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Since you have gotten to my second page, let me tell you a little about myself. I love horses, and all animals. I spent several years as a volunteer for the several local Wild Animal rehabilitation centers, including the Wisconsin Humane Society, Wildlife Department. While I enjoyed doing that, and still try to do my part, I soon found that I wanted my own animals. I soon got a cat, named TIPI. He is a great cat, and his picture will soon be added on here. Tipi has had his share of health problems, having repeated urinary blockages. However, after several expensive surgeries, and having to eat a special diet for the rest of his life, he is doing well.
I have loved horses all of my life, and although I was born in the city, I prefered to spend most of my time in the country. Somehow, I feel I was born a "farmer", even though I never had any farm experience. Always feeling misplaced, living in the city, I moved to a small farm, in the middle of Wisconsin, in my late 20's, with the hope of getting horses. That was quite a learning experience for me, and although I loved the country life, I soon found myself located in an area of the state, with a very bad economy, and that was during the late 1970's, when the U.S. economy was not in good shape. After several years of living on next to nothing, and still no horses, I was forced to move back to the city.
Several years ago, while experiencing one of those "mid life crisis" periods, and finding myself nearing my middle 40's, I decided it was time to get a horse, one way or another. I began to make a major effort to learn all I could about them, find out about boarding, and everything else connected with horses. A year later, I bought my first horse. At that same time, some people I knew mentioned that they also wanted horses. After working out the details, it was agreed that we would put up fencing on their rented land, and that I could keep my horse there, along with their horse. The fencing was built, and so was a shelter, hay shed, and more. I bought SNICKERS, and moved her there. While things worked out keeping her there, these other people never got their own horses, and Snickers was lonely. Therefore, I bought SQUIRT, a Shetland Pony, for her companion.
Several years later, I found out about these people that rescued horses from abuse and slaughter. They lived several hundred miles across the state, but since I planned to visit that area during my upcoming vacation, I decided to stop and see the horses. While visiting the farm, I saw many beautiful horses, most needing much love and care. While I instantly wanted to help all of them, I knew that would not be possible. However, there was one that caught my eye, instantly, SHIRLEY. However, at the time, I was not ready to get another horse. After a year, of thinking about Shirley, and the other horses there, and after discussing the possibility of forming a much needed horse rescue center, in this part of the state, I went back there, and found several new horses, and several others that had been sold, and a few that did not survive. It was at that moment, I offerred to buy Shirley. The owner told me that, after all of her severe abuse, she was "mean", and not worth anything more than a broodmare. Yet, I saw her differently. I bought her, but had to arrange to transport her across the state. Prior to leaving there, I also decided to by Silver, who at that time was not much over a year old, and who has been saved from slaughter.
It tooks several weeks to make arrangements to pick up those horses, but I managed to finally find someone with a stock trailer. When I got there, I found that there were few horses remaining. The seller was clearing out the herd, and was not going to rescue anymore horses, due to personal reasons. As it turns out, the only horses that remained, were those I was picking up, his "personal horses", and one small pony. While loading the horses, the seller made me an offer to take the pony, at a very reasonable price, because he could no longer keep any horses. I decided to take her, and Stubby was added to my herd.
Since these horses had been abused, and then had been allowed to run "wild" for an extended period of time, they were quite a chore to manage, and introduce to the other horses. It took much time, love, patience, and treats, to "win them over", but it was worth every moment.
Unfortunately, during all of this, I was forced to move the horses. It is a long and complicated story, but rather than bore you with details, I had to quickly relocate them. Finding a place to house 5 horses, is no easy task, and after several temporary moves, we were finally able to find a semi-permanent boarding arrangement. However, the move brought an end to the plans to rescue more horses, at least until I am able to buy a farm. That is where I am at now.
Besides horses, I also like these darn computers, even though horses have a much better disposition. I also enjoy attending fairs, & festivals, and I also like to attend primative Rendezvous, (which are historical re-enactments, of the mountain men, and American Indians). I have a small (one pole) tipi (tee-pee), and like to set it up at these rendezvous, and sleep in the wilderness, away from all the hustle and bustle of life.
I have taken several of my horses to these events, and had a great time, riding my horses, dressed in my buckskins. I plan to add rendezvous links eventually.
To find out more about these rendezvous, and local fairs and festivals, click here to go to my:
To learn more about the horses, and volunteer opportunities, go to the links below.....
