Honey Bandit has more space 4-17-11

WOW,   Sitting here listening to the rain dancing on the tin roof, I bet I am not the only one who is happy it waited till after Kool April Nights was over.  That was pretty awesome.  Our wonderful friend provided a booth for us at KAN, giving us an opportunity to visit with many of Honey Bandit's "aunties and uncles" and share Honey Bandit's story with many people who didn't know we pay $64 million each year for the wild horses that have been rounded up.  It is always amazing to see how many people don't have any idea what goes on with our wild horses and their tax dollars.

We want to thank Jennifer Gillespie for everything she does for this cause.  I know she believes in it, and although until she came to Chilly Pepper's open house last August she had never heard about the helicopters rounding up our wild horses, she is a force to be reckoned with.  She has done so much and without all her pictures Honey Bandit's story could not have been told so accurately.  She is an amazing part of this story.  We also want to thank Sue & Gary Horst, and Denise & her wonderful hubby for all their help with this journey.  Of course I have to give an extra extra special thanks to my awesome husband for putting up with me and loving me anyway, even though he says I'm crazy.  I told him at least he'd never be bored though. :)

We also need some prayers for a very special horse that belongs to a friend of mine.  Her horse was severely injured when a neighbor used a "butt rope to try and force her into a trailer".    There is a very good chance that her whithers are broken.  She was in severe pain after she flipped over backwards onto unforgiving ground.  We are grateful that she wasn't killed, but this is so unnecessary and every one out there can learn from this.  It isn't worth it to try and force a scared horse into a trailer.   Many times they end up with broken necks or other hideous injuries.  Take the time or have someone who knows how train your horse to safely load.  There are so many ways to let the horses find out that trailers are not that scary.  But it can take time.  If they put two front feet in, let them "settle and think about it".  So what if they back out a couple of times, it beats them ending up maimed or dead.  Most of the time if you give a horse a few minutes to think about what they are afraid of, you will be amazed at how well they do once they figure out it isn't going to kill or eat them.

It is kind of interesting though.  When we brought that wild mare back to California, we did not "force her" into a trailer.   We simply showed her that there was less pressure if she went towards the trailer.  I am talking pressure being a moved arm or hand.  Not yelling or screaming or hitting, simply giving her an "out" in the direction we wanted her to go.  You can move a wild horse (or any horse for that matter) just by your body language and the tiniest movements of your hands.  If we would have tried to "force" her into the trailer, all heck would have broken loose and she would have been injured, and so most likely would we.  There is not a horsey person in the world that has not made a mistake, me especially,  but let's all remember not to try and force any horse into a trailer.  The results can be devastating at the very least.   So please, ya'll say a prayer for this beautiful mare.  She needs all of them, and so does her "mommy".  I actually think her "mommy" is suffering worse than the horse, because it is so hard to see our beloved animals in pain.

Honey Bandit now has about twice the room to play off of his "nursery".  He, Patches and DaBubbles had a blast.  They love to play "ring around the tree", and now they have another one to play around.  They had galloping good times, and I will try to post some pix soon.  Thank you everyone who took the time to stop by the booth and say hi.  There are only about 12 days left to buy your raffle tickets.  That chair is adorable.  So contact Kim at the Barn Bum and get your tickets.  God bless ya'll and thank you for being such a wonderful and supportive community.  That is one of the things I love about living here.  We are all working together for the good of the animals and the community.  Also, GOOD NEWS - Honey Bandit (and the boys ha ha) will be at the RAIN event on May 14.  So come on down and see your guys.    Honey Bandit is looking forward to "posing" for your photos.  It is going to be a "horse tack" based event, so all you horsey people come on up and "git er done".  There will be tons of tack, and if you have some to trade or sell I believe the booths are only $15.  (but please don't quote me - ha ha)

www.chillypepper.weebly.com
Chilly Pepper Miracle Mustang
30027 Highway 44 East
Shingletown CA  96088
530 474 5197    530 339-1458