I need a break so decided I should have my conversation with you. My head is swimming with facts and figures as I prepare for our Board meeting. We are putting together a business plan. I am surrounded by charts and graphs and facts and figures. Saturated.
It's a good time to let you know what's up with One Heart. The first item of business when I got back from Thanksgiving break was to put the final touches on the Angel Tree. I went Monday to Theisen's in Ames to set up our display. I hope when you stop by you shop for One Heart. As an example of what the Angel Tree does for us...... we haven't had to purchase any fly spray (a staple!) for two years in a row because of our generous "Santas".
The Angel Tree is covered with ornaments of the horses in the One Heart herd. Also on the table is a list of the active horses, the recently retired horses, and the horses who have gone to greener pastures this year. For most of you, this is the first you will hear about those who have gone to greener pastures. You know about Dagmar which was quite a loss. Over the next couple of days I will write the obituaries of the others.
The first is Patch. Most of you didn't know Patch. He was a beautiful black and white pinto who had lived with One Heart for over a year. Patch came to the arena when he was first delivered to Stagecoach but was moved to the jungle for his remaining time.
Patch was lovingly donated by his family from New Virginia, Iowa. Jennifer and I went to see Patch. Crystal first called to donate Patch because he was getting tired on the more lengthy trail rides she was going on. Her young family was also getting ready to add another baby to the family and move. There was no additional time or room for a horse.
Patch walked and trotted (and bucked) on the longe line when Jen and I evaluated his gait. He stumbled a little. Overall, he was a good personality and age and shape. Worth giving a try. As we got to know him, he started stumbling more and eventually showed a distinct lameness in his front legs. We made no effort to have him work. Even with his casual life in pasture his lameness seemed to increase. It was very vague other than his front legs didn't cooperate too well. We had him seen by a massage therapist. Our farrier checked him out. Our vet said he was lame. It was a mystery. We put the word out that he could be adopted if someone wanted to try to diagnose and treat the lameness. People came to look but there were too many unknowns. I contacted Crystal to tell her of our efforts and that we had decided to have him euthanized. Mostly, the decision rested on the fact that Patch seemed to be in chronic pain. He started appearing concerned that he might be compromised if he got too close to a bossy horse. He hung around the edge of the herd to avoid conflict. He didn't have a close friend. Patch went to the vet school and our friends there escorted him to a lovely lighted stall until he was gently handled for euthanasia. Our sympathy goes to Crystal on the final outcome of her first horse and long-time trail buddy. One Heart welcomed Patch to our program and served him the best we could even though we did not require him to work.
In Loving Memory
Patch
1989 - 2009
Until next time,
Kris
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