Honey Bandit is a happy guy.  After we spent the last three days clearing out dead trees and doing major cleanup, the horses can now find a ray of sunshine between the trees on those cold winter days.  Prior to this weekend, the area where Honey Bandit and his "band" spend their days, was quite dark and dreary.   The horses would spread out, grabbing the limited spots of sunshine.  Now, however, there is much more sunlight available to them, and they are enjoying it immensely.  I have to say thank you to my hubby Matt, our boys and a very good friend Wes, (one of my "extra" kids, as they did a tremendous amount of work to allow the sun to shine down on our beloved critters.  I may not be much use for the "heavy work", but I am a pretty good supervisor - haha.

Seriously though, Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, the Orphan Foal Division of WWAS, is truly a much brighter place to be.  PTL!!!!  Sunshine makes me happy!   The horses were of great help, of course.  Matt, Travis and Wes all set their half empty coffee cups in the wheel barrow as they worked away.  Chilly Pepper, the inspiration of CPMM,  and Dakota (a very unhappy 'string" trail horse - who came to our rescue to "get away" from that life) decided to help in this endeavor.  While the guys weren't looking, they drank all of their coffee.  They did not spill or knock over the coffee cups, they simply stuck their big ole tongues in their cups and drank away.  (I have to admit that Dakota and I will share a cup of joe once in awhile.  He just sticks his tongue in and has a lick or two of coffee.  He loves it!)  Of course we don't do that if he has a muddy face.  :)

We have been quite busy, preparing for the upcoming foal season.  We have had wonderful visits from some beautiful ladies who came and helped. We don't really have volunteers, more like a great big family.  Some of the best times we have spent are sitting around the table "breaking bread" with our "extended family".  I really think that having a community rescue and a great big extended family is such a huge blessing.  I feel so honored to have met so many wonderful people and to be able to share what we do with ya'll.  In today's world, people forget how wonderful it can be to just sit around the table, (or the fire) and eat and visit, without television or computers etc.  This world has become so commercialized and high tech that sometimes people forget how much joy the simple pleasures in life can bring you, like sharing stories as the fire crackles and dances before you.

We want to send out a big thank you to the beautiful Carla Bowers and Suzie Cortemanche.  We were lucky enough to have them visit and not only share their fabulous company, but help us with our chores.  I also want to send such a big and heartfelt hug to Cat Kindsfather, who spent some wonderful hours with Little Mister.  Thanks to her being there, we were able to get him the medicine he needed even though it was in the middle of the night and about a two hour round trip.  She spent her gas and time and love for the little guy and made it possible to get the meds right away.  Although God needed Little Mister to come home right away, the meds did indeed make him more comfortable.  So I will always be grateful for the way she "cowgirled up" and "got 'er done".  We are looking forward to her being a big part of the ongoing foal rescue.  Suzie C was also with me the night Little Mister flew up to heaven in the arms of the angels.  We heard what sounded like hundreds of birds, and away he went, almost as if he were flying on the wings of angels.  

So as we look ahead, the trailer is packed, and we are ready to go.  We have medical supplies, some milk powder to get us started and a broken heart that is ready to wrap around the next little one that needs help.  Again, we thank you so much for making all this possible.  Fuel for a 400-500 mile trip will always be a challenge, but I know in my heart that ya'll will be there to help us bring these little angels home.  Thank you in advance for always being there for the horses.  We simply could not do this without the whole "family".  

God bless and take care!  Palomino & the gang.  

Tickets are still available for the BAILEY CREEK FISHING LODGE GETAWAY  (WWW.BAILEYCREEKLODGE.COM)  Tickets are $5 each or 3/$10 and can be purchased at our website www.chillypepper.weebly.com or by sending a check to   Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Road, Shingletown, CA  96088   530 474 5197  or 530 339 1458.

February 13, 2012
House to Consider Ban on Hauling Horses in Double-Deck Trailers

Calls Urgently Needed to Oppose Gardner Amendment

Dear Humanitarian:
At long last, the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to consider a ban on the use of trailers with more than one level for hauling horses. This week, the House is expected to take up consideration of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, H.R. 7. At present, language explicitly banning ALL hauling of horses on double-deck trailers is included in the bill - a safe and sound measure. However, opponents are trying to undermine this modest yet important legislation. Representative Cory Gardner (R-CO) has offered an amendment to strip the double-deck trailer ban from the bill and allow this inhumane practice to continue.
Support for banning the use of double-deck trailers is strong, and includes the American Veterinary Medical Association, National Black Farmers Association, Animal Welfare Institute, and Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. Equine rescue, humane, and professional organizations all realize it is cruel and dangerous to haul horses on double-deck trailers. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture has expressed opposition to double-deck hauling of horses, stating that, "We do not believe that equines can be safely and humanely transported on a conveyance that has an animal cargo space divided into two or more stacked levels." (9 CFR Parts 70 and 88). In fact, the USDA has already prohibited the use of these trailers to transport horses to slaughter, but its rule does not cover horses being transported for any other purposes. All horses, regardless of where they are going, deserve this important protection, and the language included in the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act will provide it.
Time is Short; Here's What You Can Do:
We must shore up support for the ban and against the Gardner Amendment. Please, can you help us? Because of the urgency of this action, emails may not be read in time to influence your Representative. Please take a few minutes TODAY to call and urge your U.S. Representative tosupport the existing double-deck trailer ban in H.R. 7, and oppose the Gardner Amendment to strip this language out. Below are some additional points that might be useful when you call.
To find the name of your Representative and his/her phone number, please visitwww.compassionindex.org. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected.
Thank you for taking action on this very important issue. Be sure to share this eAlert with friends, family, and coworkers and urge them to call in support of the double-deck trailer ban as well.
Sincerely,
Chris Heyde
Deputy Director
Government and Legal Affairs


Double-Deck Trailers are Inhumane and Unsafe. According to the USDA and the American Veterinary Medical Association, horses require 7-8' (84"-92") ceiling clearance for safe and humane transport. Double-deck trailers often have ceilings as low as 5'5", well below the recommended minimum. Even trailers "modified" for special use have ceilings no higher than 5'11" (71"). When transported in these physically inadequate vehicles, many horses have arrived at their destination with grievous wounds on their shoulders (withers) and backs because their heads were forced into an unnatural and unbalanced position for extended periods of time during travel. Double-deck trailers, designed for shorter-necked species like cattle and swine do not provide adequate space for horses to retain their balance, leading to unstable footing, falls, injuries, trampling, and death.
Grisly Accidents Cost Lives, Traumatize First Responders, and Inflict Financial Burdens on Communities. Accidents in recent years have created gruesome roadside scenes of horses twisted, entangled, dead, and dying. Responders are often unprepared and left shocked by such horrifying disasters. Local communities have had to pay for the rescue and rehabilitation of the horses in many cases.
A Patchwork of State Laws Exists. Six states ban the use of double-deck trailers for the transport of horses entirely (Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont). A federal law would harmonize the varying state laws that address horse transport, improve enforcement of horse transportation safety laws, and make America's roads a safer place for all interstate travelers.
USDA Regulation Doesn't Cover Non-Slaughter Horse Transport. The USDA has unequivocally stated that double-deck trailers are inhumane and unsafe and has implemented a ban on their use for the transport of horses to slaughter. Unfortunately, there is a need for Congress to do what USDA has not been able to do - prevent the use of double-deck trailers to transport horses for other purposes. No matter the destination, using double-deck trailers to transport horses is inherently dangerous to horses and to people.
We respectfully urge you to support the language in the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act banning the transportation of horses on double-deck trailers. This language will make transportation safer for horses and our roadways safer for drivers. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

SIMPLE FACTS:
AVERAGE HORSE HEIGHT: 7'-7'8" (84"-92" or 15-17 hands)
AVERAGE TRAILER CEILING HEIGHT: 4'7"-5'11" (55"-71") each level
RECOMMENDED HEIGHT: 7-8' (84"-96") each level
MODIFIED RODEO TRAILER: 5'11" (71") each level
AVERAGE HEIGHT OF A HOUSE DOOR: 7' (84")

Hi ya'll,

I just wanted to say thank you for everyone who made it possible to bring Little Mister home, whether it be financial or prayers or good thoughts.  I am sorry that I haven't written sooner, but it has been pretty tough.

The donations that were made are the ONLY reason we were able to pick him up, and God bless you for that.  Just a little info so you know kind of what is happening in "your" little rescue.  I have had over 35 surgeries on my right leg, including 3 total knee replacements.  I have a very weird and rare nerve disease, which between that and the orthopedic issues create chronic pain.  (The only reason I tell you this is so you know why I don't just run out and get a fabulous job :) )  The fact that I am unable to sleep most of the time does make it easier to care for the foals in a small way, so I guess that is a good thing - haha.  But I have also been paying hospital bills etc. for the last 33 years, (ouch - did I just write that).  This is not a "poor me" thing, I have a wonderful life, great friends and am lucky enough to live in one of the greatest communities and do what I love.  However, it does contribute to the fact that we operate on fumes.  We recently had to move due to financial reasons, but were once again, extremely blessed to be able to move to a wonderful place where we can continue our mission.  (It needs lots of work, but we are good at work).

I received a couple of comments about picking up a foal when we did not have funds for fuel.   Our rescue maintains emergency and immediate supplies for these babies.  We always make sure we have foal lac (milk for newborns), antibiotics, medical supplies, blankets etc. on hand.  When we get a call, we are ready to roll, with the exception of fuel funds sometimes.  It takes a lot of fuel!   However, we are running some extremely heavy and old equipment.  This is not a complaint however, because we always manage to "git er done".  But the difficult part is that the truck is getting about 8 or 9 miles to the gallon when we pull the heavy trailer.  We drove to Palomino Valley to pick up Little Mister, then took him to our "temporary nursery", which is offered to us by our wonderful friends/family Pat & Teresa Patterson.  We then had to run to Dayton in the middle of the night for some emergency medicine for Little Mister.  Then the next day the local vet advised us to get him home and settled as he was feeling decent.  By the time we completed our trip, we had driven 549 miles.

That is a lot of fuel.  Now I only bring this up, as people have indicated we should have those funds set aside.  That is a wonderful idea, but our budget doesn't allow that.  So when ya'll step up and provide the funds for us to pick up these babies, YOU ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND GIVING THESE BABIES A CHANCE TO SURVIVE.  I will work non stop until the very end and do everything possible for these little ones, but you guys are truly the ones that make it possible.   We are working on getting some better equipment, which would not only save fuel, but bring our response time down, which in some cases can be extremely important.

It brings tears to my eyes, (and yes, I have shed a lot of them lately) to know that so many people care about and love these innocent little angels.  I promise I will always do what I can as long as I can, with your support and prayers.  Together, we do make a huge difference.  This little baby bonded immediately and instead of being alone and cold somewhere, he got to play in everything, knock stuff down and make me pick it up over and over and was feeling really well.  I will always treasure the moments we had together and the sound of him calling us.  He got the biggest kick out of sending out his tiny little whinny and we would run up to the window and he would give us kisses.  (The "nursery" is inside our friend's home and there is an open window right into the living room.)  So we were always together.

So I just wanted to let you know how much love and appreciation there is for all you guys do.  You are truly amazing and I will forever be grateful to you for being part of this.  I am sure that Little Mister is watching over every single person that helped him.  I am also sure that he is galloping away with his real mama, free and wild up in heaven.

God bless you and thank you again.

Big hugs
Palomino, Matt & the rest of the critters.

Hi ya'll,

This is not an easy one to write.  Just a short time ago, Little Mister left this earth and joined his mother in heaven.  I started the proverbial "why?", for about two seconds, and then I realized I knew why.  I truly believe God puts us where we are supposed to be.  We were supposed to spend these last two days with this beautiful colt, so he would die surrounded by love and peace and not alone and afraid.  I am so thankful to the folks at Palomino Valley for allowing us to make his last few days a little less scary, especially after he had become an orphan.

Last night, Little Mister, (although he didn't feel too great), did have some fun.  He got into everything in the "borrowed foal room", and immediately became our "son".  After his temperature had spiked and Cat (Kindsfather) drove me through the night to get to Shirley's house to get meds, I was given a memory I will always treasure.  As soon as I walked in the room and he heard my voice, he gave this tiny, kind of screechy little whinny and jumped to his feet.  "Mommy was home".   These are the moments that make what we do worth while when we have nights like this.  He  was quite the little talker and would whinny if we went into the other room for more than a few minutes.  We shared a lot of love in a short time.

Little Mister was beautiful, but apparently when he was born there was some unknown problem.  The vet was shocked that he was so sick after she did the blood work, because the test that shows whether a little one got his or her antibodies (through mommy's colostrum) came out so positive.  She showed it to me several times because it was such a positive result.  Today when I took him in, his gums were showing tinges of blue/purple, indicating that he was not getting enough oxygen.  He had minimal gut sounds at best, and his heart rate was extremely high.  His poor little heart was trying so hard to pump enough blood to get enough oxygen, but his tiny little lungs were too compromised.  He had severe pneumonia, which can be so deadly to the tiny foals.   If he had been born in the wild, most likely the stallion would have killed him, or the mares would have, or he would have been left behind, alone and scared, to suffer a horrible death.  So although my heart is breaking, I am so thankful and feel so honored that we got to spend his last days with him.  He knew he was surrounded by love, and although he was meant to leave this earth way too early, I know that it helped him for us to be there.  We were with him until the end, and although it is so sad, it was also a huge blessing for him as the pneumonia had progressed so far.  He simply could not get enough air.  

We can't save every foal, although I wish we could, but we do everything we possibly can for every second that we have with them.  I truly appreciate you all being part of this and sharing the good times and the not so easy times.  I was asked if I was going to "take a break", but that isn't how it works.  We celebrate the ones we can help, and mourn the ones that we can't, all the while knowing that at any second, another one might need us.  I am grateful that this is where God wants me to be.  There is so much joy in it, along with the heartbreak.

Take care and God Bless - and give your critters an extra hug!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let ya'll know what is happening with "Little Mister".  We finally got home tonight around 7:00 ish  give or take - was too tired to even look at the clock and wanted to get him settled.  We went straight to our vet before we came home, as the Doc we were going to see in Nevada wasn't available today.

By the time we were nearly home, I was pretty scared.  Little Mister was not feeling well at all, and we found out he has a very bad case of pneumonia.  This weather is causing havoc with the health of so many little ones, and it got him good.

We did blood tests, and the good news is that they show that his mommy had some really good colostrum.:)  So good in fact that the vet was surprised he is so sick.  The test showed he had lots of protection from mommy, but sometimes that is still not enough.  His heart rate was elevated and his gut sounds are slow, but the vet said that is most likely a side effect from being so sick from the pneumonia.  He had a fever of 103.8 last night, and then it was low, around 98, today.  So he is not feeling his best.

Please, please please say prayers for him.  Ask your friends and family to say their prayers, as this is quite serious.  He is on i.v. fluids and antibiotics etc. that the vet prescribed.  We are doing every thing we can, and we will be giving him 24/7 care, but we need your help and prayers.  He is a special guy with lots of personality, and I know someday he will be an awesome horse for someone.



He is such a little doll, and we want to see him grow up and lose the "little" in Little Mister.  :)

Thank you so much for always being there.

Hugs
Palomino