & Sage Gets a Spa Day
This morning I was at Blue Apple Ranch to take pictures of the Loving Arms Herd for the final report for the ASPCA grant in assisting with their care. All five horses looked spectacular at Lynns. Mark Me was turned out in the pasture with the geldings and just playing for the first time with others enjoying himself like it was Christmas! I saw Merlin, Pistolero, Denny and Chiron grazing on rolling green hills of grass. Kitty, Toy and Crystal too were enjoying themselves in the fields. It was a joy to watch them in a very happy retirement and sanctuary setting. I saw Prancer and was shocked how good he looked. If you scroll down on this page to Christmas Eve you will see how he looked 3 months ago when he was rescued up in Riverside. Just wonderful to see.
Lynn and I discussed how to talk to the camps this year regarding camp horses and their suppliers (kill dealers) and how to bring about changes in management practices regarding what happens to the horses when they are no longer needed. This came up because I was contacted by the very camp looking for horses right now, who was going to send Gunsmoke and Jimmy to the Wolf Center last year to be eaten by the wolves as they were no longer useable (Gunsmoke was dead lame when he arrived and the camp had been JUMPING HIM!). Luckily Lynn agreed to take them in and they are now happy and sound.
The change or camp horse reform will take time, but please spread the word. If you send your kids to camp this summer ask the camp where they get their horses. Its usually Hart Ranch...one of the biggest kill dealers on the west coast and who sends horses to slaughter regularly, especially unwanted, lame or unrideable camp horses at the end of the season. We would like to be able to supply the camps with nice rescued horses each year, and ensure their safety with having them come back until they need retirement. Also there needs to be more horsemanship lessons at camp..not just ride ride ride the horses and then everyone off the horses and back to the mess hall for lunch, etc. How about programs on equine care and nutrition?, learning about equine anatomy, care, training?, all about super rescue horses and how they are individuals too with wonderful personalities?, just like each and every one of us...and lastly that horses are not just machines to be ridden only...they are just as great to enjoy and interact with while not being ridden!
Horses want love...and they give love...
Today Sage, the mare saved from the Rincon reservation got a bath and spa by Melissa. She looks much much better and needs to gain a lot of weight. Her teeth were very sharp when she arrived and they were done right away. She is only 15 yrs old and will look super once she fills out. Shirley was out and gave us a Tater report. Peg was here working hard as usual, and Melissa. Steve was working horses and riding Toby when I arrived. I saw Fire happy in his new home this morning before I went to Blue Apple. I heard from Rosalees new mom that she is doing well, so is Native Winds..
Dr. Don Moore came this afternoon and adjusted Blaze, who was out in her neck, but otherwise pretty good. And then he saw little Cheyenne the quarter horse. His hocks are hurting him. He was out just about everywhere that Don adjusted him..poor lil guy! He even had to pop his jaw back in as it was out of alignment. He was put on bute and will be put on joint supplements. Dr. Moss will be consulted to see if we can get his hocks out of pain. Dr. Don took a look at Jaguar, gave him a once over and we thanked him as he went off to his next appointment. Don adjusts horses of Olympic riders too. He is a great guy and caring man who is also on our equine coalition team.
It was a great day, full of horses, friends and volunteers who care for them here and our chiropractor who is trying to solve problems and get our horses out of pain. Thats what we do best..diagnose issues and improve horses lives. I saw Tom the turkey as I walked up to the house in the evening...I am not sure what his purpose is here yet, it will reveal itself later. David did say something about saving his life as a baby...so there you go...he's a rescue turkey.
For some of us, horses call us to adventure. The call often comes in our early years, only to be responded to years later, perhaps often as an adult, with other adventures intervening along the way. It may come in that first sight of the grace and movement of a horse galloping across a field. Or it may come in that first, sensational experience of simply walking atop the back of a pony or horse, which gives our body's habitual movements something new and larger, the promise of new horizons opening for us. Whenever the seed of the horse's call to adventure is sown, we have many opportunities to respond to that call as our lives unfold. - Riding into Your Mythic Life
Spring is here. You are alive right now and living on this planet. Now is your time...to shine.
Love,
Nicki
Lynn and I discussed how to talk to the camps this year regarding camp horses and their suppliers (kill dealers) and how to bring about changes in management practices regarding what happens to the horses when they are no longer needed. This came up because I was contacted by the very camp looking for horses right now, who was going to send Gunsmoke and Jimmy to the Wolf Center last year to be eaten by the wolves as they were no longer useable (Gunsmoke was dead lame when he arrived and the camp had been JUMPING HIM!). Luckily Lynn agreed to take them in and they are now happy and sound.
The change or camp horse reform will take time, but please spread the word. If you send your kids to camp this summer ask the camp where they get their horses. Its usually Hart Ranch...one of the biggest kill dealers on the west coast and who sends horses to slaughter regularly, especially unwanted, lame or unrideable camp horses at the end of the season. We would like to be able to supply the camps with nice rescued horses each year, and ensure their safety with having them come back until they need retirement. Also there needs to be more horsemanship lessons at camp..not just ride ride ride the horses and then everyone off the horses and back to the mess hall for lunch, etc. How about programs on equine care and nutrition?, learning about equine anatomy, care, training?, all about super rescue horses and how they are individuals too with wonderful personalities?, just like each and every one of us...and lastly that horses are not just machines to be ridden only...they are just as great to enjoy and interact with while not being ridden!
Horses want love...and they give love...
Today Sage, the mare saved from the Rincon reservation got a bath and spa by Melissa. She looks much much better and needs to gain a lot of weight. Her teeth were very sharp when she arrived and they were done right away. She is only 15 yrs old and will look super once she fills out. Shirley was out and gave us a Tater report. Peg was here working hard as usual, and Melissa. Steve was working horses and riding Toby when I arrived. I saw Fire happy in his new home this morning before I went to Blue Apple. I heard from Rosalees new mom that she is doing well, so is Native Winds..
Dr. Don Moore came this afternoon and adjusted Blaze, who was out in her neck, but otherwise pretty good. And then he saw little Cheyenne the quarter horse. His hocks are hurting him. He was out just about everywhere that Don adjusted him..poor lil guy! He even had to pop his jaw back in as it was out of alignment. He was put on bute and will be put on joint supplements. Dr. Moss will be consulted to see if we can get his hocks out of pain. Dr. Don took a look at Jaguar, gave him a once over and we thanked him as he went off to his next appointment. Don adjusts horses of Olympic riders too. He is a great guy and caring man who is also on our equine coalition team.
It was a great day, full of horses, friends and volunteers who care for them here and our chiropractor who is trying to solve problems and get our horses out of pain. Thats what we do best..diagnose issues and improve horses lives. I saw Tom the turkey as I walked up to the house in the evening...I am not sure what his purpose is here yet, it will reveal itself later. David did say something about saving his life as a baby...so there you go...he's a rescue turkey.
For some of us, horses call us to adventure. The call often comes in our early years, only to be responded to years later, perhaps often as an adult, with other adventures intervening along the way. It may come in that first sight of the grace and movement of a horse galloping across a field. Or it may come in that first, sensational experience of simply walking atop the back of a pony or horse, which gives our body's habitual movements something new and larger, the promise of new horizons opening for us. Whenever the seed of the horse's call to adventure is sown, we have many opportunities to respond to that call as our lives unfold. - Riding into Your Mythic Life
Spring is here. You are alive right now and living on this planet. Now is your time...to shine.
Love,
Nicki
This is Vinnie, he needs a home
contact me if interested, nickbranch@aol.com
Monday March 22nd - The Turkey Monster & Cheyenne Arrives to FalconRidge
David has a turkey. He brought him home one day and put him in the aviary with the parrots, Sam and Toby. Don't ask me why. The turkey was small when he arrived, only about 10 inches high. Well turkeys grow fast I guess as now he is at least Butterball sized. He is white with black highlights. I call him Tom...David calls him Henry. David turned him out of his cage on Sunday to let him roam around the ranch. He is big enough he said. The dogs did not seem to pay attention to him which was good. This morning, David told me Dreams and Knight had escaped from their pasture. I mentioned I saw one board down this morning as I drove to work, but it wasn't enough that they could get out. He said well the turkey went in the pasture and our horses, who have never seen a white feathery monster like that ran from him and jumped out. As David was trying to catch Dreams and Knight, Tom the turkey was chasing after David because to him...he is "dad", and the oncoming turkey was scaring the horses even more.
Today Sultan went home with his new owner Chris and I have already received pictures of him in his new digs. Congrats to Chris and Sultan. He settled in fine. One went out today so that means.....yep...one came in.
The owner of a quarter horse contacted me over the weekend. His gelding was not what he was represented to be he said. He wanted him to come here so we could evaluated him and adopt him out to a good home. The horse needed a ride from Imperial Beach to FalconRidge. Lynn Olsen offered to transport him...free of charge. Shes an angel person. She drove down and picked up the gelding, who we have named Cheyenne and brought him to FalconRidge. He is very cute, a chestnut with a big blaze. Dr. Don the chiropractor is coming this Friday to adjust Blaze the new mare, and Cheyenne will be seen too. The owner thanked me for taking him. We will find him the perfect owner. Perhaps that is you? He rides well David says.
I received the Pergolide for Kharma the cushings mare today so she will be started on it tomorrow and hopefully will transform into a non cushinoid horse soon.
Tater will be going to his new home tomorrow with Shirley. Yay for Tater boy!
I will be speaking at the HSUS Homes for Horses Conference in May at Nashville, Tennessee, along with other rescues and equine professionals. It will be held just prior to the Animal Care Expo.
And the San Diego Equine Coalition which we recently formed, has been approved and awarded a $50,000 grant from ASPCA. This grant will allow us to create an educational website for horse owners in the county to find resources they need and to help at-risk horses, such as Cheyenne today who needed a home. In addition to the website, we will be creating a voucher program to help horse owners with low cost euthanasia, gelding or veterinary care. More exciting things will be coming from this group. I am very happy. Or I should say the horses will be.
Lynn Wells of Blue Apple Ranch had another baby recently...a colt. His mother was saved from slaughter. Congrats to them!
I got two emails about horses in need and Vinnie the saddlebred still needs a home. His owner cannot afford his board any longer. Vinnie was purchased for $50,000 and needs a home and family to love him.
Let horses be your guide in life. Listen to their heart and the wisdom they are silently communicating to you...for they will show you the way to find happiness, success, confidence and unlimited opportunities.
Love,
Nicki
Today Sultan went home with his new owner Chris and I have already received pictures of him in his new digs. Congrats to Chris and Sultan. He settled in fine. One went out today so that means.....yep...one came in.
The owner of a quarter horse contacted me over the weekend. His gelding was not what he was represented to be he said. He wanted him to come here so we could evaluated him and adopt him out to a good home. The horse needed a ride from Imperial Beach to FalconRidge. Lynn Olsen offered to transport him...free of charge. Shes an angel person. She drove down and picked up the gelding, who we have named Cheyenne and brought him to FalconRidge. He is very cute, a chestnut with a big blaze. Dr. Don the chiropractor is coming this Friday to adjust Blaze the new mare, and Cheyenne will be seen too. The owner thanked me for taking him. We will find him the perfect owner. Perhaps that is you? He rides well David says.
I received the Pergolide for Kharma the cushings mare today so she will be started on it tomorrow and hopefully will transform into a non cushinoid horse soon.
Tater will be going to his new home tomorrow with Shirley. Yay for Tater boy!
I will be speaking at the HSUS Homes for Horses Conference in May at Nashville, Tennessee, along with other rescues and equine professionals. It will be held just prior to the Animal Care Expo.
And the San Diego Equine Coalition which we recently formed, has been approved and awarded a $50,000 grant from ASPCA. This grant will allow us to create an educational website for horse owners in the county to find resources they need and to help at-risk horses, such as Cheyenne today who needed a home. In addition to the website, we will be creating a voucher program to help horse owners with low cost euthanasia, gelding or veterinary care. More exciting things will be coming from this group. I am very happy. Or I should say the horses will be.
Lynn Wells of Blue Apple Ranch had another baby recently...a colt. His mother was saved from slaughter. Congrats to them!
I got two emails about horses in need and Vinnie the saddlebred still needs a home. His owner cannot afford his board any longer. Vinnie was purchased for $50,000 and needs a home and family to love him.
Let horses be your guide in life. Listen to their heart and the wisdom they are silently communicating to you...for they will show you the way to find happiness, success, confidence and unlimited opportunities.
Love,
Nicki
Gabriella Cinquini Giving David Her $646 Fundraising Donation
Pow Wow, Chief and Nora Exercising Today
David evaluating Blaze
Sunday March 21st - The Young Fundraiser and Tater Gets His Home
This morning as I was feeding it was nice and relaxing. The sun was out, temperature was perfect, birds were singing and the ground squirrels were milling about the ranch. Spring is here. As I got to the lower pasture I wondered why Marley was all alone, perhaps I just couldnt see the other three that should be in there. I walked around to see and they evidentally broke thru a corner of the fence, well, more like jumped over it...Cisco, who I am sure was the ring leader, Sandtwister and One Sock were not in the grass field next door, they were two properties over way far away! I whistled at them and don't ask me why...they don' t come to a whistle anyway! They were being watched by a person near the road. I got in the truck and drove over there. I haltered Cisco and Sandtwister and asked the young man to walk back to the ranch with me as One Sock followed. This mornings entertainment, the little hooligans. I fixed the fence later after feeding them breakfast.
This morning Steve came about 10am. He and David had gone out to the Stampede in Temecula to give the british man a taste of a western bar experience here in America. I heard they got in at 3am and luckily, the mechanical bull was not working last night. Steve said he had a good time. He and David took a trail ride in the morning.
Tater has been adopted to our volunteer Shirley. Congratulations to Shirley and Tater! We wish you lots of years of love.
Steve and David worked with Mystery and got him saddled, then were putting weight on the saddle and he did well. Steve ate dirt one time and got a taste of real cowboy work thanks to Mystery who kept him on his toes.
The new paint mare Blaze was evaluated today. She was found to have extremely sharp teeth and therefore not bitted up and will have her teeth done asap. She saddled fine and worked in hand well with Steve. I was told she reared up before in the past and with those sharp points on her teeth, no wonder why. It hurts..and makes horses rear. Teeth need floating regularly. She also has a long back and I was told she had flipped over once before, so she will have Dr. Don the chiropractor adjust her soon.
We got a visit from ten year old Gabriella Cinquini and her two young friends and father today. Gabriella has been raising funds for FalconRidge and wanted to present it to David. She asked people for her birthday to donate to us in lieu of gifts. She walked up and handed David the donation which totaled...$646 dollars. We were astounded. She is ten years old. I am sure you will be hearing her name in the future. She likes to raise funds for causes. We thanked her and then she and friend walked Buddy and Zues around the ranch. Thank you Gabriella, you have a heart of gold!
Tomorrow Sultan goes off to his new home with Chris...
I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen- Frank Lloyd Wright
What do you want to see happen?
Love,
Nicki
This morning Steve came about 10am. He and David had gone out to the Stampede in Temecula to give the british man a taste of a western bar experience here in America. I heard they got in at 3am and luckily, the mechanical bull was not working last night. Steve said he had a good time. He and David took a trail ride in the morning.
Tater has been adopted to our volunteer Shirley. Congratulations to Shirley and Tater! We wish you lots of years of love.
Steve and David worked with Mystery and got him saddled, then were putting weight on the saddle and he did well. Steve ate dirt one time and got a taste of real cowboy work thanks to Mystery who kept him on his toes.
The new paint mare Blaze was evaluated today. She was found to have extremely sharp teeth and therefore not bitted up and will have her teeth done asap. She saddled fine and worked in hand well with Steve. I was told she reared up before in the past and with those sharp points on her teeth, no wonder why. It hurts..and makes horses rear. Teeth need floating regularly. She also has a long back and I was told she had flipped over once before, so she will have Dr. Don the chiropractor adjust her soon.
We got a visit from ten year old Gabriella Cinquini and her two young friends and father today. Gabriella has been raising funds for FalconRidge and wanted to present it to David. She asked people for her birthday to donate to us in lieu of gifts. She walked up and handed David the donation which totaled...$646 dollars. We were astounded. She is ten years old. I am sure you will be hearing her name in the future. She likes to raise funds for causes. We thanked her and then she and friend walked Buddy and Zues around the ranch. Thank you Gabriella, you have a heart of gold!
Tomorrow Sultan goes off to his new home with Chris...
I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen- Frank Lloyd Wright
What do you want to see happen?
Love,
Nicki
New paint mare that arrived Thursday
Cochise and Steve
Rosalee and new mom Valerie
Super Tater under saddle with Steve
Saturday - Volunteer Orientation Day, Tater's First Ride & Rosalee Finds Love
Today we held our monthly new volunteer orientation day at FalconRidge, a tour given by Peg Wozniak to the large group and it was great to see so many wonderful ladies coming out to help with the horses and our purpose here. Thank you ladies for wanting to be a part of FalconRidge and experience our very special horses here and be a real part of their rehabilitation!
Steve from England was here working horses under Davids watchful eye and he worked Tejon in the roundpen, rode Cochise, worked Tater in hand then saddled him up and rode him and surprise? Tater has been ridden before and is a perfect guy under saddle. He is ready to go and be adopted.
Then Steve worked Toby and rode him as well. Such great help from the UK we are getting! Melissa was out grooming and helping with numerous horses. Andy, Kenny and Amber came and walked Jocko, grazed the Black Jaguar and Nora and groomed some. Valerie came out and rode Chief and Chief is ready to go up for adoption. He is a super nice and easy horse who just needs some conditioning.
Rosalee has been adopted by a super sweet lady named Valerie of Fallbrook and will be living with her and her two horses at home. Congratulations to Rosalee and Valerie! To think that Rosalee went from being severely emaciated and neglected in Norco, to now healthy and plump and going to be loved on and ridden on trail in Fallbrook is a dream come true. Thank you all who helped Rosalee's rescue and rehabilitation!
Tejon is still up for adoption and will make someone a super performance horse. Go to allbreedpedigreequery.com and type in his name, San Tejon Tego Rey and take a look at his bloodlines. He needs a home. The Black Jaguar who has been feeling off this week is now doing better. Tango injured his hock in the pasture and is now moving better on it today.
One is adopted so.... of course at the end of the day I get a call from a man named Jake. He has a quarter horse.....
To be continued....because I said yes.
I said yes, because I am now getting people emailing me looking for one of our rescued horses to adopt. The horses of FalconRidge are now becoming in demand...go figure.
Commit to a horse today, and you will find love like no other.
Just ask little Cameron who rode Fire bareback today at her home in Ramona. :-) Shes in love.
Love,
Nicki
Steve from England was here working horses under Davids watchful eye and he worked Tejon in the roundpen, rode Cochise, worked Tater in hand then saddled him up and rode him and surprise? Tater has been ridden before and is a perfect guy under saddle. He is ready to go and be adopted.
Then Steve worked Toby and rode him as well. Such great help from the UK we are getting! Melissa was out grooming and helping with numerous horses. Andy, Kenny and Amber came and walked Jocko, grazed the Black Jaguar and Nora and groomed some. Valerie came out and rode Chief and Chief is ready to go up for adoption. He is a super nice and easy horse who just needs some conditioning.
Rosalee has been adopted by a super sweet lady named Valerie of Fallbrook and will be living with her and her two horses at home. Congratulations to Rosalee and Valerie! To think that Rosalee went from being severely emaciated and neglected in Norco, to now healthy and plump and going to be loved on and ridden on trail in Fallbrook is a dream come true. Thank you all who helped Rosalee's rescue and rehabilitation!
Tejon is still up for adoption and will make someone a super performance horse. Go to allbreedpedigreequery.com and type in his name, San Tejon Tego Rey and take a look at his bloodlines. He needs a home. The Black Jaguar who has been feeling off this week is now doing better. Tango injured his hock in the pasture and is now moving better on it today.
One is adopted so.... of course at the end of the day I get a call from a man named Jake. He has a quarter horse.....
To be continued....because I said yes.
I said yes, because I am now getting people emailing me looking for one of our rescued horses to adopt. The horses of FalconRidge are now becoming in demand...go figure.
Commit to a horse today, and you will find love like no other.
Just ask little Cameron who rode Fire bareback today at her home in Ramona. :-) Shes in love.
Love,
Nicki
Dusty in his new home with girlfriend Katy
Snowbell
Looking for her adoptive home
Sultan finds his forever home
Wed Mar 17- St. Patricks Day and Fire Gets Lucky
Today Fire, the Peruvian Paso gelding rescued from a neglectful situation in Sylmar by Officer Dancy of LA City Animal Control (tipping hat to her), had the luck of the Irish as he was adopted by a wonderful family and will be going to his new home to get loved on by two little girls this Friday. Hooray for Fire. It is heartwarming to see this boy going from a backyard in Sylmar where he was not being fed much by a unloving man, to a super home where he will be showered with love and even have an arabian girlfriend named Bubbles.
Here is an update on Smokette, a recently adopted quarterhorse mare:
Nicki- I wanted to let you know I took Smokette to Laton to ride with a friend. Her daughter was riding a gymkhana there so I took all my horses to go on a trial ride with my friend. Only I didn't realize that the there were no trails, just a small town. My friend rode my mare, my son rode my gelding and I rode Smokette. This was the second time I rode her. No round pen to warm her up either. So I cowboyed up and we took off. She is so amazing! We rode through traffic, horses, trailers, an announcer on a pa system, a train went by, a lawn mower, a leaf blower, dogs people, pigs, cows. A little dog came running up to us with a cone collar on and I thought "this is it", but she just stood there. If she did spook it was in place and so minor!
Her only problem is that she is buddy sour for my other horses, but she bonded with them instantly. So that is not even really a problem. She loads up and rides well when I trailer her. She is shedding out and is so beautiful!
I want to thank you for letting me adopt her. I am going to use her for my reining lessons, because I think it is going to come so natural to her, unlike my paint mare. The lessons are very slow and I ride her and Scott instructs me.
All I can say is she is amazing! I will take pics and keep you posted!
Thank you again! Kim
Surprise...Sultan, who was also in the same neglectful situation as Fire in the same backyard in Sylmar, was also adopted by a wonderful woman named Chris and will be working with a Peruvian Paso trainer as well. Sultan was rescued in December as a 10 yr old untrained stallion. He was gelded, started under saddle very easily and found to be incredibly bright and willing to do anything to please anyone handling him. Congratulations to Chris and Sultan!
Sadly, we lost the fight with Markie, who contracted pneumonia after he choked on his transport to Blue Apple Ranch last Saturday. The staff of Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield tried hard to save him, but it was not to be. He passed over the rainbow bridge. The vet bill was significant and over $2000 is owed so any donations to assist us with this would be greatly appreciated. We tried Markie.
Life is short...make it count.
Love,
Nicki
Here is an update on Smokette, a recently adopted quarterhorse mare:
Nicki- I wanted to let you know I took Smokette to Laton to ride with a friend. Her daughter was riding a gymkhana there so I took all my horses to go on a trial ride with my friend. Only I didn't realize that the there were no trails, just a small town. My friend rode my mare, my son rode my gelding and I rode Smokette. This was the second time I rode her. No round pen to warm her up either. So I cowboyed up and we took off. She is so amazing! We rode through traffic, horses, trailers, an announcer on a pa system, a train went by, a lawn mower, a leaf blower, dogs people, pigs, cows. A little dog came running up to us with a cone collar on and I thought "this is it", but she just stood there. If she did spook it was in place and so minor!
Her only problem is that she is buddy sour for my other horses, but she bonded with them instantly. So that is not even really a problem. She loads up and rides well when I trailer her. She is shedding out and is so beautiful!
I want to thank you for letting me adopt her. I am going to use her for my reining lessons, because I think it is going to come so natural to her, unlike my paint mare. The lessons are very slow and I ride her and Scott instructs me.
All I can say is she is amazing! I will take pics and keep you posted!
Thank you again! Kim
Surprise...Sultan, who was also in the same neglectful situation as Fire in the same backyard in Sylmar, was also adopted by a wonderful woman named Chris and will be working with a Peruvian Paso trainer as well. Sultan was rescued in December as a 10 yr old untrained stallion. He was gelded, started under saddle very easily and found to be incredibly bright and willing to do anything to please anyone handling him. Congratulations to Chris and Sultan!
Sadly, we lost the fight with Markie, who contracted pneumonia after he choked on his transport to Blue Apple Ranch last Saturday. The staff of Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield tried hard to save him, but it was not to be. He passed over the rainbow bridge. The vet bill was significant and over $2000 is owed so any donations to assist us with this would be greatly appreciated. We tried Markie.
Life is short...make it count.
Love,
Nicki
Pharoh Ala Maark Goes To Heaven March 16, 2010
I never got to meet you Markie, but you were a spectacular horse!
Steve from England working with Tejon
Markie, fighting to live
Spirit & Treasure in their adoptive home
Weeee!
The other Spice Girl
They look great for 33 and 25 yrs old
One of the Spice Girls
Mon Mar 15 - Markie Fights for Life, Spirit Update, and the Spice Girls
Today Dr. Pipkin of Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield said that Markie is not eating or drinking on his own, due to having an inflamed esophagus and trachea from his choke. Please pray for him that he get better and start to eat and drink to get his systems going again. They are working hard and trying everything to keep him comfortable.
I heard from Meredith who adopted Spirit and Treasure:
"Spirit and Treasure are doing really well. Spirit is progressing nicely in her training and is so fun to be around. She's such a sweetheart with a cute personality. Treasure has definitely warmed up to us over the past few months. She knickers at us every time she sees us. This past week we finally finished the pasture I've always dreamt about. When we were working near her stall, she enjoyed just hanging out near us. I've attached a couple photos of the day we introduced them to their new pasture. Treasure will be grazing and then all the sudden will take off, prancing and bucking around the other two, getting them to play. Even Shadow, my 30 year old quarter horse, looks younger when he's running with his girls. Watching them out there never gets old. - Meredith"
I also heard from Kim who adopted Smokette and rode her the first time and is incredibly in love with her. And Dustys adopter Lisa has sent pics and says he is loving his pasture and walked right up to her. Hooray....they all sound happy and in the right place to me.
I got an email from the gentleman in Novato who is trying to find a home for his parents two palomino mares, a mother and daughter who are 33 and 25 years old and have never been seperated their entire lives. The man is moving to Germany and needs to place them together in a loving home for life. Please, if you know of anyone who could take these two mares, named the Spice girls, let me know...it is a special situation and of course they are special in themselves.
Just like we all are....
Come from love.
Love,
Nicki
I heard from Meredith who adopted Spirit and Treasure:
"Spirit and Treasure are doing really well. Spirit is progressing nicely in her training and is so fun to be around. She's such a sweetheart with a cute personality. Treasure has definitely warmed up to us over the past few months. She knickers at us every time she sees us. This past week we finally finished the pasture I've always dreamt about. When we were working near her stall, she enjoyed just hanging out near us. I've attached a couple photos of the day we introduced them to their new pasture. Treasure will be grazing and then all the sudden will take off, prancing and bucking around the other two, getting them to play. Even Shadow, my 30 year old quarter horse, looks younger when he's running with his girls. Watching them out there never gets old. - Meredith"
I also heard from Kim who adopted Smokette and rode her the first time and is incredibly in love with her. And Dustys adopter Lisa has sent pics and says he is loving his pasture and walked right up to her. Hooray....they all sound happy and in the right place to me.
I got an email from the gentleman in Novato who is trying to find a home for his parents two palomino mares, a mother and daughter who are 33 and 25 years old and have never been seperated their entire lives. The man is moving to Germany and needs to place them together in a loving home for life. Please, if you know of anyone who could take these two mares, named the Spice girls, let me know...it is a special situation and of course they are special in themselves.
Just like we all are....
Come from love.
Love,
Nicki
Cochise on Sunday
Dusty with his new mom Lisa
Volunteer Melissa with Chief
Nora under saddle....beautiful girl!
Steve from England visiting FalconRidge
Cochise the Magnificent
Sunday March 15 - Dusty Gets Lucky, Evaluations & The Paint Herd
Today Dusty got lucky and found his forever home with Lisa and her wonderful family from Temecula. Yay for Dusty! He will be loved on forever.
Tejon is also adopted to a super lady that we have known for years and lives up near the Bay area. David will be taking him up there where Tejon will be a participant in his training clinic in two weeks.
Pharoh Ala Maark luckily has cleared his obstruction in his esophagus and was very close to death according to Dr. Pipkin at the Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield. She said if he had not been an arab and based on his stats last night with an elevated heartrate, any other breed horse would have not made it. He is not out of the woods yet as he is very dehydrated and stomach valve is not working yet. His whole digestive system has to be working again and him get hydrated....then he has to fight off pneumonia in case he aspirated any hay to the lungs, which can happen in choke cases. So please pray for Maark. He is a fighter! He has made it through tough odds already and just wants to live. Donations would be appreciated for his vet bill, which can be made directly to Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield. Go Markie Go! We just want to bring him home and help him. This little horse has already been at risk with being an elderly owner who had a stroke, then placed at rescue who did not feed him well and now has had this very scary thing happen to him as they shipped him. He deserves a better life!
The Black Jaguar was evaluated today by David and found he has been trained to ride in the past, yippee for Jaguar!
Nora was also evaluated under saddle and found to have a very light mouth, rides well, and stops on a dime.
Chief was evaluated under saddle and he appears to be bombproof and safe and a super boy.
Volunteers Melissa came out and worked with many horses, Valerie and Elani did too. Chief got a bath and Mystery got a bath and makeover. Tuxedo, who loves to forever roll and get caked on mud also got some salon treatment. Rachel and her friend came out and helped too. Its great to watch all of them doing so much good for the horses here.
Steve came here from the United Kingdom to see FalconRidge and arrived today. He will be here two weeks to experience working with the horses and David. Steve rode Tiki and worked with Tejon in the roundpen under Davids instruction. Steve is a firefighter who is getting ready to retire and thinking working with horses is the thing to do in his retirement....yes it is! Great idea!
Thursday a paint mare arrives from Orange County, the victim of a poor economy for his owner. And its a good thing many horses are getting adopted because I have been contacted by a woman with a herd of 11 horses, paints, who is in a desperate situation and needs to find homes for them. We will help.
No calls tonight from the vet so that means Markie Mark is doing ok....pray he gets better and can come home in a couple of days.
Nothing is impossible.
Love,
Nicki
Tejon is also adopted to a super lady that we have known for years and lives up near the Bay area. David will be taking him up there where Tejon will be a participant in his training clinic in two weeks.
Pharoh Ala Maark luckily has cleared his obstruction in his esophagus and was very close to death according to Dr. Pipkin at the Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield. She said if he had not been an arab and based on his stats last night with an elevated heartrate, any other breed horse would have not made it. He is not out of the woods yet as he is very dehydrated and stomach valve is not working yet. His whole digestive system has to be working again and him get hydrated....then he has to fight off pneumonia in case he aspirated any hay to the lungs, which can happen in choke cases. So please pray for Maark. He is a fighter! He has made it through tough odds already and just wants to live. Donations would be appreciated for his vet bill, which can be made directly to Panama Equine Hospital in Bakersfield. Go Markie Go! We just want to bring him home and help him. This little horse has already been at risk with being an elderly owner who had a stroke, then placed at rescue who did not feed him well and now has had this very scary thing happen to him as they shipped him. He deserves a better life!
The Black Jaguar was evaluated today by David and found he has been trained to ride in the past, yippee for Jaguar!
Nora was also evaluated under saddle and found to have a very light mouth, rides well, and stops on a dime.
Chief was evaluated under saddle and he appears to be bombproof and safe and a super boy.
Volunteers Melissa came out and worked with many horses, Valerie and Elani did too. Chief got a bath and Mystery got a bath and makeover. Tuxedo, who loves to forever roll and get caked on mud also got some salon treatment. Rachel and her friend came out and helped too. Its great to watch all of them doing so much good for the horses here.
Steve came here from the United Kingdom to see FalconRidge and arrived today. He will be here two weeks to experience working with the horses and David. Steve rode Tiki and worked with Tejon in the roundpen under Davids instruction. Steve is a firefighter who is getting ready to retire and thinking working with horses is the thing to do in his retirement....yes it is! Great idea!
Thursday a paint mare arrives from Orange County, the victim of a poor economy for his owner. And its a good thing many horses are getting adopted because I have been contacted by a woman with a herd of 11 horses, paints, who is in a desperate situation and needs to find homes for them. We will help.
No calls tonight from the vet so that means Markie Mark is doing ok....pray he gets better and can come home in a couple of days.
Nothing is impossible.
Love,
Nicki
Pharoh Royal Rose getting care at Blue Apple Ranch
Fire screening a potential young adopter
Native Winds and her new mom Sharon
Sat Mar 13 - Native Winds Gets Adopted & Pharoh Herd
Today was extremely busy at FalconRidge. Lots of volunteers came out and adopters to see our very special horses here.
Sharon took Native Winds home to her new family. Congrats to both Sharon and Native Winds for finding each other! A perfect match.
Amy and daughters came out to see Fire and try him out to see if he would be a good fit for the girls. They rode him and he was just a super good guy under saddle for them. I love watching kids ride..they are so natural. Cross fingers for Fire getting a possible home as they will come back with their trainer, who we have to approve prior to adoption. Fire was being the incredibly sweet guy he is..good with kids.
Toby also had a potential adopter come out and ride him. She rode him well and seemed to like him, so cross fingers for Toby.
Today Sage's teeth were floated ASAP so she could chew her hay better and start gaining weight.
The Pharoh Herd of arabians was hauled down here today from Oakdale. We received a call mid day saying there was an emergency...one of the geldings, Pharoh Ala Maark had choked in the trailer and was taken to a vet clinic in Bakersfield. The vet worked on him all afternoon and she could not get his obstruction cleared from his esophagus. We prayed he would make it. Later the horses were brought down to Lynn Wells Blue Apple Ranch in Ramona and they arrived at 800 pm. Five horses were unloaded. Two of them were thin. I was also told by the vet that Ala Maark was thin as well. It was upsetting as these horses had been in the care of another rescue and rescued three months ago and they were in poorer condition now. Totally unacceptable and sometimes it is hard to understand what people are thinking, obviously not about the care of the horse. We were livid to say the least.
It was a late night and the vet in Bakersfield said if Ala Maark does not pass his blockage by morning he will have to be euthanized.
We prayed for him.
True compassion is seen by action....
Love,
Nicki
Sharon took Native Winds home to her new family. Congrats to both Sharon and Native Winds for finding each other! A perfect match.
Amy and daughters came out to see Fire and try him out to see if he would be a good fit for the girls. They rode him and he was just a super good guy under saddle for them. I love watching kids ride..they are so natural. Cross fingers for Fire getting a possible home as they will come back with their trainer, who we have to approve prior to adoption. Fire was being the incredibly sweet guy he is..good with kids.
Toby also had a potential adopter come out and ride him. She rode him well and seemed to like him, so cross fingers for Toby.
Today Sage's teeth were floated ASAP so she could chew her hay better and start gaining weight.
The Pharoh Herd of arabians was hauled down here today from Oakdale. We received a call mid day saying there was an emergency...one of the geldings, Pharoh Ala Maark had choked in the trailer and was taken to a vet clinic in Bakersfield. The vet worked on him all afternoon and she could not get his obstruction cleared from his esophagus. We prayed he would make it. Later the horses were brought down to Lynn Wells Blue Apple Ranch in Ramona and they arrived at 800 pm. Five horses were unloaded. Two of them were thin. I was also told by the vet that Ala Maark was thin as well. It was upsetting as these horses had been in the care of another rescue and rescued three months ago and they were in poorer condition now. Totally unacceptable and sometimes it is hard to understand what people are thinking, obviously not about the care of the horse. We were livid to say the least.
It was a late night and the vet in Bakersfield said if Ala Maark does not pass his blockage by morning he will have to be euthanized.
We prayed for him.
True compassion is seen by action....
Love,
Nicki
Around the backstretch it's Tater and Nemo...and it's Tater by a neck!!!
Super Rory!
The Black Jaguar
Friday Mar 12 - Sage & Chief Are Rescued
Rory, the red dun who is down on his pasterns is a hoot. This guy loves to play in turnout and was a joy to watch bucking and running with Jaguar, Nora and Kharma. He just had a blast. Anyone who thinks you cannot absolutely enjoy horses without riding them needs to watch such horses as Rory at play. It's fun just to feel his joy and glee and it is also addictive, making you feel better as well.
As I watched these four horses who were previously unwanted, neglected and abandoned at play today in the arena together expressing themselves, happy and content and rehabilitating, I could see hope in their eyes. These horses are hoping, as I am hoping as well, that there or people out there who will want them, who will value them, who will love them.... just as they are. They deserve unconditional love. There no longer needs to be Black Beauty stories for these horses again. They wish for no more moves, no more shuffling, no more being at risk, and especially no more starvation and hungry stomachs. Can you imagine if each and every one of us humans had to rely upon a caretaker to give us food each day? I know as babies we do, but think of how you would feel having to rely upon someone else for each and every meal we eat. Sitting and waiting and hoping for a breakfast or dinner to appear before us? These four horses went through not getting enough, or the right food given to them.
Jaguar was starved to the point where he was down alot and even had to lean against a shed to be able to stand up as he was so weak.
Rory was in with other horses evidentally as he was all bit up and thin.
Nora was starved until all ribs shown, then tossed out onto the streets of Sylmar...
and Kharma? was being fed one can of dog food per day...and I don't mean kibble either!
These horses are no longer unwanted...they were just in the wrong homes and with the wrong people. They are now loved and wanted and appreciated for the specialness of each and every one of them. We value them for their beauty, and? their ability to continue to love people even though they have been neglected or abused. They are...cute...as well as survivors. I hope everyone sees that.
Peg is teaching Tuxedo how to pick up his feet and he is coming along greatly. I got to play with Mystery yesterday and bond with him which was a pleasure. He is a little earshy and of course that means lots of nice rubbing of the poll and ears until he holds still and is no longer bothered with it. He is really sweet. Volunteers Peg, Shirley, Terry and Melissa were all working wonders with the horses all day long...grooming, working in hand, baths, turnout, teaching ground manners, etc. Such a great crew we have here who help all the horses.
Tater had his debut run in the arena and was with Nemo racing around. Such a spectacular duo to watch as they were really competing as they ran laps.
Late afternoon David and I went over and picked up Sage and Chief, the neglected horses whose owner had died and they were saved from going to a killer auction. They are thin and jumped right in the trailer. Both were wormed immediately and fed and given Purina Ultium. Tomorrow Sage will get her teeth floated as she is the worst.
Last night we also noticed Tango has injured himself in the pasture and was not walking on his right hind. Dr. Jeff Moss came out and examined him and put him on bute. Rosalee, who has been rubbing and itchy was given a shot as well as Jaguar to help with any allergies. More vet bills...more need for donations...so please help if you can.
I heard from the owner of Vinnie the saddlebred. He is looking for a home. I got a call from someone else and I just could not respond back.
I've heard from the man up north in Novato with the mother and daughter palomino mares, aged 33 and 25 whose owner passed away and the son is going to Germany need homes soon... and the mares have never been separated. Never.
If you can help please email me at nickbranch@aol.com.
I also got an email from the owner of several horses....here is what she had to say:
I have eleven horses, actually two ponies and nine horses. We lost our ranch in late 2007 and have been struggling to find horse rental property ever since. Three moves later, after being assured that we could stay here for at least two years, and after spending every penny, over $11,000 to move corrals, shelters, horses, household furniture etcetera, it turns out that the man who rented this to us six months ago is losing it to foreclosure and litigation. We have to move again immediately. I am out of money and time and a ranch/home. We have some beautiful paints, brood mares and six year olds, plus a shetland and a Welsh pony. Can you help? I was referred to you by a friend in Ramona, but our last move took us farther out. Four of them are well trained and have many years and rides with children on trail and camping, the ponies and two mellow and trained geldings, aged six and an eleven. Although not all are trained to ride, it is just because of our situation, not because they are problem horses. They need a trainer and I haven't the money. Most of them are registered. I lost my old dressage horse last night. With the two hundred twenty dollars to have her removed, I will not even have enough for hay this month. If we have to stay with relatives, there is no place for the horses. Do you have room? Please respond ASAP."
I responded ASAP
because I know you all will help.
I have faith in you. I know you can do it. I know you care. And if you can't do anything right now? I know you will spread the word to friends or others who just might be looking for a very special horse...who will bring them luck for the remainder of their lives. :-)
David is showing three horses this weekend to potential adopters....cross fingers for the horses.
Love,
Nicki
As I watched these four horses who were previously unwanted, neglected and abandoned at play today in the arena together expressing themselves, happy and content and rehabilitating, I could see hope in their eyes. These horses are hoping, as I am hoping as well, that there or people out there who will want them, who will value them, who will love them.... just as they are. They deserve unconditional love. There no longer needs to be Black Beauty stories for these horses again. They wish for no more moves, no more shuffling, no more being at risk, and especially no more starvation and hungry stomachs. Can you imagine if each and every one of us humans had to rely upon a caretaker to give us food each day? I know as babies we do, but think of how you would feel having to rely upon someone else for each and every meal we eat. Sitting and waiting and hoping for a breakfast or dinner to appear before us? These four horses went through not getting enough, or the right food given to them.
Jaguar was starved to the point where he was down alot and even had to lean against a shed to be able to stand up as he was so weak.
Rory was in with other horses evidentally as he was all bit up and thin.
Nora was starved until all ribs shown, then tossed out onto the streets of Sylmar...
and Kharma? was being fed one can of dog food per day...and I don't mean kibble either!
These horses are no longer unwanted...they were just in the wrong homes and with the wrong people. They are now loved and wanted and appreciated for the specialness of each and every one of them. We value them for their beauty, and? their ability to continue to love people even though they have been neglected or abused. They are...cute...as well as survivors. I hope everyone sees that.
Peg is teaching Tuxedo how to pick up his feet and he is coming along greatly. I got to play with Mystery yesterday and bond with him which was a pleasure. He is a little earshy and of course that means lots of nice rubbing of the poll and ears until he holds still and is no longer bothered with it. He is really sweet. Volunteers Peg, Shirley, Terry and Melissa were all working wonders with the horses all day long...grooming, working in hand, baths, turnout, teaching ground manners, etc. Such a great crew we have here who help all the horses.
Tater had his debut run in the arena and was with Nemo racing around. Such a spectacular duo to watch as they were really competing as they ran laps.
Late afternoon David and I went over and picked up Sage and Chief, the neglected horses whose owner had died and they were saved from going to a killer auction. They are thin and jumped right in the trailer. Both were wormed immediately and fed and given Purina Ultium. Tomorrow Sage will get her teeth floated as she is the worst.
Last night we also noticed Tango has injured himself in the pasture and was not walking on his right hind. Dr. Jeff Moss came out and examined him and put him on bute. Rosalee, who has been rubbing and itchy was given a shot as well as Jaguar to help with any allergies. More vet bills...more need for donations...so please help if you can.
I heard from the owner of Vinnie the saddlebred. He is looking for a home. I got a call from someone else and I just could not respond back.
I've heard from the man up north in Novato with the mother and daughter palomino mares, aged 33 and 25 whose owner passed away and the son is going to Germany need homes soon... and the mares have never been separated. Never.
If you can help please email me at nickbranch@aol.com.
I also got an email from the owner of several horses....here is what she had to say:
I have eleven horses, actually two ponies and nine horses. We lost our ranch in late 2007 and have been struggling to find horse rental property ever since. Three moves later, after being assured that we could stay here for at least two years, and after spending every penny, over $11,000 to move corrals, shelters, horses, household furniture etcetera, it turns out that the man who rented this to us six months ago is losing it to foreclosure and litigation. We have to move again immediately. I am out of money and time and a ranch/home. We have some beautiful paints, brood mares and six year olds, plus a shetland and a Welsh pony. Can you help? I was referred to you by a friend in Ramona, but our last move took us farther out. Four of them are well trained and have many years and rides with children on trail and camping, the ponies and two mellow and trained geldings, aged six and an eleven. Although not all are trained to ride, it is just because of our situation, not because they are problem horses. They need a trainer and I haven't the money. Most of them are registered. I lost my old dressage horse last night. With the two hundred twenty dollars to have her removed, I will not even have enough for hay this month. If we have to stay with relatives, there is no place for the horses. Do you have room? Please respond ASAP."
I responded ASAP
because I know you all will help.
I have faith in you. I know you can do it. I know you care. And if you can't do anything right now? I know you will spread the word to friends or others who just might be looking for a very special horse...who will bring them luck for the remainder of their lives. :-)
David is showing three horses this weekend to potential adopters....cross fingers for the horses.
Love,
Nicki
The Sickness - A page from an 87 yr old horsewoman's journal
I got this from The Gather message board:
A page from an 87 yr old horsewoman's journal
I ride.
That seems like such a simple statement. However as many women who ride know it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability.
I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride. The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness'.
It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of 'the sickness'. It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in some ways, who we are as women and human beings.
I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle up my dog and I ride. I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the dust. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.
I consider the simple statement; I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the Manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment. Still I ride, no matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt.
I ride. And I feel better for doing so. The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the prowl add to the empowerment and joy in my heart.
I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch. We haul 40ft rigs, we back into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel with out makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one. "My treasures do not chink or glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night".
There's nothing like a horse!
A page from an 87 yr old horsewoman's journal
I ride.
That seems like such a simple statement. However as many women who ride know it is really a complicated matter. It has to do with power and empowerment. Being able to do things you might have once considered out of reach or ability.
I have considered this as I shovel manure, fill water barrels in the cold rain, wait for the vet/farrier/electrician/hay delivery, change a tire on a horse trailer by the side of the freeway, or cool a gelding out before getting down to the business of drinking a cold beer after a long ride. The time, the money, the effort it takes to ride calls for dedication. At least I call it dedication. Both my ex-husbands call it 'the sickness'.
It's a sickness I've had since I was a small girl bouncing my model horses and dreaming of the day I would ride a real horse. Most of the women I ride with understand the meaning of 'the sickness'. It's not a sport. It's not a hobby. It's what we do and, in some ways, who we are as women and human beings.
I ride. I hook up my trailer and load my gelding. I haul to some trailhead somewhere, unload, saddle, whistle up my dog and I ride. I breathe in the air, watch the sunlight filter through the trees and savor the movement of my horse. My shoulders relax. A smile rides my sunscreen smeared face. I pull my ball cap down and let the real world fade into the tracks my horse leaves in the dust. Time slows. Flying insects buzz loudly, looking like fairies. My gelding flicks his ears and moves down the trail. I can smell his sweat and it is perfume to my senses. Time slows. The rhythm of the walk and the movement of the leaves become my focus. My saddle creaks and the leather rein in my hand softens with the warmth.
I consider the simple statement; I ride. I think of all I do because I ride. Climb granite slabs, wade into a freezing lake, race a friend through the Manzanita all the while laughing and feeling my heart in my chest. Other days just the act of mounting and dismounting can be a real accomplishment. Still I ride, no matter how tired or how much my seat bones or any of the numerous horse related injuries hurt.
I ride. And I feel better for doing so. The beauty I've seen because I ride amazes me. I've ridden out to find lakes that remain for the most part, unseen. Caves, dark and cold beside rivers full and rolling are the scenes I see in my dreams. The Granite Stairway at Echo Summit, bald eagles on the wing and bobcats on the prowl add to the empowerment and joy in my heart.
I think of the people, mostly women, I've met. I consider how competent they all are. Not a weenie amongst the bunch. We haul 40ft rigs, we back into tight spaces without clipping a tree. We set up camp. Tend the horses. We cook and keep safe. We understand and love our companions, the horse. We respect each other and those we encounter on the trail. We know that if you are out there riding, you also shovel, fill, wait and doctor. Your hands are a little rough and you travel with out makeup or hair gel. You do without to afford the 'sickness' and probably, when you were a small girl, you bounced a model horse while you dreamed of riding a real one. "My treasures do not chink or glitter, they gleam in the sun and neigh in the night".
There's nothing like a horse!
Captain, doing his healing work with Melinda
Horses As Healers - Weekend Healing Retreat Near FalconRidge
Join our neighbors down the street for an amazing healing weekend, March 26-28th, with Healing With Lavender and the horses of FalconRidge!
http://www.lavenderretreat.com/
Resort accomodations at Rancho Magdalena, organic meals, essential oils discussion, aroma therapy discussions, drumming circle, sunset appreciation, and field healing work with the rescued horses of FalconRidge.
http://www.lavenderretreat.com/
Resort accomodations at Rancho Magdalena, organic meals, essential oils discussion, aroma therapy discussions, drumming circle, sunset appreciation, and field healing work with the rescued horses of FalconRidge.
Native Winds says Yippee, I found my forever family!
Wed March 10 - Sienna & Native Winds Get Lucky
Sienna, an 18 year old arabian mare who was at risk as her owners were having financial difficulties up in Big Bear, has been adopted by one of our wonderful volunteers Kelly. Congratulations to Kelly and Sienna!
Native Winds, our Kentucky Mountain mare who was at risk due to her owners facing foreclosure here in San Diego, has also been adopted by a wonderful woman named Sharon. Sharon is 55 and used to own a Kentucky mountain horse in the past and currently owns two walking horses in their 30's but who are at retirement stage for any trail riding. Congratulations to Sharon and Native Winds for finding your forever home and family!
The previous owners of Sienna and Native Winds thankfully planned ahead of time in placing these horses with FalconRidge before they were in dire straights. They contacted me and arranged them to come here months ahead of time before getting desperate. Good stuff.
Sugar Bear Update!
I received this from Gail today as Sugar Bear was found to have no fractures, based on her xrays by Dr. Hoyme, and was seen by Dr. Don Moore today for chiropractic exam.
"3-10-10 TIER - Sugar Bear Chiropractic Adjustment/Dr. Don Moore.
Dr. Moore was sure he was going to have bad news for us when he came out to TIER this afternoon after our description of Sugar Bear's issues and recent injuries.
Not the case! Woo Hoo! Dr. was very pleased. Hocks, ankles, stifles, shoulders, lumbar & pelvis unlocked. Sugar Bear was moving well and tracking correctly.
She is much more comfortable.....you can just see it in her stance/movement/carriage/eyes. She's not as "sucked up", not leaning forward on her front legs to alleviate the pain in the hind. Of course, she is still over at the knees, but not as much as prior to her adjustment. We put her in the roundpen where the surface is soft and she rolled on each side (he was hoping for a full roll over), got up and did 2 head to tail body shakes!
He was concerned that her stifles, hocks and ankles would be locked and that he would not be able to unlock them. But, they moved with ease and he was so very pleased. Smiling big time! About a minute after he finished adjusting her she did 2 HUGE yawns and then we took her to the roundpen.
He feels that she needs to move a little and that we should put her in the roundpen for about 20 minutes each day. He doesn't want her trotting, bucking, etc. just moving about.
Wants us to add oil (Canola oil would be good) to her pellets with the meds in it to keep her lubricated. He feels we should continue to keep shoes on her fronts (she was supposedly done on 2/10/10 and they look new), but said we should have the farrier out to do her hinds now that she has been adjusted.
He feels that she will be pasture sound and said to keep up with the directions that our veterinarian gave us for pain management for the next week or so. Since she is older and of course arthritic, he said the use of Bute when needed is good as needed, but if we could afford it, Previcox would be better for long term. He doesn't think that Devil's Claw will even touch her issues.
He will visit her again in 1 month. Yes, I had the camera out there while Dr. Moore was adjusting Sugar Bear. No, I didn't take pictures. Sigh. I was busy holding her lead while he did adjustments and when we placed her in the roundpen we were both hanging on the fence and smiling while he pointed out the difference in her overall movement, stance, etc. Sorry!"
Good news about Sugar Bear and that she seems to be recovering from her injuries and healing well. :-)
Today I spoke with Gary Adler of the Pegasus Rising Project and regarding his herd of arabians. I will be meeting with him next week where we will collaborate on a training program for the horses there with their volunteers and perhaps the veterans which they will be serving.
I also spoke with the gentleman who is taking care of the animals from the Purple Cow Sanctuary here in Valley Center. If you have not heard, the owner of the sanctuary has been charged with a hit and run crime in Escondido and is currently awaiting trial. This man has been able to place all of the farm animals at the sanctuary except two horses and a donkey who he wishes to go together. We are working together to figure out a solution best for all.
The Pharoh herd of arabian horses will be arriving this weekend at Blue Apple Ranch. The remaining four horses from the herd will be evaluated for training/placement or sanctuary. All are fairly young and of course beautiful. Two horses are also from Zen Equine Rescue in Oakdale and they will also be evaluated for adoptability. Looking forward to seeing these horses and helping them out, thanks to a collaboration between Lynn Wells of Blue Apple Ranch, myself and John Arrington of Zen Equine Rescue in Oakdale. The Pharoh herd had an owner who became ill and the horses were at risk and needed intervention and care.
The Clint Ritchie horses, currently at Norcal Equine Rescue up north, will also be coming down in the future. There are five of them and they belonged to the long time soap opera star Clint Ritchie who passed away suddenly.
Diedre Kane, one of our volunteers and also a woman who rescued a very neglected horse back east, has agreed to sponsor the beautiful Sapphire. Thank you Diedre for providing funds to help care for Sapphire here at FalconRidge!
Organizations and people working together for horses...a good thing for all!
Love,
Nicki
Native Winds, our Kentucky Mountain mare who was at risk due to her owners facing foreclosure here in San Diego, has also been adopted by a wonderful woman named Sharon. Sharon is 55 and used to own a Kentucky mountain horse in the past and currently owns two walking horses in their 30's but who are at retirement stage for any trail riding. Congratulations to Sharon and Native Winds for finding your forever home and family!
The previous owners of Sienna and Native Winds thankfully planned ahead of time in placing these horses with FalconRidge before they were in dire straights. They contacted me and arranged them to come here months ahead of time before getting desperate. Good stuff.
Sugar Bear Update!
I received this from Gail today as Sugar Bear was found to have no fractures, based on her xrays by Dr. Hoyme, and was seen by Dr. Don Moore today for chiropractic exam.
"3-10-10 TIER - Sugar Bear Chiropractic Adjustment/Dr. Don Moore.
Dr. Moore was sure he was going to have bad news for us when he came out to TIER this afternoon after our description of Sugar Bear's issues and recent injuries.
Not the case! Woo Hoo! Dr. was very pleased. Hocks, ankles, stifles, shoulders, lumbar & pelvis unlocked. Sugar Bear was moving well and tracking correctly.
She is much more comfortable.....you can just see it in her stance/movement/carriage/eyes. She's not as "sucked up", not leaning forward on her front legs to alleviate the pain in the hind. Of course, she is still over at the knees, but not as much as prior to her adjustment. We put her in the roundpen where the surface is soft and she rolled on each side (he was hoping for a full roll over), got up and did 2 head to tail body shakes!
He was concerned that her stifles, hocks and ankles would be locked and that he would not be able to unlock them. But, they moved with ease and he was so very pleased. Smiling big time! About a minute after he finished adjusting her she did 2 HUGE yawns and then we took her to the roundpen.
He feels that she needs to move a little and that we should put her in the roundpen for about 20 minutes each day. He doesn't want her trotting, bucking, etc. just moving about.
Wants us to add oil (Canola oil would be good) to her pellets with the meds in it to keep her lubricated. He feels we should continue to keep shoes on her fronts (she was supposedly done on 2/10/10 and they look new), but said we should have the farrier out to do her hinds now that she has been adjusted.
He feels that she will be pasture sound and said to keep up with the directions that our veterinarian gave us for pain management for the next week or so. Since she is older and of course arthritic, he said the use of Bute when needed is good as needed, but if we could afford it, Previcox would be better for long term. He doesn't think that Devil's Claw will even touch her issues.
He will visit her again in 1 month. Yes, I had the camera out there while Dr. Moore was adjusting Sugar Bear. No, I didn't take pictures. Sigh. I was busy holding her lead while he did adjustments and when we placed her in the roundpen we were both hanging on the fence and smiling while he pointed out the difference in her overall movement, stance, etc. Sorry!"
Good news about Sugar Bear and that she seems to be recovering from her injuries and healing well. :-)
Today I spoke with Gary Adler of the Pegasus Rising Project and regarding his herd of arabians. I will be meeting with him next week where we will collaborate on a training program for the horses there with their volunteers and perhaps the veterans which they will be serving.
I also spoke with the gentleman who is taking care of the animals from the Purple Cow Sanctuary here in Valley Center. If you have not heard, the owner of the sanctuary has been charged with a hit and run crime in Escondido and is currently awaiting trial. This man has been able to place all of the farm animals at the sanctuary except two horses and a donkey who he wishes to go together. We are working together to figure out a solution best for all.
The Pharoh herd of arabian horses will be arriving this weekend at Blue Apple Ranch. The remaining four horses from the herd will be evaluated for training/placement or sanctuary. All are fairly young and of course beautiful. Two horses are also from Zen Equine Rescue in Oakdale and they will also be evaluated for adoptability. Looking forward to seeing these horses and helping them out, thanks to a collaboration between Lynn Wells of Blue Apple Ranch, myself and John Arrington of Zen Equine Rescue in Oakdale. The Pharoh herd had an owner who became ill and the horses were at risk and needed intervention and care.
The Clint Ritchie horses, currently at Norcal Equine Rescue up north, will also be coming down in the future. There are five of them and they belonged to the long time soap opera star Clint Ritchie who passed away suddenly.
Diedre Kane, one of our volunteers and also a woman who rescued a very neglected horse back east, has agreed to sponsor the beautiful Sapphire. Thank you Diedre for providing funds to help care for Sapphire here at FalconRidge!
Organizations and people working together for horses...a good thing for all!
Love,
Nicki
Chief, left homeless by the death of his owner
Sage, a mare in need
Sunday March 7th - Rain, Friends & Horses in Need
This morning it was still cold, windy and sprinkling at FalconRidge. I was fortunate enough to have my friend down the street, Alicia Wolff, who owns the Keys Creek Lavender Farm, http://www.kclfarm.com, come by and spend some quiet, soothing and spiritual time with Taffy, Rowdy, and the Black Jaguar. Then Alicias friend, Kate McAloon, chef to the stars came by as well, http://chefkatealiveandcooking.com, and I showed them a few of the rescued horses and their stories. We watched the Black Jaguar play with Sapphire in the arena.
In the afternoon I went to see two horses in need. A man had died leaving his two horses and the family didnt know what to do with them and were considering sending them to a killer auction. The nephews girlfriend stepped in and said no, I will take them and put them at her sisters home. Now the sister has to move so the horses have to go. I went to see them on the Rincon Indian Reservation. There is a gelding 12 yrs old and a mare 15 years old and they are in need of care and weight. They are sound and rideable she said. I looked into their eyes. The mare is thin, one eye is weepy, teeth are sharp.
I told her they could come in two weeks, as I know someone will come and adopt two more horses by then to loving homes.
They have to. Chief and Sage are in need.
Never underestimate the power of your own aspirations, especially when they are grounded in compassion for others.
I heard Sugar Bear is doing better and standing up for longer periods of time. We should find out what her xrays reveal, if anything, by today.
I have been asked to find adoptive homes for a herd of 100 icelandic horses. Untrained of course. That will be a project for the future.
There is also a two year old curly mustang filly who needs a home. Her name is Whiskey Skye and I just saw her pictures and shes very pretty.
The magic of horses is calling you.
Love,
Nicki
In the afternoon I went to see two horses in need. A man had died leaving his two horses and the family didnt know what to do with them and were considering sending them to a killer auction. The nephews girlfriend stepped in and said no, I will take them and put them at her sisters home. Now the sister has to move so the horses have to go. I went to see them on the Rincon Indian Reservation. There is a gelding 12 yrs old and a mare 15 years old and they are in need of care and weight. They are sound and rideable she said. I looked into their eyes. The mare is thin, one eye is weepy, teeth are sharp.
I told her they could come in two weeks, as I know someone will come and adopt two more horses by then to loving homes.
They have to. Chief and Sage are in need.
Never underestimate the power of your own aspirations, especially when they are grounded in compassion for others.
I heard Sugar Bear is doing better and standing up for longer periods of time. We should find out what her xrays reveal, if anything, by today.
I have been asked to find adoptive homes for a herd of 100 icelandic horses. Untrained of course. That will be a project for the future.
There is also a two year old curly mustang filly who needs a home. Her name is Whiskey Skye and I just saw her pictures and shes very pretty.
The magic of horses is calling you.
Love,
Nicki
Rory with Volunteer Amber
Saturday March 6th - Smokette Goes to Her Adoptive Home & Rory Arrives
Today we had several volunteers out even though the rains were threatening. Rachel came out early in the morning and worked with Pow Wow and Nemo. Then Valerie came out and worked with Cimarron, Dusty and Snowbell in the roundpen.
Melissa was also here and worked with Dreamcatcher and numerous others and helped turn out horses to exercise and put them back. Amber and family came out and worked with Rory and the Black Jaguar and walked Jocko the llama around.
Rory arrived from Rancho Santa Fe, a 15 yr old red dun gelding who is down on his pasterns. Sweet sweet boy and cute. His registered AQHA name is Silver Vandy Bar. He was given away from a home in Valley Center as he was no longer rideable. The new owner then became financially unable to take care of him, called the old owner who of course did not want to take him back. He was boarded down in Lakeside where he got bit up by other horses and thin. He was boarded in Rancho Santa Fe and the owner just cannot afford him she said. Rory is caught up in the Unwanted Horse Shuffle game that humans play. Rory was unwanted due to not being rideable anymore. Amazing how much horse owners discrimminate on that. Rory is only 15. He may well live another 15 yrs. Rory has lots of love to give. If only people would see that instead of seeing that he is only valued if he can carry people upon his back.
One comes in...another goes out. Smokette went off to her new adoptive home with Kim...Congratulations to Smokette and Kim!
"As we have seen, horses are a part of that company and offer their own special talents for becoming our mythic partners. Horses teach us skill and compassion and intuition as we ride into discovering our own unique stories of grand proportions. Together, we create a new morphic field. In the process, the horses taking part in this work grow into new evolutionary roles as teachers and healers. That's why physical therapists, occupational therapists, expressive-arts therapists, and psychotherapists, along with special education teachers, corporate coaches, and other educators, enlist the talents of horses in every major city in Europe and the United States.
Linda Kohanov detailed her own transformational journey with horses in The Tao of Equus, in which horses led her, and others gathered around her, on a path of awareness and healing. In discovering that horses are intensely emotional, intuitive, and intelligent beings, she found that they are also teachers because of their extraordinary ability to awaken intuition in humans while mirroring the authentic feelings that people often try to hide. "
from the book Riding into Your Mythical Life by Patricia Broersma
The Rorys out there can help you.
Love,
Nicki
Melissa was also here and worked with Dreamcatcher and numerous others and helped turn out horses to exercise and put them back. Amber and family came out and worked with Rory and the Black Jaguar and walked Jocko the llama around.
Rory arrived from Rancho Santa Fe, a 15 yr old red dun gelding who is down on his pasterns. Sweet sweet boy and cute. His registered AQHA name is Silver Vandy Bar. He was given away from a home in Valley Center as he was no longer rideable. The new owner then became financially unable to take care of him, called the old owner who of course did not want to take him back. He was boarded down in Lakeside where he got bit up by other horses and thin. He was boarded in Rancho Santa Fe and the owner just cannot afford him she said. Rory is caught up in the Unwanted Horse Shuffle game that humans play. Rory was unwanted due to not being rideable anymore. Amazing how much horse owners discrimminate on that. Rory is only 15. He may well live another 15 yrs. Rory has lots of love to give. If only people would see that instead of seeing that he is only valued if he can carry people upon his back.
One comes in...another goes out. Smokette went off to her new adoptive home with Kim...Congratulations to Smokette and Kim!
"As we have seen, horses are a part of that company and offer their own special talents for becoming our mythic partners. Horses teach us skill and compassion and intuition as we ride into discovering our own unique stories of grand proportions. Together, we create a new morphic field. In the process, the horses taking part in this work grow into new evolutionary roles as teachers and healers. That's why physical therapists, occupational therapists, expressive-arts therapists, and psychotherapists, along with special education teachers, corporate coaches, and other educators, enlist the talents of horses in every major city in Europe and the United States.
Linda Kohanov detailed her own transformational journey with horses in The Tao of Equus, in which horses led her, and others gathered around her, on a path of awareness and healing. In discovering that horses are intensely emotional, intuitive, and intelligent beings, she found that they are also teachers because of their extraordinary ability to awaken intuition in humans while mirroring the authentic feelings that people often try to hide. "
from the book Riding into Your Mythical Life by Patricia Broersma
The Rorys out there can help you.
Love,
Nicki
Lil Bitty in her adoptive home with friends
Friday March 5th - Equine Education Scholarship Offer
I was recently contacted by New Horizons Education Center. This sounds good to us!
"Dear Rescue,
Thank you for all that you are doing to help unwanted horses. We imagine it must be overwhelming at times to try and find good homes for all the horses that need assistance during these tough economic times.We're hoping we might be able to help in a small way.
What we have been discussing at New Horizons is a "scholarship program" for the people who come to you to adopt a horse. We welcome your ideas on how best to make this work.
If you're not familiar with us, New Horizons Equine Education Center Inc. has been providing home studies courses to horse enthusiasts for more than 20 years. We launched our first Equine Science series in 1988. Since then we've built a full curriculum with more than 30 courses. Our programs have been approved by four major breed associations, including AQHA, APHA, IAHA and ApHC.
Our foundation series begins with EQU 101, Horse Safety. We believe this information is vital to anyone who works with horses - especially newcomers. We would like to provide "EQU 101" free to anyone who adopts a horse through your organization.
This course covers the essentials of working around horses so that neither the horse nor the person gets hurt. Lessons explore equine eyesight, everyday handling techniques, tack, trailering and riding safety.
Here's how we envision the scholarship program working: The $48 course fee for EQU 101 will be waived. Class materials will be made available either online or through the mail - whichever the student prefers. The enrollment fee would be reduced to $25 (the standard fee is $35 and is a one-time charge to set up student records). Students return tests and assignments to New Horizons for grading and earn a Certificate of Achievement after completing all six lessons in the course.
If adoptive owners want to continue their studies and progress through the EQU series (or take upper level courses), we will extend a 10% discount for those courses as well.
Knowledge is the key to a joyful, safe and satisfying relationship with horses. We would love to help get adopters off to a great start. Education, more than anything, may help prevent more unwanted horses in the future.
We look forward to hearing from you about scholarship opportunities. We can be reached at 770-266-0631, or via email colette@newhorizonsequine.com.
Best regards,
Colette May, Director
New Horizons Equine Education Center, Inc.
Visit us online www.newhorizonsequine.com"
"Dear Rescue,
Thank you for all that you are doing to help unwanted horses. We imagine it must be overwhelming at times to try and find good homes for all the horses that need assistance during these tough economic times.We're hoping we might be able to help in a small way.
What we have been discussing at New Horizons is a "scholarship program" for the people who come to you to adopt a horse. We welcome your ideas on how best to make this work.
If you're not familiar with us, New Horizons Equine Education Center Inc. has been providing home studies courses to horse enthusiasts for more than 20 years. We launched our first Equine Science series in 1988. Since then we've built a full curriculum with more than 30 courses. Our programs have been approved by four major breed associations, including AQHA, APHA, IAHA and ApHC.
Our foundation series begins with EQU 101, Horse Safety. We believe this information is vital to anyone who works with horses - especially newcomers. We would like to provide "EQU 101" free to anyone who adopts a horse through your organization.
This course covers the essentials of working around horses so that neither the horse nor the person gets hurt. Lessons explore equine eyesight, everyday handling techniques, tack, trailering and riding safety.
Here's how we envision the scholarship program working: The $48 course fee for EQU 101 will be waived. Class materials will be made available either online or through the mail - whichever the student prefers. The enrollment fee would be reduced to $25 (the standard fee is $35 and is a one-time charge to set up student records). Students return tests and assignments to New Horizons for grading and earn a Certificate of Achievement after completing all six lessons in the course.
If adoptive owners want to continue their studies and progress through the EQU series (or take upper level courses), we will extend a 10% discount for those courses as well.
Knowledge is the key to a joyful, safe and satisfying relationship with horses. We would love to help get adopters off to a great start. Education, more than anything, may help prevent more unwanted horses in the future.
We look forward to hearing from you about scholarship opportunities. We can be reached at 770-266-0631, or via email colette@newhorizonsequine.com.
Best regards,
Colette May, Director
New Horizons Equine Education Center, Inc.
Visit us online www.newhorizonsequine.com"
Sapphire
Looking for a sponsor
FalconRidge Sponsorship Program
The sponsorship page is up, http://falconridgesponsorship.blogspot.com/
Sponsorship is a wonderful way to help the horses here and help us be able to assist in rescuing more. Email me a nickbranch@aol.com if you are interested in sponsoring one of our super rescued horses.
Sponsorship is a wonderful way to help the horses here and help us be able to assist in rescuing more. Email me a nickbranch@aol.com if you are interested in sponsoring one of our super rescued horses.
Wed Mar 3rd - Bay Mare In Need!
TIER & Falconridge Equine Rescue are working together to help this mare.
3-2-10 Late in the evening, we received information about a QH mare, approximately 14 years old that was injured and lying down. We need your help!
Original listing on Craigslist:
Free Approx 14 year old , Mare.. my ex-boyfriend left this horse with me and I don't know alot about them.. she is lame and underwieght. I have been feeding her 2 flakes of hay in morning, afternoon and night to try to help her weight issue, cause I feel bad for her, I took her to my sisters house to put her in a stall to be out of the rain. My sister told me to try and have her rescued or put down, I don't want her put down.. please help this mare..
After phone calls by TIER & Falconridge, we got the following information:
Mare had been with a horse trader (ex-boyfriend)...mare was ridden in the sand at the riverbottom and the horse was sound...but came back shaking and has been lying down a lot since. Off on the front and back leg swollen so sounds like she pulled or injured something in the sand she said. She’s very thin. This woman who has had her for 4 days now (sister to the gal who rode her in the sand in the riverbottom) said the mare will get up to eat, but thats it! Of course a vet has not been called since this occurred 4 days ago.
We are making arrangements for the mare to initially go to TIER. The vet has been contacted and once he has evaluated her, we will know more about what we are dealing with. If a chiropractor is needed, Dr. Don Moore will be contacted. Once we have more information about her condition and she has stabilized (depending on vet recommendation) she will then go to Falconridge Equine Rescue.
We need your help. We are in need of emergency funds to pay the vet, purchase medications, chiropractor (if needed), feed, & eventual transport to Falconridge, etc. This mare has been suffering for days and days! We were told that she was being given 1 scoop of bute per day. That is equivalent to 1 bute tablet.....not near enough for an injury that causes a horse to lie down frequently. Horses do not lie down that much or that often unless they are in great pain.
Soberly,
Nicki
3-2-10 Late in the evening, we received information about a QH mare, approximately 14 years old that was injured and lying down. We need your help!
Original listing on Craigslist:
Free Approx 14 year old , Mare.. my ex-boyfriend left this horse with me and I don't know alot about them.. she is lame and underwieght. I have been feeding her 2 flakes of hay in morning, afternoon and night to try to help her weight issue, cause I feel bad for her, I took her to my sisters house to put her in a stall to be out of the rain. My sister told me to try and have her rescued or put down, I don't want her put down.. please help this mare..
After phone calls by TIER & Falconridge, we got the following information:
Mare had been with a horse trader (ex-boyfriend)...mare was ridden in the sand at the riverbottom and the horse was sound...but came back shaking and has been lying down a lot since. Off on the front and back leg swollen so sounds like she pulled or injured something in the sand she said. She’s very thin. This woman who has had her for 4 days now (sister to the gal who rode her in the sand in the riverbottom) said the mare will get up to eat, but thats it! Of course a vet has not been called since this occurred 4 days ago.
We are making arrangements for the mare to initially go to TIER. The vet has been contacted and once he has evaluated her, we will know more about what we are dealing with. If a chiropractor is needed, Dr. Don Moore will be contacted. Once we have more information about her condition and she has stabilized (depending on vet recommendation) she will then go to Falconridge Equine Rescue.
We need your help. We are in need of emergency funds to pay the vet, purchase medications, chiropractor (if needed), feed, & eventual transport to Falconridge, etc. This mare has been suffering for days and days! We were told that she was being given 1 scoop of bute per day. That is equivalent to 1 bute tablet.....not near enough for an injury that causes a horse to lie down frequently. Horses do not lie down that much or that often unless they are in great pain.
Soberly,
Nicki
The Abandoned Mare Nora
"At a time when horses are no longer required to work in our fields and carry us to war, they can do something arguably more important -----work on us." From The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov
Tuesday March 2nd - A Day of Five & The Horses Prayer
Monday was quiet. A nice quiet Monday. No requests to take horses. Perhaps it is letting up I think? The need. The times of strife for horses as well as humans. I got home and David told me that Billy the Kid, seeing the lower pasture of horses let out to graze on grass decided he had to as well, and did his stop, drop and roll to go under his stall panel and run over and join them, which brought some humor to the day. I should know by now what nice quiet days mean for a horse rescuer.
The first call came from Sue about her horse Annie. Sue is losing her home. Sue is also getting divorced. Sue owns Annie who she needs to place as she can't afford her and will no longer have a place to keep her. Annie is a beautiful palomino mare who is 25 yrs old. Sue has had Annie for 11 years. She has to let her go. The heartbreak of losing your home is bad enough. So is the heartbreak of going through a divorce. To lose your family member pet of eleven years makes it even more devastating. Annie has ringbone and cannot really be ridden. She would be a great pasture pet Sue says. Super sweet personality. She is an easy keeper too. Annie, will soon be homeless.
Sue will be able to take care of just herself. Annie the horse, cannot.
Sue cannot take Annie down to the local animal shelter or the humane society like she could her cat or dog where they could find refuge. Hence the current delimma for horses. This is exactly why it is so important now more than ever to help the horses in this economy....for nobody else will or can. Sue sent me a photo of Annie and I placed them up on the Rehoming Horses Blog, http://rehominghorses.blogspot.com/
If you can open up your heart and home for this gorgeous mare who is about to become homeless, or if you know someone who needs a pasture pet, please call Sue.
Please help Annie the palomino. This was horse number 1 at risk and in need today.
Horse number 2 in need and at risk today is a curly mustang filly named Whiskey Skye. Curly is a breed of horses that have curly hair. Nancy got her beautiful smooth-coated curly mustang filly in October last year. She was foaled on April 9, 2008 out of a BLM Mustang mare. At the time she got her she was in a good financial position. Some serious financial hardships now cause her to need to find a home for her by the end of the month. She has worked with her on basic ground manners, tying, standing for hoof trimming, bathing, worming, etc. She is a very smart girl and learns fast. If you want to help Nancy and Whiskey Skye, email me at nickbranch@aol.com
Horses 3 and 4
A man named Robert owned two horses, a mare and a gelding and he passed away. Family members did not know what to do with his two horses. Someone mentioned taking them to the meat auction. Fortunately for the chestnut mare and black gelding the girlfriend of Robert's nephew said no and decided to take them. Thank you Lord, for this girl. She kept them at her sisters house and fed them. Now the sister has to move so the horses need to find a home. They are nearby so I will go take a look at them.
Four horses in need...just today. I knew Monday was too nice.
I come home to an email and phone call from Lynn Wells who thankfully received Billy the Kid and Jesse James safely today. I got a great update from Peg about what went on at the ranch today. She says Native Winds is ready for adoption as a riding horse. And rumor has it that volunteer Kelly rode Sienna and had a super ride. Jaguar is getting stronger by the day, now getting turned out with other horses. Good...good news about horses being rehabilitated here. Smokette is going home this weekend and will get daily loving attention by her new adopter Kim. Super good.
Horse number 5 I was emailed out this evening. My lovely rescue friends to the north who read Craigslist ads like to shoot certain ads to me. Thanks for that guys! This ad was about a quarter horse mare in need. The mare is underweight and evidentally taken for a hard ride in a sandy riverbed where she came back from the ride lame, shaking and now down alot and not able to stand. A vet wasn't called of course. The horse will be seen by a friend of mine tomorrow to see if we can help her...poor baby! Sigh.
That was just today. I got another email about a free arab mare and I didnt even read it. Enough already.
I have received three requests for volunteers to come help out here at FalconRidge. Thank you guys for we will need you badly. The horses need you badly. See when you come here to volunteer you get to help horses like these listed here get rehabilitated. You get to participate, groom them, hand walk them, watch them blossom from the weak and unhealthy into the strong and majestic beauties that they are. We heal horses while horses heal us and those that help them. We know the secret. Life is better, more authentic, healthier and happier when you have a horse. And having a rescued horse is even more rewarding and lucky for you and your family.
There is a horse named Vinnie who lives in Bonsall. Vinnie is a handsome 11 year old Saddlebred gelding who cost his owner $50,000 to purchase. Vinnie came from show stock. Vinnie is now an at risk horse. His owner can no longer afford to pay for his board due to finances. Vinnie is also lame. He has aggravated his coffin joint. He gets injections which help bring him to 80 percent or so. I talked to his vet who said Vinnie could be ridden lightly on trail, absolutely. Just no hard riding or showing for this boy anymore. Vinnie is sweet and you can put a beginner on him she said. If you are interested in helping Vinnie please email me.
This weekend Rory arrives. Rory is a red dun gelding from Rancho Santa Fe who is in need of a home. He is down on his pasterns in front and has bad feet I am told. He has gained weight and used to be all bit up from where he was boarded before.
This weekend a paint mare also arrives from Orange County. She is the victim of a bizarre lawsuit. None of which horses understand.
Here is a video of the horses prayer...
please watch it and pass it on...for all the horses out there who are suffering. Education is the key. Share what you read here with other horses owners. Unfortunately, believe it or not, most horse owners have no clue that horses go to slaughter or that they need to be "rescued". No clue at all.
I have a crazy dream. And that dream is to put the equine animal control officials and humane officers out of business. I think we can do that here in San Diego County...don't you?
The Horses Prayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Ki--DO1Ss
Now I lay me down to sleep...
Love,
Nicki
The first call came from Sue about her horse Annie. Sue is losing her home. Sue is also getting divorced. Sue owns Annie who she needs to place as she can't afford her and will no longer have a place to keep her. Annie is a beautiful palomino mare who is 25 yrs old. Sue has had Annie for 11 years. She has to let her go. The heartbreak of losing your home is bad enough. So is the heartbreak of going through a divorce. To lose your family member pet of eleven years makes it even more devastating. Annie has ringbone and cannot really be ridden. She would be a great pasture pet Sue says. Super sweet personality. She is an easy keeper too. Annie, will soon be homeless.
Sue will be able to take care of just herself. Annie the horse, cannot.
Sue cannot take Annie down to the local animal shelter or the humane society like she could her cat or dog where they could find refuge. Hence the current delimma for horses. This is exactly why it is so important now more than ever to help the horses in this economy....for nobody else will or can. Sue sent me a photo of Annie and I placed them up on the Rehoming Horses Blog, http://rehominghorses.blogspot.com/
If you can open up your heart and home for this gorgeous mare who is about to become homeless, or if you know someone who needs a pasture pet, please call Sue.
Please help Annie the palomino. This was horse number 1 at risk and in need today.
Horse number 2 in need and at risk today is a curly mustang filly named Whiskey Skye. Curly is a breed of horses that have curly hair. Nancy got her beautiful smooth-coated curly mustang filly in October last year. She was foaled on April 9, 2008 out of a BLM Mustang mare. At the time she got her she was in a good financial position. Some serious financial hardships now cause her to need to find a home for her by the end of the month. She has worked with her on basic ground manners, tying, standing for hoof trimming, bathing, worming, etc. She is a very smart girl and learns fast. If you want to help Nancy and Whiskey Skye, email me at nickbranch@aol.com
Horses 3 and 4
A man named Robert owned two horses, a mare and a gelding and he passed away. Family members did not know what to do with his two horses. Someone mentioned taking them to the meat auction. Fortunately for the chestnut mare and black gelding the girlfriend of Robert's nephew said no and decided to take them. Thank you Lord, for this girl. She kept them at her sisters house and fed them. Now the sister has to move so the horses need to find a home. They are nearby so I will go take a look at them.
Four horses in need...just today. I knew Monday was too nice.
I come home to an email and phone call from Lynn Wells who thankfully received Billy the Kid and Jesse James safely today. I got a great update from Peg about what went on at the ranch today. She says Native Winds is ready for adoption as a riding horse. And rumor has it that volunteer Kelly rode Sienna and had a super ride. Jaguar is getting stronger by the day, now getting turned out with other horses. Good...good news about horses being rehabilitated here. Smokette is going home this weekend and will get daily loving attention by her new adopter Kim. Super good.
Horse number 5 I was emailed out this evening. My lovely rescue friends to the north who read Craigslist ads like to shoot certain ads to me. Thanks for that guys! This ad was about a quarter horse mare in need. The mare is underweight and evidentally taken for a hard ride in a sandy riverbed where she came back from the ride lame, shaking and now down alot and not able to stand. A vet wasn't called of course. The horse will be seen by a friend of mine tomorrow to see if we can help her...poor baby! Sigh.
That was just today. I got another email about a free arab mare and I didnt even read it. Enough already.
I have received three requests for volunteers to come help out here at FalconRidge. Thank you guys for we will need you badly. The horses need you badly. See when you come here to volunteer you get to help horses like these listed here get rehabilitated. You get to participate, groom them, hand walk them, watch them blossom from the weak and unhealthy into the strong and majestic beauties that they are. We heal horses while horses heal us and those that help them. We know the secret. Life is better, more authentic, healthier and happier when you have a horse. And having a rescued horse is even more rewarding and lucky for you and your family.
There is a horse named Vinnie who lives in Bonsall. Vinnie is a handsome 11 year old Saddlebred gelding who cost his owner $50,000 to purchase. Vinnie came from show stock. Vinnie is now an at risk horse. His owner can no longer afford to pay for his board due to finances. Vinnie is also lame. He has aggravated his coffin joint. He gets injections which help bring him to 80 percent or so. I talked to his vet who said Vinnie could be ridden lightly on trail, absolutely. Just no hard riding or showing for this boy anymore. Vinnie is sweet and you can put a beginner on him she said. If you are interested in helping Vinnie please email me.
This weekend Rory arrives. Rory is a red dun gelding from Rancho Santa Fe who is in need of a home. He is down on his pasterns in front and has bad feet I am told. He has gained weight and used to be all bit up from where he was boarded before.
This weekend a paint mare also arrives from Orange County. She is the victim of a bizarre lawsuit. None of which horses understand.
Here is a video of the horses prayer...
please watch it and pass it on...for all the horses out there who are suffering. Education is the key. Share what you read here with other horses owners. Unfortunately, believe it or not, most horse owners have no clue that horses go to slaughter or that they need to be "rescued". No clue at all.
I have a crazy dream. And that dream is to put the equine animal control officials and humane officers out of business. I think we can do that here in San Diego County...don't you?
The Horses Prayer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Ki--DO1Ss
Now I lay me down to sleep...
Love,
Nicki
Jody Finds Her Loving Family
Sunday Feb 28th - Jody Finds Her New Adoptive Home
Saturday another rainy day all day here at FalconRidge, just as we were starting to dry out we are now muddy again.
Since I am in the house due to the rain, that means I have to answer the phone calls...personally. A woman calls from Bonsall regarding her 11 year old saddlebred gelding she needs to place. She says she can no longer afford to keep boarding him. She can't sell him as he has aggravated his coffin joint and is now intermittantly lame on one leg. She bought this horse for $50,000. She says whoever gets this horse if I agree to take him in and adopt him out, will get the deal of the century. I asked her of she tried selling him, and of course she can't as no person wants to purchase a horse who is lame right now, especially the show folks. She would love to see him just go to a home with light trail riding or as a pet. She said you can put a beginner on his back and he will ride fine. He is tall, bay, and sweet. She told me Dr. Walker has been treating him and I have a call into him regarding this horses prognosis. I have never had to rescue a saddlebred. Maybe now is the time. We shall see.
Jody has found her forever home and is now adopted to Antoinette who fell in love with her! Congratulations to Jody!
Jody waited long and hard for her perfect family to come and they did.
Thoughts are things. Think good ones!
Love,
Nicki
Since I am in the house due to the rain, that means I have to answer the phone calls...personally. A woman calls from Bonsall regarding her 11 year old saddlebred gelding she needs to place. She says she can no longer afford to keep boarding him. She can't sell him as he has aggravated his coffin joint and is now intermittantly lame on one leg. She bought this horse for $50,000. She says whoever gets this horse if I agree to take him in and adopt him out, will get the deal of the century. I asked her of she tried selling him, and of course she can't as no person wants to purchase a horse who is lame right now, especially the show folks. She would love to see him just go to a home with light trail riding or as a pet. She said you can put a beginner on his back and he will ride fine. He is tall, bay, and sweet. She told me Dr. Walker has been treating him and I have a call into him regarding this horses prognosis. I have never had to rescue a saddlebred. Maybe now is the time. We shall see.
Jody has found her forever home and is now adopted to Antoinette who fell in love with her! Congratulations to Jody!
Jody waited long and hard for her perfect family to come and they did.
Thoughts are things. Think good ones!
Love,
Nicki
Pow Wow. Hello? Why am I not adopted yet?
Nora, Jumping For Joy
The Black Jaguar Today
Sultan, "I am Superhorse, I can do anything!"
Shirley and Tater
Fri Feb 26th - Playing With The Horses
Today was a much needed day off of work for me and I got to spend it with our amazing volunteers here at the ranch and all the horses.
Yesterday was another meeting with the San Diego Horse Coalition, a group of rescues, veterinarians and animal control officials, which is moving forward to provide a safety net for horses at-risk in the community, thanks to funding from a gift to the ASPCA. The coalition will provide education and be a resource for horse owners as well. Our website will be up in the near future.
Today I got to see Tater, the paint who appeared to have stringhalt and was not moving well when he first came in, trot around in the roundpen with the most beautiful floating trot ever. I was amazed. His body is transforming with exercise by our volunteers and his original chiropractic work by Dr. Don Moore. My heart soared to see his progress as Shirley proudly showed him off.
Miss Nora, the thoroughbred mare rescued from Sylmar street who came in ribby 14 days ago, now has no ribs showing at all! She has gained weight quickly after having her teeth floated, she was wormed, and our diet of plenty of hay and Purina Ultium, which works wonders to pack on the pounds on our rescued horses. Melissa looked at her and said wow, she has gained weight fast! Nora is very sweet and while turned out in the arena to exercise, she will come up to you for petting instead. She is a snuggle bunny. Perfect for snuggling!
Mr. Jaguar is also feeling better..getting perkier with his energy since he has been on Ultium and Red Cell. It was good to see him excited to meet a mare and trot after her and arch his neck towards her like his grandad, the Black Stallion! We believe he has had longer term malnutrition so he will take longer to get back to health, much like Rowdy was when he arrived here.
Jesse James went off to Creekside Veterinary Clinic today to be castrated and came back in the afternoon. We had to put him in the roundpen to keep him calm and also to make sure he cant escape from anywhere.
Sultan, the peruvian paso stallion rescued from Sylmar I have now deemed the smartest horse on the ranch. He was castrated and now is fully recovered, so I took him to the arena for the first time and let him run around. Afterwards I took him over the obstacles and he did not flinch once and stepped over whatever was asked of him and up on the box like he had done it his whole life. This was a horse who never left his back yard in Sylmar nor was he trained his entire ten years of life!
Smokette has been adopted to a wonderful woman named Kim. Congratulations to Kim and Smokette for finding your own family!!!
We have had so many requests for volunteers, I usually get 3-4 per week, that we have decided to create one day a month for new volunteer orientation class. It will be held the third Saturday of every month from 11-12 noon here at FalconRidge. Our volunteer program is formal, and volunteers move up the ranks from Greenhorn to Vaquero, the most experienced of horsemen. It is a wonderful way to be a part in the rehabilitation of the rescued horses here. Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Peg Wozniak, at winnie@roadrunner.com if you are interested in volunteering and she will send you all the information and application form.
The Black Jaguar is now being sponsored by Cindi Schultz. Thank you Cindi! Sponsorship will help pay for his feed and vet bills, is $100 per month, and is a great way to help a certain horse here at FalconRidge if you like, without having to actually own a horse. Sponsorship helps with our incredible burden of feed (3-4k per month) and vet bills (don't even ask) for the 55 rescued horses we have here, bills which needs to be paid monthly. We have several horses who need their own individual sponsors here still, like Cochise, Cimarron, Nemo, Mystery, Geronimo, Sienna, Moriah, Sultan, Marley...and more. Email me if interested in sponsoring a horse at nickbranch@aol.com . Sponsorship can last as long as you like. I will be putting up an individual sponsorship page or blog soon with more details. Right now Cindi is happy she is making a difference personally for The Black Jaguar, a horse in need. There are several more horses in need out there, but we cannot bring them in without more help financially.
Today I saw Karen working with Dusty in the roundpen and they made me smile. Dusty used to be afraid to let you catch him in his stall and in the roundpen or arena he was incredibly hard to catch. That behavior has improved with consistant training and now he is allowing Karen to catch him easily in the roundpen. It is called trust, and being fair and consistant with the handling of horses...a good thing!
"Nothing that happens between humans and animals is separate from what happens in every other aspect of human life. Who we are with animals mirrors who we are-our fears, our joys, our dreams, our actions-in every other arena of our lives."
Susan Chernak McElroy
Love,
Nicki
Yesterday was another meeting with the San Diego Horse Coalition, a group of rescues, veterinarians and animal control officials, which is moving forward to provide a safety net for horses at-risk in the community, thanks to funding from a gift to the ASPCA. The coalition will provide education and be a resource for horse owners as well. Our website will be up in the near future.
Today I got to see Tater, the paint who appeared to have stringhalt and was not moving well when he first came in, trot around in the roundpen with the most beautiful floating trot ever. I was amazed. His body is transforming with exercise by our volunteers and his original chiropractic work by Dr. Don Moore. My heart soared to see his progress as Shirley proudly showed him off.
Miss Nora, the thoroughbred mare rescued from Sylmar street who came in ribby 14 days ago, now has no ribs showing at all! She has gained weight quickly after having her teeth floated, she was wormed, and our diet of plenty of hay and Purina Ultium, which works wonders to pack on the pounds on our rescued horses. Melissa looked at her and said wow, she has gained weight fast! Nora is very sweet and while turned out in the arena to exercise, she will come up to you for petting instead. She is a snuggle bunny. Perfect for snuggling!
Mr. Jaguar is also feeling better..getting perkier with his energy since he has been on Ultium and Red Cell. It was good to see him excited to meet a mare and trot after her and arch his neck towards her like his grandad, the Black Stallion! We believe he has had longer term malnutrition so he will take longer to get back to health, much like Rowdy was when he arrived here.
Jesse James went off to Creekside Veterinary Clinic today to be castrated and came back in the afternoon. We had to put him in the roundpen to keep him calm and also to make sure he cant escape from anywhere.
Sultan, the peruvian paso stallion rescued from Sylmar I have now deemed the smartest horse on the ranch. He was castrated and now is fully recovered, so I took him to the arena for the first time and let him run around. Afterwards I took him over the obstacles and he did not flinch once and stepped over whatever was asked of him and up on the box like he had done it his whole life. This was a horse who never left his back yard in Sylmar nor was he trained his entire ten years of life!
Smokette has been adopted to a wonderful woman named Kim. Congratulations to Kim and Smokette for finding your own family!!!
We have had so many requests for volunteers, I usually get 3-4 per week, that we have decided to create one day a month for new volunteer orientation class. It will be held the third Saturday of every month from 11-12 noon here at FalconRidge. Our volunteer program is formal, and volunteers move up the ranks from Greenhorn to Vaquero, the most experienced of horsemen. It is a wonderful way to be a part in the rehabilitation of the rescued horses here. Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Peg Wozniak, at winnie@roadrunner.com if you are interested in volunteering and she will send you all the information and application form.
The Black Jaguar is now being sponsored by Cindi Schultz. Thank you Cindi! Sponsorship will help pay for his feed and vet bills, is $100 per month, and is a great way to help a certain horse here at FalconRidge if you like, without having to actually own a horse. Sponsorship helps with our incredible burden of feed (3-4k per month) and vet bills (don't even ask) for the 55 rescued horses we have here, bills which needs to be paid monthly. We have several horses who need their own individual sponsors here still, like Cochise, Cimarron, Nemo, Mystery, Geronimo, Sienna, Moriah, Sultan, Marley...and more. Email me if interested in sponsoring a horse at nickbranch@aol.com . Sponsorship can last as long as you like. I will be putting up an individual sponsorship page or blog soon with more details. Right now Cindi is happy she is making a difference personally for The Black Jaguar, a horse in need. There are several more horses in need out there, but we cannot bring them in without more help financially.
Today I saw Karen working with Dusty in the roundpen and they made me smile. Dusty used to be afraid to let you catch him in his stall and in the roundpen or arena he was incredibly hard to catch. That behavior has improved with consistant training and now he is allowing Karen to catch him easily in the roundpen. It is called trust, and being fair and consistant with the handling of horses...a good thing!
"Nothing that happens between humans and animals is separate from what happens in every other aspect of human life. Who we are with animals mirrors who we are-our fears, our joys, our dreams, our actions-in every other arena of our lives."
Susan Chernak McElroy
Love,
Nicki
Thursday Feb 25th - Jesse James Rides Again
Today Jesse James, the little miniature horse stallion escaped from his stall again by rolling under the pipe panel so he could get into Lakota's stall next to him and pick a fight. Poor Lakota never saw it coming, the little white tornado was biting, kicking and screaming. Luckily volunteer Karen was there with Luis Aguilar who was trimming 16 horses today and they were able to rescue Lakota.
Jesse James, now left alone in the stall then proceeded to try and annoy Sunka, in the stall next to him.
Billy the Kid, his sidekick, is recovering from being castrated the previous week and both little outlaws will be sentenced to Blue Apple Ranch and transported next week.
There is a paint mare coming in next week, and a red dun gelding on March 6th.
We have been in conversations with animal control officials in Los Angeles County regarding some ponies in need....and animal control officials in San Bernardino County have offered trailering services for horses needing transport to the rescue.
We try and help as many horses and people as we can, and we love those who also do the same.
Compassion makes the world go round. Right?
Hugs,
Nicki
Jesse James, now left alone in the stall then proceeded to try and annoy Sunka, in the stall next to him.
Billy the Kid, his sidekick, is recovering from being castrated the previous week and both little outlaws will be sentenced to Blue Apple Ranch and transported next week.
There is a paint mare coming in next week, and a red dun gelding on March 6th.
We have been in conversations with animal control officials in Los Angeles County regarding some ponies in need....and animal control officials in San Bernardino County have offered trailering services for horses needing transport to the rescue.
We try and help as many horses and people as we can, and we love those who also do the same.
Compassion makes the world go round. Right?
Hugs,
Nicki
Jesse James
Tuesday - The Outlaw Jesse James
Today, the notorius Jesse James, one of the miniature stallions rescued with The Black Jaguar, escaped (slid under) his pen today and terrorized a pasture of normal horse sized geldings!
After he was caught, which took numerous volunteers and David at least thirty minutes, he was still trying to wreak havoc as he was led away and put in solitary confinement, a stall by himself. Billy the Kid just looked on from his stall innocently.
Thankfully these two little heathens will be going to Blue Apple Ranch after Jesse gets castrated on Friday...which everyone is now very much looking forward to!
After he was caught, which took numerous volunteers and David at least thirty minutes, he was still trying to wreak havoc as he was led away and put in solitary confinement, a stall by himself. Billy the Kid just looked on from his stall innocently.
Thankfully these two little heathens will be going to Blue Apple Ranch after Jesse gets castrated on Friday...which everyone is now very much looking forward to!
A Letter I Received Today from Siri in Norway
"Hello Nicki!
Just spend the money where they are needed the most, I just wanna help the horses when I can...
Well, one and a half year ago I bought a problemhorse off the racetrack (as you know there are no problem horses- just people...)
I got a bit more than I bargained for, so there came a time when I felt I could use some help. I started searcing the web for help and came across David`s True to the horse-horsemanship. He is such a good horseman, and I have never looked back. It has helped me and my horse tremendously.
I'm almost glad now that my horse was such a rank and difficult one. Otherwise I never would have learned so much or found you guys!!! You do awesome work, I wish more people would be of your kind... Maybe then we wouldn`t need rescues.
Keep it up! And bless you all.
Snowy Norwegian hugs from Siri and Zawadi the horse;)"
Just spend the money where they are needed the most, I just wanna help the horses when I can...
Well, one and a half year ago I bought a problemhorse off the racetrack (as you know there are no problem horses- just people...)
I got a bit more than I bargained for, so there came a time when I felt I could use some help. I started searcing the web for help and came across David`s True to the horse-horsemanship. He is such a good horseman, and I have never looked back. It has helped me and my horse tremendously.
I'm almost glad now that my horse was such a rank and difficult one. Otherwise I never would have learned so much or found you guys!!! You do awesome work, I wish more people would be of your kind... Maybe then we wouldn`t need rescues.
Keep it up! And bless you all.
Snowy Norwegian hugs from Siri and Zawadi the horse;)"
The Latest Arabian Rescue Mare
Sunday Feb 21 - The Black Jaguar Improves & Arabian Rescue Mare Arrives
Yesterday it rained most of the day here at FalconRidge. It cleared up midday and someone came by to look at Smokette for adoption. Cross fingers for Smokette to have a new home soon.
I received calls about two horses needing new homes.
One was a red dun gelding who was left at a home by the owner who could no longer pay his board. When he came in at the beginning of the month he was skinny and all bit up she said. The owner is having financial difficult and had gotten the horse as a pet. She knew nothing of horse care though. She tried to contact the previous owner who of course was no longer interested in taking the horse back. Hes not rideable she said. I found out later this horse is down on his pasterns in the front and of course is incredibly sweet.
The other call was from a woman in Apple Valley who had rescued an arabian mare 7 months ago from a hoarder. Three horses had died previously at the hoarders home and this mare was left. The woman was feeding her one can of dogfood per day. She has gained weight with Tia who rescued her but now Tia is in financial need as her husband skipped town with another woman and emptied all the bank accounts and she lost her job. Shes placing her three healthy horses and did not want this mare to again, be placed in a situation where she would be starved. So I said yes. She agreed to trailer the mare on Sunday and said she was 19 and rideable. The mare arrived on Sunday and looks about 30 and like she has Cushings disease. Tia did not know what Cushings was. Had I known, she would not be here. Dr. Moss will be running tests to confirm.
Jaguar is feeling better and much perkier. I spent some time with him Saturday grazing him on grass. His appetite is picking up and his energy levels are rising. He appears to be getting better. He is now staring at the new Arab mare in the arena with much interest and perked up ears.
Nora from LA City AC is gaining weight as well and looking better. A month from now she will look entirely different and be filled out.
I was contacted by a friend of mine who suggested we have a Concert for the Horses, a fundraiser benefit for the horses of FalconRidge with a couple of musicians he books. We are looking into planning it for this coming Fall and hope to have between 200-600 people attending.
This week we will be meeting with the San Diego Equine Coalition again at Blue Apple Ranch with rescues, veterinarians and animal control officials on Thursday. We are working to come up with solutions to help horses such as the red dun gelding who was abandoned at a boarding facility, and horses like Tigger and Pistol whose owners no longer want to care for them. Additional help is needed so that we do not have to take in most of the horses and costs associated with caring for them.
Jaguar is looking for his own personal sponsor, someone to help with his feed and vet bills. If you want to help please contact me. He is a doll, and so deserving of someone to love him.
They all are.
What are you going to do different this week to become the amazing and strong champion you all have inside you?
A person's true wealth is the good he or she does in the world. - Mohammed
Love and Spirit,
Nicki
I received calls about two horses needing new homes.
One was a red dun gelding who was left at a home by the owner who could no longer pay his board. When he came in at the beginning of the month he was skinny and all bit up she said. The owner is having financial difficult and had gotten the horse as a pet. She knew nothing of horse care though. She tried to contact the previous owner who of course was no longer interested in taking the horse back. Hes not rideable she said. I found out later this horse is down on his pasterns in the front and of course is incredibly sweet.
The other call was from a woman in Apple Valley who had rescued an arabian mare 7 months ago from a hoarder. Three horses had died previously at the hoarders home and this mare was left. The woman was feeding her one can of dogfood per day. She has gained weight with Tia who rescued her but now Tia is in financial need as her husband skipped town with another woman and emptied all the bank accounts and she lost her job. Shes placing her three healthy horses and did not want this mare to again, be placed in a situation where she would be starved. So I said yes. She agreed to trailer the mare on Sunday and said she was 19 and rideable. The mare arrived on Sunday and looks about 30 and like she has Cushings disease. Tia did not know what Cushings was. Had I known, she would not be here. Dr. Moss will be running tests to confirm.
Jaguar is feeling better and much perkier. I spent some time with him Saturday grazing him on grass. His appetite is picking up and his energy levels are rising. He appears to be getting better. He is now staring at the new Arab mare in the arena with much interest and perked up ears.
Nora from LA City AC is gaining weight as well and looking better. A month from now she will look entirely different and be filled out.
I was contacted by a friend of mine who suggested we have a Concert for the Horses, a fundraiser benefit for the horses of FalconRidge with a couple of musicians he books. We are looking into planning it for this coming Fall and hope to have between 200-600 people attending.
This week we will be meeting with the San Diego Equine Coalition again at Blue Apple Ranch with rescues, veterinarians and animal control officials on Thursday. We are working to come up with solutions to help horses such as the red dun gelding who was abandoned at a boarding facility, and horses like Tigger and Pistol whose owners no longer want to care for them. Additional help is needed so that we do not have to take in most of the horses and costs associated with caring for them.
Jaguar is looking for his own personal sponsor, someone to help with his feed and vet bills. If you want to help please contact me. He is a doll, and so deserving of someone to love him.
They all are.
What are you going to do different this week to become the amazing and strong champion you all have inside you?
A person's true wealth is the good he or she does in the world. - Mohammed
Love and Spirit,
Nicki
Tigger & Pistol
Friday Feb 19th- Cajun and Joaquin Go To Their New Adoptive Home!
Thursday morning I get two emails from rescue friends of mine, asking me to save a thoroughbred mare who is being offered for free on Craigslist as she is a project horse. The ad read like this:
"I bought her about 8 years ago, I had her at a trainers for a few months for some training, she's a sweet girl but she has her moments. I now have a thoroughbred gelding who is 4 and he is my show horse now and I can go farther on him than I could on her. She is spooky, she needs a ADVANCED rider. She hate's the farrier and clippers she hates 2 horse strait loads. She does like trail rides and she has been shown. She hasn't been ridden in 2 years, just a pasture pet. She has good ground manners but you can't let her get away with anything. She has no soundness issue's, she's just a mess. She has bucked a couple of times, usually like a little buck. Never fell off her. She rears up. She needs to be lunged before you ride her, she needs to have a turn out area. She is VERY sensitive. She like's girls better than guys but she likes guys. She needs an owner who wants to re start her from the ground up, desensitizing, sacking out, just re do everything with her. You have to have gentle hands and she needs a blanket in the winter time and a shelter would be great too, I would need too see your property and I have already told you she's NOT a beginner horse. She is a problem horse. She's always been like this and I just don't have the time anymore with my 4 year old thoroughbred and a weanling and 3 other horses."
Gotta love my rescue "friends" emailing me ads like this. I had to say no as for some strange reason, perhaps those of you reading this can tell me...people don't want to adopt any of my thoroughbred horses. Pow Wow and Jody need homes, and have for quite awhile. Baron is at least being feed leased by a young military wife for now, so I am not worried about him as she wants to adopt him, but for the life of me I cannot fathom why someone would not want Pow Wow, and ex show horse! or Jody who is green, but oh so willing and an easy one to train under saddle. So I can't take in another thoroughbred until my two get adopted.
I have several things to say regarding this horse's ad.
If you have a horse that hates the farrier? there is a good reason why. Shes most likely had a bad farrier experience before. You have to find a patient and gentle farrier. Ive found Juan Aguilar to be that kind of man. And never ever let your farrier trim your horse without you being there to supervise. If they are rough with your horse or impatient? Kick them off the property. Your horse deserves better. You would not let a shoe salesman rough handle your child...same goes for your horse.
She hates clippers? Well you did say she was spooky. Thoroughbreds are hot blooded horses...not deadheads like draft breeds. There are ways to introduce clippers to horses. I personally no longer clip as I have found out that horses need ear hair, they need whiskers, fetlock hair actually wicks away sweat and rain from running onto the backs of their heel bulbs, keeping the hoof drier, and even mane hair has a function in regulating the temperature in horses. Prior to this knowledge I was a clipping fool since a long time ago I used to groom for shows.
Now what TB does "not" hate a two-horse straight load??!! David will no longer load a large horse or TB into a two horse straight load for clinics. Oh he can get them in...but after realizing its pretty much rediculous to ask a horse that size to go into such a narrow dark hole, he said no more. It is just plain as day not fair to the horse. Borrow another trailer for your TB please. Consider them first.
She likes trail rides and has been shown. Good! Then she says "shes just a mess". I am not quite sure what that means. It's interesting how you can tell so much about a persons character by how they describe a horse. Usually, it has "alot" to do with how the person relates to the world.
So the horse bucks and rears? Usually that means the horse is trying to tell you something. Try listening carefully. How are her teeth? are they sharp? What kind of bit are you using? is it too severe? How soft are your hands? or are they pulling back so hard the horse has no choice other than to go straight up? Does her back hurt? Have you ran your hand down it to see? Horses that buck, rear, act up are plainly communicating to their handler. Its our job as horse owners to listen and observe and not to just attribute it to bad behavior.
Horses are more intuitive than most people think. They know how you feel about them, they can sense it in your body language, your voice, your mood, your thoughts even.
I like that she said the horse needs a turnout area. Thats true! but as far as lunging a horse before riding? That is something we never do here. We can take horses who have not been ridden in several years, tack them up and get on. Now I do agree horses need exercise and out of their stalls. We do turn out horses here, thanks to our wonderful volunteers, so that they can exercise and play in the arena with different horses and socialize like horses love to. They are herd animals remember. While we dont lunge and make the horse go mindlessly around and around in a circle, which usually just revs them up, especially the thoroughbreds!, we will work them back and forth in hand on the lead and engage their minds by asking them to change directions.
She is very sensitive. Yes, it sounds like the horse is. Therefore, you have to be considerate of that fact. How are you around a sensitive friend? Do you blurt out expletives about how they look? Of course not. You are caring about how they will respond to you..right? Well this mare should be treated the same way. I am not saying tip toe around her, that will make her more nervous, I am saying she needs a calm, cool, confident leader who is not brash and bold and uncaring.
The rest of the ad I agree with...except the statement that shes a problem horse. Sigh. There are no problem horses, only problem owners. It is obvious that she does not have the patience for this mare, and I have to give her kudos for realizing that and wanting to place her mare with someone else more gentle.
What I did do, was forward the ad to a rescue list that went out to several people. Hopefully someone with good training and listening skills will pick this mare up and give her the leadership she so deserves!
This morning the wonderful Tilden family came by and picked up Joaquin and Cajun to drive them up to their new home by Yosemite. Congratulations to the Tilden Family and to our boys who will be in grass pasture heaven up there!!!
Yesterday was my birthday and we received a few donations from Facebook for my birthday wish. Thank you to those who donated to the rescued horses! If you have not joined me yet please do on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1017905423
Facebook somehow thinks I turned 98...which some days it feels like that. I actually turned 52.
One of our volunteers Peg informed me about her neighbors horses. They have a 20 yr old appy that needs a home and a miniature horse as well. They claim they can no longer afford to feed them. We shall see what we can do.
I talked to Zen Equine Rescue about the Pharoh herd of arabians in Oakdale, CA. Four Pharoh bred horses and two Zen horses will be coming down in a couple of weeks. They will be going to Blue Apple Ranch for evaluation and assessment of adoptability and training levels if any. Stay tuned.
Also five of the Clint Ritchie estate horses will be coming down next month from NorCal Equine Rescue up north. Again, these horses will be assessed and many will most likely be up for adoption. If you have ever been a soap opera fan and liked One Life To Live, you can have one of Clints precious horses that he loved himself.
I was called today by a woman who boards at a boarding facility in Carmel Valley regarding a horse. He can no longer be used in the lesson program and has to go. There was talk of euthanasia. She asked if the horse could just be temporarily placed at FalconRidge while an adoptive home was found, as he needed to get out of his facility soon. She has a friend who is going to help her pay for this horses food and care until someone can be found to take him. I like this. These women banded together to help this horse and are committed to him until he is placed in a loving home. They might even be able to place him now and he not have to come here. Great! What they are doing is Fantastic! I wish more people would do such things at barns to help the horses.
Generosity and compassion abound in all of us. Give them
freely, without expectations... and your life will be enriched beyond all imagination!
Love,
Nicki
"I bought her about 8 years ago, I had her at a trainers for a few months for some training, she's a sweet girl but she has her moments. I now have a thoroughbred gelding who is 4 and he is my show horse now and I can go farther on him than I could on her. She is spooky, she needs a ADVANCED rider. She hate's the farrier and clippers she hates 2 horse strait loads. She does like trail rides and she has been shown. She hasn't been ridden in 2 years, just a pasture pet. She has good ground manners but you can't let her get away with anything. She has no soundness issue's, she's just a mess. She has bucked a couple of times, usually like a little buck. Never fell off her. She rears up. She needs to be lunged before you ride her, she needs to have a turn out area. She is VERY sensitive. She like's girls better than guys but she likes guys. She needs an owner who wants to re start her from the ground up, desensitizing, sacking out, just re do everything with her. You have to have gentle hands and she needs a blanket in the winter time and a shelter would be great too, I would need too see your property and I have already told you she's NOT a beginner horse. She is a problem horse. She's always been like this and I just don't have the time anymore with my 4 year old thoroughbred and a weanling and 3 other horses."
Gotta love my rescue "friends" emailing me ads like this. I had to say no as for some strange reason, perhaps those of you reading this can tell me...people don't want to adopt any of my thoroughbred horses. Pow Wow and Jody need homes, and have for quite awhile. Baron is at least being feed leased by a young military wife for now, so I am not worried about him as she wants to adopt him, but for the life of me I cannot fathom why someone would not want Pow Wow, and ex show horse! or Jody who is green, but oh so willing and an easy one to train under saddle. So I can't take in another thoroughbred until my two get adopted.
I have several things to say regarding this horse's ad.
If you have a horse that hates the farrier? there is a good reason why. Shes most likely had a bad farrier experience before. You have to find a patient and gentle farrier. Ive found Juan Aguilar to be that kind of man. And never ever let your farrier trim your horse without you being there to supervise. If they are rough with your horse or impatient? Kick them off the property. Your horse deserves better. You would not let a shoe salesman rough handle your child...same goes for your horse.
She hates clippers? Well you did say she was spooky. Thoroughbreds are hot blooded horses...not deadheads like draft breeds. There are ways to introduce clippers to horses. I personally no longer clip as I have found out that horses need ear hair, they need whiskers, fetlock hair actually wicks away sweat and rain from running onto the backs of their heel bulbs, keeping the hoof drier, and even mane hair has a function in regulating the temperature in horses. Prior to this knowledge I was a clipping fool since a long time ago I used to groom for shows.
Now what TB does "not" hate a two-horse straight load??!! David will no longer load a large horse or TB into a two horse straight load for clinics. Oh he can get them in...but after realizing its pretty much rediculous to ask a horse that size to go into such a narrow dark hole, he said no more. It is just plain as day not fair to the horse. Borrow another trailer for your TB please. Consider them first.
She likes trail rides and has been shown. Good! Then she says "shes just a mess". I am not quite sure what that means. It's interesting how you can tell so much about a persons character by how they describe a horse. Usually, it has "alot" to do with how the person relates to the world.
So the horse bucks and rears? Usually that means the horse is trying to tell you something. Try listening carefully. How are her teeth? are they sharp? What kind of bit are you using? is it too severe? How soft are your hands? or are they pulling back so hard the horse has no choice other than to go straight up? Does her back hurt? Have you ran your hand down it to see? Horses that buck, rear, act up are plainly communicating to their handler. Its our job as horse owners to listen and observe and not to just attribute it to bad behavior.
Horses are more intuitive than most people think. They know how you feel about them, they can sense it in your body language, your voice, your mood, your thoughts even.
I like that she said the horse needs a turnout area. Thats true! but as far as lunging a horse before riding? That is something we never do here. We can take horses who have not been ridden in several years, tack them up and get on. Now I do agree horses need exercise and out of their stalls. We do turn out horses here, thanks to our wonderful volunteers, so that they can exercise and play in the arena with different horses and socialize like horses love to. They are herd animals remember. While we dont lunge and make the horse go mindlessly around and around in a circle, which usually just revs them up, especially the thoroughbreds!, we will work them back and forth in hand on the lead and engage their minds by asking them to change directions.
She is very sensitive. Yes, it sounds like the horse is. Therefore, you have to be considerate of that fact. How are you around a sensitive friend? Do you blurt out expletives about how they look? Of course not. You are caring about how they will respond to you..right? Well this mare should be treated the same way. I am not saying tip toe around her, that will make her more nervous, I am saying she needs a calm, cool, confident leader who is not brash and bold and uncaring.
The rest of the ad I agree with...except the statement that shes a problem horse. Sigh. There are no problem horses, only problem owners. It is obvious that she does not have the patience for this mare, and I have to give her kudos for realizing that and wanting to place her mare with someone else more gentle.
What I did do, was forward the ad to a rescue list that went out to several people. Hopefully someone with good training and listening skills will pick this mare up and give her the leadership she so deserves!
This morning the wonderful Tilden family came by and picked up Joaquin and Cajun to drive them up to their new home by Yosemite. Congratulations to the Tilden Family and to our boys who will be in grass pasture heaven up there!!!
Yesterday was my birthday and we received a few donations from Facebook for my birthday wish. Thank you to those who donated to the rescued horses! If you have not joined me yet please do on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1017905423
Facebook somehow thinks I turned 98...which some days it feels like that. I actually turned 52.
One of our volunteers Peg informed me about her neighbors horses. They have a 20 yr old appy that needs a home and a miniature horse as well. They claim they can no longer afford to feed them. We shall see what we can do.
I talked to Zen Equine Rescue about the Pharoh herd of arabians in Oakdale, CA. Four Pharoh bred horses and two Zen horses will be coming down in a couple of weeks. They will be going to Blue Apple Ranch for evaluation and assessment of adoptability and training levels if any. Stay tuned.
Also five of the Clint Ritchie estate horses will be coming down next month from NorCal Equine Rescue up north. Again, these horses will be assessed and many will most likely be up for adoption. If you have ever been a soap opera fan and liked One Life To Live, you can have one of Clints precious horses that he loved himself.
I was called today by a woman who boards at a boarding facility in Carmel Valley regarding a horse. He can no longer be used in the lesson program and has to go. There was talk of euthanasia. She asked if the horse could just be temporarily placed at FalconRidge while an adoptive home was found, as he needed to get out of his facility soon. She has a friend who is going to help her pay for this horses food and care until someone can be found to take him. I like this. These women banded together to help this horse and are committed to him until he is placed in a loving home. They might even be able to place him now and he not have to come here. Great! What they are doing is Fantastic! I wish more people would do such things at barns to help the horses.
Generosity and compassion abound in all of us. Give them
freely, without expectations... and your life will be enriched beyond all imagination!
Love,
Nicki
Cajun & Joaquin's New Home and Pasturemates
Wed Feb 17th - Cochise and Billy the Kid Get Castrated
Today Dr. Jeff Moss came out to FalconRidge to see several of the horses. He castrated 9 year old paint stallion, Cochise. Now Cochise had come to us because the owners could no longer afford him. They felt he was a cryptorchid, and that it would be expensive to geld him so they feared they could not place or sell him due to that fact. What Cochise really was is a high flanker on one side. You could see both testicles although one just barely...but it was there and not up in his abdomen. It was not difficult to castrate him at all. He is now a wonderful gelding.
So interestingly enough? We also had to castrate Billy the Kid and Jesse James today as well. They are the two miniature stallions that came in with The Black Jaguar and Jesse James IS cryptorchid...so Jeff could not castrate him here but will do it next week at the Creekside Vet Clinic. Billy was castrated fine.
Jeff also looked at Jaguar and felt he was anemic. He is on his Red Cell, plus SMZ's, plus a shot of banamine each day to feel better and he is grazing on the grass which has sprung up everywhere due to the rain.
I am receiving requests to take horses in. There are two up in Mira Loma, two in Fallbrook, and always thoroughbreds everywhere. Pass the word to others to adopt from here and we can make room to help more horses in need.
Cajun and Joaquin will be going to their new ranch this Friday and will be on 200 acres of beautiful land near Yosemite Valley. It will be heaven.
You can do as much as you can dream about...or as little...
Make a difference in a horses life today.
Love,
Nicki
So interestingly enough? We also had to castrate Billy the Kid and Jesse James today as well. They are the two miniature stallions that came in with The Black Jaguar and Jesse James IS cryptorchid...so Jeff could not castrate him here but will do it next week at the Creekside Vet Clinic. Billy was castrated fine.
Jeff also looked at Jaguar and felt he was anemic. He is on his Red Cell, plus SMZ's, plus a shot of banamine each day to feel better and he is grazing on the grass which has sprung up everywhere due to the rain.
I am receiving requests to take horses in. There are two up in Mira Loma, two in Fallbrook, and always thoroughbreds everywhere. Pass the word to others to adopt from here and we can make room to help more horses in need.
Cajun and Joaquin will be going to their new ranch this Friday and will be on 200 acres of beautiful land near Yosemite Valley. It will be heaven.
You can do as much as you can dream about...or as little...
Make a difference in a horses life today.
Love,
Nicki
Joaquin
Katherine Heigl
Tues Feb 16th - Joaquin Hits Lotto
Today we found out Joaquin will be adopted to the wonderful Tilden family and going to their super luxurious ranch up near Yosemite, along with Cajun this coming Friday. Big congrats to the Tilden family and to Joaquin!!!!
We received a $2000 donation from the Jason Heigl Foundation for rescuing Nick and Nora from the Los Angeles City Shelter. Thank You!! The Jason Heigl Foundation was founded by Nancy and Katherine Heigl, the acress who plays Izzy on Greys Anatomy, in memory of Jason, their son and brother who died in a car accident in 1986. Jason loved animals so they continue to save dogs and cats from high kill shelters. Kudos to this wonderful family who cares!
http://www.jasonheiglfoundation.org/about.html
A life of giving is a life worth living!
Lovingly,
Nicki
We received a $2000 donation from the Jason Heigl Foundation for rescuing Nick and Nora from the Los Angeles City Shelter. Thank You!! The Jason Heigl Foundation was founded by Nancy and Katherine Heigl, the acress who plays Izzy on Greys Anatomy, in memory of Jason, their son and brother who died in a car accident in 1986. Jason loved animals so they continue to save dogs and cats from high kill shelters. Kudos to this wonderful family who cares!
http://www.jasonheiglfoundation.org/about.html
A life of giving is a life worth living!
Lovingly,
Nicki
Duncan the other day
Duncan before...
The Amazing Transformation of Duncan the Wonderhorse
Once upon a time there was a poor little bay arab gelding who was neglected in a back yard. He got thinner and thinner and nobody cared about him. His teeth could no longer chew his food very well, so whatever food he did get, he could not digest it properly to put on weight.
Someone saw the little arab gelding and contacted us to see if we could help him. I posted about him on here and showed his picture and told his story. I was contacted by a woman who cared about him. Her name is Michele Dasch. She wanted to take the little thin arab into her family and care for him. We arranged for his transport here until he could move to her facility. She came and met him here and fell in love.
She named him...Duncan.
Duncan went home with Michele and was fed a nice diet of senior feed and food he could eat properly. He was cared for and looked after. Michele was asked by people...Why would you get a rescued horse? Sometimes Michele wondered herself. It was tough finding a place to keep Duncan where he could be fed his special diet. She had other horses too. She had faith in Duncan though, and stuck it out. Duncan gained weight and got healthy. He thrived.
Duncan was moved to the stables where the other horses were. There, people asked, why would you get a rescued horse like him? Duncan in the meantime transformed from a skinny, malnourished little horse into the handsome good looking horse he always was inside.
You see? Duncan knows Michele loves him.
Good things happen to those who open up their hearts to the less fortunate...those people who can see the diamond in the rough.
Why get a rescue horse?
Here is why.
They are all the same as any show horse...just ask Jamaica...who was once a "rescue horse"
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/12/17/jamaicas-story-an-unlikely-happy-ending-to-a-horse-slaughter-case.html
Sleep tight Duncan. You are a champion! and so is Michele, for saving you.
Love,
Nicki
Someone saw the little arab gelding and contacted us to see if we could help him. I posted about him on here and showed his picture and told his story. I was contacted by a woman who cared about him. Her name is Michele Dasch. She wanted to take the little thin arab into her family and care for him. We arranged for his transport here until he could move to her facility. She came and met him here and fell in love.
She named him...Duncan.
Duncan went home with Michele and was fed a nice diet of senior feed and food he could eat properly. He was cared for and looked after. Michele was asked by people...Why would you get a rescued horse? Sometimes Michele wondered herself. It was tough finding a place to keep Duncan where he could be fed his special diet. She had other horses too. She had faith in Duncan though, and stuck it out. Duncan gained weight and got healthy. He thrived.
Duncan was moved to the stables where the other horses were. There, people asked, why would you get a rescued horse like him? Duncan in the meantime transformed from a skinny, malnourished little horse into the handsome good looking horse he always was inside.
You see? Duncan knows Michele loves him.
Good things happen to those who open up their hearts to the less fortunate...those people who can see the diamond in the rough.
Why get a rescue horse?
Here is why.
They are all the same as any show horse...just ask Jamaica...who was once a "rescue horse"
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/12/17/jamaicas-story-an-unlikely-happy-ending-to-a-horse-slaughter-case.html
Sleep tight Duncan. You are a champion! and so is Michele, for saving you.
Love,
Nicki
The Black Jaguar
Billy the Kid and Jesse James
Sunday Feb 14 - The St. Valentines Day Rescue
Today we rescued three horses. One black arabian gelding, 18 years old, and two miniature stallions. They had belonged to someone who had a medical condition and they let the horses get neglected. I am not sure why. Why is a tough question to ask in this business. Luckily for them, a wonderful person stepped in and got the horses the help they needed and called me.
David drove out to pick them up. The arabian is a special guy. He is tall and black and thin, wormy, and weak from anemia. His coat is poor and evidenced of malnutrition. He has some fungus on it as well in a couple of areas. He has a star and two white socks. His name is the Black Jaguar, and he is a grandson of Cass Ole, the horse who played the Black Stallion. He has been started on Red Cell, was wormed, teeth floated, and this handsome but weak guy will need some prayers by you as his appetite is not the best.
The two miniature stallions are also thin. It is hard to see a thin pony as ponies normally get fat on air. They have no manners, are hard to catch and like to rear! They will be going to Lynn Wells Blue Apple Ranch for her kids program. She has named them Billy the Kid and Jesse James, appropriately! They will be castrated Wednesday by Dr. Jeff Moss, along with Cochise, the paint stallion.
I have received a three phone calls lately on the answering machine that I cannot understand, which I think were about taking horses. If you have called and I have not returned your call please call back on a landline and speak slowly and clearly so I can get your message as well as your phone number.
Nick and Nora are doing fine so far. Nick is up with Fire in pasture and Nora is working on gaining weight on Ultium and will be seen by the vet on Wednesday for possible teeth floating. She has no upper teeth due to cribbing.
Think of and do big things, so that you can see for yourself you can accomplish more than you ever dreamed you could...
Happy Valentines Day,
Love,
Nicki
David drove out to pick them up. The arabian is a special guy. He is tall and black and thin, wormy, and weak from anemia. His coat is poor and evidenced of malnutrition. He has some fungus on it as well in a couple of areas. He has a star and two white socks. His name is the Black Jaguar, and he is a grandson of Cass Ole, the horse who played the Black Stallion. He has been started on Red Cell, was wormed, teeth floated, and this handsome but weak guy will need some prayers by you as his appetite is not the best.
The two miniature stallions are also thin. It is hard to see a thin pony as ponies normally get fat on air. They have no manners, are hard to catch and like to rear! They will be going to Lynn Wells Blue Apple Ranch for her kids program. She has named them Billy the Kid and Jesse James, appropriately! They will be castrated Wednesday by Dr. Jeff Moss, along with Cochise, the paint stallion.
I have received a three phone calls lately on the answering machine that I cannot understand, which I think were about taking horses. If you have called and I have not returned your call please call back on a landline and speak slowly and clearly so I can get your message as well as your phone number.
Nick and Nora are doing fine so far. Nick is up with Fire in pasture and Nora is working on gaining weight on Ultium and will be seen by the vet on Wednesday for possible teeth floating. She has no upper teeth due to cribbing.
Think of and do big things, so that you can see for yourself you can accomplish more than you ever dreamed you could...
Happy Valentines Day,
Love,
Nicki
Happy Valentine's Day!
Geronimo today
Christe with Sienna, Julia on Baron
Shirley petting on the untouchable Jubilee
Nick and Nora
Saturday Feb 13 - Nick and Nora Have Arrived
It was a rainy weekend last weekend which makes the ranch activities here come to a screeching halt, other than feeding the horses. The mud is still drying out. While the super bowl was playing I was updating the adoptables blog, http://falconridgeequinerescue.blogspot.com.
Nick and Nora, the two horses who were running loose on New Years Eve up in Sylmar arrived on Friday, thanks to transport by Officer Stacey. They are very cute. Nora is thin and needs her teeth floated. Nick needs to gain some weight and his teeth were incredibly sharp and his were floated. David evaluated Nick and found out he is a very well trained charro horse. He will need an adopter who is willing to teach him to relax while being ridden, so he realizes he does not have to be hot under saddle. David videotaped the session and it will be on youtube. Nora is as sweet as can be. Our volunteers doted on her when she came in. Both horses have been wormed, will be trimmed and can now start to pack on the pounds.
On Friday we had volunteers Shirley, who was petting on the previously untouched Jubilee, Peg, Karen, Kelly and Ryan out..all helping with the horses by turning out, hand walking them, grooming, and helping with training.
Today we had Rachel out and Christie, along with two new volunteers doing on orientation.
Baron is being feed leased by volunteer Julia, who plans on adopting him in the future. She rode him in the arena today and he did wonderfully.
Tomorrow we will be saving a special horse in need...
Stay tuned....
The time to start doing the things you have always wanted to do..is now.
Be there for them.
Love,
Nicki
Nick and Nora, the two horses who were running loose on New Years Eve up in Sylmar arrived on Friday, thanks to transport by Officer Stacey. They are very cute. Nora is thin and needs her teeth floated. Nick needs to gain some weight and his teeth were incredibly sharp and his were floated. David evaluated Nick and found out he is a very well trained charro horse. He will need an adopter who is willing to teach him to relax while being ridden, so he realizes he does not have to be hot under saddle. David videotaped the session and it will be on youtube. Nora is as sweet as can be. Our volunteers doted on her when she came in. Both horses have been wormed, will be trimmed and can now start to pack on the pounds.
On Friday we had volunteers Shirley, who was petting on the previously untouched Jubilee, Peg, Karen, Kelly and Ryan out..all helping with the horses by turning out, hand walking them, grooming, and helping with training.
Today we had Rachel out and Christie, along with two new volunteers doing on orientation.
Baron is being feed leased by volunteer Julia, who plans on adopting him in the future. She rode him in the arena today and he did wonderfully.
Tomorrow we will be saving a special horse in need...
Stay tuned....
The time to start doing the things you have always wanted to do..is now.
Be there for them.
Love,
Nicki
Peapod and Ryan
Miles
Thursday Feb 4th - Miles Goes Over the Rainbow Bridge
This morning was a sad one. Miles, a 24 year old thoroughbred gelding who had been rescued in November from a neglectful home in Riverside had ruptured an intestine and had to be helped over the Rainbow Bridge by Dr. Jeff Moss. Miles was an ex racehorse who spent the last twelve years in someones yard in Riverside with no other horses around. His owner was not taking care of him or feeding him well and animal control officials were called out and they contacted us. I asked his owner if she knew who he was by his tattoo and she said no, she had not bothered to look it up. When Miles arrived he was thin and would run you over. I checked his tattoo and found out his name through the Jockey Club..it was Sattoro. He gained weight and was taken care of by our volunteers where he learned manners and how to lead properly. He was getting ready to go over to the sanctuary at Blue Apple as he was not really adoptable as an untrained 24 year old thoroughbred gelding. A few days ago he started to exhibit symptoms of having a stone and he was seen by the vet. He would get better until this morning when he was exhibiting that he was in pain and banamine did not help. Dr. Moss was called out ASAP and he sadly said Miles had ruptured, most likely due to a stone. As he was laid to rest I whispered "Sattoro" in his ear just before he passed...with the hope he remembered his name of old, his name of glory, his name of youth. I hope he is running races now just like he did in his youth while up in heaven. Goodbye boy...we will miss you!
Life is short...run your races and grab the glory now, while you still can.
Love,
Nicki
Life is short...run your races and grab the glory now, while you still can.
Love,
Nicki
One Way to Learn Anatomy!
Rancho Buena Vista High School Internship
I was contacted by an instructor at Rancho Buena Vista High School about having a student intern here at FalconRidge. The student has already interned with Creekside Veterinary Clinic and got exposed to horses there he explained. While at FalconRidge the student will be interviewed as if applying for a regular job, and work under the guidance of our Volunteer Coordinator, Peg Wozniak, while learning horse care, handling of our rescued horses, rehabilitation and training of the horses as well. The student will also be assigned a grade accordingly. Responsible equine education first hand and in the real world and working with our high schools...we love it!
Nora
Nick
"I swear officer, I am innocent!"
Wed Feb 3rd - The Adventures of Nick and Nora
It was New Years Eve, at approximately 2am in the morning, when someone, not of their right mind or perhaps out of desperation, turned loose Nick and Nora onto the city streets of urban Sylmar, California. Nick is a 15 yr old white arabian gelding and Nora is a bay thoroughbred mare who has ribs showing. Police were called out to capture the two loose horses running around, and cornered them at the end of a street. There officers were afraid to approach the horses and called out animal control officials to come get them with a trailer. The officers arrived and walked up to Nick and Nora, haltered them and they calmly walked onto the trailer. The escapade of the two horses was caught on the tv news and reported in the papers. Nick and Nora went to holding pens where they were kept so that their owner could come claim them. Nobody showed up.
Officer Dancy told me about Nick and Nora, named after the characters in the Thin Man series. I told her I would try to find them a home. I posted on Facebook about them, with pictures, asking people up in Los Angeles to please go down to the shelter, check them out and adopt them to give them a loving home. Surely there is someone in Los Angeles County who has funds and a loving home to give to these two street savvy sleuths I thought! I got a few responses on Facebook, then more time went by. More horses in need, different cases and stories coming in to the rescue, etc.
Nick and Nora evidentally fell off the radar. I assumed they would be adopted.
You know what they say about assuming things....
Officer Dancy called me in the afternoon and her voice was animated. She said Nick and Nora's time had run out...they need placing now or are facing euthanasia. I could not believe they were still there. She told me the Heigl Foundation was offering a donation for a qualified rescue to take them so they would be saved...I agreed.
Nick and Nora were saved, in the nick of time. Whoever owned them before and set them loose? Your loss. Nick and Nora are now famous. They have been on tv, they have been in the papers..they are on Facebook. They are heroes and survivors. Nick is totally attached to Nora. They represent our throwaway society of today. They will be used to teach others about "compassion"! They will be used to teach educate children about caring for animals, how you love them and keep them for life in your family.
Whoever did not go down to the shelter to see them and adopt them? Your loss as well. Nora is in her 20s, and a cribber, and she is thin and in need of proper food and care. For you see? Nora, is absolutely no different than race winning Zenyatta, or Rachel Alexander! None whatsover.
Be the one who cares...
Love,
Nicki
Officer Dancy told me about Nick and Nora, named after the characters in the Thin Man series. I told her I would try to find them a home. I posted on Facebook about them, with pictures, asking people up in Los Angeles to please go down to the shelter, check them out and adopt them to give them a loving home. Surely there is someone in Los Angeles County who has funds and a loving home to give to these two street savvy sleuths I thought! I got a few responses on Facebook, then more time went by. More horses in need, different cases and stories coming in to the rescue, etc.
Nick and Nora evidentally fell off the radar. I assumed they would be adopted.
You know what they say about assuming things....
Officer Dancy called me in the afternoon and her voice was animated. She said Nick and Nora's time had run out...they need placing now or are facing euthanasia. I could not believe they were still there. She told me the Heigl Foundation was offering a donation for a qualified rescue to take them so they would be saved...I agreed.
Nick and Nora were saved, in the nick of time. Whoever owned them before and set them loose? Your loss. Nick and Nora are now famous. They have been on tv, they have been in the papers..they are on Facebook. They are heroes and survivors. Nick is totally attached to Nora. They represent our throwaway society of today. They will be used to teach others about "compassion"! They will be used to teach educate children about caring for animals, how you love them and keep them for life in your family.
Whoever did not go down to the shelter to see them and adopt them? Your loss as well. Nora is in her 20s, and a cribber, and she is thin and in need of proper food and care. For you see? Nora, is absolutely no different than race winning Zenyatta, or Rachel Alexander! None whatsover.
Be the one who cares...
Love,
Nicki
Rosaline with Buddy
Tues Feb 2nd - Volunteer Rosaline Truong Spotlight and Farewell
"I was born and raised in San Diego, CA and school or jobs have taken me to the Bay Area, Massachussetts, and to Miami. During the summer I worked in MA, there was an equine center on campus. On my morning run, I would always stop to gaze at the beautiful horses. I finally returned back home this past fall.
I started volunteering at FalconRidge because I've always been fascinated by horses. They are such graceful and magnificent creatures. I've loved horses all my life, but never really had the chance to be around them, and when I heard about FalconRidge, I knew I had to volunteer!
One of the things I enjoy the most about volunteering is meeting new people and new horses every week. I looked forward to chatting about the other great volunteers' lives and the stories and histories of all of the horses. Aside from meeting new horses and people, I really enjoyed grooming the horses and just spending time with them.
Over time, I loved watching the progress of many of the horses which were once untouchable transform into very affectionate horses ready to be adopted. During my time at the ranch, I was able to walk Jocko, and spend a lot of time with the minis, Buddy and Zeus. I grew to love all of the horses, particulary Tejon. He has always been friendly, sweet and special.
Volunteering at FalconRidge has truly been a rewarding experience. Not only have I learned more about horses, spending time with them and knowing that I was contributing to a bigger cause was heartwarming. Coming to FalconRidge was an escape from the daily rush of everyday life. It was calming to return to nature and take care of the horses.
I am super sad that I'm leaving FalconRidge, but I will be moving to New Haven, CT and working in an HIV/AIDS lab at Yale School of Medicine. I'm looking forward to visiting when I can! I will miss everyone, Tuesdays won't be the same...
Love,
Rosaline"
Cochise, 9 year old paint stallion
Legacy with his new mom, Natasha with Legacy
David on Tiki working Tejon
Valerie on Tiki
Saturday Jan 30 - Cochise Gets Evaluated
Today at FalconRidge we had several volunteers out and it was a busy day. Peg and Shirley came to help with the stallions who had been castrated on Friday. Rachel came out and rode Rosalee and helped David with Cochise. Valerie was also here and groomed several horses, helped David with a saddling of Tejon, and also rode Tiki, an 18 yr old paint mare who is back through no fault of her own. David rode Tiki and worked Tejon with her and found out Tiki loves sorting! Tiki is up for adoption.
David evaluated Cochise and found out while he rides fine, he has a kicking problem. As I was brushing him for saddling he was kicking out with his hind legs so David did a training session right then and there with him. It was obvious his hind legs had never been worked with. We also saw that he is dropped a little, so he might be able to be castrated normally and not in the hospital, which is good news. We were told he was a cryptorchid.
We need a hay barn put up. The devastation from this last extreme storm on our hay stack, even though it was tarped, was significant and we lost many bales. Donations are appreciated as well as labor to get a hay barn put up so we can store the hay in a safe dry place! Perhaps we should have an old fashioned barn raising party? Send me ideas.
Hugs and love,
Nicki
David evaluated Cochise and found out while he rides fine, he has a kicking problem. As I was brushing him for saddling he was kicking out with his hind legs so David did a training session right then and there with him. It was obvious his hind legs had never been worked with. We also saw that he is dropped a little, so he might be able to be castrated normally and not in the hospital, which is good news. We were told he was a cryptorchid.
We need a hay barn put up. The devastation from this last extreme storm on our hay stack, even though it was tarped, was significant and we lost many bales. Donations are appreciated as well as labor to get a hay barn put up so we can store the hay in a safe dry place! Perhaps we should have an old fashioned barn raising party? Send me ideas.
Hugs and love,
Nicki
Cochise Winking
Karen working Dusty
Peg Working Arabian mare Sienna
Meredith with Pow Wow, Shirl with Tejon
Cochise
Friday January 29th - Stallions to Geldings, Castration Day
Today Dr. Joe Cannon and three of his staff of San Luis Rey Equine Hospital, http://slreh.com, came out to castrate four of our rescued stallions.
First was Sultan, the ten year old Peruvian Paso stallion rescued from a backyard in Sylmar that he had never left.
Then they castrated Geronimo, the 6 yr old paint stallion who was saved from euthanasia.
Tater was next, he is a 6 yr old paint stallion abandoned in Aguanga.
And finally little Rocket, whose mother Sparkle we rescued from a kill dealer when she was pregnant.
All stallions got through the procedures fine and are now gentlemen! I have seen a great bumper sticker before...it said GELD EM!
Remember to neuter your stallions in order to reduce the number of unwanted horses!
Right after Dr. Cannon and staff left the 9 yr old paint stallion arrived from Ramona. For a half hour FalconRidge was stallionless. The new boy is named Cochise and supposed to be a cryptorchid. He has beautiful blue eyes and has been ridden about 25 times his owners said.
Funds are needed to help with the veterinary bills for castrating these stallions so they can be placed in loving homes. Every little bit helps.
Thank you for helping us help the horses!
Love,
Nicki
First was Sultan, the ten year old Peruvian Paso stallion rescued from a backyard in Sylmar that he had never left.
Then they castrated Geronimo, the 6 yr old paint stallion who was saved from euthanasia.
Tater was next, he is a 6 yr old paint stallion abandoned in Aguanga.
And finally little Rocket, whose mother Sparkle we rescued from a kill dealer when she was pregnant.
All stallions got through the procedures fine and are now gentlemen! I have seen a great bumper sticker before...it said GELD EM!
Remember to neuter your stallions in order to reduce the number of unwanted horses!
Right after Dr. Cannon and staff left the 9 yr old paint stallion arrived from Ramona. For a half hour FalconRidge was stallionless. The new boy is named Cochise and supposed to be a cryptorchid. He has beautiful blue eyes and has been ridden about 25 times his owners said.
Funds are needed to help with the veterinary bills for castrating these stallions so they can be placed in loving homes. Every little bit helps.
Thank you for helping us help the horses!
Love,
Nicki
San Luis Rey Equine Staff Castrating 4 Rescued Stallions
Thursday January 28 - The San Diego Horse Coalition
Today we had the second meeting of the San Diego Horse Coalition, a group made up of equine rescues, veterinarians, animal control officials and the ASPCA. It was held at Blue Apple Ranch in Ramona and the group decided on how best to help at risk horses in our county.
The day before the meeting I received three requests to take horses.
A paint stallion, 9 yrs old whose owners both lost their jobs. He is in need of gelding,
A 19 yr old mustang who is somewhat arthritic,
and a 30 yr old quarterhorse gelding who is fine physically but whose owner can no longer afford to feed him.
I agreed to take the paint stallion.
Legacy has been adopted! Congrats to Natasha and family and he will be going home on Monday!
Make a wish,
then make it come true.
Love,
Nicki
The day before the meeting I received three requests to take horses.
A paint stallion, 9 yrs old whose owners both lost their jobs. He is in need of gelding,
A 19 yr old mustang who is somewhat arthritic,
and a 30 yr old quarterhorse gelding who is fine physically but whose owner can no longer afford to feed him.
I agreed to take the paint stallion.
Legacy has been adopted! Congrats to Natasha and family and he will be going home on Monday!
Make a wish,
then make it come true.
Love,
Nicki
Sienna, 15 yr old Arabian Mare for Adoption
Sunday Jan 24th - Sienna The Little Arab Mare Gets Evaluated
Today we are blessed with sunny skies and the mud is slowly drying out. Volunteer Rachel came out today and groomed horses and rode Rosalee, who is a super cute little quarterhorse mare up for adoption.
A family came to look at Legacy the warmblood for adoption and he most likely will be going home with them in the near future.
David evaluated Sienna the 15 yr old arabian mare and videotaped her being evaluated. She is a very cute and obedient little mare. She has been ridden on trail up in Big Bear and would need an intermediate rider.
I received a request from a rescue in Arizona to take another mare...not sure that we can as we are full and unless horses get adopted we cannot bring any more in.
We are getting a lot of requests for people to volunteer and have them scheduled. We have formal volunteer program which is administered by our Volunteer Coordinator, Peg Wozniak. If you wish to volunteer please contact Peg at winnie@roadrunner.com or myself at nickbranch@aol.com and Peg will email you all the information.
Without our super volunteers here we would not be as successful as we are with taking care of and adopting out horses. We thank all of our volunteers for donating your time, your sweat, energy, your love and handling of our rescued horses so that they may go on to find their forever homes. You guys rock and thank you!
Never underestimate your greatness and how much you can help others by being there for them....four legged or two.
Hugs and love,
Nicki
A family came to look at Legacy the warmblood for adoption and he most likely will be going home with them in the near future.
David evaluated Sienna the 15 yr old arabian mare and videotaped her being evaluated. She is a very cute and obedient little mare. She has been ridden on trail up in Big Bear and would need an intermediate rider.
I received a request from a rescue in Arizona to take another mare...not sure that we can as we are full and unless horses get adopted we cannot bring any more in.
We are getting a lot of requests for people to volunteer and have them scheduled. We have formal volunteer program which is administered by our Volunteer Coordinator, Peg Wozniak. If you wish to volunteer please contact Peg at winnie@roadrunner.com or myself at nickbranch@aol.com and Peg will email you all the information.
Without our super volunteers here we would not be as successful as we are with taking care of and adopting out horses. We thank all of our volunteers for donating your time, your sweat, energy, your love and handling of our rescued horses so that they may go on to find their forever homes. You guys rock and thank you!
Never underestimate your greatness and how much you can help others by being there for them....four legged or two.
Hugs and love,
Nicki
A happy 20 yr old Cajun says "I found my family!"
Saturday Jan 23rd - Cajun Finds A Home
Today we had a wonderful visit from the Tilden family and friends who were looking for a nice and calm ranch horse for their ranch. 20 year old Cajun the quarterhorse gelding has now been adopted by the Tilden family and he will be living up at their ranch just south of Yosemite. Congratulations to Cajun for finding his forever home! A super horse for super people.
The ranch here is still muddy, and our haystack was hit hard by the storms and wind. Even though it was tarped, several bales of hay have been ruined. A friend of mine told me to put up a wish list of things needed for the ranch so people can donate for individual things. One of those that came to mind was a hay shelter so we can store hay and keep it out of the elements.
I am not big on asking for things but I need to learn how and no better time like the present to learn. We do have several things that we need. Donated tack, funds for new pipe panels. A horse trailer for hauling, along with a dependable truck. Horse brushes, supplies, wormers...and always funds for the vet. Lots of horses and teeth need floating, which is about $200 per horse. Four stallions need castrating...Tater, Geronimo, Rocket, and Sultan, at $250 each.
If you can donate anything towards these things for FalconRidge, please let me know by saying what the funds are to be used for. Horses can also be sponsored at $100 per month. Those funds go directly to feed the horse of your choice. You get a certificate with your horses photo and story and satisfaction knowing you are caring for a rescued horse in need. Several horses still need sponsorship. Email me if you want to sponsor a FalconRidge rescued horse.
Today horses were hand walked or turned out in the roundpen as its too muddy to let them run in the arena.
A wonderful family came out in the afternoon to see Zeus for adoption. Cross your fingers for Zeus that he finds his forever home too.
I received a wonderful update from the adopter of Buns:
"Hi Nicki,
I wanted to let you know how buns is doing. First of all I've been calling her Angel, cuz she is. Before the rain started I took her on short trail rides daily, she is so level headed, I absolutely adore her.
I started her on glucosamine/chondroiton/yucca supplement since I noticed her sounding a little creeky in her bones and joints plus I figured since she's a bit older I should start her on something now.
She has an 80 foot turn out and a 24x50 stall with a 12' and a 24' awning. I also got her an unlined waterproof rain sheet, didn't want her wet and cold plus I enjoy spoiling her. I'm sure you're out all day taking care of all of your horses etc..
Thank you so much for starting Falcon Ridge, you and David really know what you're doing and are doing such a wonderful thing for the horses and owners.
Love,
Darla"
Believe in the magic of horses...they will enrich your life.
Love,
Nicki
The ranch here is still muddy, and our haystack was hit hard by the storms and wind. Even though it was tarped, several bales of hay have been ruined. A friend of mine told me to put up a wish list of things needed for the ranch so people can donate for individual things. One of those that came to mind was a hay shelter so we can store hay and keep it out of the elements.
I am not big on asking for things but I need to learn how and no better time like the present to learn. We do have several things that we need. Donated tack, funds for new pipe panels. A horse trailer for hauling, along with a dependable truck. Horse brushes, supplies, wormers...and always funds for the vet. Lots of horses and teeth need floating, which is about $200 per horse. Four stallions need castrating...Tater, Geronimo, Rocket, and Sultan, at $250 each.
If you can donate anything towards these things for FalconRidge, please let me know by saying what the funds are to be used for. Horses can also be sponsored at $100 per month. Those funds go directly to feed the horse of your choice. You get a certificate with your horses photo and story and satisfaction knowing you are caring for a rescued horse in need. Several horses still need sponsorship. Email me if you want to sponsor a FalconRidge rescued horse.
Today horses were hand walked or turned out in the roundpen as its too muddy to let them run in the arena.
A wonderful family came out in the afternoon to see Zeus for adoption. Cross your fingers for Zeus that he finds his forever home too.
I received a wonderful update from the adopter of Buns:
"Hi Nicki,
I wanted to let you know how buns is doing. First of all I've been calling her Angel, cuz she is. Before the rain started I took her on short trail rides daily, she is so level headed, I absolutely adore her.
I started her on glucosamine/chondroiton/yucca supplement since I noticed her sounding a little creeky in her bones and joints plus I figured since she's a bit older I should start her on something now.
She has an 80 foot turn out and a 24x50 stall with a 12' and a 24' awning. I also got her an unlined waterproof rain sheet, didn't want her wet and cold plus I enjoy spoiling her. I'm sure you're out all day taking care of all of your horses etc..
Thank you so much for starting Falcon Ridge, you and David really know what you're doing and are doing such a wonderful thing for the horses and owners.
Love,
Darla"
Believe in the magic of horses...they will enrich your life.
Love,
Nicki
Salsa on Dec 4th.
Run free girl
Friday January 22 - Storm Week & Salsa Goes Up To Heaven
This week we were hit by extreme storms, as bad as 2005 as far as number of inches of rain falling in the county. FalconRidge is quite muddy but at least we have drainage so horses are not standing in water. Lightning and hail accompanied the downpours.
Blue Apple Ranch had their first baby born Tuesday morning, congratulations to Lynn Wells and family for that. Little baby Grace, a dark grey filly was born to Rose, one of the grey Devine Nine mares which were rescued from a hoarder in San Bernardino County and obtained from the Devore Animal Shelter. Two of the mares were found to be pregnant. Surprise!
Last weekend when I saw Sir Rocky for the first time at the vet clinic the staff did not know his name when he came in the night before. One of the ladies there named him "Henry", saying he looked like a Henry. When I arrived they asked me his name and I told him it was Sir Rocky. The one lady said he still looks like a Henry to me. A couple of days later I was contacted by a woman who wants to donate her rescued hackney pony to FalconRidge. She saved him from neglect and now wants us to place him for her in an adoptive home. He is too small to be ridden by an adult and has been mainly a pet with her as he has been recouperating and learning humans are nice. The little Hackney pony's name is ...Henry.
This evening as I came home from work I noticed 30 yr old Salsa was not eating dinner in her stall. Dr. Moss was called out after she appeared to be in distress. He examined her and determined she had a twist in her small intestine. He said she was a stoic horse. She was helped over the Rainbow Bridge and is now running in the skies pain free. Salsa had been rescued last April after being abandoned out near Salton Sea. When she arrived she was extremly thin, had a poor coat and could barely walk. She gained weight quickly and went from being arthritic and stiff legged in turnout to full of energy, packed on the pounds and was able to run easily. She looked younger than her years and it was heartwarming to watch her gain back her weight and get healthy as the months went by. We will miss her dearly and Nemo is still calling out to her as she was stalled next to him.
Goodnight Salsa....
You touched our hearts and your grace and sauciness will remain in mine and all the volunteers hearts who met you forever....
Life is short..make it count.
Love,
Nicki
Blue Apple Ranch had their first baby born Tuesday morning, congratulations to Lynn Wells and family for that. Little baby Grace, a dark grey filly was born to Rose, one of the grey Devine Nine mares which were rescued from a hoarder in San Bernardino County and obtained from the Devore Animal Shelter. Two of the mares were found to be pregnant. Surprise!
Last weekend when I saw Sir Rocky for the first time at the vet clinic the staff did not know his name when he came in the night before. One of the ladies there named him "Henry", saying he looked like a Henry. When I arrived they asked me his name and I told him it was Sir Rocky. The one lady said he still looks like a Henry to me. A couple of days later I was contacted by a woman who wants to donate her rescued hackney pony to FalconRidge. She saved him from neglect and now wants us to place him for her in an adoptive home. He is too small to be ridden by an adult and has been mainly a pet with her as he has been recouperating and learning humans are nice. The little Hackney pony's name is ...Henry.
This evening as I came home from work I noticed 30 yr old Salsa was not eating dinner in her stall. Dr. Moss was called out after she appeared to be in distress. He examined her and determined she had a twist in her small intestine. He said she was a stoic horse. She was helped over the Rainbow Bridge and is now running in the skies pain free. Salsa had been rescued last April after being abandoned out near Salton Sea. When she arrived she was extremly thin, had a poor coat and could barely walk. She gained weight quickly and went from being arthritic and stiff legged in turnout to full of energy, packed on the pounds and was able to run easily. She looked younger than her years and it was heartwarming to watch her gain back her weight and get healthy as the months went by. We will miss her dearly and Nemo is still calling out to her as she was stalled next to him.
Goodnight Salsa....
You touched our hearts and your grace and sauciness will remain in mine and all the volunteers hearts who met you forever....
Life is short..make it count.
Love,
Nicki
Connect with horses, connect with yourself
Sir Rocky as we will remember him
The horse we knew less than 24 hrs will touch many hearts
Sunday January 17th - Goodbye to Sir Rocky
Sir Rocky did not make it. We took him to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital for xrays as he got uncomfortable late afternoon. He had four large stones. 6k surgery is not an option. He was humanely euthanized so that he didn't suffer any more pain.
There was a rainbow to the east just before Sir Rocky passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
We tried boy...we tried...
Tearfully,
Nicki
There was a rainbow to the east just before Sir Rocky passed over the Rainbow Bridge.
We tried boy...we tried...
Tearfully,
Nicki
Sir Rocky, Emergency Rescue From Last Night
Donations are appreciated to help Sir Rocky
Cajun today
Saturday Jan 16th - Cajun, Sienna Arrive & Jellybean Gets A Family
For the last several days a friend of ours had her 3 horses here in the arena for emergency holding due to a boarding facility problem. We were happy to be able to help out in dire need. Today, the three horses went off to their new boarding facility.
Jellybean has been adopted and today she went off to her new loving home! Congratulations to Jellybean and Rhonda!
Today a quarterhorse named Cajun arrived, along with an arabian mare named Sienna. Their owners took very good care of these two and needed to part with them due to finances. Cajun is a perfect horse for beginners and is used to trail and being ridden by kids. He is 20 yrs old. David rode him today and could tell he has been well trained at some point in his life and has a good handle on him. Sienna the arab mare will be evaluated tomorrow. Their owner said a tearful goodbye to them.
Volunteers Valerie, Kelsey and Amber were out today, also volunteer Shirley brought her sister and family to see the ranch.
Taffy was put out in pasture in Buns old place and first thing she did was grab and break the water pipe..so had to fix that.
Tango is out in pasture now with Legacy and friends and was seen playing with Shasta.
I put one of the charro saddles we got from the US Border Patrol case for sale on craigslist and will sell that to bring in funds to help the horses.
Eleven year old Samantha was able to walk up and pet Jubilee today under Davids instruction. Pretty amazing thing to see.
Sam's first time working with an "untouchable" horse.
David received a call today and another friend had boarding problems, so he picked up her horse and brought it here.
As the evening wound down I fed the horses and all was calm and well. I put Native Winds and Moriah out in the arena for a sleepover.
I came into the house and got a phone call from a man who said his horse is colicing, he cannot afford a vet for it, and he can no longer continue to feed it. He said he is a disabled veteren who got injured and cannot now work. His horse, Sir Rocky, who he has had for 15 yrs, is a 15 yr old paint gelding at a friends house who has been helping him pay for feed. He wanted to sign the horse over to FalconRidge so it could get treated. I said ok. I hope to God he makes it. I called Dr. Moss and he consulted with the woman taking care of the horse. He suggested David go pick it up and bring it back to Creekside's clinic so he did. David got back home at 11pm and said Sir Rocky appears to have a blockage, he tube and oiled him, gave him some banamine..his heartrate is 60 with gut sounds and he appears to be holding steady.
Pray for Sir Rocky that he makes it.
Hugs,
Nicki
Jellybean has been adopted and today she went off to her new loving home! Congratulations to Jellybean and Rhonda!
Today a quarterhorse named Cajun arrived, along with an arabian mare named Sienna. Their owners took very good care of these two and needed to part with them due to finances. Cajun is a perfect horse for beginners and is used to trail and being ridden by kids. He is 20 yrs old. David rode him today and could tell he has been well trained at some point in his life and has a good handle on him. Sienna the arab mare will be evaluated tomorrow. Their owner said a tearful goodbye to them.
Volunteers Valerie, Kelsey and Amber were out today, also volunteer Shirley brought her sister and family to see the ranch.
Taffy was put out in pasture in Buns old place and first thing she did was grab and break the water pipe..so had to fix that.
Tango is out in pasture now with Legacy and friends and was seen playing with Shasta.
I put one of the charro saddles we got from the US Border Patrol case for sale on craigslist and will sell that to bring in funds to help the horses.
Eleven year old Samantha was able to walk up and pet Jubilee today under Davids instruction. Pretty amazing thing to see.
Sam's first time working with an "untouchable" horse.
David received a call today and another friend had boarding problems, so he picked up her horse and brought it here.
As the evening wound down I fed the horses and all was calm and well. I put Native Winds and Moriah out in the arena for a sleepover.
I came into the house and got a phone call from a man who said his horse is colicing, he cannot afford a vet for it, and he can no longer continue to feed it. He said he is a disabled veteren who got injured and cannot now work. His horse, Sir Rocky, who he has had for 15 yrs, is a 15 yr old paint gelding at a friends house who has been helping him pay for feed. He wanted to sign the horse over to FalconRidge so it could get treated. I said ok. I hope to God he makes it. I called Dr. Moss and he consulted with the woman taking care of the horse. He suggested David go pick it up and bring it back to Creekside's clinic so he did. David got back home at 11pm and said Sir Rocky appears to have a blockage, he tube and oiled him, gave him some banamine..his heartrate is 60 with gut sounds and he appears to be holding steady.
Pray for Sir Rocky that he makes it.
Hugs,
Nicki
I am Rosalee and I am up for adoption!
Thursday January 14th - ASPCA and Collaboration
Today we met with the ASPCA, other rescues in the area, veterinarians and animal control officials to discuss a coalition for horses in San Diego County which will help horses who are at risk. It was a wonderful meeting filled with great people and great ideas to help more horses! This has been a long time coming for me, a dream of mine, so I was incredibly happy to see it take shape before my eyes. At one point I had to get up and go out of the room as I got overwhelmed with emotion and went to the bathroom where I cried tears of joy. The stress of continuous phone calls, emails and listening to people crying to me on the phone who have lost homes, have personal tragedies and have to place horses that they have owned for twenty years is a very heavy burden at times. To know we will be creating some solutions where the responsibility is more evenly placed is a great relief.
Last year we took in over 50 horses. We adopted out 40 and place 5 in sanctuary. We do not get tons of donations and I work full time so am not able to fundraise much at all. I am lucky to get thank you letters out for large donations. We do not have a paid staff to help in that area and for that I feel badly. Thank you if you have donated!!! We are extremely successful due to the quality of those helping and the belief that others out there, like you, will assist with horses we bring in. We focus on training and adoption and have been committed to helping as many horses as we can.
We are looking forward to working more with the coalition and providing more answers for owners out there that have to relinquish their horses.
In the meantime, we still have Pow Wow up for adoption, Jody, Cimarron, Marley, Nemo, Dusty and more...take a look and pass the word.
Two horses are coming in from Big Bear tomorrow, and one more next week.
The Pharoh Herd will be coming soon...as well as some of the horses from the Clint Ritchie estate.
Take a chance and follow your heart...
Love,
Nicki
Last year we took in over 50 horses. We adopted out 40 and place 5 in sanctuary. We do not get tons of donations and I work full time so am not able to fundraise much at all. I am lucky to get thank you letters out for large donations. We do not have a paid staff to help in that area and for that I feel badly. Thank you if you have donated!!! We are extremely successful due to the quality of those helping and the belief that others out there, like you, will assist with horses we bring in. We focus on training and adoption and have been committed to helping as many horses as we can.
We are looking forward to working more with the coalition and providing more answers for owners out there that have to relinquish their horses.
In the meantime, we still have Pow Wow up for adoption, Jody, Cimarron, Marley, Nemo, Dusty and more...take a look and pass the word.
Two horses are coming in from Big Bear tomorrow, and one more next week.
The Pharoh Herd will be coming soon...as well as some of the horses from the Clint Ritchie estate.
Take a chance and follow your heart...
Love,
Nicki
Montana and her best friend
Montana and Will
Sunday Jan 10th - Buns Finds Love, Tater Is Cured & Montana and Friends!
Today was a hot one! The rest of the country is freezing and it was so hot today at FalconRidge I went sleeveless and got sunburned.
We had volunteers out today. Amber went to work grooming several horses and we had a new volunteer Annabelle out for an orientation.
Buns has been adopted by a wonderful lady named Darla who lives close by. Congratulations to Buns for finding her forever home!
Nobody came to look at Marley and Cimarron today as planned so they are bummed.
I received an update on Montana from her adopter Will. She likes to go trail riding at the Noble Canyon Trail In Pine Valley. He says whenever he is not riding Montana, his four year old Lab is riding her!
Thank you Will! I know there are many volunteers out there smiling right now. You made our day. :-)
I received an email about some paint horses that might need a new home...
I received an email regarding a red dun quarterhorse mare needing a new home. "She goes down trail fine and is 18. She was a team penner she has been a very good trail horse, not spooky type bags, trucks, rides through Lakeside, black silt fencing, helicopters, water, bridges taken her to beach lots of times this past summer."
I received an email regarding the City of San Diego mounted patrol horses which might need homes in the future.
We are glad to report that Tater, the paint stallion who appeared to have stringhalt, is now walking fine!
and Dusty is ready for adoption...
Have a super Sunday and appreciate life!
Love,
Nicki
We had volunteers out today. Amber went to work grooming several horses and we had a new volunteer Annabelle out for an orientation.
Buns has been adopted by a wonderful lady named Darla who lives close by. Congratulations to Buns for finding her forever home!
Nobody came to look at Marley and Cimarron today as planned so they are bummed.
I received an update on Montana from her adopter Will. She likes to go trail riding at the Noble Canyon Trail In Pine Valley. He says whenever he is not riding Montana, his four year old Lab is riding her!
Thank you Will! I know there are many volunteers out there smiling right now. You made our day. :-)
I received an email about some paint horses that might need a new home...
I received an email regarding a red dun quarterhorse mare needing a new home. "She goes down trail fine and is 18. She was a team penner she has been a very good trail horse, not spooky type bags, trucks, rides through Lakeside, black silt fencing, helicopters, water, bridges taken her to beach lots of times this past summer."
I received an email regarding the City of San Diego mounted patrol horses which might need homes in the future.
We are glad to report that Tater, the paint stallion who appeared to have stringhalt, is now walking fine!
and Dusty is ready for adoption...
Have a super Sunday and appreciate life!
Love,
Nicki
Away in a Manger
Kelsey working Sultan, a 10 yr old peruvian stallion
Valerie with Marley today
Tejon on the bridge today
Saturday Jan 9th - New Years Resolutions by the Horses
1. I will NOT roll when my human is on my back.
2. I will NOT leap over large nonexistent obstacles when the whim strikes.
3. I will NOT walk faster on the way home than I did on the way out.
4. I will NOT bite my farrier's butt just to say "Hi."
5. I will NOT confuse my human's hair for really soft hay.
6. I will NOT blow my nose on my human.
7. I will NOT try to mooch goodies from every human within a One-mile radius.
8. I will NOT lay totally flat in my stall with my eyes glazed of and my legs straight out and pretend I can't hear my human frantically screaming "Are you asleep?"
9. I will NOT chase the ponies into the electric fence to see if it is on.
10. I will promise NEVER to dump the wheelbarrow of manure over while my human is mucking my stall.
11. I will NOT grab my lead rope in my mouth and attempt to lead myself.
12. I will NOT pull my shoes off the day after being shod, just to prove that I can.
13. I am neither a beaver nor a carpenter. I promise I won't eat or orally remodel the barn or the new fences.
14. I am NOT a battle steed and will NOT act like one.
15. I will forgive my human for my very bad haircut, even though I look ridiculous.
16. I will accept that not every carrot (sugar lump or cookie) is for me.
17. I will NOT bite the butt of the horse in front of me during a trail ride just to say "Hi."
18. I will NOT jump in the air and turn 180 degrees every time I see a deer.
19. I will understand that deer are NOT carnivorous.
20. I will gladly come from the pasture when my human wants my company.
Today we had volunteers Valerie, Kelsey, Justin and Chiara out at the ranch. Valerie rode Fire the peruvian paso gelding who is up for adoption and he rode wonderfully. She then rode Legacy the warmblood and he was slightly off on his right hind where he has ringbone. He was put out to pasture so he can move around more freely and exercise on a hill to build up muscle and get blood flowing to that fetlock joint. He is sound enough for light riding and light trail riding right now but nothing more. He was calm and rode fine. Valerie then rode Rosalee who did great.
Kelsey mucked stalls and groomed horses and then worked with Dusty in the arena going over obstacles and bridges. She then worked with Sultan the 10 year old peruvian paso stallion in the roundpen and worked him in hand. David moved Jubilee from the roundpen stall to a regular stall today.
I received an email today about an Azteca in Orange County who needs a home, and a tearful phone message from a woman in Yuba City who needs to place her thoroughbred mare immediately.
I ordered hay. 13 tons of hay it disappears magically every 3 weeks at $2600 per load. The horses scarf it up at an amazing pace. They are all fat though. We need help with donations to feed the horses, get them the vet care they need, farrier care and with purchasing supplies such as wormers, supplements and equipment to care for them. Every little bit helps and no donation is too small.
Tonight Sapphire is having a sleepover in the arena under the stars with the tall dark and handsome Pow Wow.
Someone is coming to look at Marley and Cimarron tomorrow. Tonight as I was feeding I saw them saying their prayers with hooves touching.
They were saying.... I'm wishing for a family, I hope they pick me!
Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today.
Love and Blessings,
Nicki
2. I will NOT leap over large nonexistent obstacles when the whim strikes.
3. I will NOT walk faster on the way home than I did on the way out.
4. I will NOT bite my farrier's butt just to say "Hi."
5. I will NOT confuse my human's hair for really soft hay.
6. I will NOT blow my nose on my human.
7. I will NOT try to mooch goodies from every human within a One-mile radius.
8. I will NOT lay totally flat in my stall with my eyes glazed of and my legs straight out and pretend I can't hear my human frantically screaming "Are you asleep?"
9. I will NOT chase the ponies into the electric fence to see if it is on.
10. I will promise NEVER to dump the wheelbarrow of manure over while my human is mucking my stall.
11. I will NOT grab my lead rope in my mouth and attempt to lead myself.
12. I will NOT pull my shoes off the day after being shod, just to prove that I can.
13. I am neither a beaver nor a carpenter. I promise I won't eat or orally remodel the barn or the new fences.
14. I am NOT a battle steed and will NOT act like one.
15. I will forgive my human for my very bad haircut, even though I look ridiculous.
16. I will accept that not every carrot (sugar lump or cookie) is for me.
17. I will NOT bite the butt of the horse in front of me during a trail ride just to say "Hi."
18. I will NOT jump in the air and turn 180 degrees every time I see a deer.
19. I will understand that deer are NOT carnivorous.
20. I will gladly come from the pasture when my human wants my company.
Today we had volunteers Valerie, Kelsey, Justin and Chiara out at the ranch. Valerie rode Fire the peruvian paso gelding who is up for adoption and he rode wonderfully. She then rode Legacy the warmblood and he was slightly off on his right hind where he has ringbone. He was put out to pasture so he can move around more freely and exercise on a hill to build up muscle and get blood flowing to that fetlock joint. He is sound enough for light riding and light trail riding right now but nothing more. He was calm and rode fine. Valerie then rode Rosalee who did great.
Kelsey mucked stalls and groomed horses and then worked with Dusty in the arena going over obstacles and bridges. She then worked with Sultan the 10 year old peruvian paso stallion in the roundpen and worked him in hand. David moved Jubilee from the roundpen stall to a regular stall today.
I received an email today about an Azteca in Orange County who needs a home, and a tearful phone message from a woman in Yuba City who needs to place her thoroughbred mare immediately.
I ordered hay. 13 tons of hay it disappears magically every 3 weeks at $2600 per load. The horses scarf it up at an amazing pace. They are all fat though. We need help with donations to feed the horses, get them the vet care they need, farrier care and with purchasing supplies such as wormers, supplements and equipment to care for them. Every little bit helps and no donation is too small.
Tonight Sapphire is having a sleepover in the arena under the stars with the tall dark and handsome Pow Wow.
Someone is coming to look at Marley and Cimarron tomorrow. Tonight as I was feeding I saw them saying their prayers with hooves touching.
They were saying.... I'm wishing for a family, I hope they pick me!
Don't put off tomorrow what you can do today.
Love and Blessings,
Nicki
Legacy the Dutch Warmblood who needs a home
Thursday January 7th - It's a New Decade For Horses
Hang on. The news is saying the recession in California is over, hooray! But? The economy and jobs will remain the same for about a year. So things are looking up and for the future. More money and jobs means less horses in need out there.
Right now we are experiencing even more of a backlash of owners who cannot afford their horses and need to relinquish them or find them new homes. Several emails and calls this week. An arab mare in Descanso, a paint in Anaheim, two horses running loose in Sylmar and not claimed by anybody! Animal Control asking us to take them. Horses up north and horses down south. Help us hang in there to help other people in need and their horses. Spread the word about horses here who are up for adoption who need new homes. Adopt a horse shelter pet today! Once some of our horses find homes, like the handsome Legacy, Pow Wow, Nemo, Dusty, or the beautiful Jody and Rosalee...we can help more.
Wonderful things are coming. Horse rescue networks are working. We are working together to help the Clint Ritchie herd as well as the Pharoh herd of arabians. David is training as fast as he can but it is hard work to get horses going who have been untouched such as Jubilee and Tuxedo. The volunteers here help. I have heard from Lynn Olson who is fostering Jingle and Bells that they are doing well in Poway. Lynn is training Jingle to ride and Bells is just being her cute filly self. They just got their feet trimmed, donated by the farrier and they were angels.
Here is a wonderful little video I found showing things you can do with your horse,
http://www.youtube.com/user/horsesknowthewayhome#p/u/0/VLI6nLAqFNM
And a study out showing that horses adjust their heart rate to match the humans who is handling or on them.
http://www.enlightenedhorsemanship.net/2009/08/science-friday-horses-react-to-human-heart-rates-study-finds/
They are magic....don't you know?
Adopt a rescued horse today...save a life.
Love,
Nicki
Right now we are experiencing even more of a backlash of owners who cannot afford their horses and need to relinquish them or find them new homes. Several emails and calls this week. An arab mare in Descanso, a paint in Anaheim, two horses running loose in Sylmar and not claimed by anybody! Animal Control asking us to take them. Horses up north and horses down south. Help us hang in there to help other people in need and their horses. Spread the word about horses here who are up for adoption who need new homes. Adopt a horse shelter pet today! Once some of our horses find homes, like the handsome Legacy, Pow Wow, Nemo, Dusty, or the beautiful Jody and Rosalee...we can help more.
Wonderful things are coming. Horse rescue networks are working. We are working together to help the Clint Ritchie herd as well as the Pharoh herd of arabians. David is training as fast as he can but it is hard work to get horses going who have been untouched such as Jubilee and Tuxedo. The volunteers here help. I have heard from Lynn Olson who is fostering Jingle and Bells that they are doing well in Poway. Lynn is training Jingle to ride and Bells is just being her cute filly self. They just got their feet trimmed, donated by the farrier and they were angels.
Here is a wonderful little video I found showing things you can do with your horse,
http://www.youtube.com/user/horsesknowthewayhome#p/u/0/VLI6nLAqFNM
And a study out showing that horses adjust their heart rate to match the humans who is handling or on them.
http://www.enlightenedhorsemanship.net/2009/08/science-friday-horses-react-to-human-heart-rates-study-finds/
They are magic....don't you know?
Adopt a rescued horse today...save a life.
Love,
Nicki
Herd running socialization today
Sapphire, Native Winds, Pow Wow, Jody, Moriah and Marley
Rachel on Rosalee today
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 - The Beginning of a New Decade!
It's funny how we seem to look at decades. I am old enough to remember most of the 60's. How simple things were back then. Black and white TVs, the family sitting around it in the evening watching a variety show all together after eating dinner together. As kids we had to create our own games and played outside, climbing trees and games like tag, as there wasn't that many toys to be had. I remember how "new" I thought the 70's were! We had disco, bellbottoms and super cool hair dos. Hmmm, I think that is coming back! The 80s and 90s went by in a blur. The older I get the faster time goes by.
Now we have the super communication era where we are connected all the time with each other. Horses actually get helped faster this way. You see a neglected horse now you can snap it with your cell phone, text and send it to someone like me, who will forward it to animal control and bingo, out they go to check on it!
Here at FalconRidge we had several people today. Volunteers came out to work horses, groom, help ride. David rode Marley and Sapphire. A family came from Big Bear who wants me to take their two horses. I talked to John of Zen rescue up near Oakdale, CA who is trying to place the Pharoh herd of arabians. The owner has lost his home and had a series of strokes and had 11 horses to be placed or animal control was going to come in and euthanize them as he has no means to take care of them. We will be taking some after January 15th.
The beautiful Rosalee is up for adoption and Pow Wow the handsome ex show horse. If you know someone who is looking for a horse, these guys are super catches! So is Nemo!
Happy new decade. I know this one will be filled with peace, prosperity for all, good times, and hope for a wonderful future.
Love,
Nicki
Now we have the super communication era where we are connected all the time with each other. Horses actually get helped faster this way. You see a neglected horse now you can snap it with your cell phone, text and send it to someone like me, who will forward it to animal control and bingo, out they go to check on it!
Here at FalconRidge we had several people today. Volunteers came out to work horses, groom, help ride. David rode Marley and Sapphire. A family came from Big Bear who wants me to take their two horses. I talked to John of Zen rescue up near Oakdale, CA who is trying to place the Pharoh herd of arabians. The owner has lost his home and had a series of strokes and had 11 horses to be placed or animal control was going to come in and euthanize them as he has no means to take care of them. We will be taking some after January 15th.
The beautiful Rosalee is up for adoption and Pow Wow the handsome ex show horse. If you know someone who is looking for a horse, these guys are super catches! So is Nemo!
Happy new decade. I know this one will be filled with peace, prosperity for all, good times, and hope for a wonderful future.
Love,
Nicki
Happy New Year from FalconRidge!
Jubilee on New Year's Eve
Dusty
New Years Eve, 2009 - Dusty's First Ride and I Hugged Jubilee
Today David evaluated Dusty, the draft horse cross from Hacienda De Los Milagros rescue in Arizona, and he found he had been previously ridden before! He was able to saddle him up easily. Dusty has fears of touching his mouth and we are working on those with him. Great to find out he can ride though so he should make someone a wonderful horse. If you are looking for a bigger draft type horse, please come see Dusty.
Also today the couple who had saved Jubilee by notifying us of her fate came out to FalconRidge and saw her. I was able to work with her for the first time and pet her all over and even give her a hug. They were so pleased with her progress which is totally amazing! Shes a super smart girl.
2009 is almost over...what a year it has been for us! We have taken in several horses from various situations and rehabilitated them. We were fortunate to have over 100 volunteers here at FalconRidge and we currently have 35 active volunteers who help us out.
We had wonderful families and people adopt horses and give the rescued horses a new home with love.
We were fortunate to have people donated to help us help the horsees. Every little bit helps! We have people donate $10 a month and that truly helps with the horses with feed, care, vet costs.
We were lucky to have met the wonderful Lynn Wells who has created Blue Apple Ranch, a huge sanctuary that will help many horses at risk, and who is a collaborative rescue partner with us.
We are thankful for all our supporters of the year, those who read this blog, who pass the word to others about it. We are thankful for those of you who supported others who were struggling this year with losses of jobs and homes. We are thankful to be able to take in so many horses to assist those in financial need in 2009 and keep them safe and place them into loving homes so the owners did not worry so much or cry as much.
We are each lucky to have our health, our friends, our family, and most of all, the horses. The horses who save us from ourselves, who heal us, who empower us, who keep us in integrity, the horses who make us better than we are just by their presence.
2009 was a tough year. Yet thanks to you out there, we have been able to save and assist many horses in need. We are thankful for the many horses this year we saved who have endured unimaginable cruelty, hunger, abuse, and strife...yet bounced back to health and still love humans...
They are the true heroes of the year 2009.
Happy New Years Eve and Blue Moon,
Love,
Nicki
Also today the couple who had saved Jubilee by notifying us of her fate came out to FalconRidge and saw her. I was able to work with her for the first time and pet her all over and even give her a hug. They were so pleased with her progress which is totally amazing! Shes a super smart girl.
2009 is almost over...what a year it has been for us! We have taken in several horses from various situations and rehabilitated them. We were fortunate to have over 100 volunteers here at FalconRidge and we currently have 35 active volunteers who help us out.
We had wonderful families and people adopt horses and give the rescued horses a new home with love.
We were fortunate to have people donated to help us help the horsees. Every little bit helps! We have people donate $10 a month and that truly helps with the horses with feed, care, vet costs.
We were lucky to have met the wonderful Lynn Wells who has created Blue Apple Ranch, a huge sanctuary that will help many horses at risk, and who is a collaborative rescue partner with us.
We are thankful for all our supporters of the year, those who read this blog, who pass the word to others about it. We are thankful for those of you who supported others who were struggling this year with losses of jobs and homes. We are thankful to be able to take in so many horses to assist those in financial need in 2009 and keep them safe and place them into loving homes so the owners did not worry so much or cry as much.
We are each lucky to have our health, our friends, our family, and most of all, the horses. The horses who save us from ourselves, who heal us, who empower us, who keep us in integrity, the horses who make us better than we are just by their presence.
2009 was a tough year. Yet thanks to you out there, we have been able to save and assist many horses in need. We are thankful for the many horses this year we saved who have endured unimaginable cruelty, hunger, abuse, and strife...yet bounced back to health and still love humans...
They are the true heroes of the year 2009.
Happy New Years Eve and Blue Moon,
Love,
Nicki
21 yr old paint mare
Breeding stock paint mare
She needs a home
Dec 30th - Jubilee Gets Trimmed!
Today David was able to trim Jubilees feet, standing up without much trouble. What a good girl! Considering last year she had to be roped and tied down to be trimmed. Juan Aguilar will not believe his eyes when he sees her here as he knew what she was like before when she was untouchable. David has saved her life. :-)
I received this email regarding a paint mare:
Last March my wife lost her job and I have been working four jobs to make ends meet. Six weeks ago we sold our gelding. We have not been able to sell or even give away our beautiful 21 year old paint mare though. We can no longer feed and care for her the way she deserves, and we need some help finding a place for her. If you could help or know of someone who can, could you please contact me.
I shared the email with Lynn Wells of Blue Apple Ranch and she felt their paint mare would be a good addition to the ranch. Thank you Lynn Wells! :-)
I was contacted about a 6 yr old horse named Bingo that had been abandoned at his home in Winchester. When he was a baby he had a broken leg and it healed slightly curved. The owner threatened to shoot him, moved out of the house and left Bingo there. Luckily, the neighbor women took him in and has been feeding him and so he would not be shot. She cannot continue to afford to feed him though.
The handsome warmblood gelding Legacy will be arriving on New Years Day and he likes little kids.
We were contacted to help with placing some arabians from a herd up north whose owner became senile and they were at risk.
I was emailed about an 18year old breeding stock Paint mare. The mare had previously been bred, foaled 5 show babies and was up for sale. She was bought for a 13 yr old . The mare turned out to be way to much horse for a novice. The mare in 4 years has been ridden 5-6 times in an arena only. The owner has 3 horses and cannot afford to feed them all.
Lots of horses need homes...can you help?
I received this email regarding a paint mare:
Last March my wife lost her job and I have been working four jobs to make ends meet. Six weeks ago we sold our gelding. We have not been able to sell or even give away our beautiful 21 year old paint mare though. We can no longer feed and care for her the way she deserves, and we need some help finding a place for her. If you could help or know of someone who can, could you please contact me.
I shared the email with Lynn Wells of Blue Apple Ranch and she felt their paint mare would be a good addition to the ranch. Thank you Lynn Wells! :-)
I was contacted about a 6 yr old horse named Bingo that had been abandoned at his home in Winchester. When he was a baby he had a broken leg and it healed slightly curved. The owner threatened to shoot him, moved out of the house and left Bingo there. Luckily, the neighbor women took him in and has been feeding him and so he would not be shot. She cannot continue to afford to feed him though.
The handsome warmblood gelding Legacy will be arriving on New Years Day and he likes little kids.
We were contacted to help with placing some arabians from a herd up north whose owner became senile and they were at risk.
I was emailed about an 18year old breeding stock Paint mare. The mare had previously been bred, foaled 5 show babies and was up for sale. She was bought for a 13 yr old . The mare turned out to be way to much horse for a novice. The mare in 4 years has been ridden 5-6 times in an arena only. The owner has 3 horses and cannot afford to feed them all.
Lots of horses need homes...can you help?
Clint Ritchie, from One Live to Live
Dec 29 - Help for the Actor Clint Ritchie Estate Horses
Hey soap opera fans!
Clint Ritchie, a long time soap opera star from One Life to Live (Clint Buchanan married to Vicki Buchanan) owned the Happy Horse Ranch in northern California and was an endurance rider. Mr. Ritchie passed on earlier this year, unfortunately without a will. His estate included a 60 acre horse ranch with 30 horses that were in need of homes. Some of those horses were rescued. Clint loved animals and rescued horses and dogs. Read about his ranch here,
http://www.clintritchie.com/clints-b...ppyhorseranch/
9 of his beloved pet horses are left of the herd and need to be place in loving homes now. FalconRidge was contacted to help place the final nine horses. They are currently at NorCal Equine Rescue in Oroville. Most adoption fees are waived for these horses and transport down to southern California can be provided to those who want to adopt.
Please consider adopting one of Clints horses and giving it a loving home. He would appreciate it. Ace, Button, DunDeal, Fooler, HeavyDuty, Intensive, LilBigRed, Stretch & Sundae all were his personal horses! Take a look. Super special horses!
Ace: Arabian Gelding
Buttons: Arabian Mare
DunDeal: Mustang Mare
Fooler: TB Gelding
HeavyDuty: QH Gelding
Intensive: Arabian Mare
LilBigRed: Mustang Mare
Stretch: Arabian Mare
Sundae: Arabian Mare
Contact Info: Tawnee Phone: 530-282-5565
mail: info@savethehorse.com
FREE transport down to southern California if you adopt and many of the adoption fees are waived. Lets get these nine deserving horses who's owner died unexpectedly into new loving homes!
Current Address: NorCal Equine Rescue P.O. Box 6108 Oroville, Ca 95966 http://www.norcalequinerescue.com/available.php
Thank you! and Clint will thank you!
Love,
Nicki
Clint Ritchie, a long time soap opera star from One Life to Live (Clint Buchanan married to Vicki Buchanan) owned the Happy Horse Ranch in northern California and was an endurance rider. Mr. Ritchie passed on earlier this year, unfortunately without a will. His estate included a 60 acre horse ranch with 30 horses that were in need of homes. Some of those horses were rescued. Clint loved animals and rescued horses and dogs. Read about his ranch here,
http://www.clintritchie.com/clints-b...ppyhorseranch/
9 of his beloved pet horses are left of the herd and need to be place in loving homes now. FalconRidge was contacted to help place the final nine horses. They are currently at NorCal Equine Rescue in Oroville. Most adoption fees are waived for these horses and transport down to southern California can be provided to those who want to adopt.
Please consider adopting one of Clints horses and giving it a loving home. He would appreciate it. Ace, Button, DunDeal, Fooler, HeavyDuty, Intensive, LilBigRed, Stretch & Sundae all were his personal horses! Take a look. Super special horses!
Ace: Arabian Gelding
Buttons: Arabian Mare
DunDeal: Mustang Mare
Fooler: TB Gelding
HeavyDuty: QH Gelding
Intensive: Arabian Mare
LilBigRed: Mustang Mare
Stretch: Arabian Mare
Sundae: Arabian Mare
Contact Info: Tawnee Phone: 530-282-5565
mail: info@savethehorse.com
FREE transport down to southern California if you adopt and many of the adoption fees are waived. Lets get these nine deserving horses who's owner died unexpectedly into new loving homes!
Current Address: NorCal Equine Rescue P.O. Box 6108 Oroville, Ca 95966 http://www.norcalequinerescue.com/available.php
Thank you! and Clint will thank you!
Love,
Nicki
Sapphire
Joaquin, Native Winds, Marley
Sultan
Monday Dec 28 - Sapphire Has Secrets
I hope everyone had a super Christmas out there. This blog is read by people from all over the world according to the stats, so I have to say hello to those reading it in Malaysia and the United Kingdom, Russia, Canada...Australia too. Thank you for tuning in to our rescue work here with the horses!
David rode Sultan, the 10 year old Peruvian Paso stallion on Saturday for a second ride on him and he did super again. What a special boy he is!
David also rode Sapphire the paint mare and found out...uh oh...surprise...she has been taught to rear on cue while be ridden! Actually, not a good thing for a horse to know. Seems this horse has had several owners and they attributed the rearing as bad behavior...when she most likely had been unknowningly cued to do it and she was just doing her job! She supposedly knows how to bow as well. So? some tricks have been taught to her in the past.
I received a nice Christmas card from Kingstons adopter with a photo of him, saying he is doing great. Also received an update on Star, who is doing well...and one from a woman who adopted Kiowa, a mustang from long ago. That little mustang went from sitting unwanted in Norco, to now in a loving home where she is being ridden everywhere and loved by her family. Rimrock and Tiki also celebrated Christmas in their new home with their family too. I heard from Sundances owners and they said they are totally in love with him!
I have received emails about the horses in the Devore Shelter needing adoption....
Also a 6 yr old Belgian Quarter cross gelding who needs some training and adoption. He basically has not had much done with him , but is cute. IF someone is interested in adopting this horse let me know and we can take him in.
Prancer was successfully transported to Blue Apple Ranch today and reportedly eating very well, is tucked into his stall and Lynn got him a new blanket for Christmas.
I was contacted about a dutch warmblood needing a new home. He is 16 very handsome..was a dressage horse and used to jump. Now he can be used for light or trail riding only. Again, if anybody is interested in adopting a dutch warmblood gelding with nice manners..he is being ridden by a 12 yr old child right now, please let me know so we can bring him in.
The beautiful Rosalee, a registered quarter horse mare named Sweet Little Bit is up for adoption now. Shes a super sweet mare and would make someone a great horse for trail or show.
Another email about a 21 year old paint mare needing a new home. Owner lost her job and they have had to get rid of their horses. I will get more information on her so stay posted.
The ASPCA is coming soon for a meeting here to discuss the San Diego Horse Coalition and all these requests to take horses like the warmblood, the belgian/quarter, the paint and arabs are exactly the reason why we need to get people together and agencies to help horses! If you have room to take in a horse, please consider it. Good deeds never go unturned. If you have one horse, it wants a buddy! If you board, consider buying a ranch..you know you have always wanted to have horses on your property, now is the time to do it! Nine years ago I never thought I would be able to own a horse ranch. Its funny how you can tell yourself you will never be able to have this or that in your life. Phooey. You can have whatever you want if you set your heart on it and believe in the most special person out there, yourself.
New Years is coming...today I watched as Native Winds, the Kentucky Mountain mare was running in the arena with Marley the palomino and Joaquin, who we cannot figure out quite what breed he is, along with others under cloudy skies and it was very still outside and serene and the horses were playing together almost mystically. They know things that we don't.
Now is the time to take control of your life and follow your dreams. Jody wants a home. So does Pow Wow, Fire, and Nemo from Chincoteague. Adopt one of our super special horses if you can. It was not their fault that they became homeless!
It's a New Year...Be the change.
Love,
Nicki
David rode Sultan, the 10 year old Peruvian Paso stallion on Saturday for a second ride on him and he did super again. What a special boy he is!
David also rode Sapphire the paint mare and found out...uh oh...surprise...she has been taught to rear on cue while be ridden! Actually, not a good thing for a horse to know. Seems this horse has had several owners and they attributed the rearing as bad behavior...when she most likely had been unknowningly cued to do it and she was just doing her job! She supposedly knows how to bow as well. So? some tricks have been taught to her in the past.
I received a nice Christmas card from Kingstons adopter with a photo of him, saying he is doing great. Also received an update on Star, who is doing well...and one from a woman who adopted Kiowa, a mustang from long ago. That little mustang went from sitting unwanted in Norco, to now in a loving home where she is being ridden everywhere and loved by her family. Rimrock and Tiki also celebrated Christmas in their new home with their family too. I heard from Sundances owners and they said they are totally in love with him!
I have received emails about the horses in the Devore Shelter needing adoption....
Also a 6 yr old Belgian Quarter cross gelding who needs some training and adoption. He basically has not had much done with him , but is cute. IF someone is interested in adopting this horse let me know and we can take him in.
Prancer was successfully transported to Blue Apple Ranch today and reportedly eating very well, is tucked into his stall and Lynn got him a new blanket for Christmas.
I was contacted about a dutch warmblood needing a new home. He is 16 very handsome..was a dressage horse and used to jump. Now he can be used for light or trail riding only. Again, if anybody is interested in adopting a dutch warmblood gelding with nice manners..he is being ridden by a 12 yr old child right now, please let me know so we can bring him in.
The beautiful Rosalee, a registered quarter horse mare named Sweet Little Bit is up for adoption now. Shes a super sweet mare and would make someone a great horse for trail or show.
Another email about a 21 year old paint mare needing a new home. Owner lost her job and they have had to get rid of their horses. I will get more information on her so stay posted.
The ASPCA is coming soon for a meeting here to discuss the San Diego Horse Coalition and all these requests to take horses like the warmblood, the belgian/quarter, the paint and arabs are exactly the reason why we need to get people together and agencies to help horses! If you have room to take in a horse, please consider it. Good deeds never go unturned. If you have one horse, it wants a buddy! If you board, consider buying a ranch..you know you have always wanted to have horses on your property, now is the time to do it! Nine years ago I never thought I would be able to own a horse ranch. Its funny how you can tell yourself you will never be able to have this or that in your life. Phooey. You can have whatever you want if you set your heart on it and believe in the most special person out there, yourself.
New Years is coming...today I watched as Native Winds, the Kentucky Mountain mare was running in the arena with Marley the palomino and Joaquin, who we cannot figure out quite what breed he is, along with others under cloudy skies and it was very still outside and serene and the horses were playing together almost mystically. They know things that we don't.
Now is the time to take control of your life and follow your dreams. Jody wants a home. So does Pow Wow, Fire, and Nemo from Chincoteague. Adopt one of our super special horses if you can. It was not their fault that they became homeless!
It's a New Year...Be the change.
Love,
Nicki
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from FalconRidge
A Christmas Fable - The Big Guy
by David Alexander
The old gray horse sidled up to the pasture fence with little dancing steps. The place seemed familiar, yet some how strange. The grass was greener than any grass he had ever seen, and when he looked closely at the white paddock gate it had a kind of pearly sheen. And there was another funny thing. A big, black cloud hovered just inside the gate. The cloud wasn't up in the sky where it properly belonged. It was like a great puff of black smoke rising from the grass. Suddenly the cloud dissolved and revealed a horse.
He was a small chestnut with a blunt head and one white stocking and brownish hairs in his tail and mane. The gray horse thought he had a kind of old-timey took to him."Hello, old gray horse," the chestnut from the black cloud said."Hey, that's a real good trick!" the gray horse exclaimed. "Where'd you learn it?" The chestnut disappeared into the cloud again, but emerged immediately."Learned it the day I was born," he replied with a whinny that sounded like a chuckle. "You see I was born on April Fool's Day and there was a total eclipse of the sun. So they named me Eclipse.
I was always playing tricks on people, too. Used to kick my grooms and try to throw my riders, and I bit the auctioneer that sold me." "My name is. . ." the old gray horse started to say politely, but the tricky chestnut ducked in and out of his cloud and interrupted rudely."Native Dancer," he said. "I ought to know you. I'm your great-great-great-great-great -- I always lose count of the greats' -- but anyway you're a descendant of mine. Almost everybody is, infact. The thoroughbreds, that is.""Are you the gatekeeper?" Native Dancer asked."Mostly," Eclipse replied. "I'm on duty whenever one of my descendants is coming up. That's mostly, so far as thoroughbreds go.
Old Matchem had a few left and he takes over when one's due. And poor old Herod, he's posted here occasionally, but there's not many of his male line that aren't here already.""What is this place?" Native Dancer asked. "I guess I'm kind of lost.""The Green Place," Eclipse replied. "That's what it's called. The Green Place. Most of the horses that get lost come here. We have to send some back, of course.""Why?" The Dancer asked."Because they don't belong here, that's why. Long before I came up therewas this fellow Bayard, for instance. He was a devil-horse. Belonged to an old necromancer named Matagigi and he did the devil's work. He helped that villain Aymon of Dordogne to triumph over Charlemagne, they say. And a wizard named Michael Scott had a big black beast who used to stomp his feet and set all the bells of Paris ringing. He even caused the towers of the palace to fall down one day."The Big Guy doesn't want that kind here. But we have Jesse James's horse, and Willy Turpin's, too. The Big Guy says they did nothing wrong themselves. They were just faithful to their masters, and The Big Guy thinks that's a virtue.""Who's The Big Guy?" Native Dancer asked."You'll find out! " Eclipse answered airily. He lowered his muzzle and pushed the gate open. "You might as well come in. You understand you're on probation, though.
The Big Guy makes his decisions about new arrivals every Christmas. Let's see, it's November 16, the way you figure things down there. So you won't have long to wait, anyway.""I'll bet The Big Guy is Man O' War," Native Dancer said as he moved insidethe gate and gazed over the emerald-green expanses that seemed to stretch into infinity. Eclipse snorted. "Don't get smart boy," he said. Then he added maliciously,"You'd lose your bet, too. The way a lot of people lost their bets on you at Churchill Downs one day."
Native Dancer felt humble for his ancestor had touched a raw nerve. His lips trembled a bit as he replied defensively,"That Derby was the only race I ever lost.""I never lost even one race," Eclipse said unsympathetically. "So don't get smart up here. The Big Guy doesn't want any smart-alecks in the Green Place. Remember that."Native Dancer was a sensitive sort. He felt as if his eyes were teary and he hoped Eclipse didn't notice. "I won 21 outof 22, and Man O' War won only 20 out of 21," he declared. "And my son Kauai King won the Kentucky Derby.""My sons won three Derbies at Epsom," Eclipse said.
"Young Eclipse took the second running and Sattram won thefourth and Sergeant won the fifth, and I'd have won the bloomin' race myself, only they didn't run it in my time. So quit bragging. Somebody's coming and they might overhear you and tell The Big Guy, and that would be a mark against you."
A bay horse who seemed even more old timey than Eclipse ambled up. "Is it my time now?" he asked eagerly. "Notyet, Herod," Eclipse answered in a kindly fashion. "Old Fig's on duty now. One of his is on the way.""Who's Old Fig?" Native Dancer asked. "I have never heard of that one.""There's a lot of things you never heard of, boy," Eclipse replied. "His real name is Figure, but down there they called him Justin Morgan, after his owner. Here he is now."A very small, dark bay horse with a round barrel, tiny feet and furryfetlocks came bustling up to the gate. "Okay,okay, I'll take over," he said busily.
"Where is that boy? Can't stand tardiness. I've got things to do. A load to pull, a field to plough, a race to run, a trot to trot. No time to waste. Where is that boy.?"In the weeks that followed, The Dancer met hundreds, maybe thousands of horses. Some of them were famous and some of them were his ancestors and a few of them were his own sons and daughters.
He met a snorting white stallion named Bucephalus who had been approved forthe Green Place by The Big Guyeven though it was rumored by some that he was cursed by the deadly sin of pride because he had carried a conqueror named Alexander. He met another gray horse who limped because he had stepped on a rusty nail back home just before he becamelost forever. His name was Traveller, and he was a warhorse, too, in the days when a man named General Lee had ownedh im.
There were old soldier steeds, two of them descendants of the bustlinglittle stallion they called Old Fig up here. One was Phil Sheridan's black Rienzi and the other a horse called both Fancy and Little Sorrel who had been the mount ofS tonewall Jackson.
Native Dancer found Man O' War an amiable sort despite his proud, aristocratic bearing, and he grew especially fondof a bony old fellow named Exterminator, who patiently answered all but one of his questions. He asked the question of everyone: "Who is The Big Guy?"
and the answer was always the same: "Wait till Christmas."He met Messenger and Hambletonian and Hindoo. He met horses that had dared the dreadful fences of the Grand National. He met a horse who stared blindly into the emerald darkness. His name was Lexington. He met horses who had pulled circus wagons and horses who had pulled brewers' trucks and horses who had drawn man's ploughs over the fields of earth, and he met others who had been the mounts of kings and captains. Always the answer to his question was the same: "Wait till Christmas."
Eclipse fussed over him and kept a watchful eye on his behavior and said he neighed too much and asked too many questions. Eclipse could not stand the thought of The Big Guy banishing one of his descendants from the Green Place. And Native Dancer did not wish to leave. He doubted he could ever find his way to Maryland again if The Big Guy disapproved of him. And the Green Place was very pleasant in all respects.
The grass was lush and he met so many interesting horses. Back home he had sometimes been troubled by nightmares, for a DarkStar haunted his dreams, but now he slept peacefully and rarely remembered the Derby he had lost. He became nervous, though, as the weeks went by and the stars grew brighter. And finally it was time.
On a night when the skies burned with starlight all the horses gathered as near as possible to a little hillock of the vast paddock. There were hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of them, amurmuring and expectant throng that seemed to stretch for miles over the emerald grass beneath the diamonds in the heavens.
Eclipse was very tense. He hovered over Native Dancer, whispering, "Look your best now. Be quiet and humble. The Big Guy will be here any minute." Suddenly the vast throng was as silent as the stars themselves.
The Big Guy stood on the hillock in a blinding blazeof starlight, and Native Dancer could barely contain himself. He choked back a whinny of derision and whispered to Eclipse,"Is he The Big Guy? He's so little! And he's not even a horse! What did he ever do?"Eclipse whispered,
"He's a donkey. He carried a woman heavy with child to asmall town on another night when thestars were bright.""It was a long, long time ago."
Merry Christmas to you all....
Santa
The old gray horse sidled up to the pasture fence with little dancing steps. The place seemed familiar, yet some how strange. The grass was greener than any grass he had ever seen, and when he looked closely at the white paddock gate it had a kind of pearly sheen. And there was another funny thing. A big, black cloud hovered just inside the gate. The cloud wasn't up in the sky where it properly belonged. It was like a great puff of black smoke rising from the grass. Suddenly the cloud dissolved and revealed a horse.
He was a small chestnut with a blunt head and one white stocking and brownish hairs in his tail and mane. The gray horse thought he had a kind of old-timey took to him."Hello, old gray horse," the chestnut from the black cloud said."Hey, that's a real good trick!" the gray horse exclaimed. "Where'd you learn it?" The chestnut disappeared into the cloud again, but emerged immediately."Learned it the day I was born," he replied with a whinny that sounded like a chuckle. "You see I was born on April Fool's Day and there was a total eclipse of the sun. So they named me Eclipse.
I was always playing tricks on people, too. Used to kick my grooms and try to throw my riders, and I bit the auctioneer that sold me." "My name is. . ." the old gray horse started to say politely, but the tricky chestnut ducked in and out of his cloud and interrupted rudely."Native Dancer," he said. "I ought to know you. I'm your great-great-great-great-great -- I always lose count of the greats' -- but anyway you're a descendant of mine. Almost everybody is, infact. The thoroughbreds, that is.""Are you the gatekeeper?" Native Dancer asked."Mostly," Eclipse replied. "I'm on duty whenever one of my descendants is coming up. That's mostly, so far as thoroughbreds go.
Old Matchem had a few left and he takes over when one's due. And poor old Herod, he's posted here occasionally, but there's not many of his male line that aren't here already.""What is this place?" Native Dancer asked. "I guess I'm kind of lost.""The Green Place," Eclipse replied. "That's what it's called. The Green Place. Most of the horses that get lost come here. We have to send some back, of course.""Why?" The Dancer asked."Because they don't belong here, that's why. Long before I came up therewas this fellow Bayard, for instance. He was a devil-horse. Belonged to an old necromancer named Matagigi and he did the devil's work. He helped that villain Aymon of Dordogne to triumph over Charlemagne, they say. And a wizard named Michael Scott had a big black beast who used to stomp his feet and set all the bells of Paris ringing. He even caused the towers of the palace to fall down one day."The Big Guy doesn't want that kind here. But we have Jesse James's horse, and Willy Turpin's, too. The Big Guy says they did nothing wrong themselves. They were just faithful to their masters, and The Big Guy thinks that's a virtue.""Who's The Big Guy?" Native Dancer asked."You'll find out! " Eclipse answered airily. He lowered his muzzle and pushed the gate open. "You might as well come in. You understand you're on probation, though.
The Big Guy makes his decisions about new arrivals every Christmas. Let's see, it's November 16, the way you figure things down there. So you won't have long to wait, anyway.""I'll bet The Big Guy is Man O' War," Native Dancer said as he moved insidethe gate and gazed over the emerald-green expanses that seemed to stretch into infinity. Eclipse snorted. "Don't get smart boy," he said. Then he added maliciously,"You'd lose your bet, too. The way a lot of people lost their bets on you at Churchill Downs one day."
Native Dancer felt humble for his ancestor had touched a raw nerve. His lips trembled a bit as he replied defensively,"That Derby was the only race I ever lost.""I never lost even one race," Eclipse said unsympathetically. "So don't get smart up here. The Big Guy doesn't want any smart-alecks in the Green Place. Remember that."Native Dancer was a sensitive sort. He felt as if his eyes were teary and he hoped Eclipse didn't notice. "I won 21 outof 22, and Man O' War won only 20 out of 21," he declared. "And my son Kauai King won the Kentucky Derby.""My sons won three Derbies at Epsom," Eclipse said.
"Young Eclipse took the second running and Sattram won thefourth and Sergeant won the fifth, and I'd have won the bloomin' race myself, only they didn't run it in my time. So quit bragging. Somebody's coming and they might overhear you and tell The Big Guy, and that would be a mark against you."
A bay horse who seemed even more old timey than Eclipse ambled up. "Is it my time now?" he asked eagerly. "Notyet, Herod," Eclipse answered in a kindly fashion. "Old Fig's on duty now. One of his is on the way.""Who's Old Fig?" Native Dancer asked. "I have never heard of that one.""There's a lot of things you never heard of, boy," Eclipse replied. "His real name is Figure, but down there they called him Justin Morgan, after his owner. Here he is now."A very small, dark bay horse with a round barrel, tiny feet and furryfetlocks came bustling up to the gate. "Okay,okay, I'll take over," he said busily.
"Where is that boy? Can't stand tardiness. I've got things to do. A load to pull, a field to plough, a race to run, a trot to trot. No time to waste. Where is that boy.?"In the weeks that followed, The Dancer met hundreds, maybe thousands of horses. Some of them were famous and some of them were his ancestors and a few of them were his own sons and daughters.
He met a snorting white stallion named Bucephalus who had been approved forthe Green Place by The Big Guyeven though it was rumored by some that he was cursed by the deadly sin of pride because he had carried a conqueror named Alexander. He met another gray horse who limped because he had stepped on a rusty nail back home just before he becamelost forever. His name was Traveller, and he was a warhorse, too, in the days when a man named General Lee had ownedh im.
There were old soldier steeds, two of them descendants of the bustlinglittle stallion they called Old Fig up here. One was Phil Sheridan's black Rienzi and the other a horse called both Fancy and Little Sorrel who had been the mount ofS tonewall Jackson.
Native Dancer found Man O' War an amiable sort despite his proud, aristocratic bearing, and he grew especially fondof a bony old fellow named Exterminator, who patiently answered all but one of his questions. He asked the question of everyone: "Who is The Big Guy?"
and the answer was always the same: "Wait till Christmas."He met Messenger and Hambletonian and Hindoo. He met horses that had dared the dreadful fences of the Grand National. He met a horse who stared blindly into the emerald darkness. His name was Lexington. He met horses who had pulled circus wagons and horses who had pulled brewers' trucks and horses who had drawn man's ploughs over the fields of earth, and he met others who had been the mounts of kings and captains. Always the answer to his question was the same: "Wait till Christmas."
Eclipse fussed over him and kept a watchful eye on his behavior and said he neighed too much and asked too many questions. Eclipse could not stand the thought of The Big Guy banishing one of his descendants from the Green Place. And Native Dancer did not wish to leave. He doubted he could ever find his way to Maryland again if The Big Guy disapproved of him. And the Green Place was very pleasant in all respects.
The grass was lush and he met so many interesting horses. Back home he had sometimes been troubled by nightmares, for a DarkStar haunted his dreams, but now he slept peacefully and rarely remembered the Derby he had lost. He became nervous, though, as the weeks went by and the stars grew brighter. And finally it was time.
On a night when the skies burned with starlight all the horses gathered as near as possible to a little hillock of the vast paddock. There were hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of them, amurmuring and expectant throng that seemed to stretch for miles over the emerald grass beneath the diamonds in the heavens.
Eclipse was very tense. He hovered over Native Dancer, whispering, "Look your best now. Be quiet and humble. The Big Guy will be here any minute." Suddenly the vast throng was as silent as the stars themselves.
The Big Guy stood on the hillock in a blinding blazeof starlight, and Native Dancer could barely contain himself. He choked back a whinny of derision and whispered to Eclipse,"Is he The Big Guy? He's so little! And he's not even a horse! What did he ever do?"Eclipse whispered,
"He's a donkey. He carried a woman heavy with child to asmall town on another night when thestars were bright.""It was a long, long time ago."
Merry Christmas to you all....
Santa
Prancer, Christmas Eve Rescued Thoroughbred
Christmas Eve - The Rescue of Prancer
With the collaboration of four different people/rescue groups, an emaciated thoroughbred gelding was rescued today from a neglectful home in Riverside county. The horse was first brought to our attention by Deborah Jones of Huntington Beach. FalconRidge, TIER and Blue Apple worked together to contact the owner and get the horse to safety. Lynn Wells of Blue Apple agreed to take him in. TIER rescue had him hauled this morning and safely got him in a stall with some food which he scarfed up.
This poor boy was named Prancer and he is very thin underneath a heavy coat. His upper front teeth are gone from cribbing and his backbone is showing badly. On Monday he will be picked up and transported to Blue Apple Ranch where he will live out his life in luxury and never experience an empty stomach again!
Today Jeff Moss brought the 50 vaccines for a Christmas present...thank you Creekside!
Jubilee played with Marley in the roundpen. They talked about Santa coming....
Ho Ho Ho!
Merrrrrrrry Christmas!
Love,
Nicki
This poor boy was named Prancer and he is very thin underneath a heavy coat. His upper front teeth are gone from cribbing and his backbone is showing badly. On Monday he will be picked up and transported to Blue Apple Ranch where he will live out his life in luxury and never experience an empty stomach again!
Today Jeff Moss brought the 50 vaccines for a Christmas present...thank you Creekside!
Jubilee played with Marley in the roundpen. They talked about Santa coming....
Ho Ho Ho!
Merrrrrrrry Christmas!
Love,
Nicki
Wed Dec 23rd - A Thoroughbred In Need
I received an email from Deborah Jones regarding an emaciated 20 something year old thoroughbred gelding in the Riverside area. The owner was having financial difficulties and he had to go. I forwarded the email to TIER rescue as they were close by. Calls were made to the owner but she did not return them.
I was also notified of a blind pony in San Bernardino, called the owner, but he did not return calls. Sometimes offers of help are given to horses and owners and they choose not to accept them. If a horse is meant to be here it will come.
On Monday our equine chiropractor Dr. Don Moore came to FalconRidge and worked on Tater, the paint stallion with stringhalt, and also evaluated Sapphire, who was fine. Then I took him over to Blue Apple Ranch to meet Lynn Wells and there he worked on Casper, whose jaw was out and a shoulder, Dixie, a therapeutic riding horse, whose back was really sore, and Flash a little guy that we were told had arthritis but it really turned out to be at some point in his life he flipped over and damaged his withers. All horses were moving much better the next day after their adjustments Lynn said. We discussed the San Diego Horse Coalition with Dr. Don as equine chiropractic would be an essential element of the group to help horses.
I received a call from Dr. Jeff Moss telling me that their Pfizer representative was going to donate 50 combination vaccines to FalconRidge, worth about $1,000! Wow, thanks so much to Jeff for telling the rep about what we do here for the horses. He said he would drop it by the ranch tomorrow.
Christmas is coming early.
Lots of calls and emails coming in from people frantic to place their horses.
Today Rimrock and Tiki went to their new home with the Hicks family of Pauma Valley who have a little boy and girl to love on them as well as mom and dad. Congrats Tiki and Rimrock!
Today David worked with the previously untouchable Jubilee. Our super volunteers were our today too, and assisted David with her. He was able to saddle Jubilee without much fuss, and even able to stand up in the stirrup. She is obviously a very fast learner and smart as a whip! Peg said she was able to work on her mane and pet her neck with no problem. Amazing.
Christmas is near...oh holy night!
Love,
Nicki
I was also notified of a blind pony in San Bernardino, called the owner, but he did not return calls. Sometimes offers of help are given to horses and owners and they choose not to accept them. If a horse is meant to be here it will come.
On Monday our equine chiropractor Dr. Don Moore came to FalconRidge and worked on Tater, the paint stallion with stringhalt, and also evaluated Sapphire, who was fine. Then I took him over to Blue Apple Ranch to meet Lynn Wells and there he worked on Casper, whose jaw was out and a shoulder, Dixie, a therapeutic riding horse, whose back was really sore, and Flash a little guy that we were told had arthritis but it really turned out to be at some point in his life he flipped over and damaged his withers. All horses were moving much better the next day after their adjustments Lynn said. We discussed the San Diego Horse Coalition with Dr. Don as equine chiropractic would be an essential element of the group to help horses.
I received a call from Dr. Jeff Moss telling me that their Pfizer representative was going to donate 50 combination vaccines to FalconRidge, worth about $1,000! Wow, thanks so much to Jeff for telling the rep about what we do here for the horses. He said he would drop it by the ranch tomorrow.
Christmas is coming early.
Lots of calls and emails coming in from people frantic to place their horses.
Today Rimrock and Tiki went to their new home with the Hicks family of Pauma Valley who have a little boy and girl to love on them as well as mom and dad. Congrats Tiki and Rimrock!
Today David worked with the previously untouchable Jubilee. Our super volunteers were our today too, and assisted David with her. He was able to saddle Jubilee without much fuss, and even able to stand up in the stirrup. She is obviously a very fast learner and smart as a whip! Peg said she was able to work on her mane and pet her neck with no problem. Amazing.
Christmas is near...oh holy night!
Love,
Nicki
Jingle
Monday Dec 21 - Jingle Bells Update
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I got this email from Lynn Olsen today. She is the foster of Jingle and Bells, who are at a ranch in Poway. Thank you for all of you who have donated for the transport for these two rescued beauties! You Rock!1
"Nicki,
Ok, so everyone is completely in love with these girls. They are so sweet and well mannered. They settled into the ranch real fast. They have made friends with all their corral neighbors. I’ve loved watching Bells run in the pasture alongside another horse that is in the next pasture. Licking & chewing with great enthusiasm to any horse that greets her. Jingle wanders away from Bells, allowing her to play with others thru the fence. She’s what I would call a relaxed momma.
I worked with Jingle yesterday on the halter to see what she would do. Took her around the property and away from baby. She walked, stopped, turned and backed up with ease. I never had to put pressure on the halter. Never once did she worry about baby. Several times now I have noticed her kicking at Bells when she tries to nurse.
Today I decided to work her in the round pen. Again, she listened to the halter very well. Bells out playing in the pasture, not in sight didn’t bother Jingle one bit. I put my saddle on her and she didn’t budge at all. I worked her on the lead line with the saddle and she never bucked or fought me. With all this being very easy I decided to put my weight on her. She again just stood still while I got on and off, both sides several times. I then took it the next step and put the bridle on.
I’m pretty sure by the way she acted she has never had a bit in her mouth. Although it was easy to get her to take the bit she chomped & chewed on it. I then got on to see what she would do. And, she stood there. I asked for her to give to the bit, trying to flex her and she had no clue what I was asking. Following what I have learned from David. After a few tries she realized what I was asking and would give. Press
I got this email from Lynn Olsen today. She is the foster of Jingle and Bells, who are at a ranch in Poway. Thank you for all of you who have donated for the transport for these two rescued beauties! You Rock!1
"Nicki,
Ok, so everyone is completely in love with these girls. They are so sweet and well mannered. They settled into the ranch real fast. They have made friends with all their corral neighbors. I’ve loved watching Bells run in the pasture alongside another horse that is in the next pasture. Licking & chewing with great enthusiasm to any horse that greets her. Jingle wanders away from Bells, allowing her to play with others thru the fence. She’s what I would call a relaxed momma.
I worked with Jingle yesterday on the halter to see what she would do. Took her around the property and away from baby. She walked, stopped, turned and backed up with ease. I never had to put pressure on the halter. Never once did she worry about baby. Several times now I have noticed her kicking at Bells when she tries to nurse.
Today I decided to work her in the round pen. Again, she listened to the halter very well. Bells out playing in the pasture, not in sight didn’t bother Jingle one bit. I put my saddle on her and she didn’t budge at all. I worked her on the lead line with the saddle and she never bucked or fought me. With all this being very easy I decided to put my weight on her. She again just stood still while I got on and off, both sides several times. I then took it the next step and put the bridle on.
I’m pretty sure by the way she acted she has never had a bit in her mouth. Although it was easy to get her to take the bit she chomped & chewed on it. I then got on to see what she would do. And, she stood there. I asked for her to give to the bit, trying to flex her and she had no clue what I was asking. Following what I have learned from David. After a few tries she realized what I was asking and would give. Press