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Dear Friends and Patrons:
FINANCIAL NEWS
Good News! Donatins for 2001 totaled $7,463. This is almost $3,000 more than Year
2000! This was especially appreciated since my own income fell by about one-third in
2001.
Part of that additional amount I credit to the Portugese Bend Riding
Club in Palos Verdes, CA, who were kind enough to allow me to set up a booth at their July
schooling show, and generously donated to the tune of $700., with an additional $300 to trickle in
over the next few months. Of the 21 Golden Carrot horses, 11 are ex-residents of Portugese
Bend. With their generous support, they show an appreciation for the purpose of The Golden
Carrot that keeps me going in hard times.
More than half of all donations come from about six individuals.
Ann Brauchi and Susan Squires have donated over $1,000; DaCosta, Bochner, Gawne, Talucci are all
donors of $300+. Every penny helps, and some of the smaller donations really touched my
heart, from individuals who have never met me, and don't know these particular horses, who clearly
can afford the donation. Thank you all.
Please give all that you can, when you can. The feed bills for
these guys, alone, totals over $20,000, Your donation allows these horses to eat. Each child
who rides; each person who volunteers their time to help and gains satisfaction from their efforts,
owes you a debt - these horses wouldn't be here for them to enJoy without your help. but even
more - these horses owe you. They've given a lot in their lives and the gentle retirement
they now enjoy is only possible with your support. Remember - you're not helping me, you're
helping THEM.
NEW ADDITIONS
Two new residents of The Golden Carrot have very different stories to tell.
Navigator is an alumnus of PBRC - previously owned my Mary
Hirsch. Mary had given Navigator to the lesson program at PBRC in exchange for free board.
When Navigator became injured, with a damaged suspensory, a period of time passed during which
PBRC's staff worked with vets in an effort to heal the injury. Eventually, apparently, a
decision was made that he would no longer be able to be a lesson horse, and he was again Mary's
responsibility.
Now part of this story begins with Andy, a long-time resident of TGC,
who was also once owned by Mary Hirsch. Years ago she retired him to TGC, and promptly turned
her back on him and TGC, never donating a penny to assist in his upkeep; and never so much as
asking how he was. Faced with another breakdown, Mary had the amazing gall to contact me
again, asking if I would also take Navigator. My first response was flabbergasted rage.
I must have berated her for 10 minutes, discussing her total lack for support for TGC, and her
utter callousness in abandoning Andy. Her feeble response was "I never knew you needed
anything". After another 10 minutes or so during which I discussed the costs of maintaining
these horses, the I work I do for them, unpaid, and my current financial difficulties, she still
insisted that she wanted to send Navigator to me. Since she still didn't ask how Andy was, I
should have been warned. She promised that she would send me $1,000 per year, in two
installments of $500. each, for the first two years, and thereafter $75. per month, if I would take
him.
As many of you know, Bobby Sox had died in July. Despite many
people requesting to send their horses to me, I had resisted taking on another horse. I
couldn't bear to see another horse in Bobby's stall, and my income was waning. But the
promised donation would keep Navigator from being a financial burden, and it seemed to me that
taking horses such as Navigator was what The Golden Carrot was about, and a key part of Bobby's
legacy. So I agreed.
Long story short, despite many calls and e-mails, all I ever got for
Navigator was $250. from Mary's dad. Neither he nor Mary have responded in any way to my
requests that she live up to he promises. In October, Andy colicked twice, for a total vet
bill of $400. - I spoke to Mary during that time, asking where the money she had promised was, and
telling her about Andy's problems. She never even asked if he made it or how he was.
Now, Navigator is a pretty sweet horse. He came to me very very
thin, obviously in distress from the suspensory. But, he has gained weight and spirit, his leg
seems well healed without puffiness or soreness, and finally Inch is beginning to like him.
Although he's twitchy, I think when I begin to work him that he will be a very fine addition to
TGC's equine staff. An interesting note is that a young lady at PBRC, who used to ride Navigator in
her lessons, kindly donated her Christmas present of $50. to TGC because he has a good home.
Just breaks my heart He should have been HER horse, not Mary's.
Joyful - the RIGHT attitude. Although this news is actually from
2002, I include it here to remind us of how The Golden Carrot is to be used and treated. In
December of 2001 I was contacted by Devon of Seahorse Riding Club in Palos Verdes Estates, calling
for Kim Nelson, and her 7 year old mare "Mama", aka Joyful. After a long period of rest and
testing, Kim had reluctantly decided that Mama needed to be retired - she would not stay sound and
could no longer jump.
This owner is exact opposite of Mary Hirsch. Kim not only
promised, and made a generous donation with Joyful, she's sent her friends out here to check on
Joy's well-being; she calls often to see 'how's my baby doing', and she plans to visit herself,
once she's sure that she won't cry herself into a state where she's unable to drive home.
Like Donna Gawne with Orion, Leslie Tripp with Josh, Ann Brauchi with Jet, and Sarah DaCosta with
Prophet, this is a woman who loved her horse, and did what was best for the horse, against her own
emotional needs to hold on. And with her financial support, she makes this ongoing care
possible.
These ladies keep the horses the loved going. But let's not
forget Domino, Sara, Joey, Inch, Cuervo, Mitey Nice, Sunny, Andy, Trilby, PC, Malika, and Simply
Red. Who helps to support them? YOU and ME. Am I not doing miracles to feed each
horse for an ANNUAL cost of about $1700? Can't you help me provide for them?
EXTRA DONATIONS
Again this story is a year 2002 story, but it's important enough to warrant it's own
heading. Sarah DaCosta, who already donates $50.00 with the feed store every month, has
doubled her annual donation by paying for a used two speed hotwalker, which Alex and Mary brought
up from Jamul for TGC horses. It's not pretty, but when you figure out how to get slow speed
on it, it will be invaluable for exercising Trilby, Jet, Domino, Josh and other arthritic horses
who need some slow steady walking everyday to stay comfortable. I've tried to pony these
horses, but the horses I can ride have far too long a stride for these older crippled guys to keep
up with. A hot walker, on slow for 20-30 minutes several times a week will make a huge
difference in their old joints.
When I looked at the hotwalker, the owners had it on a million feet of
extension cord - and it's Alex's idea that this explains the slower speed it exhibited at that
time. Given it's own proper electrical connection, the "slow" speed had me scrambling and
breaking into a sweat in a very short order - Josh could probably do it, but Domino would be hard
pressed, and Jet and Trilby couldn't consider it. I can still use it to cool down the fitter
horses after exercise, and that's good. But I need to figure out how to slow it down.
Any suggestions or ideas? Please call if you can help in this regard. It runs quite
smooth - maybe a hotwalker machine could find a 'granny low" gear. I'm hoping. In any
event, it's a great gift and very useful even as is. Sarah - THANKS!
In addition, Far West Farms (Sandy Arledge) in Del Mar donated several
old and damaged pipe corral panels. I was supposed to use them to separate out a section for
Bobby Sox and Inch so he didn't have to compete with the herd. In fact, I couldn't get them
up before his final days, but hope to use them to enclose additional areas for the horses.
VOLUNTEERS
Around August or September, I made the acquaintance of some neighbors - Alex and Mary - who
also have horses just down the road. Although they have very busy lives, and Alex's interests lie
with dune buggies more than animals, they have been a great help to me on a number of levels.
Alex and his tractor have helped to haul dirt to the stalls; dragged the arena smooth; dug holes
for fencing repairs, and in January, even moved enough dirt to make the new stall required for
Joyful. And even more important, Alex and Mary have helped me to move large amounts of hay
with their large (F250) truck and long trailer, so that in one day, with Mike and I in his truck
and trailer too, I can get enough hay for 30-50 days. when Mike and I did it alone, we had to
go for hay every weekend, since his smaller truck and trailer could only haul 28 bales at a
time. The savings in time has been incalculable. They are not always available, with
their full time jobs, family commitments and other hobbies. But their help has made a huge
difference for me - and been wonderful for The Golden Carrot.
Ed and Marlo began coming a few months ago, since Marlo wants to learn
to ride and Ed just likes hanging out (although I'm hoping to put him up on a horse soon). Ed
also has brought his daughter Katie with him, although oddly, she's not too interested in riding -
just in cleaning stalls!
EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES
Year 2001 was the toughest year yet for veterinary bills at TGC.
As I mentioned earlier, Andy, for the first time, colicked, not once, but twice in 10
days. I am lucky to have Dr. Kent Patton available to me and he pulled Andy through, but it
was pretty scary for a while. Andy's a trouper - he tolerated all the humiliations of colic
therapy pretty well, but his best friend, Orion, went ballistic. In each instance, it was
Orion who screamed for me at 5AM - telling me that something was wrong. When I came to see
what he was yelling about, he was hanging his head into Andy's stall where Andy was down and
sweaty. This early information allowed us to start helping Andy each time at least couple of
hours early, and in a horse his age, that may have made all the difference. While I walked
Andy as we waited for the vet, Ori took our back - keeping everyone away from Andy. While
Andy was being checked by the vet, Ori ran up and down the fence line, panicked at the separation -
and when we put Andy back in his stall, Ori stayed right next to him all day. We should all
have such a good friend looking for us.
jet scared me to death this past December-January. He seemed to
develop a swollen knee overnight. Mike had just run me down with his truck, causing my own
knee to swell like a soccer ball, so I assumed I knew everything. When nothing seemed to
improve for Jet with Ice and bute, I finally called Dr. Patton out - 5 days too late. Dr.
Patton believes there was a puncture. However it occurred, that swelling was infection - and
required before all was said and done a 5 week course of antibiotic therapy, two shots morning and
night and bute for pain. Mary was helpful with some of the shots, Mike did a couple and I did
the rest. Jet was kind and patient, but became so thin from pain and fatigue that my heart
ached for him. He always has had trouble laying down, because his back end can't engage to
lift him back up, and with this knee, was essentially a one legged horse, unable to even lock his
knees and sleep on his feet. He's coming back to his earlier health. I've put him
on Pro-Bi to replenish his gastrointestinal system, and he gets all he will eat and, to his acute
disgust, a blanket every night. He's feeling better now, because he lays down almost every
warm day. A couple of times we have had to help him get up, but I'm encouraged that he's
getting some rest. Jet is in his late 20's, and has been in pain with his low back problem,
that causes him to drip urine all the time and walk in a pacing type gait, and this was a very
serious additional injury. Keep a good thought for this sweetheart, that his recovery
continues and we have him back where he was, at least by summer. Let me note here that Ann
Brauchi, Jet's former "mom", ended up sending me more than enough to cover ALL of his $400 vet
bill, IN ADDITION TO her usual monthly donation.
Malika, for the first time incurred a vet bill this last week when
someone kicked her right hock. I was frightened - the farrier and I both believed it might
have been broken because of her refusal to weight bear at all and the wound was ugly. But
after all is done and said, she's just another drama-queen like Sahwnee. Every owie is a
killer. In fact, she's 100% only 5 days later.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
I am really sorry that I have not been keeping in touch with you about developments here at
TGC. I intend, this year to send a shorter newsletter every two months, each newsletter
featuring a story on one GC resident, and current news. I'll start in April, with a memorial
to Bobby Sox, the founder and inspiration for The Golden Carrot. I promised this last year
when he died, but I have been unable to bring myself to write it. It's time.
I'm hoping to get ahead with hay purchases this summer. Hay is
usually up to $3 cheaper per bale in the summer, and much easier to find. Since the end of
November I've been scrambling, and paying $9 per bale. (I use about 100 bales a month). If I
can stockpile hay in the summer, that struggle can be alleviated. In addition, if I can do
it, there is a guy in El Centro who will deliver a whole truck/trailer load (about 5 months supply)
directly to my property. Now that's going to be more expensive, but if I can get a
truck/trailer load in summer when hay prices are lower, it'll be worth it. And the savings in time
and effort on my part will be fabulous. A truck/trailer load will cost me about $4000. - so
keep The Golden Carrot in mind when your tax refund comes in.
I'm still trying to learn how to update my web site, which is woefully
out of date. I'd like to change and add some pictures; I'd like to make a "memorial page";
I'd like to add the newest newsletters. This stuff is pretty complicated and doesn't seem to
come in sensible order. But I'm working on it. Anyone who knows how to do any of it,
who can spend an hour or so on the phone walking me through it, would be a savior. Without
backup, I'm afraid to mess with what is there. Ms. Cooling did a great job on the web site,
I'd hate to ruin it.
With regard to web sites, I've encountered a lot of good "horse"
sites. Please feel free to give a call or e-mail if you're looking for anything - I bet I
know where you can find it. In particular, I recommend for simply impressive writing if
nothing else, www.habitatfor horses.com - a rescue in Texas. The guy has more horses; but he
also has volunteers by the armload; truckloads of hay donated; a vet who donates services; and is
beginning some interesting therapies with disturbed children. I guess I take a chance that
you'll donate to him rather than The Golden Carrot, but it's a good website and it sure sounds like
he is doing a great job.
I'll close now but extend again to all my invitation to come visit, and
my plea that you don't forget The Golden Carrot horses, and our on-going need for support.
Casey O'Connor
TGC
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