5-31-09

Walmart donated a bunch of feed last Friday. Thank you so much for donating it!

After the grain Walmart donated was unloaded, we had 2 giant tubs full of nice yummy cracked corn for the horses and half a tub of sweet feed. We cannot possibly thank Walmart enough for the feed that they donate on a continual basis. It really helps out!

Some volunteers donated some various things the rescue needs this morning. A couple salt blocks and a big bag of feed. Thank you so much for bringing it out!

Tawnee's eyes lit up when she saw the neigh-mobile coming down the hill. Neigh stands for "Need Equines In Good Hands." The girls had been scouring the horse community for donations, and had brought a truck full of goodies out once again.

The girls also greatly enjoyed playing with Honey and her baby, Prince. Last time they were here they were able to feel Prince, still inside Honey, moving. It had brought huge smiles to their faces. This time, they got to play with the little guy, and that was even more fun.

Mid morning a big pickup came rolling down the hill with a tractor on the back.

Volunteer Larry's brother and his son came out today to help get the roof on the new mare motel. There was an extended period of time where a lot of discussion got accomplished on the best possible way to get the roof on top of the panels.

A horse was surrendered into the rescue today. She is a 29 year old mare. She is trained to ride, and is currently seeking a retirement home. She is a real sweety! Please let us know if you are willing to open your heart and home to this sweet old girl.

After she was unloaded she enjoyed sweet feed and was soon settled in.

It was decided that it would be easier to put the roof panels up by hand, so that's how it happened. With some heaving, grunting and hard work, it was coming together.

Finally one side was all done.

Buddy was adopted today! His adoptive mommy really loves him. He impressed us from the day we met him at the auction with his kind, sweet spirit. We wish him and his new mommy the best in their new adventure in life together.

Before loading Buddy, 75 lbs of carrots were unloaded so the horses here at the rescue could have a treat. Thank you guys so much for bringing them out! The horses really enjoy carrots.

The neigh girls visit was coming to a close, and so they started unloading their precious donations.

Soon they had it all unloaded. They had decorated their shirts with bright colors and cute sayings. We tried to get it with the camera, but their sayings are too hard to make out. Thank you neigh girls for doing such a great job and for getting the donated tack. Hopefully we will see you at the skating party!

Toby's Golden Moonlight barn was almost completed by this time.

Meanwhile, in the other mare motel, some great volunteers where out making it sparkle. Belle was standing tied in breezeway, looking as if all the work had been done just for her.

We would like to thank the volunteers who moved wheel barrow after wheel barrow of manure around and put it in the big pile. We absolutely appreciate your hard work! It is so wonderful when volunteers come out and really pitch in.

About 40,000 fly predators were dispersed today. Hopefully all the baby flies will not survive to make it to flying adulthood. We already have a bunch of fly predators, but it was time to replenish the stock.

Some more visitors came out this afternoon look at the horses. They are looking for the perfect match to add to their family.

Belle was the first resident in the Toby's Golden Moonlight mare motel. Becky enjoyed playing with Belle's beautiful mane. It was great having Becky out again today, she claims she will be here next weekend... Hope to see you then!

Tawnee and Jaime got "stuck" in the office this evening working late into the night. Finally about 9:00 Jaime started getting homesick so she headed off, and after that Tawnee decided she too should head out of the office. A lot of office work got done!

Thank you Anna P, Wendy S, Cindy T and the United Way for donating! We really appreciate your financial support.

5-29-09

Phoenix Update

We canceled our usual rescue story when we got a call from the vet this morning. Phoenix is doing good, but after his latest blood test the vet was concerned. She said that he needed some help and she wanted to give him a plasma transfusion. We agreed and soon Jason and Tawnee were at the vet. Phoenix greeted them with his head out of his stall as if to say "Hi!"

Kayla, the vet tech, led him into the hospital for the transfusion.

Kayla began to prepare the site for the IV, she got the shavers out, but he doesn't' have enough hair to shave. Poor guy!

He is still very skinny, but has gained some weight. Most of his hair is gone, but he has a peach fuzz that is growing in.

Phoenix's eyes are more alert. He is receiving the best feed and supplements available for him. It is starting to show, but he still has terrible diarrhea.

The IV was put into place for the plasma transfusion. He was a good boy and just stood there through it all.

Soon the plasma was being dripped into his system.

It is always comforting knowing that he is getting the best care possible.

Next was his biosponge treatment. A tube is placed through his nose down to his stomach.

The biosponge should help control his diarrhea.

Finally, all the stuff was done and he received his reward. Tawnee said his reward should have been served on a silver platter, he deserves it! Phoenix has come a long ways since the day he was rescued. If you missed his rescue story, click here. Please keep this boy in your prayers, he needs all the prayers he can get! The good news is, his appetite is growing daily and he really enjoys his food.

Another horse that was almost as skinny as Phoenix, but not quite as bad, was Charlie Boy. Charlie made a complete recovery, to read his amazing story, click here.

Charlie Boy's Rescue Story

We would like to thank you all for your support, which enables us to rescue horses such as Phoenix. Rescue, medical and care can be very expensive, but you can be a part in helping. Please consider donating, helping horses like Phoenix, click here.

5-28-09

We have been asked to provide information on planned giving on our website, so today Jason and Tawnee tackled the project. An estate donation is what launched us from rescuing 50 horses a year to hundreds. Please click here to read the information and consider making NorCal Equine Rescue part of your financial plan in the future.

Benji and Roy were adopted and headed off to their new home today! We were sad to see them go, but we are excited for their new future. They are both really sweet horses, we are sure that many wonderful adventures lay ahead of them.

The adoption papers were signed, and then the loading began. Benji was a little hesitant at first, but then he hopped in. Roy was the best yet, he got right in without a fuss.

Benji stuck his nose out to say "Goodbye" to the rescue, and they were off.

It was pretty hot today, when Tawnee was making the water trough rounds, she made sure the horses got cooled off too. They really enjoyed the cool water.

Some liked playing in the hose, lapping up the water as it splashed on their nose and mouth.

One of the horses that came down from Plumas County stood there and soaked up the water. She enjoyed every minute of it!

Mid afternoon some clouds came rolling over and gave the rescue some relief from the hot sun. All the horses certainly enjoyed the break from the high heat.

We had been expecting UPS all day. Naturally they were later than usual, just to keep us waiting. Finally, the big brown van came roaring around the corner.

The eagerly expected box arrived from CustomInk.com.

What was in the box? It was green and said something...

T-shirts! Lots and lots, over 30 shirts. The official uniform shirts for staff and volunteers. We can't tell you how many times an event has come up, like the Animal Planet filming, the Nebraska rescue, interviews, etc and we always wish we had shirts to wear that proudly display who we are. Now we have them!

These sure beat having to draw "NorCal Equine Rescue" on green shirts with a sharpie, or printing out the logo on photo transfer paper and ironing it on. And, in the end, these are cheaper too. Jason and Tawnee modeled the shirts. The shirts look great! We would like to thank CustomInk for making great shirts, and for making a donation after we placed the order.

There are almost 20 people signed up to go to the skating party. We are looking forward to having a lot more people there than that, so invite all your friends! Remember, June 24th (Wednesday) from 1:00 - 8:00 pm. You can even come after work. If you are planning on coming, it would be great to know, please click here and sign up.

A beautiful Australian saddle was donated for the silent auction today. Thank you Deb for your thoughtfulness.

We would like to thank Judy H and Mad Hen Creations for their generous donations today. Please remember to check back this weekend for the Friday Rescue Story, next regular blog Sunday night! Have a great weekend.

5-27-09

Thanks to some generous donations, the auction fund is currently at $540. We really appreciate your gifts of life! The auction is coming right up in a few weeks, let us hope that there are not as many horses in need as there were this month. We would like to thank Lori H, Sara H, Cynthia B and Carolyn H for their generous donations today. The rescue cannot run without your support!
Bay Area Equestrian has posted the video that Jason co-starred in. Click here to watch the video. It was nicely done, and hopefully it will educate people on what happens if they dump their horse at an "easy out" option like a livestock auction or place a "free, 1st come 1st serve" type of add.

Naomi came out today to pick up some extra tack to be sold at a yard sale. Hopefully the yard sale sells the tack for a lot of money that will then be used to rescue and care for the horses. Thank you so much for your help Naomi!

Belle, the pony that came in yesterday, amazes us with her beautiful long mane. She is really a stunning little horse to look at.

The entire office day was spent taking pictures of the items for the skating party silent auction, cataloging them, and building the webpage dedicated to the skating party. It just seemed to keep going and going... But, it is finished for now. Read on to learn all about the skating party and what items will be at the silent auction. There is also a link on our home page. Also on our website you can sign up to let us know if you are coming or not. It will help us know how many people to expect, so please click here to be taken to the Skating for Horses page where you can sign up. The following is the writeup that is on the website for your convenience.

Skating For Horses!

You are invited to join NorCal Equine Rescue at Cal-Skate in Chico, Ca. Come celebrate the horses that have been saved while enjoying a day of exciting fun for the whole family.

Admission is only $5 for adults, free for kids under 12. You can "sneak" in for free, but be prepared to be thrown in the fundraiser jail and you can't get out until the jailer is satisfied you have raised enough bail donations by calling your friends for donation pledges! A plaque on the jail will keep track of the best jailbird.

There are also many games and entertainment planned for this day. It will be a fun filled day that the whole family will enjoy and remember! Keep an eye on this page as the activities are ironed out for updates. There will certainly be roller skating, miniature golf, and a silent auction. We are also planning a skating gymkhana, with skating Barrel Racing, skating Pole Bending, and more! If you are planning on being in the skating gymkhana, you will be able to sign up the day of the skating party. We would like to encourage you to bring a new or gently used item to be sold in the silent auction.

What: NER Skating Party - Skating for Horses

When: June 24th, 1:00-8:00 PM

Where: 2465 Carmichael Dr, Chico California

Many retailers, craftsmen, and other generous individuals have donated lovely items to be sold
at the silent auction during the Skating party. Below is a partial list of the items you will find at the silent auction.

Silent Auction Items:

14" Hand-Crafted Crates Saddle Nice light weight barrel saddle. It has beautiful silver Conchos. It's virtually new - only looks like it was ridden once. Donated by: Bare Hoof Trimming
Services

2-Day Rafting Trip - Valued at $335.00 Imagine a guided rafting trip through miles of forested canyon in the beautiful Siskiyou Mountains of northern California. With its combination of whitewater, wildlife, and fabulous mountain scenery, the Klamath is a perfect summer vacation. At evening you'll camp on a large, secluded beach. We'll prepare a delicious meal, tell stories by the campfire, and settle in for a night under the stars. Donated by: Turtle River Rafting Company

Show Dressed Up Gift Certificate $125 gift certificate good towards the purchase of one of
their beautiful show shirts. Show Dressed Up's items run from $19.99 to $125.00, so this gift certificate could get you a really amazing western show shirt. Click here to visit their website, and plan on coming to the skating party, bidding, dreaming, and getting your new show shirt. Donated by: Show Dressed Up

Equine Massage $80 gift certificate good towards an equine massage for your horse friend. Star Equine Massage is committed to the whole horse, body and mind while generating a
valuable life long horse and rider connection that produces measurable differences in the quality of life, health and performance ability.Donated by: Star Equine Massage

Gourd Art This is a beautiful gourd that has been stained and decorated. Has a Native American look to it. Donated by: Renate S.

Horse Book End This beautiful heavy book end (we believe) has a wonderful picture of a horse on it. Donated by: Adam L.

Handmade Necklace Jasper alternated with lamp work beads, carved bone dangle. Donated by: Kabbo Unique Jewalry

Handmade Necklace Rose quarts, shell dangle, sterling silver closure. Donated by: Kabbo Unique Jewalry

Handmade Necklace Glass Beads, silver dangle, sterling silver closure. Donated by: Kabbo Unique Jewalry

Handmade Necklace Aventurine green, beads alternated with crystals, sterling silver closure. Donated by: Kabbo Unique Jewalry

Handmade Necklace Bluish beads, heart dangle. Donated by: Kabbo Unique Jewalry

Bracelet This a beautiful bracelet with rose quarts and a whole lot more. Donated by: Ciao Bella

Pink Baseball Hat Show off your love of horses with this bright pink baseball hat! Donated by: Adam L.

Red Vest Duluth Trading Co. size small vest. Donated by: Adam L.

Black Horse Shirt Brand new Wrangler size medium vest. Donated by: Adam L.

Purple Vest Made by: Black Crater Clothing Co. Donated by: Adam L.

Socks Socklady solmate socks. Mismatched with care in Vermont! 80% Cotton, 19% Nylon, 1% Lycra. Made in USA, size small. Donated by: Adam L.

Purple and white slinky show shirt Almost brand new, very nice. Should catch anyone's eye! Donated by: Tawnee

Lion Chair Portable folding lion chair. Kid size. Fun animal design, opens and folds in seconds. Durable weather resistant fabric. Strong powder coated steel frame. Lock and spacers for safety. Comes with a matching carry case. Donated by: Kim P.

Elephant Chair Portable folding elephant chair. Kid size. Fun animal design, opens and folds in seconds. Durable weather resistant fabric. Strong powder coated steel frame. Lock and spacers for safety. Comes with a matching carry case. Donated by: Kim P.

Cinnamon Mug Mat Place a hot mug or dish on this trivet to release the fragrance! Donated by: Adam L.

Orange Mug Mat Place a hot mug or dish on this trivet to release the fragrance! Donated by: Adam L.

Multitool Hawk 15 function stainless steel multitool with carrying case. Donated by: Adam L.

Red Purse Kathy Van Zeeland purse. Brand new. Style: "Tomato, quilt to my heart, medium stitch." Price tag says $89.00 Donated by: Donna R.

Ivory Purse Kathy Van Zeeland purse. Brand new. Style: "Bone, quilt to my heart, fold over." Price tag says $99.00 Donated by: Donna R.

Decorative Handbag "The Sak, Pink Label" with leather trim. Brand new. Donated by: Donna R.

Black Purse "Dooney and Bourke, All Weather Leather." Very nice handbag. Donated by: Donna R.

Ariat Cowboy Boots Size 9 1/2, brand new. Never worn. Sand and Green color. Price tag says $149.99 Donated by: Kim P.

Riding Boots Ariat lace up riding boots. Brand new in box, size 13. Donate by: California Vaquero

There is still time, if you would like to donate items for the Skating Party and are unable to bring them the day of the event, we would love for you to mail them in. Gift certificates are a great way to show your support. Our mailing address is: NorCal Equine Rescue, P O Box 6108, Oroville Ca 95966.