Monday, June 9th… The lady at Nextel Sprint says a cell tower is down. This is the reason I have no phone. I ask the lady did the cell tower really fall, or is it like when they say a computer is down. You know the computer is not really down on the ground. Just down. The lady at Nextel Sprint says the cell tower will be fixed within 24 hours. I tell her my cell phone is my business phone. It rings constantly. Her exact reply: Well golly.
Cathy and I have the best job in the whole wide world. We get to meet the most amazing kids. I want to tell you about Sandy. She is 16, and lives in Los Angeles. When Sandy was 15 she graduated from high school. This year, at 16, Sandy received her associates degree from college. And now Sandy is getting ready for Pre Med. She will be a doctor at the ripe old age of 23.
Sandy loves horses with all her heart. Yesterday she adopted the young filly Del Mar Doris. There is a picture of Sandy and Doris below.
The remaining part of the journal for Monday is written by my friend Ryan Andrews. Ryan recently gave me a ride to the feed lots. We got there as doomed horses were being loaded onto a large stock trailer for Canadian slaughter. Ryan wanted to write a paragraph expressing his feelings. His paragraph became two paragraphs, then three, and now it is a short novel. I am going to share with you word for word. Here is Ryan Andrews:
I got hooked up with Joe and Cathy two years ago. I love the way Joe writes, and I wanted to experience his ranch. I have spent my entire life with forty thousand dollar warmbloods from Europe. Lots of competition in lots of barns. When I went to visit Joe and Cathy there were over 100 race horses. The horses were all so quiet. I remember a little chestnut filly and her knee was shattered. She was unable to walk. I ridiculed Joe. I told him at the barn I board at this filly would have been euthanized a long time ago. Joe shrugged and said she will be fine in six months. Jumping ahead to six months, and I was there when Joe gave the little chestnut filly to a high school girl. The filly turns out to be a beautiful mover. The high school girl and her parents were tickled pink. I remembered how I ridiculed Joe and felt terrible. The filly was so happy.
Joe said I could earn extra money by hauling horses for him. I said okay, and started doing two and three jobs a week. I would have done those hauling jobs for free but Joe said be serious, your time and gas are valuable. The money I earned hauling horses I put away. I am saving for a down payment on my own land. I have been hauling for Tbfriends for 18 months now.
On my first trip to a feed lot Joe told me to always treat others with respect. No gossiping. Look straight ahead. Joe said it is the horse which only matters. I would load rescued horses and bring them to Joe. Sometimes I would take them to other homes who paid for the horses. Hauling for Tbfriends I have met the nicest families. They love their rescued horse more than I have ever seen anyone love their forty thousand dollar warmblood.
Joe called and asked if I could give him a ride to the feed lot. He had cash. He said we could get two or three horses. His old truck would never make it. He said he would buy me lunch. Joe said the horses were going to Canada tonight to slaughter. Which is why we had to go today.
When we got there the horses were already being loaded on a big yellow stock trailer. A young kid Brent is a horse killer. He told Joe they were leaving now because he had to be back in Vallejo for a wedding on Saturday. Joe saw a bay thoroughbred gelding who was not on the trailer yet. Joe saw a racing tattoo on the gelding, and said we would take him. The horses on the trailer were looking at us through tiny slots. I got on the trailer. Lots of tired saggy butts. The first horse was a palomino mare, and I could tell the way she was looking at me she wanted to be saved. And there was a quarter appy mix, with clean white spots on her butt. Like someone just gave her a bath. I asked Brent to pull them both off the trailer. The palomino mare was old, maybe 20. The quarter appy mix was maybe 5. Maggie was there, and she and Brent are getting married. Maggie has been flirting with me since day one. If Joe were writing about Maggie he would say she should be on that Tyra show. She looks like a model. Joe says do not let my head explode. Maggie flirts with everybody. Joe says flirting probably makes her feel better about herself. She thinks she gives off a humane impression. Instead of the evil person she is for killing horses.
Maggie told Brent to charge us $1,500.00 for the three horses. Joe told Brent he only had $940.00, but could pay the rest tomorrow. Maggie said screw that. No credit. If Maggie had not been there Brent would have gone for the deal. We had to reload the palomino mare. I kept the quarter appy mix.
I cannot express enough how my heart was broke.
I named my new filly Apple. Back at my barn I tried to call my girlfriend Heather. I just needed to talk to someone, and Heather is my best friend. But when she is at work she cannot have personal calls. Her boss gets pissed.
On all my trips to feed lots this was the first time I have actually seen the horses being loaded. Usually they are just hanging out in a large pen. Makes the viewing much easier to handle.
So I called Joe and I knew he was busy on his ranch. But I felt so terrible, and I wanted to talk. Joe was not having an easy time either. He tells me it will get better. In a few days there will be other horses who need help.
I made my Apple a wet bran so she could go to the bathroom. I sat on the ground next to her while she ate from the tub. She sniffed my hair and my neck. Apple started kissing my ears. I knew she was telling me thank you.
I cried like a freaking 7 year old. I called Joe and told him I can never go back to those feed lots.
What kind of civilized nation allows their horses to be slaughtered?
I go to a California chat room on Yahoo, and they talk about how horses need to be slaughtered because people keep breeding and no one can take care of them all.
If you had to reload a sad palomino mare who thought she was saved then she was back in the trailer, you would not say in chat rooms horses need to be slaughtered.
I think you would be just like me. Wishing the palomino mare was by your side, eating a nice mash just like my Apple.
I thank you for giving me my moment on Tbfriends. Ryan Andrews.
This is Joe again. I know for sure how kids are the future for horses. And how adults are the future for kids.
I truly believe kids will change this crazy horse market. I show you new kids every day. I know how they love horses. It is kids who will make things right.
Enjoy your Monday, and be sure to hug your horses.
Joe
This is one of the rescue horses from Orphan Acres Horse Sanctuary, Rescue, and Rehabilitation. I volunteer in the office, write and design the newsletter, and keep Brent Glover, the man behind it all, from putting a boot through the monitor.