It was feeding time, and the wind was actually raging.  (Woohoo)  As I took hay to the horses, the wind whipping my hair in my face, I looked up and smiled.  Living in California, it seems like if it rains, it is considered a storm.  I have to say I miss Washington State and Pennsylvania, where the storms truly rage and the thunder and lightning rock your world.  (I do have to admit that those types of thunder and lightning storms would not be a good idea in dry California, so again, God's plans are best.)   But there is nothing like a rockin' thunder storm as long as it is not starting fires :).  It is like God's power is so big and we are so small, and when the thunder shakes the mountains it makes me want to dance, the wolves get excited and the horses will run like the wind if you are riding in it.  Yet it is like a falling eyelash from heaven.  There is so much power out there and no human can ever truly harness it.  Kind of like a wild stallion tearing across the plains, hooves pounding, mane and tail flying and their hearts pounding as can only happen when you are truly wild. 

All around me the trees were swaying to the point where surely they would snap; instead they whipped back up tall and straight, as though they were doing a rapid dance.  The horses were jacked up, snorting and pawing and prancing around, their ears alert and their eyes wide.  Hmmmmmmmm I wondered, what amazing or scary smells does the wind bring to their world.  Living here makes you so aware of how much we humans miss.  Hundreds of smells, some of predators, some merely skunks and squirrels come flying through their world when the winds blow like this.  I wish I knew who and what surrounded us, as they surely do.  So many nights the dogs go crazy, barking at some wild animals in the woods.   We know the neighbors have seen the bears, (I only got to witness the log that was torn apart by those long claws as he/she grubbed for worms.  We know that although the cats stay away from our property PTL! and thank you Donkey, they are still in the woods surrounding us.  Several weeks ago a large bull elk was spotted near our road.  How many times are you riding in an area like this and the horses are spooking like crazy?  How do you know when they are being silly and how many times is their heightened awareness based on a true predator following us through the trees?

I continued feeding the horses, on one hand tired of all the flooding and standing water and mud; while so grateful for any bit of moisture on the other hand.  After being evacuated for 5 days a couple of years ago, and having the fire so close that it was a roaring freight train of orange and red, dropping embers over the house and buildings, one can never be appreciative enough of the life saving water we are given with each precious drop of rain.  It's kind of funny how Magic can walk through 6 to 8 inches of muddy water just fine when he comes to ask for his dinner, but on the trail, each and every drop of water wants to kill him.

We were doing some desensitization with Precious the other day.  She has had very little training due to the fact that she is supposed to run free and Mikey and Ikey needed to be adopted out.  I had some very large-bubbled, bubble wrap.  So I put it out in front of their feeder.  DaBubbles, of course, walked right on it and then he stopped, put his head down and started pawing, popping bubble after bubble.  This of course freaked out Precious to no end, but after a couple of days she was not nearly as startled when she heard the pops.   We also put out a bright blue tarp for them to eat on and she figured that out in a jiffy.   (And yes, I always have an alternative spot so if she is too nervous she still gets her munchies.) 

It will be very hard to load her up and take her back to her forever home, especially because the nursery is absolutely empty.  It is so hard knowing that there are babies out there and only some of them will be found in time to help them.  Every time the phone rings, I wonder, is it a baby call.   The first thing I do now every single day is check the computer, because that is where I found out about Precious and Mikey and Ikey.  We are getting lots done with no one in the nursery, but how my heart breaks at what could have been if Angel hadn't been hit so badly by that car.  She would most likely have been rehabbing here right now.  So please say your prayers that if there are babies out there and need us, they are found in time.

Shirley, (my mentor and "sister"), recently went and picked up an orphan who was standing alone by some big rocks.  The ladies that found him were on a ride and did everything perfectly.  They did not approach him, or touch him, but simply rode off and came back about an hour later.  This gives the foal time for his momma and the band to come back if they are going to, and he won't smell like a human.  Luckily for the little guy who is now named "Chance", the girls called Shirley and she went out and brought him in.  He is thriving in her nursery, although he still is under 24/7 observation and care, as he is still not for sure out of the woods.  Again, we do not know why he was left behind.  The band could have been scared off or the discharge in his eyes could have meant he would not survived without meds.  Only God knows, and I am so grateful it was His plan for this little one to be found in time.  The next day would have been too late, most likely.

We will keep you updated on the "baby status".  The rest of the critters are doing well and enjoying their romps in the mud.  Please contact us at [email protected] to come and visit or if you know of an orphan in need.

 We just got back from Las Vegas.  Took Mikey and Ikey to their new homes.  Amazingly enough, they are together with Rocky at the same barn.  So the three "Mustang Gals", Robin, Gabby & Emma, all have their own young mustangs to grow up with.  Who would have believed that 3 of our babies would end up together in Las Vegas.  Woohooo!

It was a wonderful (although a bit heartbreaking too) trip, and the boys were all settled in safely when we left.  We spent most of the day Wednesday with the girls and the babies, helping them transition into their new lives as smoothly as possible. 

The girls are very aware of how important it is to keep the respect of the babies and to make sure that they always remember that the girls' space IS NOT the babies' space.  With that said, the girls are bonding very quickly and were already able to sit with the boys after they had had their first lessons.  Mikey and Ikey were more than thrilled to lay in the warm Vegas sunshine and were content and relaxed as the girls loved on them.  Let the bonding begin :)

We met their trainer who is absolutely amazing.  So I am extremely thankful and even a bit delighted at the beautiful plan God had for these babies and these girls.  Together with their parents, trainer and hard work and love with the babies, these girls will have amazing horses that will be their best friends for many years to come.  What a beautiful outcome for all of these babies.

Thank you for all your help in making this happen.  God bless!

Hi All,


Hope 2014 is treating you well.  We are working on the end of the year tax stuff and should have your tax donation receipts out in the near future.  Of course this is when my computer decided to have problems, but thanks to our good friend Mike it seems to be working again.  PTL!


Ikey is finally out of jail.  He had his hernia surgery 6 weeks and one day ago, and was required to be stall bound for that time.  I can tell you that it was not a picnic for anyone, as he wanted to run and play about two weeks into it.  However, he has healed perfectly and is outside playing and running and being a real horse again.


Both Mikey and Ikey are ready to be adopted and travel to their forever home.  As heartbreaking as it always is, the heartbreak is bittersweet when you know that these precious babies are going to a place where they can have the attention that they deserve and love.  Although it is hard to let them go, I can't give them the attention they deserve when new little ones come in.  They are ready to start the next step in their life journey.  Mikey is the more quiet of the two, and possibly even a tiny bit timid.  He obviously endured some rough handling during the auction, as he has shown uncertainty and fear of being hurt from the get go.  Ikey is a bit more outgoing and was gelded when he had his hernia surgery.  Both boys are bright, sweet and want to please.  They both move very well and would be a wonderful addition to someone's family.  Please call 530 474 5197 if you are interested in adoption, or you can email me at [email protected].


We are so grateful for all that y'all do to make our rescue a safe and functional place for these babies.  I would really like to get Mikey & Ikey placed as soon as possible as foal season is nearly upon us.  The nurseries are empty and ready to go, so if you know of a foal that needs our help, please call sooner than later.  Every hour can make a difference in the outcome for these foals.


Thank you again for being part of our rescue and making it such an awesome experience.  God bless you for all you do!   As always, please enjoy the photos of what you have accomplished.

coming up on foal season, and we are definitely set up and ready for the next little one who needs us.  But it is always nice to know the ones that are healthy and rehabbed have found their perfect home, as the new ones always need most of our attention.  I get happier each day with all the improvements we have been making here.  Whether it is cleaning up slash or putting the finishing touches on the fencing and gates, it is just awesome to know that we are finally pretty well set up.  We still need to build a couple of shelters and another little place for hay, but after 2 1/2 years of working on the property, we are well on the way to having things set up the in best way possible to provide the best possible care for our critters and to share all of them with y'all.

We recently had the honor of taking Dabubbles for a "meet and greet" at One Safe Place, in Redding, California.   (One Safe Place is where people can stay or find help due to domestic violence or other situations that make it impossible for them to be safe at home.)  What an awesome day.  DaBubbles, our miniature therapy horse, (who looks kind of like a wooly mammoth right now) shone like the star he is.  The kids and adults had big smiles on their faces and you could see the joy that DaBubbles seems to bring about.  The kids brushed him, walked him, trotted him and fed him.  It was so nice to see their cares melt away, even if only for a few hours.  One young man was quite impressed that we drove "that far - just so DaBubbles could come visit". 

We have been doing a lot of work as far as perimeter fencing that will hopefully keep out the coyotes.  Our war veteran, and my service dog, "Soldier", is beyond happy as now he gets to patrol the front part of the property.  Even when he lays down in the front, it looks as though he is bursting with pride.  He just seems to radiate pride and happiness, as he sits out front with his chest all pumped up.  I guess after being an active soldier, not being able to have free run of the property was an insult to his dignity.

So we are very happy and thankful for all the blessings we have received this last year.  Our next biggest goals at this time is finding Mikey & Ikey a home, as well as the stray dog that we have been fostering.  These are some wonderful animals that will bring a lot of joy to whomever adopts them.  If you have any interest in adopting, please call me at 530 474 5197 or go to our webste at www.chillypepper.weebly.com or contact me at [email protected].  We look forward to hearing from folks and to our visitors.  We have had quite a few this last year and it brings joy to our hearts to share first hand this wonderful experience.

"SASHA" was found several days ago on Hwy 44 East and Dersch Road in Shingletown, CA.  Apparently she crawled out on to the highway and a very kind woman risked her life to pick her up.  She was at risk of getting hit by the logging trucks that were blasting their horns while the lady tried to get her.

She is at our rescue 530 474 5197.  The proper notices have been posted, and if no owner contacts us, she will be spayed and receive all of her shots, before being adopted.  She was completely wild and frightened at first, but after just a couple of days of not having to fight for food and being warm and cared for, she is a new dog.  She has learned to sit in a manner of days, and is learning to lie down also.  She is also starting to learn her new name.

She will go outside to do her business, but instead of trying to get away after she is done, like most dogs who have been wild and alone and struggling to survive for so long, she heads right back to the house.  She was afraid to go into her kennel the first night and had to be put in physically, but has since decided that it is a very warm and safe place and now she goes in when you ask her to.

She really wants to bond with someone, and I am hoping that as soon as she is a bit healthier and is at a healthier weight, we can get her a forever home.  We only brought her to Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang as a last resort, as there was absolutely no where else for her to go at the time.  So please let your friends and family know that there is a wonderful little girl who needs your help.

Thank you as always.

p.s.  I am not sure if the pix really show her condition too well, but she is literally skin and bones.  I cannot imagine how she survived the weather during the night with not an ounce of fat to keep her warm.  Let's find her a great home!

Hi y'all

It's been awhile since we sent out an update, as we have been busy with the newest baby, PRECIOUS.  She requires constant care and we have to lift her up.  She is able to walk after we stand her up, but literally has to be lifted on to her feet. 

She was dehydrated, starving and extremely cold when we picked her up.  We literally didn't think she would make it until we got home.  We spent hours tracking down i.v. fluids for her, which was extremely difficult and time consuming considering it was Thanksgiving Eve.  After waking up several of our dear friends in the middle of the night, we were able to get her safely settled in about 3:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.  (Needless to say our turkey was a bit late as we were out picking up Precious instead of thawing the bird :) )

She is holding on and gaining weight, and we are doing P/T with her so she can regain strength in her back end.

MIKEY & IKEY are doing fabulously, once again thanks to all your support.  However Ikey has a hernia, (as you can see in the attached photo) that could be life threatening if it is not fixed in time.  We have to stuff the contents back inside him several times a day (very gently of course) and are saying our prayers that it will hold until we can get him his surgery.

We found a wonderful vet that will do it for us, and the total cost, (barring any complications of course) will be about $550.  This is $200-$500 less than our best price before that.  We are very fortunate (IKEY IS) to have had some wonderful folks donate a total of $275 towards the estimated cost of $550.  So we are half way there. 

However, IKEY still needs your help.  If anyone wants to help this wonderful little orphan to continue to have the best chance at a happy and healthy life, IKEY would so appreciate anything y'all can do to help him get past this.

We here at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang cannot begin to express our gratitude for all that you do.  Without y'all and your loving support, there would be no miracle mustangs, and man have we had a few of those.  So please keep up your awesome support for these critical little orphans we get.  You are doing God's work, caring for His creatures and making such a difference not only in their lives, but for all the folks who are involved and come to visit.    We have been so blessed to become part of such a wonderful community who shares in all our rescues.

God bless and stay safe.

Hugs



Mikey & Ikey are doing fabulously.

November 28th
It is 3:09 a.m. and the newest member of our rescue is finally settled in. AMERICA - MEET AND FALL IN LOVE WITH "PRECIOUS". She is another "side-effect" of what happens from the stress of the roundups. Her mama was young, and ended up not having enough milk and "dumping" her baby. PTL the folks were paying attention and brought her in to help her out. We received the call this afternoon and brought her to Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang........... She cannot get up by herself, and although from a distance under all her long hair you cannot tell, she was severely dehydrated and underweight. She is weak, but a fighter. As usual - we need help, prayers, love, support and good energy. Matt and I were truly amazed and SO THANKFUL that she actually made it home alive. She is far away from being out of the woods, and under all that hair is actually much thinner than Mikey & Ikey were. So we are asking y'all to help us with another Miracle Mustang. THANK YOU TO THE FOLKS THAT TOOK CARE OF HER UNTIL WE COULD HELP! BIG HUGS! Let's have another miracle. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Later...
Precious is still with us. Just have to figure out how to lift her - for all she is so skinny, she still is heavy to lift. She did well the rest of this morning, having fluids every hour. She is eating and actually drank some of her water on her own. Please keep sending prayers and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Later...
Precious is fighting the beginning of a cold? Respiratory infection? So she had her first Vibra VM treatment. Was interesting since she is not even halter trained and from what I understand only had hands on pretty much when she was being lifted or helped to stand up. She did really well. Please say your prayers for her & the rest of the critters. Thanks

November 29th
Precious is hanging in there. It is such a roller coaster ride with these criticals. I was bouncing for joy (and with my knee that is really something - haha) yesterday because we got her eating her munchies, and then a few hours later she was completely lethargic, with her cold in evidence and looking like she was crashing big time. It really looked like we were gonna lose her. They can crash in minutes, and it is so emotional.

I am anxiously awaiting the point where she tries to help when we pick her up. She does whinny like crazy when she needs to get up and go potty, and she is just the sweetest little thing that ever walked the earth. Trying to get some of that gunk off her today. Although you cannot tell, I brushed her for about half an hour yesterday - but you simply cannot over do too much at once. I know she looks awful, but we brushed her until she got too tired.

Video of Precious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7AOzGPwF6M&feature=youtu.be

Hi All,


First of all, I would like to thank all of you who are part of our rescue and helping to keep it going.  It is so amazing to have the privilege of doing the hands on care of all the critters that come through here,  but the only way we are able to do so is because of  all you folks who support us in so many ways.  Whether it be networking, prayer, donations, or just by being there when we are struggling, YOU ARE THE REASON THAT MIKEY & IKEY, AND ALL THE OTHERS HAVE SURVIVED!  SO THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL THAT YOU DO!   This is definitely the season for thinking about all that you have to be thankful for, and WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR, AND SO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND THE WAY YOU MAKE ALL OF THIS HAPPEN!!!


I have some very good news about Ikey & Mikey.  Both of these little ones have improved so much.  Their breathing, although not always perfect, is much better, and although Mikey still tends to have a cough once in awhile it seems that lately they are both acting much like normal little babies.  They are starting to play more and more and are growing in leaps and bounds.  Both boys had their first trim (of sorts) while standing upright the other day.


Prior to that, I had done a tiny bit of reshaping of their hooves while they were lying down.  They were so close to death when we got them that they could care less what we did.  However, it is quite difficult to trim and shape little hoofers when they are not where you can really see them.


Both of the boys "stance" has improved so much.  Ikey is still down quite a bit, but coming up gradually as we had hoped.  We had discussed wrapping their legs which might have made them stand upright quicker, but there were several things to consider.  When babies are that compromised, you don't want to make too many changes or put too much stress on their system.  Also, any time you cast or wrap something, it causes it to need the wrap and weaken.  I have unfortunately had too much experience with that with my own knee.  Also, it can sometimes cause more pain to their tendons and ligaments when you change the way they stand too quickly.


Mikey's legs are coming along beautifully and Ikey's are a little further behind, but improving.  The more they run and play the stronger they are getting.  It is so wonderful to see them acting like normal little babies and running and playing.  Unfortunately, you can still see a bit of the trauma they must have gone through during the auction from the way they were handled.  Every once in awhile you can see the fear from a memory when they were mishandled,, but that is decreasing little by little.  I know that the woman who had them after the auction was amazing with them, but even Honey Bandit seems to hold the memories of the roundup and all that excessive energy.  There seems to be missing times in their memories though.  Much like Honey Bandit, the first month or so that Mikey & Ikey were here they were so ill that they don't really seem to remember much.  It's funny because that is when you would like to think you were bonding the most, but it is so far in the backs of their minds that they often don't or can't remember it.  They definitely remember times before and after that though.  I guess it is not that different from not being able to remember the time around surgical recovery etc.


We are ready to start planning Ikey's hernia repair.  It is definitely bad enough where it could be deadly if it isn't repaired, and he is tired of me stuffing his guts back inside of him 4 or 5 times a day.


I am sending a few photos of some of the "before and after"s that y'all have made happen.  Sometimes it is easy to forget how much difference you guys have made in so many lives.  Have a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas.  We are helping God's creatures as He puts them before us, and so blessed that we can all have a part in it and accomplish so much together.

WOW - I knew Mikey & Ikey were hard on the propane bill, but just found out exactly how hard. My last fill up lasted 6 months, as we only use it for hot water and cooking. I was filled up SEPTEMBER 12, about 7 days before we picked up the boys and needed to REFILL AGAIN NOVEMBER 7TH to the tune of $467.26 and the ONLY difference is that the nursery needed to be heated. Please say your prayers for warmer nights and healthier babies..... There are so many hidden costs for these little ones. Luckily we are using a little less each night now, but it will depend on the weather. Hopefully I can get the Monitor heaters hooked up soon and get some kerosene going as they are supposed to be more efficient. But we do what we need to for these babies. They are growing so much and feeling better overall but we are still fighting their lung issues. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Was in sticker shock this a.m.

The boys are growing like crazy and even have enough energy to play for a few minutes most days.  However, as much as the Vibra VM machine is helping, they still have a cough.  We are talking to the vet about which antibiotics to try now.  We didn't want to just flood them with antibiotics as that is so damaging for them.


Please keep us all in your prayers and thank you for continuing to support these little guys.  They have been through so much and are such fighters.  They will be up for adoption at a later date, but ONLY TOGETHER, AND ONLY WITH A GUARANTEE THAT THEY REMAIN TOGETHER THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.  I have never seen two babies more closely connected.  It is like they are biological twins - (even though they are not even related).  But they have pulled each other through it all, and are so protective of each other.  The machine is loud at this point and the baby that is not being treated is always at my elbow to make sure the other one is ok.


God Bless y'all and make someone smile today!


hugs p

Hi, 

Sorry it has been awhile.  I have to say that the three of us have been a bit exhausted.  For the last 6 weeks, we have all been awake pretty much 24/7.  The boys could only lie down for a short time, and they were coughing a great deal of the time also.

We received a wonderful donation of the Vibra VM, a machine that helps break up mucous and the plugs and helps decrease the inflammation in the airways.    www.vibravm.com    Today is day 4, and there seems to be a teeny tiny difference.  I cannot tell you how many times we have had foals and folks will visit and tell me that "they are fine, or doing better", when that little voice inside my head is telling me - "no, they are definitely not", and they are not "OK".   I am very blessed because God chose us to do this, and that He gave me such a wonderful mentor that I can call day and night.  Believe me, I have spent many nights on the phone with Shirley in tears, hoping and praying that Mikey & Ikey would actually make it through the night.   I didn't wake up one day and say "oh - I want to take care of foals".  God put it in front of me and I am so very grateful that this is my tiny part of the horse world.  I don't ever take for granted the privilege of being able to do this, and I am always amazed at how wonderful you folks are and how you keep stepping up to provide what these babies need.  Thank you and God bless you so much.   It is exhausting, heartbreaking and absolutely wonderful.  The reason I mention this is because I am having one of those "feelings", and it is telling me that something is changing for the better.

There is nothing really that you can see, with the exception of the fact that the boys are "different" and are able to get more rest.  Both are still having breathing difficulties, but it seems that there is a tiny improvement.  I really cannot say what it is, but I am getting the feeling that we are starting that climb up the mountain to being better.  If there are 100 steps for them to climb to be healthy, we are on about #3.  But 4 days ago, they were progressively getting worse.  So I am hoping and praying that we continue to climb in huge leaps and bounds.  The change is so small, but I truly believe that they are no longer getting worse.

Doc wants to hold off on giving them antibiotics and give them a chance to get better.  She said it could be a bacterial infection and we should just watch them closely.  As everyone knows, too many antibiotics cause many more problems if they are not needed.  We have not ruled out using another antibiotic if we need to, but this is the first time in 6 weeks that they are not getting worse, so I am going to keep doing the treatments and watch them closely.

Thank you so much for your donations.  It is so nice to know that whatever these guys need, they will have.  Again, please be patient as I will send out individual thank you's as soon as I am able.

Hi folks,Mikey & Ikey are hanging in there.  They are currently sporting their new blankeys.  They are gorgeous and just right for this weather we are having.  Not sure if we will have to double up later or not, but they are amazing and "tri" adjustable. 
It was about 36 this morning so it is so important that they don't use any energy just trying to stay warm to survive.  They need the sunshine so this allows them to be outside.  :)However, Mikey is really really struggling.  Have been up all night with him as his cough has gotten worse.  Started out just once in awhile when we first picked him up, but it is progressively getting worse.   It is quite baffling, as he has no temperature and no discharge.  PTL the vet is on top of his needs, but we need to buy some rather spendy antibiotics.  He has been very uncomfortable and his breathing is elevated and often very stressed when he lays down.   We are watching him (both of them) 24/7 but unfortunately we need to consider the fact that this could be why his momma quit feeding him.  No one was sure if he was "mis-matched" with his momma after the auction but if something is going on inside that we cannot see, his momma might have realized it and that could be why she quit feeding him.  On a good note though, he is eating and drinking non-stop.  Both of them have great appetites.  :)  So we need lots of prayers, as neither of them have any reserves if they get sicker.  We are praying that there are no kidney or liver issues and that both of them have healthy organs that are keeping up with their growth.  Both boys have had one little spurt of energy (right after I put their new blankeys on) and aside from that both are moving very slowly.  Part of this could be as their little legs improve, changes to their tendons and muscles can make them sore.  It is so hard to see them struggling so much.Please send prayers for these wonderful little babies.  They have survived nearly dying together and are bonded in a manner that I have never seen.  When adoption time comes, it will definitely be a "two fer" package.Thank you for continuing to support these little ones as they fight so valiantly to get better.  God bless all of you and I hope your day is wonderful.THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US!Matt, Palomino & The Gang
Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang
Equine Rescue & More -
Rescue/Rehab Project LRTC
 
www.chillypepper.weebly.com
www.whmentors.org

Shutting down my computer on Tuesday evening, I glanced one more time at my messages.  With that last glance, I saw a plea to help an orphaned foal.  I had almost shut down the computer without seeing the message.  Moments like this can make your heart stop, as something so small as not seeing the message about the foal right away could end up in the loss of the foal, as time is of the essence.  I quickly responded, sending phone numbers and telling them to call me no matter what time they got the message.  With orphan foals, every hour counts.  Finally, about an hour later, I received a phone call from a woman I had never met.  There was an orphan, one of the Paiute Indian group that was recently rescued from slaughter.

So many folks breathe a huge sigh of relief when they hear that the horses have been "saved from slaughter".  But the reality is that is just the beginning.  One of the horses rescued was a pregnant mare that the vet deemed to be in her late 20's.  Although pregnancy at this age is not an everyday event, it does happen but a lot of those mares that age do not carry the foal to term.  However, this mare was determined to have her baby, and even though she carried him to term, she was in really bad shape and passed away when he was about 3 months old.  So this baby already had a lot of strikes against him.  The first is that his mom could not possibly have given him the proper nutrition when she was still pregnant.  After she had him, in her condition there would be very little nutrition left in her milk because of the shape she was in, and who knows how much milk she even had.  (The vet told the woman who rescued the mare that he didn't think she would live long enough to even give birth.)   The woman who saved these horses from slaughter did her best to care for him, and then realizing she needed help she contacted us to take the baby.  By the next day there was another foal in distress.  This one was Mikey, the little tri-color, and the mare he had been paired up with after the auction did not seem to be his mother.  When foals and mares are separated, they do not always match back up appropriately and in the chaos of the roundup and then the confusion of being pushed from pen to pen at auction yards, they very easily can get separated if care is not taken to make sure all are paired up properly.  The mare had milk, but refused to let him drink and was being aggressive, resulting in a leg injury and him not being able to eat.

Not knowing where the babies were, but realizing time was of the essence, Soldier, (my service dog and our military war veteran),  and I headed out the next day to Dayton, first stop on the way to get the babies.  Matt was staying back to hold down the fort as this was an emergency situation.  It was too late to do anything Tuesday night, and we also had to make sure the proper steps were followed.  It is necessary to have the brand inspector legally change the title to the horses before you can take them, especially when you need to cross state lines.  The foals would need to be checked by a vet and get a health certificate, as well as having their blood drawn for a Coggins test.  It's never wise and no one wants to cause more problems and delay by not following the laws when crossing state lines without correct paperwork and it was a good thing to get them on their feet and have a little rest before they start their next journey to California. It was Thursday morning before we were able to pick up the babies so we have had a week to watch for problems and get them eating their supplements. It takes a little time for the older babies to learn about their munchies (supplements and vitamins) along with eating good hay. Electrolytes are so important to these babies and it's almost the first thing we do is to replace and keep them on water with electrolytes added. At 3 months they can free drink on their own and we watch their water intake to make sure they are drinking enough and not drinking too much.  

Shirley and I headed out with the small two horse baby trailer that is totally enclosed, praying like crazy that the little guys would be okay.  We arrived to find Mikey, the tri-colored little colt, lying on the ground.  Ikey, the little buckskin, was actually standing on the edge of Mikey's neck, but Mikey was too weak to even care.  We loaded them up in the trailer, knowing that they were extremely compromised as well as being dehydrated and seriously malnourished.   We took them back to Shirley's and began checking them out.  Their temperatures were in a safe range, although their little legs were quite cold.  This can be a huge issue if they get too cold from lack of circulation, as the blood flow can decrease to the point of losing their hoofers, which of course means losing the baby.  They both had good gum color, which is also extremely important, as it shows good oxygenation and abnormal gum color can show jaundice, and indicate other health issues. Low body temps (core temp) below about 85 degrees can cause internal organ damage and then the loss of the baby, one of the reasons it is so important to have compromised foals in an area where we are able to keep the temperatures stable and they are breathing air that is not to cold.  

The next day Doc came and checked them out more thoroughly, and also drew the blood for the Coggins test needed to bring them back to California.  He said both their lungs sounded good, and that hopefully with lots of love, attention, good groceries and supplements, their legs have a good chance of becoming more normal.  Ikey also has a hernia which will most likely require surgery.  We are hoping he will be well enough in a month or so for the surgery as Doc say it is better sooner than later as long as he is ready.  We will need to raise funds for that operation before that time.  We have to watch them closely as with foals that are this compromised they have absolutely zero reserves and also immune system that is also compromised, so it is imperative that we keep them as healthy as possible and in a temperature controlled environment.

Both Mikey and Ikey love to eat and drink, which is a great way to start getting better.  They are definitely showing tiny signs of improvement every day, and if anyone would like to help with the special supplements, foal lac pellets, hay and feed that they need it would be much appreciated.  You can donate at [email protected] or go to our website www.chillypepper.weebly.com and donate there.  Remember that all donations are tax deductible and so much appreciated, as they are what keep us going and make all this possible.  We are hoping to head back to Shingletown on  Thursday at the latest.  I am anxious to get them safely (and ever so slowly) home and settled in.  Thank you again to everyone who made sure that we have a safe and warm nursery.  These two need it if we are going to have a chance to bring them back to a healthy state.

God bless you and thank you so much for making it possible to give these foals a chance.  So many folks stepped up to make sure that they didn't end up at the slaughterhouse in the first place and we really want to make sure that they continue to beat the odds and are able to live a happy and peaceful life.  Thank you so much for helping us help God's critters. 

Ikey and Mikey say THANK YOU ALL, we're getting better.  

Ikey  day two, chowing down.

Mikey, day two, taking a little breather to say Love You and Thanks.

Hi y'all,


Was so awesome to see so many of you at our Open House.  As glad as I was to see everyone, I always feel a tiny bit guilty to not get to spend more time with individuals to catch up and chat a bit.   We had good food, although we forgot to get out the birthday cupcakes as everyone was munching on our famous Cheesecake!  Woohooo.  The chickens also enjoyed the cheesecake and were quite aggressive in their quest to get the biggest piece.  There were rescued critters everywhere, dogs, cats, horses, donkey and of course our resident chickens.  Just want to say thank you to the folks that took time out of their busy lives to come and hang out for a bit.  God bless y'all and we cannot ever thank you enough for supporting what we do and making it all happen!


We wanted to thank Nancy for the wonderful hoses and sprinklers that they brought.  We are 3 steps closer to having enough of them.  We can still use a few more, and will definitely use all of them, although as the nights continue to get colder our thoughts are definitely heading towards winter supplies and feedings.  All of the critter kids are already starting to put on their winter coats.  I just got back from Nevada, moving mares and foals that were slaughter bound (we actually picked them up from one of the kill buyers who had purchased them at the auction.) and took them to a place a few hours away from here where they will live in paradise.  Many of the horses looked pretty rough as far as scrapes etc. as the auction yard is not a pretty place.


When I returned home,  I was shocked to see that the horses are already getting ready for winter.  It has been quite chilly up here in the Mountains at night, and I am really wondering  if winter is going to sneak in early.  It made me remember all the double feeding we had to do last year.  Arghhh.


This is our trip from the Kill Buyer's place with the mares and foals to their paradise in California.  So many folks forget that actually "saving the horses" is just a teeny tiny step, although a very important one, in actually making sure the horses are truly safe.


PART 1 (THE HAPPY PART) Wow - what a trip. Put on about 940 miles starting Friday, then Mike & Jackie and Shirley and I took 13 pairs of mares and foals to their forever home in California. We left Shirley's about 5:00 a.m., picked up the horses in Fallon and headed out. It was a pretty good trip, with a few weird noises on one truck, (but no real problem). Then we had a truck whip into the lane I was driving in. I didn't even have time to think and whipped over into the next lane. Praise God there was a break in traffic. If there had been anyone beside us, we would have had a seriously deadly mess. Afterwards, shaking and being close to tears, we pulled over to make sure the horses hadn't been flung too hard. They were absolutely fine, PTL, and I am so thankful that our prayers for a safe and blessed trip were answered. We arrived at our destination about 4:00 in the afternoon and the horses unloaded calmly and walked happily over to start munching. If you look at the pix, you will see how calm these horses were when we arrived. We opened Shirley's trailer, the little filly calmly looked out, and then decided to stop and have some yummies from mom, nursing for a few moments and then casually stepping out. That is a pretty happy little horse who had a very positive trailer experience.



PART 2 (THE NOT QUITE AS FUN PART) Hmmmmm - I am wishing I had been a little bit better informed about towing a goose neck trailer and how much clearance you really need. So I will share my humiliation and despair (haha) and let y'all in on a little secret that I didn't know.... you need LOTS of clearance, way more than you think, not just a few inches. On the way home from taking the mares and foals, we were pulling out of a gas station with a rather steep and weird driveway when I heard an explosion... Scared me to death - but I knew I didn't run over anything. I looked back and poor Soldier had broken glass all around him. We have been towing with the trailer on and my toolbox attached for quite some time. We have went up and down hills, around tight corners, loaded and unloaded. Never had a problem. BUT ON THIS DAY...... I blew out the back window of the truck. The trailer caught a tiny bit of the tool box and crushed it in, exploding the window. I didn't realize that automobile windows "burst" like that. So long story short, we pulled over again and Soldier went to travel with "Mom 2" (Shirley) so he would be safe. I now have to remove the tool box, the remaining glass and get a new window. There is something I am eternally grateful for though, yesterday if one more car had been in the mix, or I had reacted half a second later, we wouldn't even be here, so I have to be so grateful that if we were gonna have a "wreck" on the trip, it is one as small as this. I am not happy about it, but no one was hurt and like Shirley said, glass can be replaced, but equines and humans cannot. So once again I am sharing one of my "idiot maneuvers" so someone else can learn from my lack of knowledge instead of having to go through it personally.

So the first part of what we needed to do to help the nearly 500 horses that went through the auction went quite well.  Will update next time about "Step 2" Helping to Prepare the horses to travel to their new homes.  God bless all of you for your prayers and good thoughts.  Our window has been fixed, so all is well, with the exception of my poor tool box.  But again, I am so grateful that the Lord was watching over us and prevented us from a deadly accident.  Hopefully someone else won't have to make my mistake and pay for a new window.



THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US!


Matt, Palomino & The Gang



Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang

Equine Rescue & More -

Rescue/Rehab Project LRTC



www.chillypepper.weebly.com

www.whmentors.org

Imagine, the perfect day.  You are finally on that vacation you have been dreaming about and heading out for an overnight trail ride.  You have been planning and saving for this trip for a year and it is finally here!  The sky if a crystal clear blue and the sun is shining down.  You smile as the leaves move in the summer breeze and the shadows dance across the trail.  You are thinking - it just can't get any better than this, when all at once, all heck breaks loose.  Your horse jumps, nearly unseating you, and you watch  as several out of control horses gallop past you, and then you see the rider go flying into the air.  He lands with a thump and you hear him moan.  PTL that this time his head missed the rock that he landed by.  Luckily, this time, there are no life threatening injuries, although that does not preclude several weeks of pain and stiffness.  However, this is one of the "good stories".  There are just as many where the ending is not so happy.  We live in an area abundant with rocky terrain.  So we really need to stop and think before we mount up - "just how safe is this horse?"


A short while ago, we were at a training session in Stagecoach, NV, when a lady commented on "California Riders".  She looked at me and said "no offense".  I had to laugh, because up until a short time ago, I was guilty of exactly what they call  "California Riders".  I grew up, like so many others, simply getting on the horse and riding, and hanging on like crazy if it exploded or was spooked by something on a ride.  I rode for years before I ever even heard of a round pen.  I was a country kid on her pony, running as fast as we could, never worrying about anything except our horse's legs.  (We grew up where if a horse had a broken leg, it was a death sentence - so we protected their legs like nothing else.)  We learned on a pony (bareback - as we couldn't afford a saddle) that taught us to hang on.  He would dump us in every manner known and then some.  But he taught us to hang on and some serious lessons.  We just learned as we went and by the grace of God we never ended up with any serious injuries.  It was a dream childhood in that respect and I treasure every memory.


However, although riding a horse can be one of the most amazing and enjoyable activities known to mankind, it can also be dangerous if your horse isn't safe.  I spent many years at a place where there were overnight rides.   When my friend and I offered to do some "desensitization training", we were told NO, in no uncertain terms.  When I asked why?, I was told for two reasons.  The first was that "they didn't want us to bring back any hidden traumas that the horses might have experienced".  (Hmmmmm  I might be silly, but I would definitely prefer to find out that my horse was terrified of a slicker, a can or bottle opening, or a hat falling when I was already on the ground and in a safe and controlled environment.)  The second reason was simple liability.  By not finding out if the horses on your string will spook if someone takes off a rain jacket, drops their hat or opens a bottle of fizzy water, folks can say "they didn't know".  Unfortunately these decisions are a direct result of the world of lawsuits that we live in.  We are now in a world where law suits and liability issues are a major concern and people are scared; so they make decisions based on the "what if someone sues us? It is a tough position to be in, but one accident can change your life forever.  So if you are going on a trail ride - ask about your horse.  Will they spook if your hat falls off?  Can you drop your sweatshirt and be safe?  Knowing your horse is safe will make for a very pleasant ride.


I have to say I watched a gentlemen travel a great distance through the air after opening a sparkling water.  He was on a string horse, and it did sound like a rattlesnake when that bottle opened.  His horse bolted and galloped off, followed by the other rider and it took a few minutes to get my horse under control.  Horses tend to "follow the leader", especially when a horse is exhibiting "flight" tendencies and is terrified.  That reaction is basic and goes back to the fact that survival for the horses has always been "fight or flight".  So they tend to think that when another horse is running for it's life, well maybe that it is a good idea to leave and be safe as opposed to stopping and checking out why that other horse took off.


Another thing you might want to do is make sure that you are in a "safe frame of mind".  I was working with a young colt that had been severely traumatized.  He was a wild mustang and had been adopted out and then returned.  He was extremely sweet, but everything scared him.  I had been riding him bareback a little bit at a time, and he was making some progress.  However, this is one of those times when the horse was simply not ready to be ridden.  I spent months with him doing ground work, but he was so traumatized that I should have realized he needed to just "be a horse".  Unfortunately I went out and worked with him on a day even when I was upset about something that had happened earlier and was not paying attention.  Due to myself being so stressed, I simply fed him that stress and we ended up with a train wreck and I hit the ground.  This horse was so sweet that instead of ending up stepping on me, Matt saw him turn mid air and crash into the fence to avoid landing on me.  He simply had not been given the tools to react safely when I goosed him in the flank.  This event changed my life, so hopefully my mistake will allow other folks to learn without the pain :).  (My doctor said that if I mess up this 3rd knee replacement or break it, he wants to amputate, so I really need to make smarter decisions and stay safe.  I didn't injure my leg, but shattered my pelvis and tail bone and I was simply getting on the horse.)  This was several years ago, but I can tell you that I paid dearly for not taking the proper steps to make sure my horse was safe.  So make sure that you are not only smarter than I was, but calm, paying attention, and ready to have a good and safe session with your horse.


We can encounter so many different things out on the trails;  bridges, water, bicycles, dirt bikes, dogs and quads, just to name a few.  I was talking with a lady today that said she actually had a bicyclist come by and slap her horse on the butt.  That alone would be enough to cause a train wreck for a lot of the horses that are out there.  If your horse can "complete" the obstacle course, it will have learned some of the answers it needs to solve problems it may encounter and will have the proper tools to react to a given situation.  It is very difficult to cover every situation, but it sure makes sense to do everything we can to have a safe horse.


I know that as a parent, I would want my child's horse to be as "bombproof" as possible.  I saw a lady at a fair with a tiny baby in her stroller.  The stroller was literally up against a police horse's back legs and the horse's tail was inside the stroller.  Now that is a well trained and extremely safe horse.  


Since joining with LRTC (Least Resistance Training Concepts) www.whmentors.org, we are beginning to improve our facility and implement what we are learning.  By creating the CHILLY PEPPER - MIRACLE MUSTANG "OBSTACLE AND TRAINING COURSE", we hope to make sure that every horse that comes through our rescue leaves a much safer animal.


Due to the extreme temperatures and lack of moisture lately, we have added a couple of items to our Wish List.  We have noticed that some of the horses (including Honey Bandit) have been coughing due to the large amounts of dust in the air.  So we are putting up sprinklers around the paddocks to not only keep the horses from overheating, but to keep down the dust so it won't be an issue and cause them to cough so much.  Thank you in advance for your help in this area.  :)


Wish List


Sprinklers

Garden Hoses (doesn't matter if they need a little repair - we are expert hose repairers! )



SO COME AND CELEBRATE HONEY BANDIT'S 3RD BIRTHDAY  & OUR 4TH ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE!   BEAT THE HEAT IN THE COOL PINES &  ENJOY THE FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR


CHECK OUT THE CHILLY PEPPER - MIRACLE MUSTANG OBSTACLE AND TRAINING COURSE


                    ENJOY BARBEQUE AND BIRTHDAY CAKE!     474-5197 with Questions


                                                        Saturday - August 17, 2013

                                                               11:00 a.m. - ????   

                                                          34694 Sidebottom Road

                                                          Shingletown, CA  96088


Remember - this is your "rescue" and you make what happens here possible!!  THANK YOU  & GOD BLESS!

CLICK PICS BELOW TO EXPAND

Hi Y'all,

This message is from me, Honey Bandit. I am turning 3 years old on July 3, 2013. (Mom's birthday is the 4th, but that is good because you don't want the horse to be the firecracker. haha) My life is truly a miracle, and it is because of all of you that I am here to write this.

I know that all of this happened and I survived because of y'all and your love and support. Mom knows and I do too, that I would not be here today if you guys had not stepped up and taken care of me!!!!! That is why she says that I belong to ALL OF YOU!! I know there was a large amount of damage done to my organs, but for today I feel pretty darn good. I play every once in awhile, and my favorite thing is still eating. Mom calls me a "special needs guy" as I still need lots of special supplements and food.

So all of us at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang are truly celebrating the fact that I am still here and get to have a 3rd birthday. My birthday party will be celebrated during our 4th Annual Open House at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang. We will be having it on August 17, 2013 up in the cool pines in Shingletown, CA (530 474-5197) We are normally anywhere from 15-25 degrees cooler than Redding, so come on up and spend some time with us. We will be starting at 11:00 a.m. and celebrating until???? There will be a bbq and of course - birthday cake. We will also be sharing our new obstacle course so folks can check it out.

If anyone wants to get me a birthday present, I love grass hay, Amplify (that is one of my special supplements from Tractor Supply), and I would really like an automatic water float so I will always have fresh water and it will always be full for me.

Please mark your calendars and come and celebrate my life - THE ONE THAT Y'ALL GAVE ME!! and simply spend some time with us at the rescue and enjoy the day. Mom thanks God every day not only for me, but for you guys and for being part of such an awesome community rescue.

Happy Birthday to Me - Honey Bandit, - another "Miracle Mustang!!!

Soldier is a red doberman, one who was bred in Europe for his size.  He is approximately 8 years old.  He is a war veteran and was one of the lucky canine that were actually brought home after their service ended.He was extremely depressed and nervous when we picked him up.      He walked slowly and like he was depressed, and there was absolutely no bounce to his step.  


We were attending a canine training class in So. Cal.  Matt's sister and brother-in-law run canine cadaver and "live-find",  bomb dogs, and drug dogs for the FBI and other authorities.   However, also at that training session was a beautiful red doberman.  I asked about him and this was the answer I received.


"He is is a military war dog, and his handler/soldier was killed in action.  Since then he has been bounced around from home to home, as he has a severe case of PTSD and is hard to handle."  


It took about 5 seconds and a quick phone call to Matt and we loaded him up to bring him home.  He was extremely depressed and nervous when we picked him up.      He walked slowly and like he was depressed, and there was absolutely no bounce to his step.  


This dog is a WAR VETERAN, through no choice of his own, and not only has he seen action, but most likely WATCHED HIS SOLDIER DIE.  We need to honor each and every soldier that comes home, and mourn those who don't.  So not only to honor "Soldier" aka Soldier Scooby, but to honor his handler and one of our own, Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang has taken in our very own soldier.



Soldier had the saddest eyes I have ever seen, and
he seemed totally lost.  When his leash was placed in my hand, he
looked at me with eyes so empty that it brought tears to mine.  He
walked quietly and sedately beside us, did what we asked him to, and was
simply "there".  There was no life to him, no spark of energy or
anticipation.   When he ate, it was with hesitation and he had to be by
himself.  He doesn't come "off leash", but is very obedient and well
trained overall.  We were thinking there might be a reason for him not
to "come when he was loose", especially in a war zone.   We cannot seem
to get any more information on him, what his commands were, or any other
info.  So we handle him with extreme care and love, and are always
patient when he gets scared.  He is extremely fearful if you throw
anything.






Since the first week we brought Soldier home, he has slept beside our bed.  
He has become a member of the family and has gradually lost the haunted
and empty look in his eyes.  They are bright and shiny and he plays and
bounces around when we take him out.  He has made friends with the other
pups and loves to play.  He is extremely protective, but will still
only come to Matt if he is sitting down.


There are times when he will come in the kitchen, and others when he is so
nervous he won't take one step in.  If you carry any type of object he
tends to panic, like a computer, a purse or a package.  Things that
panic him are extremely random and it is truly hard to tell what will
trigger the bad memories.



Soldier was in the Nevada Day Parade and afterwards we attended the Military
Celebration where they had the traveling Memorial Wall.  



While we were at the wall, it was as if Soldier was searching for his fallen
comrade.  He would go up to many of the young men in uniform as if to
say “have I finally found you”?   Many of the veterans had tears in
their eyes as they reached down to pet them and I started to cry when
one of the veterans reached into his pocket so he could buy “Soldier
Scooby” a hamburger.  One woman started sobbing as she told us about her
wonderful son who came back so traumatized by what had happened that he
had snapped and was now in prison.  She told us of how her son would
not let her get rid of his best friend, buddy and soldier’s bloody boots
and clothes.  It was all he had left of his fallen friend and it simply
broke her heart.  She said that her son came back a different man and
she wept in my arms.  My heart breaks for her and we need to never ever
forget that just because a soldier makes it home, it is still not
over.  We heard that he came back through Camp Pendleton, but are still
unable to get any solid or definitive information on what he went
through.  As far as we know, we believe he was in Afghanistan and
possibly a bomb dog, but will never know for sure.  All we know is that
it is an honor, (and a huge responsibility) to provide a safe and loving
home for this amazing animal.  It seems as if he was taught “not to
come” if he is loose.  Whether this is so the enemy could not obtain his
services we do not know.  However, little by little this amazing
Soldier is starting to heal.



His soldier gave his life for our country and he not only deserves to be
honored, (along with all the other soldiers who give up their time and
lives for us), but Soldier Scooby deserves to be honored for the rest of
his life also.  He went through horrors unknown and watched his Soldier
and best friend die, only to be shipped home (PTL for that) and bounced
around from place to place, again through no choice of his own.  He
cannot help what happened to him, or how he reacts to life back here.
So many times people forget that these amazing men and women are often
put through living hell, seeing things so horrific   that we could not
possibly (or even want to)  imagine.  



Today, Soldier still sleeps with me every night.  He actually got on the bed
the other night, which for him is a huge step forward.  He loves to play
and although he is still extremely nervous and easily stressed, he is
settling in well.   If you throw a bone or a snack into the pen, he
still runs away, but will quickly come back for it.  His PTSD still
seems to be with him most of the time, but hopefully with love and
patience, he will someday be able to relax.  One thing for certain, he
has found his forever home and will continue to be honored for the
soldier that he is.



We look forward to bringing Soldier to the parade where he can be honored and
also honor his brothers and sisters in the service.  God bless and thank
you for all  your support.

We would appreciate any help with the finances of getting Soldier to the Parade in Virginia City that will take place on the 25th of May.  You can Donate via Paypal using the link below, please put FOR SOLDIER in the "Add special instructions to recipient" so that we know that your donation has been made specially for our Soldier.

HI Y'ALL,It's been quite crazy the past couple of weeks.  Rock is now safe at his new home with Mustang Robin and Denise, and Collins is doing very well.He gets his stitches out tomorrow and is healing fabulously.  Normally we would take out the stitches, but he is tired of us messing with him and since he has so many we need to take him back to the vet.  It's a bummer, but will be way easier on him.   Will be sending some pix of him soon, and a cute video which shows just how spunky he is feeling, in spite of his owies.Just got home yesterday.  Made a little side trip to drop off a couple of wild mares and a couple of babies at a private ranch in Northern California.  Tried to move there but they said no.  (just kidding).  What an amazing anonymous angel the woman is that purchased this land for the horses.  May God bless all she touches and the folks that are caring for the place and the horses.Been a very long trip, about 1500 miles, and we are a little bit wiped out.  Hope all is well with you and your families.God bless 
P--
THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US!Matt, Palomino & The Gang
Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang
Equine Rescue & More -
Rescue/Rehab Project LRTC
 
www.chillypepper.weebly.com
www.whmentors.org

Hi y'all,


Sorry it has taken so long for another update.  Been a tiny bit on the tired side.  Collins is a very smart little colt.  He has figured out how to wake me up, any time and for any reason.  The problem is that he knows if he makes loud noises, I check them out.  So he does it on purpose when he is bored, and all night long.  One thing he is not getting though, is rewarded for this bratty behavior.  He has enough "me me me" tendencies already, without teaching him that he gets his way that easily.  However, the damage to my couple of hours of sleep does get done.  :)  But since he has been colicky at times, and you have to make sure that he doesn't start rolling or whatnot, I wake up at any noise anyway.  You are always "half-awake", fearing the worst, and he has had quite a few nights where he has been truly uncomfortable and needed help.


But he still has to wait til I am ready for his feeding etc.  He definitely would have been one of those babies that nursed a little bit, all the time.  Of course that is awesome if he is with his momma.   We are still fighting his "tum tum" issues.  We had him examined by the vet and he thinks that it just has to "run it's course".  His lungs sound awesome, his heart is very strong and he has lots of gut noises.  We are trying to modify a few things, such as gradually adding goat's milk and then weaning him off of the Foal Lac.  With some foals this works awesome, while with others the issues get worse.  The vet does feel very positive though, that it will just take time, and maybe quite a bit of it.   He said that some of the babies have a tougher time when they are not on their natural milk.  So we are just doing what we can.  Thank you everyone for your suggestions for his "tum tum".  It is always amazing how many things help different little ones with various issues.  We always appreciate any input.  The vet did also mention that with his "ATTITUDE AND ENERGY", he thought he would pull through these tough times.


It is so hard to watch when they are stressed or uncomfortable.  While we follow the vet's advice on how to treat what is going on, it is still awful knowing how raw their little hineys get.  No matter what you do, there is discomfort and we can only do the best we can with what we have.  Our beautiful nursery is now "decorated" with the issues from his "tum tum".  But after he gets bigger and better we will be able to scrub the stains off the wall.  The nursery is officially "broken in".   I have to say the nursery is working out perfectly, (THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN!!), although we have had to make some modifications due to the fact that he was ready to jump over the gate, climb up the gate etc.  But it is easy to keep clean and for that I am forever grateful, although that does require constant scooping and clean up.  But I love a clean smelling stall.


If anyone wants to help Collins be more comfy, we need to get some "CORONA", and no, it is not for me.  :)  It is a cream for his "tender area".  The semi local feed store (about 60 miles round trip) does not have any in stock.  ALSO, ANYONE WHO HAS GOAT'S MILK OR ACCESS TO IT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME.  PLEASE CALL ME AT  530 474 5197 at your earliest convenience if you have any extra.  We would be happy to buy it from you for Collins.


He has grown at least several inches and is just as energetic and playful as ever.  He is being very respectful for his age, and I just have to point away if he starts getting to close when he is bucking and kicking and playing.  I have never ever seen a baby spend so much time on his hind legs.  He plays outside most of the day, every day, and we are getting to the point where it is safe and he is past his quarantine time to bring in a "companion" horse.  Now I just have to figure out who is best matched with him.


ROMEO & ROCKY are both doing very well after being gelded.  Rocky was pretty tender yesterday as he had to have a much more extensive procedure, but all are well and feeling much better today.


God bless and thank you so much for all your support and the help you have given us, whether it is prayers, good wishes, bringing food so I don't cook (especially loved that one), or financial help with the costs of caring for the critters here.  You are amazing and we are so blessed to be part of such an awesome "rescue community".  Please don't hesitate to keep coming and visiting.  We so enjoy the visits and it is a wonderful way for people to spread the word about our beloved Wild Horses.  Also, it is "garden time" for the non mountain folks, and we have lots of "mustang magic" to mix in your soil.


Take care and again, Thank you for everything!

Click the pictures to enlarge

Today is Collins 1 week birthday, as far as we know. haha.  He has passed 3 major hurdles as an orphan foal.   The first 24 hours, then the 72 hour mark, and then 1 week.  Woohooo.  He is still having a few tummy issues but seems to be feeling awesome.  He is playing and bucking and kicking and having fun.  Hopefully tomorrow we will be able to let him play in the baby yard and possibly meet DaBubbles.  DaBubbles will be on a line of course, so it isn't too scary for Collins.   Last night he reared up and flipped over, landing in an awkward position.  Scared me silly, but he was fine.  Just being a clumsy baby.  Little goofballs can scare you in a second.  He is "standing" for a little bit at a time and is no longer "smashing me" with his head.  He is not allowed to do that (even though he is just a little baby).  It is imperative that he keep getting better and better manners to keep us safe.  So thank you for all your prayers.  Please keep 'em coming.


On another note, Honey Bandit got branded today.   The folks from BLM came out and made him "official".  The gentleman (I apologize for not having his name) who did the branding was amazing.  Honey Bandit was nervous about the clippers, but it wasn't a situation where more than one person could hold him.  I was totally comfy letting him hold Honey Bandit, (and y'all know that doesn't happen).  He was so kind and patient and instead of getting frustrated or angry when HB was scared and acted up, he just waited until HB was ok.  Then he proceeded slowly.  So now Honey Bandit is wearing his "wild mustang brand".   Was a great day and HB was happy as could be when it was done.  They use a "freeze brand", and it doesn't appear to bother the animals whatsoever.  I have personally used one on a number of horses and not one of them even flinched.  Woohoo for cold.


Heading off for my 30 minute nap before feeding time again.


God bless and thank you for being part of this journey!

Hi y'all,
Well, we made it through the first night without too much stress.  Collins was extremely dehydrated and colicky, but we are seeing much improvement in both those areas.  He is still very wobbly, although every 7 or 8 hours he has been trying to buck.  You can see his little brain trying to "get it right".  He is spunky some of the time, and others just completely exhausted.  But he LOVES to eat.  When I was teaching him how to eat out of the bucket he would get really frustrated and kick the wall.  He did it quite a few times.  (Not hard enough to injure anything but hard enough to let us know that he was not happy).   Apparently he has quite the little attitude, which is most likely why he is still here.  But he learned about the bucket and that is a very good thing as he slurps the bottle too fast and we didn't want him to get his food in his lungs.

All appearances point to him doing very well, but you just never know for sure.  He was coughing a little bit, and has fallen down a few times, but that is probably just newborn foal stuff.  His little hoofers had some definite wear due to being chased around so much by that mare.  Of course at this age, and not knowing why he was not with his momma, you cannot take anything for granted.  But so far he is doing well considering all he went through.  He has amazing spunk but is simply worn out by all we went through.  So onward and upward, (to borrow Willis's quote) and we will just take it an hour at a time.

Please keep sending prayers! 

God bless

All is well, though quite fragrant, here at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang.  We have had lots of visitors, two legged and four legged as well.  There are some big changes coming up, and although they are the right moves for the rescue, they bring heartbreak along with the happiness.

I am back from my surgery much sooner than I thought.  It went well and now I just have to catch up on everything.  Our friend Ross came over to help me do a much needed trim on Donkey's front feet.  Donkey is still pretty sensitive and nervous.  He is starting to trust me, and that is very important, especially when handling feet.  So I started to slowly proceed with his trim, hoping he would be ok.  (Apparently the last time someone tried to trim his hind feet they scared him quite badly).  So we are just taking things slowly and carefully.  He gave me his foot with very little stress and everything was going well.  However, all at once, he panicked and exploded.  Seems like Patches was banging his foot on the gate and that was just too much for him along with the outside rescue cats hangin' out.  He whipped around and did his 360, and then tried to take off.  I simply got out of the way.  Now Ross has been around these critters for years, and although it involved a little bit of "mud diving", he managed to keep hold of Donkey, which in the long run is so important.  I have worked with many animals who were "trained" to run away and get away when they were scared.  By keeping hold of the rope, Ross made sure that Donkey did not learn a very bad habit.  He did not learn that he should panic and run away.  He learned that he should stop and it would all be okay.  We then quietly finished up and he went on his way.  Donkeys are so different than horses.  I am constantly surprised at how much differently you handle a donkey than a horse.  It is so cute though, because Donkey figured out where the kitchen window is and he will come and visit to get a bite of apple or a piece of carrot.  He is so sweet.

As for our four legged visitors.  Matt and I have seen Mama and baby bear prints in the snow, traveling along the fence line.  However, the other day when we had some visitors from Redding, we noticed the bear prints in the snow in the yard.  Apparently they were "helping" us with our garbage disposal.  Now the cans are locked up safely, as I am sure the items in there are not the healthiest for mama bear and her cub.  Our favorite visitor (well, not really under the circumstances) was the skunk.  Now apparently getting "skunked" does not bother any of my dogs, as they do it over and over and over.  Matt opened up the front door and the smell was so strong it didn't even smell like skunk.  It was much farther past that.  I had to leave immediately as the odor was so strong it had me doubled over.  I have never smelled anything so strong.  I can't believe that the dogs don't learn their lesson and stay away.

One of the other changes at the rescue is that "Patches", our beloved therapy miniature, has found a wonderful new home.  Amid the tears before his new owners arrived were also happy thoughts for his future.  The folks that adopted him are some very wonderful people that we met when they came to visit the critters.  I have to say that I am proud to call them friends.  They do foster care for children, and I can only imagine the heartbreak they go through.  I am broken hearted every timed we place one of the foals that we help, and they are all going to wonderful homes.  So I can honestly say that they are amazing people and Patches will get to continue to provide his "love and therapy" to not only them but all the children who come to their home to share their love and care.  They arrived in their suv and after Patches got a last minute mani/pedi, he walked up his little ramp and into the back of their car.  He just fit and was happy and relaxed as they left to start their new adventure.

Other big news; Rocky, my beloved Rock Star has found his forever girl.  We will be delivering him to the Las Vegas area to a wonderful young woman you may have heard of.  Her name is "Rockin' Robin", and she is also known as "Wild Horse Robin".  She is an amazing and truly dedicated youngster that has devoted her life to saving and preserving our wonderful heritage, the American Wild Mustangs.  She founded the group "YEA", Youths' Equine Alliance, and is making big waves on behalf of the horses.  To all you kids out there who want to help keep mustangs like Honey Bandit, Rocky, Romeo etc. alive and well, visit her web page at http://www.yeaspage.com and joing the fight to preserve YOUR HERITAGE.  Wild Horse Annie and the school children are what made the difference for the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971.  We need to continue to protect them and make sure that generations to come will have the privilege of viewing the amazing mustangs in the wild.  

Right now she is working on saving up to get Rocky gelded and transported to Las Vegas.  We are not charging anything for our time and travel, but she is raising the funds for fuel and his gelding, as that is not in our budget.  She is actually moving to be closer to where Rocky will be stabled and Rocky the Rock Star will be the Ambassador for YEA!  So we will all get to watch the two of them as they grow up together.  Again, I have cried a river already, but as usual, our little one is going to an absolutely amazing home where he will be loved and have a wonderful life.  Now, we just need to get a home for Romeo.

As the little ones move out, we are geared up for the next critical foal to come along.  Although of course we don't want any foal to be without it's mama, we are certainly anxious to be there for the next little one that comes along.   

We want to thank y'all, as always, for your continued support and for being part of this "community rescue".  They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it seems to take the world to raise a foal.  God bless and stay safe.  Don't forget you are always welcome to come and visit.  The snow is almost gone and the horses are starting to shed out.  Could that mean spring is getting here soon?  We sure hope so.  Also, don't forget to tell the folks at "Lowes" that Honey Bandit sent you when you start your spring shopping.  We are extremely grateful for all their support too.

Take Care and "git 'er done"!

Hi all,

Thought you might enjoy these pictures.  My surgery went well and my shoulder is not doing too badly.  I am actually able to care for a baby if one pops up.  PTL that this was a quickie.  The only thing is that there is one piece of cartilage that the doc is hoping will reattach.  Apparently if it doesn't I have to go back in.  yuk.  So we will run (oh yeah - I can't) or limp real fast towards the fact that everything will stay fabulous.

I so wanted to attend the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting, and the rally against the horse slaughtering.  However, there are some truly important facts that I had to consider.  First off, it is way out of my budget to get there, and even if I had that kind of dough, it would most likely be much better spent on hay.  That would buy a lot of hay.  Also, and this is by far the most important, if a baby comes up, as usual, everything else would take a back seat so it could be a huge waste of money.  So please do not think that I am not wanting to be there, it simply is not an option this year.  

We took out my stitches a few days ago, (my son helped as I couldn't reach the back ones).  Then we got snow and ice again, so my plans to take the Rock Star out in the round pen to be "saddled up" were foiled.  Thanks to our awesome nursery though, I was able to safely bring him in and we practiced saddling up.  

First of all, I know he is a boy, and the blanket is pink.  But he is a very manly mustang and can wear it well.  Also, the saddle does not fit him properly (of that I am well aware), but for saddle training it is perfect.  It is light and ,as he will only be about one year old on March 12, 2013, that is very important.  It also has the appropriate things to hang on his sides and the straps to go under his belly and between his legs.

As is very evident, the Rock Star has absolutely no concern about wearing his gear and moving around in it.  He trusts us completely and loved the attention.  By the time he is ready to ride, the gear should be about as comfy and non-existent as his mane to him.  Speaking of his mane, isn't it spectacular?  He is taking after his daddy, the famous "BUBBA".

I also know that some people have commented on his belly.  He is not wormy, and that is just the way he grows.  Romeo, on the other hand, is going to be like Suri was and be absolutely stunning through every growth period.  Rocky is like Chilly.  She has gone through some really really unattractive growth spurts, which the vet said is just the way some of them grow.  As you can see by the pix though, Chilly Pepper is starting to come into her own.

God bless and please pray for all the horses and the people trying to care for them and all the others who need help.

Hi y'all,

Sitting here doing end of the year tax stuff.  (Have to git 'er done before my next surgery)   Was looking at all the people who donated on and around February 7, 2012.  There were so many people who kicked in $5 or $10 or other amounts so we could go and pick Little Mister up.  I couldn't help but feel the pain of his loss again, and also the tears came thinking about all of you who made it possible for him to spend his last few days loved, safe and warm.  It took so many people to make it possible to go and get him, but together you guys made it happen.   I cannot tell you how awesome y'all are.

Brought joy to my heart and tears also, thinking about so many people trying to help that little guy.  I know that he is safe in heaven, but I couldn't help but think about his short time here on earth and how many people he affected and how many people fell in love with him.

Just wanted to let you know that everything you guys do is amazing, special and never forgotten!!!!.  Thank you again for all you do and God bless y'all.  The pain of losing him is actually kind of a blessing, as If I hadn't been able to pick him up, I wouldn't have fallen in love with him and wouldn't miss him.  So it is all worth it in the long run.

I am so grateful that there are people like you out there and that I can keep the faith and know that God has put all you special angels out there to help us get where we need to get and do what we need to do.  Matt and I are very lucky to have such a wonderful array of "rescue family".

Just sayin'  :)

I attached a picture of him so y'all could see again what a sweetie he was.  I feel so blessed to know that when the next one needs us, it will have so many people to help save it.

Hi y'all,

Chilly Pepper Miracle - Mustang is sending out a big THANK YOU to LOWE'S, in Redding, CA.  Once again, they have demonstrated their love and support for their community.  As most of you know, not only do we specialize in the critical foals, but we are also involved with the local schools and are truly a "community rescue".  It is not "our rescue", it is YOUR RESCUE, and Lowes stepped up AGAIN to do everything they could to help all of us make this a safe place for the animals at the rescue.  We are blessed to belong to such a supportive and compassionate community and that is what saves these critters and lets so many children (and adults) come visit and enjoy them.

We are finding out that living so close to Mt. Lassen puts you in a whole different world weather wise.  Looking out the window, the sky is a brilliant blue, and the trees are magnificent against the pristine, blue backdrop.  The ice and snow are sparkling like tiny diamonds in the sunshine.  It is absolutely beautiful.  It is about 20 degrees and we are living in solid ice.  The ice has been here since before Christmas, and although it is much better for their feet than the mud ,it is quite treacherous.  In the areas where the horses spend the most time, they are walking on about a foot of packed ice.  

Wow, I just glanced out the window in time to see Honey Bandit "sitting" on the ice.  His back feet slipped out and he went down.  However, the good news is that he got right back up and although favoring his back leg slightly, appears to be fine.  Man, that is so very scary.  It makes you panic until you know they are okay.  We of course will watch him like a hawk, but he is walking around and eating just fine.  There is always that little part of you that wants to stuff them in a stall and "protect them", but that is not natural for them.  If we look at the mustangs in the wild, they travel in all kinds of weather, in all kinds of terrain.  The horses have shelter, but make it very clear they would rather be out in the fresh air.

However, due to the severity of the weather we have been having, and the cold and unrelenting temperatures we have been experiencing at night, that little part of me that is so protective, is making sure that their shelters are much warmer than before.  Matt and I decided that we would make the shelters warmer by adding more walls and wind breaks.  The other morning it was said to be about 3 degrees with the wind chill.  It's funny though, because it may warm up to mid 40's during the day and then it feels like spring.  If you look out, you will see the critters scattered all over, soaking up whatever bits of sunlight come through.

So Matt and I headed down to Lowe's to get some wood for the shelters.  Upon arrival, we saw a stack of culled lumber.  We spoke with the manager and he gave us an additional (rather large) discount on the stack.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!   So yesterday Matt and I used our "new wood" and added a couple of much needed walls.  We still have lots more to do, but this will make a huge difference in the wind chill.  The stalls already stayed dry and free of snow, but this will be much nicer for the horses.  As we get the funds, we will be adding additional walls to all the shelters.  It is kind of interesting looking, as it is made up of mismatched pieces, but the horses don't care and we may not be fancy, but we will eventually be warm.

Honey Bandit is now hanging out with Chilly Pepper and Dakota, as he was getting quite pushy with the little ones.  He actually "rolled" Romeo the other day.  He ran right into him and knocked him down.  Romeo is fine, but it is time for Honey Bandit to remember a few more of his manners.  All are well and enjoying the bright and beautiful days.

I did have a recent phone call which was kind of upsetting.  Basically the message was that I should not be trying to find a forever home for one of the horses up for adoption.  Unfortunately, we are not a sanctuary.  We have limited space and extremely limited funds.  We are a "rehab and then re-home".   We have to keep adopting out the babies or we won't have room for the criticals.  Unfortunately this person did not offer to "sponsor" the horse, and just expected us to feed and pay for it the rest of it's life, and as much as I would love to, we simply cannot afford to do so.  It also seems like people are forgetting we are in "crisis" as a horse loving nation.  There were over 100 (not exact on the numbers) of wild mustangs rescued at the last second from being sent to slaughter in Nevada, just in the last couple of months.  The Nevada Dept. of Ag has been continuing to round up the wild mustangs.  People have stepped up to "save them from slaughter", but many do not realize that is just the first step.  Most of these horses are still in temporary homes, and will need to be supported and fed and cared for the rest of their lives.  Yet through all this, there are still sanctuaries out there breeding more unwanted babies.  It is hard not to want to "save them all", but it isn't possible the way things are.  It is heartbreaking on one hand when we find a home for these babies.  After spending 24/7 and then pulling them back to life, it is extremely hard to let them go.  But we simply cannot be available for those emergencies if we don't do what needs to be done, and that is find loving, safe, forever homes for these babies.  This is what they deserve.  So please, when you are passing judgement on the folks who "rescue and re-home", remember that a little piece of their heart leaves with every critter they save and move on, whether it is horses, cats, puppies or whatever.  It is hard.  If you are really concerned about a specific animal, there is always the possibility that you could sponsor that one, and help to save it even if you can't care for it yourself.

Take care and remember - LOWES is the answer to all your hardware needs.  Tell 'em Honey Bandit sent you!

The photo with HB and the feeder is taken on about 1 foot of ice.  Very deceptive as it seems like you are on solid ground until you fall through on those warm sunny afternoons. :)  The horses don't seem to but we sure do.  Guess God made them better at this outside winter stuff than we are.

Honey Bandit and the babies took the screens off the kitchen windows, so now they can "visit".  

The pix of the car shows how much snow is really still out there.  Love it when it's white. .

Bear (black rescued doberman) is starting to spend more time "hanging out" closer to Soldier.  They still have some issues of "who owns mommy", so we are working with that slowly.  The girls spend lots of time playing with him in the pen.

Just thought y'all might like to see what you have accomplished.  We sure appreciate it! and so do the critters!!

Hi y'all,

As usual, life is keeping us pretty busy.  I spent a good share of New Year's eve, dreaming about parties, dancing, pretty clothes and lots of sparkles, as I spent a very cold hour digging through ice and snow with a shovel and a flash light, to find the hose that I had so carefully drained.  It has been awhile since we had a "real winter", and although I remembered to leave the faucet with a drip so it wouldn't freeze, and I remembered to drain the hose, I forgot one really really important fact.  You have to actually be able to find the hose to use it.  But it was another great lesson of how we need to improve our winter prep.  I have to say there will be many things that we will do much better next year!!  :)

The horses are all doing well, although we are feeding about twice as much as normal due to the cold and snow.  But everyone is happy and the youngsters are growing quickly.  Romeo and Rocky have the cutest "winter jammies", and the Rock Star has actually mellowed out quite a bit.  I think being pushed around all the time by Honey Bandit has crushed his little fantasy that he was "it".  He and Romeo are pretty equally ranked, and although they will both push each other around a bit when it is time for grain, neither one of them seems to be the boss of the other.   They are more like brothers, pushing and shoving but never in a serious way.   I think mainly they are sticking together to stay away from Honey Bandit as he is being quite bossy.  

As I looked out in to our winter wonderland, I cannot ignore the beauty of where we live.  The snow is frozen, and sparkles endlessly on the trees and in the sunshine.  The icicles bring back warm childhood memories of days passed.  There is something so magical about looking out and seeing icicles glistening along the eves.  It looks as though everything is covered in diamonds.  (I just love the sparkle).   The air is crystal clean, the sky a brilliant blue and the world feels clean and beautiful.   I can hear the crunch of hooves as I see a resigned Donkey trudging through the ice and snow.  You can tell by the way he looks that once again, this is not his idea.  He is followed closely by the Rock Star and Romeo, and bringing up the rear, all puffed up and proud, is Honey Bandit.  Honey Bandit normally seems like my little old man, but he seems to be thriving in this cold winter weather,  He absolutely loves pushing the others around and making them crunch through the snow.   He is getting a little too pushy around the food though and is almost ready to go back in with the "grown up horses", who will put him in his place.  But for now, he gets to be the boss and think he is a "big shot".

We had taken HB to the Palo Cedro Christmas celebration, but this time we left him in the trailer, instead of putting him in his pen.  He was extremely irritated and promptly turned his butt on me and proceeded to pout the rest of the evening.  Needless to say, he will be back in his "corral", available to mingle with his adoring public next year.  He has been going through a big growth spurt lately and is turning in to a very handsome young man.  It makes me sad though, because it is as if that year of 24/7 care never happened.  He doesn't seem to remember much of anything we did back then.  He acts like he has never seen a blanket before.  PTL he does not need one, but it amazes me that after spending nearly 24/7 with him for a year, and actually moving out and building an attached bedroom so we could sleep with him, it is like it never happened.  Rocky, on the other hand, remembers everything.  But I guess it was just the extent of HB's condition that made him forget, kind of like when you have surgery and don't remember much.  But seriously it would be nice if he remembered as it would make him one of those "bomb proof" ponies.   The Rock Star isn't scared of much.  Romeo is still extremely sensitive around his head, and when he was sick a few months ago, he seemed to have one of his little times when he couldn't remember much.  But he has been doing very well and as long as we are gentle and soft with him, he will have one of the softest heads around.  Rocky, Romeo and Chilly Pepper are all available for adoption.

The nursery is turning out to be absolutely adorable, and we won't have to use "diapeys" on a regular basis.  It is also going to be a Godsend as it is the one place that I will be able to bring in the babies for hoof trimming and winter training.  The stall is large enough for 3-4 "critical foals" (if there are any left by the time NDoA gets through), so we are getting the place much closer to where we need it.  We cannot thank you enough for being part of this and making all of this possible.  Even if you cannot actually adopt, please feel free to come and visit the babies and the rest of the critters.  We love the visits and will never forget that this is your rescue and we are just lucky enough to be hands on. God bless y'all and we thank you in advance for your continued support, prayers, visits and love for the critters in 2013.  We will be sending pix soon, so you can share the smiles.

We also have several miniatures that we are trying to help place.  So if anyone has been looking for a mini, look not further.  Just call us at 530 474 5197 or 530 3339 1458 for more information.  I also want to thank everyone again for the help and support as we were able to get the tank warmers that we need.  It is so amazing to have water instead of ice blocks, and it is crucial for the horses' health to drink enough water.  So many horses colic simply because they don't drink as much water in the winter.   So thank you - you guys rock!!!