If you want to help You can go to You Caring - to help us keep saving lives..

You can go to Paypal - [email protected] or
go to our Donate & Support page
if you would like to help these horses.

You can donate via check at
Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, P.O. Box 190 Golconda, NV 89414

You can also donate via credit card by calling Palomino at 530-339-1458.

NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL - WE SAVE THEM ALL!
SAVING GOD'S CRITTERS - FOUR FEET AT A TIME

Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, WIN Project - Rescue & Rehab

We are now part of the WIN Organization
- WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407 -

Shown above is SHADOW, our beautiful little blind girl prior to heading to her new home.

UPDATE
Once again my heart feels like it has been shattered into a million tiny pieces. Early Wednesday morning, Matt backed in the trailer to our loading area and I went to get Frosty and Braveheart.

To my horror, I noticed something was wrong with Braveheart. Just the night before he had been be-bopping around and feeling great. But this morning, something was terribly wrong. His poor little face was swollen halfway up, and you could tell he was done.

It took a minute to realize that overnight he had become 100% blind. He was struggling horribly and extremely frantic at losing his sight. Of course I called Doc immediately, and she came out to see what had happened.

The most likely explanation is due to the fact that his eye had been so horribly infected for so many months, (if not years), that he had probably had an abscess that for some unknown reason decided to burst during the night, and it caused the immediate blindness. Doc's other thought was that it could have been an aneurysm, but in either case, the way he was standing with his head down would account for the swelling of the soft tissue.

His eye was still perfect from the surgery. But my beloved Braveheart went from feeling great to absolutely miserable. Whatever happened last night had been traumatic and my sweet boy was done. I knew even before Doc arrived that his beautiful life would end on this day. The tears ran as I tried to comfort him until she arrived.

So instead of loading up Braveheart, Frosty, Shadow and Dabubbles, we spent the day taking care of Braveheart for the last time. It was devastating beyond measure to let him go, but it was our final gift to him. The only comfort I can find is the fact that he was so happy here and absolutely loved not having to fight for his food and to know so much love.

The happier news is that Shadow went to her new home yesterday and she is settling in well. We are already getting happy reports from her new place. Frosty is also settling in to his new place and already has a new friend. That warms my heart as he was kind of a loner, and he has a beautiful white gelding he is hanging out with. So that is definitely great news.

While we were in South Dakota we had purchased panels for the mission, and were planning to bring them home for the "blind pen". Unfortunately when it came time to bring them home we simply could not afford to. So we sold them back instead. It was definitely not a happy decision, but we ended up using the funds we got back from the panels to finish what we had to do in South Dakota and to bring the horse kids here and get them the care and special feed etc. they needed.

I am working on individual Thank You's, but as usual I am far behind. I want everyone to know that every single penny is so much appreciated and remind folks of how many lives y'all have saved. Unfortunately in our world it just doesn't seem to stop. But God is not only blessing us with folks like you who show your love and support for His creatures, but He is also blessing us with good homes for the ones we save. So please know that not a penny is taken for granted and I am working literally round the clock at this point. 3 babies doesn't seem like much but they still want their milk every few hours and really don't care if mom gets any sleep. lol

We need to raise funds for another delivery to the northern most border of Idaho. We need roughly $2000 for transportation, and 6 more horses will have their forever homes. These horses will be part of an amazing program where troubled kids have their hearts and souls healed by/through equine therapy working with the wild horses. Diesel, Lacy, Donkey, Chester, Loves Legacy and another wild mustang named Buddy will be heading out, (hopefully on the 22nd if we raise the transport funds).

Once we get the next batch of horses to their new homes, we will have the two little ones Sapphire and Stormy (who have potential adopters), Anicka and her seeing eye horse Diamond Dancer, Midnight Onyx (our blind ones from the ISPMB rescue), Honey Bandit, the twins Lucky and Spartan, Denny, and DaBubbles, (our little therapy man) and we are scheduled to pick up two additional miniature horses who needed rescued in the next week or so.

And baby season is just beginning. As I write this I am on standby for an approximately 3 week old colt whose mama was killed by a car today.

So the kids just continue to keep coming, and since most of ours end up being special needs, we cannot thank you enough for keeping this amazing journey a success. Your donations make it all happen.

So please, stay with us and lets "keep strong and rescue on". YOU are the reason these lives are being saved. We so appreciate your love and support and we will continue to share the stories of the lives you are saving and the difference you make for each and every horse we bring in. Some times the end result is simply giving the horse the gift of knowing what it feels like to be safe, have enough to eat and leave this earth peacefully, and those are the hardest ones. Those are the ones that make me want to quit, but I know that whatever God puts in front of us we need to take care of. So we cry for days, and then put on our big girl panties and "git 'er done".
Thank you for being part of this!

If you want to help You can go to You Caring - to help us keep saving lives..You can go to Paypal - [email protected] or go to our Donate & Support page

if you would like to help these horses.

You can donate via check at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, P.O. Box 190 Golconda, NV 89414

You can also donate via credit card by calling Palomino at 530-339-1458.

NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL - WE SAVE THEM ALL!
SAVING GOD'S CRITTERS - FOUR FEET AT A TIME

Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, LRTC PROJECT - Rescue & Rehab
LRTC (Least Resistance Training Concepts) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 68-0434118

After placing the first 7 babies, we picked up Shimmer (little gray girl) & Cocoa Puff, the chocolate colored baby mustang. The next Monday, along came Cupcake and her mama. Cupcake is a miniature horse and is about 6 months old. She is wild and untouched at this moment, but we will take the time we need to gentle her. :) She, as well as her mama, will be available for adoption, along with Shimmer and Cocoa Puff at a later date.

We placed Phantom in a wonderful home, (son of the Phantom Stallion), and watched him drive away as the tears flowed down. Loved him so, but it is the best thing for him to have a life where he will get all the attention he deserves :)

Tomorrow we take Velma and Cowboy to their new home. They will be staying together which is nice for them.

Big Girl had her x-rays today. She is in tough shape all around :( . She has very little sole between her coffin bone and the ground, and has extensive "ring bone" (arthritis) on both front feet, although more so on one side. She has very little hoof growth so far, but is on some really good supplements so hopefully that will change soon. Her heartbeat is elevated and irregular, and she will never be able to be ridden or worked again. It is painful for her to move, but Doc prescribed some new meds so we will see if that keeps her comfortable.

She needs lots of prayers for healing, but in the meantime we will give her as much time as she needs to get better, and she can spend her remaining time on this earth being a spoiled and much loved gentle giant. We want to give her all the love, time and happiness she deserves, and are hoping that with pain meds she will be comfortable enough to enjoy a few more years. She is the biggest sweetheart there is and so deserves some love and appreciation. (I still can't believe the people think I bought her for a riding horse. arghhhh). But she needed to be saved and that is why God sent her to us.

We got a call about 6 babies today. Getting ready to load up and head out early, when we received another update that the folks changed their minds and are going to try and keep them. You are on a never ending emotional roller coaster ride when you do this. The day we placed Phantom was a day when I questioned if I could keep doing this. It is so very hard to let them go after you have rehabbed them and put so much time into their healing. But if we don't move horse kids to good homes, we won't be able to keep saving more.

But it is hard when you see babies in situations where folks have not had training for critical care and you know the babies need it. It sounds crazy, but I know many of you will understand. The minute you get that message, text or phone call about babies that need help, your heart is invested. It doesn't matter that you haven't laid eyes upon them yet, or touched them or spent time with them. In that instance they become "your babies". That is what makes it possible to keep going through the craziness, the heart break and the non-stop never ending insanity that comes with this type of rescue. God hooks you up emotionally so you have what it takes to do whatever it takes. Then when you get that other call, it is a huge letdown. Especially knowing they need special care, but we can only do what we are allowed to do.

We want to thank everyone for being part of saving all of these lives. It means the whole world to each and every horse that we save, and although we can't save them all, we are grateful for all the lives we do save because of folks like you and your love and support.

My heart is breaking, and I can hardly see through the tears as I write this. I am so very sorry to have to tell you that we lost Lil Bit today. The picture above is her out on the range.

Matt and I were at a "meet and greet" with Honey Bandit, when I was called out on an injured horse emergency. While I was there, I called Shirley about the injured mare and this is what she told me. She could barely speak and I knew she was beyond devastated.

Shirley did what she promised and stayed with Lil Bit 24/7. She was watching Lil Bit and standing beside her in case she needed help while she was up and walking. All at once there was a "snapping noise" in Lil Bit's leg, and she crashed, pinning Shirley under her. It took about 40 minutes for Shirley to get free, but Lil Bit was done. She absolutely could not get up again. Doc was on his way and Lil Bit would be set free from the pain and suffering. No one was expecting this, especially not Doc, but apparently she blew out either her ligament or tendon and it was horribly clear that she cannot recover or have any type of quality of life.

We want to thank everyone who stepped up to help this little angel. As I sit here I am physically ill and the tears won't stop. Sometimes you wonder "why - why do we keep doing this?" Your heart is broken so many times that you think it may not keep beating, and it is nearly impossible to even breathe, the pain is so harsh. The worst part of it is that every time you lose one, it not only devastates you but brings back all the pain of each and every other one you have lost. Sometimes it is just too hard......

So now Lil Bit has had her last visit from Doc. He was gentle and kind when he freed her from her pain and this world that was so cruel to her, and she was wrapped in Shirley's arms, knowing only love and kindness while she left this world.

I remember being at Shirley's and watching her "run". She was awkward and clumsy, and oh so proud. The thing I will always remember is the look of life in her eyes. She wanted to be here and she enjoyed her little romps, never realizing she was "different". She had lots of spirit and spunk and she would give you "what for" if she decided she had enough. _This was not a sick little girl who was moping around. She "lived" in her own little fashion and played and ate and slept like a normal little one. She LOVED LIFE!_

The only thing left we can do is cry, and then make sure we are ready for the next baby that God puts in front of us. Sometimes I think we even fight harder (though that really is not possible) for the next one in honor of those that have been lost. In our world, they never stop coming. I know how devastating losing Lil Bit is for me, even though I only got to help take care of her a little bit now and then, but I know for Shirley it is like the day we lost Mav. Her world just ended (again) but she always keeps going......

We try so hard to make the right decisions, and according to everyone in the know, her vets, (2 separate opinions) and her Mom, she still had a chance. But today it was clear a different choice had to be made. And as much as it destroyed everyone involved, the right decision was made for Lil Bit.

Folks ask - how do you do it? But can anyone ever look one of these innocent creatures in the eyes and say "no - I won't help". I certainly don't know very many folks like that.

So our hearts will keep breaking, and we can only pray we have what it takes to save the next one.

Sending love and prayers for all the hearts that loved this little girl, and so many thanks for all who supported her, whether it be with love, prayers or donations.

Lil Bit has fought long and hard, and it looked like she was getting better every day. Unfortunately, and it is certainly not uncommon, her Mustang Fight and the Will to Survive and Thrive may be outdoing her physical body. She has had many happy times where she ran and played (in her own crippled fashion) and has enjoyed so much life and the best care possible from her mama Shirley Allen.
However, today is the day we find out if she can be saved or keep fighting. We are so very careful how much of the donated funds are allotted to babies who are struggling and fighting the up hill battles. We never just "throw money away" - we look at the whole picture. How many horses do we have to care for. What are the realistic and good odds for this baby. Sometimes we will fight and struggle with a baby who seems hopeless - until you look in their eyes - and they will beat all the odds.
Honey Bandit is a prime example of that. He died 3 times at the veterinarian's office, but came back and today is thriving and happy, although with a couple of minor health issues. He is still kind of a "special needs", but has been an ambassador for the wild horses and made a huge difference in the awareness of our fight for the wild ones.
Honestly it is not looking good for Lil Bit. But we have to give her this last chance, and the vet is coming out today to make that decision. We are not "throwing money away", but making sure we give this baby every chance she deserves based on the mad progress that she has made. To date she has been a little miracle.
We want folks to know where there donations go and that is why we try to keep y'all updated. Honestly we can use a bit of help with today's vet visit, as she needs some tests. But we simply cannot throw her life away after she has improved so much and fought so hard. At the same time we have to keep fundraising for all the other horses and their needs.
We appreciate all the love and support you show for these critters, and we would also appreciate lots of prayers for Lil Bit. God bless and thank you!
Please remember we still have mustangs ready for adoption at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang. They are ready, or will be soon, for adoption and you are more than welcome to come and visit them. 530 474 5197 if you would like to chat. Our mailing address is Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088
You can go to Youcaring - https://www.youcaring.com/let-em-run-foundation-for-55-wild-horses-orphaned-foals-415297 to help us save these horses.
You can go to Paypal - [email protected] or go to our website
www.chillypepper.org if you would like to help us help the horses.
We so appreciate all the love and support you show and for being part of the solution for these horses. Please remember that your donations are tax deductible and what a great write-off :)
Thank you as always for making this happen!

Hi Y'all,

It has been a crazy spring this year.  Not including the three that we placed the beginning of this year, we have had 7 critical orphans so far, and also have had great success in helping place some older horses.  Texas is doing well and thriving in his new home back in NV.  Running Bucket is thriving with her adopted nurse mama and growing fast and more beautiful than ever.  As most of you know, God gave us a very short, but beautiful time with Janie, whom we had to let go due to the severity of her injuries and health issues.   My heart still aches for her, and I treasure every beautiful moment we had together.  She was one of those beautiful creatures that emulate love and trust and all that is good.  While my heart was still in a million pieces, God sent the most amazing angel to help ease the pain.

God sent us a beautiful little foal named Baby Boo McClellan.  She is almost identical in appearance to Janie, although her face is a little bit longer and her eyes not quite so large.  However, the expression in those doe eyes was the same.  After spending most of the day in the blazing sun, frustrated beyond belief while watching the rest of the gang forge ahead, I had a moment of self pity, wondering why my leg is so painful and of such limited use.  While everyone else climbed from the bottom to the top and back to the bottom of these amazing mountains, I limped along as best I could, watching the action from a distance.  Hmmmmmm, so much for being able to drive right to them.   I am so never believing that line again. :)     Matt was amazing and did his best to hang back with me and not make me feel quite so useless.

Matt and I then took the shortcut and were picked up by Mikel Ann Hetrick, the lady who is responsible for Baby Boo actually being alive to be saved.  She had been following the bands and watching over this beautiful, severely beaten up foal, making sure that we could find her.  Baby Boo had been with 3 different bands, desperately trying to find solace and food within.  The mares continued to use her for a punching bag until finally, she would move on to a different band.  She was using every bit of adrenalin left in that tiny little body to stay alive, and she barely made it back with us.   She is now doing very well, although she is still stiff and just beginning to play a bit more every day.  Sweet Pea, who was named Luna, is Baby Boo's best friend and they will be going to their new home together.   Yes, I am already crying......

Annie and Lil Bit have been hanging out and they are the best of friends.  So far, the plan is for both of them to be adopted together and they will be moving to Southern California as far as we know....  Again, crying........

Honey Bandit continues to amaze.  He is absolutely gorgeous, the oh so bossy leader of the band, and just a pleasure for all the folks that come to visit to see.  He is sleek and one of the happiest horses around.  He loves "watching over" all the rest of the crew and seems to really enjoy the "manners" that he feels he must remind everyone they need.

We are excited to share the date of Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 11:30 a.m. to ?????? with anyone who wants to come and help celebrate not only the miracle of Honey Bandit, but of the wonderful folks who are part of this family rescue, and the lives of all the babies you have helped us save, equine as well as others.  As usual, we will have good eats and drinks and y'all can bring your families to the cool mountain air and enjoy a day of celebrating.  We talked to Honey Bandit and he didn't mind waiting for his birthday party, so we will also be celebrating one tough little mustang growing up.

We are 7 miles past Shingletown on Hwy 44 East.  There is a big white sign on the right side of the road in a tree that says "SIDEBOTTOM".  Turn right and we will be the 2nd house on the left.  You can't miss us and we really hope that y'all come in and say hi and see the improvements we have been making.  Brings the kids, grand kids, parents and friends to enjoy the beautiful mountain air and enjoy DaBubbles (our miniature) and Belafonte our (miniature goat).   Come see what YOU have helped to make happen.  Oh, and by the way, Donkey thinks y'all should bring him some carrots as he is doing so well protecting all the critters.  Although the mountain lion has been seen hanging out for a bit out back on the cameras, there has been no hanky panky, so we are loving Donkey.  Anyone with any questions can reach us at 530 474 5197.  If y'all want to help with these babies and their munchies, hay etc, you can go to [email protected] to Paypal or you can go to our website at www.chillypepper.weebly.com or come and visit us here at 34694 Sidebottom Rd, Shingletown, CA  96088

We are looking forward to another fun and fabulous Open House!

Emily the web admin here, I'm just back from a couple of days at the beach and playing a little catch up here while doctoring one of my critter's boo boos...  Here's the latest from Palomino, Matt & the Critter Gang!

Critter Kids at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang. Annie and Lil Bit have their first round pen lesson in tandem. (Click the pics enlarge)

All my critter kids are acting like they are on speed. The little one was wound so tight this morning I thought she was gonna flip over. Dogs were going nuts all night so who knows who was visiting the edge of the property. Matt saw a huge elk (butt - lol) leaving the highway. He is about 6'2" and he said her butt came up about to his shoulders. Apparently another one was hanging out by our driveway on Hwy 44. Hmmm wouldn't want to meet that with any vehicle. Hoping it was one of those and not one of our clawed friends though..... Much more comfy to think of "big deer" as opposed to "big kitties"

Hmmmm - Today is the day for "milk face" I guess You can see how much fun Lil Bit and Lil Orphan Annie have when sharing the milk bucket

Matt will be transporting one, (and hopefully 2) horses that were saved from ending up at slaughter. He needs to get them up to their forever home in Oregon. We are guessing it will be about $ 200 - $ 300 to get them there, and the folks have wonderful acreage and will provide a forever home for the mustang and the other paint that we were trying to save. Anyone want to be part of this awesome success and chip in some pennies for fuel? Our truck and trailer tires are wearing fast, but as long as we can get them there and keep them from slaughter it is worth it. Anyone who wants to help can go to our website at www.chillypepper.weebly.com or go to Paypal [email protected] or use snail mail Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown, CA 96088 Thank you and God bless y'all for all you do!

Texas coming home and Texas going home Miss that little monkey. He is such an amazing horse and has such great personality and the cutest little bootie.  His band is in captivity. He could not go back to the wild. He slept in our house for about 6 weeks (haha) In the nursery but we slept with him. He is definitely not wild anymore. Folks want to see the family unit reunited. Not sure how it will go, just saying prayers whatever happens it goes smoothly. But they will make sure he is safe....

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.

Spoke with the Doc a few minutes ago. The blood work came out very well -PTL!!!!!!!! Mikey's is a little bit off but not enough to keep her worried. As of yet, I had not changed the bedding, as the shavings make it so easy to keep clean and sanitary. However, Doc said that she has had several foals that were HIGHLY ALLERGIC to shavings. She said to start using straw (ughh) and spritz it so it isn't dusty. We are taking the "do less" approach right now, and she is very cognizant of our budget. She wants to watch them and see if the wormer makes a difference. She said that worms can cause coughing, difficulty breathing and lung issues, especially when foals are so compromised. So this is where we are headed. She did indicate that it most likely will be a very long and slow process for them to get where we want them. She is the Doc who saved Honey Bandit, so I have to say that she does amazing work. I also have to say that her integrity is showing as we initially thought she would have to do a lung culture right away. After seeing them she was worried about a bacterial infection, so she chose the blood work instead. Am extremely grateful that she didn't just jump in and do everything all at once, although it would be nice to know for sure what is making them so sick. Please continue your prayers!! God bless!

As I sit here typing this update, I can hear one of the boys coughing outside. Today was the last day of the antibiotics, and we are hoping to see a change soon. The nights are the hardest, most likely because that is when they lie down the most. Any time they are down, the pressure on their lungs makes it harder for them to breathe. Their breathing has been very shallow and rapid, and the other night Ikey's gums were very pale compared to normal. He is a very cranky little boy when he doesn't feel good, and is not shy about sharing his feelings. :)Both boys continue to eat and drink very well, which is definitely helping save their lives. They obviously want to be here, and although we are on a roller coaster ride, where one minute you think they might be feeling and/or looking better, the next minute their body is racked with their coughing and the sounds of them struggling to get enough air. Last night one of them was squeaking while trying to breathe. Every breath, step, time they get up or down, or I hear them groaning as they struggle to get their air, I am out of bed. So basically, we are all pretty much up all day and night. They are so definitely not out of the woods yet, so PLEASE CONTINUE PRAYING FOR THEM!! You get so in tune with them when you spend 24/7 with them that you see the tiniest details. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful mentor that taught me to pay attention to every little change, as you can lose a foal in minutes. Tiny details most often are and can be critical. Something that appears ok, can be deadly if not paid attention to. We want to send a great big THANK YOU!!! to ROSS ZUMSTEG. His help has been invaluable, (along with his knowledge) and it is folks like that who make our "community rescue" one big family. He has been here daily for the last 3 or 4 days to help with medicating the boys and anything else we need.We are keeping them warm as the nights are extremely cold. However, our new heaters are here but not installed, so we are going through our propane as if it were water. But it is imperative that they are not chilled. They are such beautiful little souls, and much like Honey Bandit, fighting with every thing they have not only just to survive, but to get through this. Folks were asking how they picked it up? Who knows? Maybe their mama's picked up a bug at the auction and it just now came to be active. I don't know, and at this point it makes no difference. There is a huge ripple effect from folks sending these horses through auction, and the original condition of these foals is simply part of it.I am hoping and praying that they continue to get stronger and make it through this. Will keep you posted....

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!!!

Hi,


Well it has been awhile since our last update.  We were honored to be invited to participate in the " Virginia City Heroes Parade", honoring all Veterans.  Of course we were only invited if we brought  one of the Honored Guests with us - "Soldier", the military war dog who now lives at Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang.  To make it possible for us to attend, along with the invitation was a generous gift of the fuel needed to attend.  Soldier was once again a big hit with the Veterans that were not only in the parade, but watching on the sidelines.


We were in the Nevada Day Parade with him last year, riding on the Wild Horse Preservation League float, and when he was announced, you could see people tearing up as we passed by.   After the parade we took him to the travelling Vietnam Memorial Wall.  One of  our "heroes"  (a veteran), asked if he could buy Soldier a cheeseburger.  Of course we said yes while our eyes filled with tears, and Soldier chowed down.   Well,  I could not believe it when that same Soldier - Hero, was at the parade in Virginia City.  It made a very special day even more so.  Soldier did well in the parade, although he still has very prominent PTSD.  Unfortunately, although it is not talked about too much, many of the canines that have returned home from service have PTSD.  It can make them so unsettled that they cannot always be saved.  However, we are blessed with Soldier and each day he gets more and more comfortable.


Rocky is settling into his new home in Las Vegas, and Robin and Denise are as happy as can be.  They have been working  really hard to make his transition as easy as possible.  However, coming from the mountains to the blasting heat of Las Vegas can take a little toll on a baby, especially one that arrived with a full winter coat.  Denise and Robin have been working with their vet to find the perfect combination of feed for him, as he can stand to gain a few pounds.   He may also be in a new growth spurt, as when any of the critter kids start "growing up", they can often look like they are too skinny.   Then they look too fat when they are growing out.  Poor Chilly Pepper didn't figure out her perfect look until she was about 5 years old and stopped growing for the most part.  


The vet said that Rocky  is one of the most well mannered "bottle babies" that he has met, and that most bottle babies come in two categories - the worst or the best.  He said that as long as they keep up the good work, Rocky the Rock Star will be one of the best horses anyone could ever have.  You go Rocky!!!  We want to thank Denise and Robin for taking such amazing care of our beloved Rocky.  


Chilly Pepper is doing wonderfully at her new place, although she is now the one "pushing" up front to get all the loves.  When she was here Dakota was the boss and she would be pushed aside, so she is truly enjoying being the lead mare and getting to be in the front when it comes to the attention.


Collins is doing fabulously and you can barely see his scars.  They have healed up so well.  Doc Lydon did a wonderful job stitching and patching him up.  It was a pretty long recovery and took a lot of time and care, but he seems to have recovered and is back to hopping right into the trailer when we go any where.  You just tell him to "load up" and he hops right in.   He is extremely bright and behaving very well.  I know that being in with Romeo, who will definitely let Collins know when he is out of line, has helped tremendously.  He realizes that he is not the king and has been much more polite.  We are pretty sure that Collins has an adopter, a wonderful young woman who seems to be getting to know him pretty well.   She does't let him get away with being disrespectful and I think they are going to do very well.


Honey Bandit is growing like crazy and getting so tall.  His 3RD BIRTHDAY is coming up on July 3, 2013.  Looking back on all he has been through and all of the wonderful folks who are now in our lives, well, it is simply overwhelming.   We have such an amazing group of people that are not only part of Honey Bandit's life, but are also part of  the rest of this rescue and all the babies we have saved together.  I am so grateful that this is what God has chosen for us and even though I get scared sometimes about where the next flake of hay might come from, He always provides for these animals, and he does it through our wonderful "extended family".  We are planning Honey Bandit's 3rd birthday party/Open House, but have not set the date as of yet.  We will let you know as soon as we can so y'all can come and visit and see the miracles that you have worked by being part of these horses lives.  I promise it will be a fun day, and much much cooler up here in the mountains than it is down in Redding. 

Click picture 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!

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,

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!!!