It’s Derby Day!

The first Saturday in May has always signified the start of summer to me.  For as long as I can remember, I’ve watched the Race of Kings. Cheering on my favorite to take the blanket of roses.  Many people are shocked that a country girl like me, one who loves her western sports with a rabid passion, is Thoroughbred Horse Racing fan.  I’m not that much of a fan.  I’m more like those people who start following the home team just for the playoffs.  I only follow Thoroughbred racing during the Triple Crown season (May – June), and then again in October for the Breeder’s Cup.

Every year thousands of Thoroughbred foals are born every spring.  Each one carries the hope of their owner that they will be the next Kentucky Derby winner or even the next Triple Crown Winner.  We haven’t had a Triple Crown winner since 1978, when Affirmed won.   In the history of the Triple Crown, this is the longest we have gone with out a Triple Crown Winner.  During that time, there have been 18 horses who have one 2 of the 3 races.  The most recent was Big Brown in 2008.  Many suspect that if Barbaro had not suffered his catastrophic injury in 2006, he would have broken the drought.  But many also thought Big Brown was a shoe in to win the Triple Crown.  In the Triple Crown, you never know what will happen.

As for today’s race, there are four horses who have caught my attention.  But I believe that only one is capable of winning the Triple Crown.  Now for the “post parade” of my picks to win the fastest two minutes in sports.

Bodemeister (Current odds: 6:1)

This bay has impressive breeding and has been trained by the amazing Bob Baffert. In his last race, the Arkansas Derby, he took first place with a HUGE lead.  He won by 9.5 lengths (76 feet).  In his four starts he has place in the top two places in everyone.  The two races in which he won first place, he did so with commanding leads.

I believe that this horse has what it takes to win the Triple Crown.  He is my pick to win the Derby.  But he has some stiff competition.

I will say I’m a bit biased toward Bodemeister due to his trainer, Bob Baffert.  Baffert started training as a Quarter Horse Western Pleasure trainer before going back to his love of horse racing.  He is an amazing man with an understanding of horses that I envy.

Gemologist (Current odds: 8:1)

This bay colt has an impressive race record.  He has won every one of his 5 starts in his young career, but none of the wins had a commanding lead.  His largest win was 7 lengths (56 feet).  He mostly has had less than 1 length (8 feet) between him and second place.

While this animal is a beautiful mover, I’m not convinced he has what it takes to win the Derby much less the Triple Crown.

Todd Pletcher has been the trainer to beat over the past few years.  So this horse might surprise us all.

Union Rags  (Current odds: 5:1)

I will admit that at first I didn’t really look at this horse.  I figured that he was only a favorite because his trainer trained the amazing Barbaro.  I believed that he was the emotional favorite, not an actual contender.   But looking at his Past Performances changed my mind.  He has 6 races under his belt and has pretty good record on them.

Do I think he could win the Derby, no.  But looking at his past races, he will give everything he has and will end up in the top four.

I’ll Have Another (Current odds: 13:1)

Once again, not a horse I had originally looked at.  But this chestnut does have a pretty impressive record for the 2012 season.  He has had 5 life time starts, of those 3 were first place finishes (2 of which were in 2012). He has not raced against any of  my other three picks, but I believe that he will put in a good showing for this race.  I don’t know if he will break the top three, but I’m sure he will be in the top 5.

Just because I’m a girl and I love pretty horses, here is my pick for the prettiest horse in the race.  He does have an impressive race record and could easily be in the top five.

Hansen (Current odds: 13:1)

May the best horse win!

Guest Post: Win, Win, Win! Therapy Riding is a Triple Triumph By Joanne Kennedy

Joanne Kennedy is an author of Contemporary Western Romances. Her newest book Cowboy Fever will be released April 1st!  Part of the sales, made through Barnes and Noble, of Cowboy Fever will be going to an organization that is close to Joanne’s heart, Cheyenne Therapeutic Equestrian Center.  I asked Joanne to visit PonyTails to discuss why she chose this organization.  I will be cross posting this to my review blog and at the end of the post will be links to my reviews of Joanne’s first two novels Cowboy Trouble and One Fine Cowboy. My review of Cowboy Fever will be posted on April 2nd on my review blog.

Win, Win, Win! Therapy Riding is a Triple Triumph

By Joanne Kennedy

On April 2^nd, I’ll be celebrating the launch of One Fine Cowboy with our usual “moveable feast,” beginning at Barnes & Noble and moving to Uncle Charlie’s Pub after hours. But it’s not all about me this time! The whole shindig is going to benefit Cheyenne Therapeutic Riding Center (CTEC).  I volunteered for this group a year or two ago, helping kids with autism learn from horses, and discovered that the folks who run CTEC have created a win-win-win situation.

Winner number one is the kids. Every child with autism is different, but most live their lives with no sensory filters.  To them, the sound of a refrigerator running battles with the buzz of a fluorescent light bulb, and the feeling of  a blanket under their hand can be as coarse and caustic as sandpaper.

To make matters worse, many are unable to communicate their distress.  Language, communication – many don’t have the ability to make those connections. It’s a mystery to them, just as they themselves are a mystery to others.

Imagine living your life confused and overwhelmed and unable to ask for help—and then  imagine meeting a kindred soul who understands your fear, who instinctively reacts the way you do to loud noises, sudden moves, and unexpected events.

Riding therapy builds self-confidence, helps kids focus, and often provides a gateway to communication. Many of the kids communicate more readily with the horses than with other people, and a simple command for the horse to “walk on” or “whoa” is often one of the first words they learn. The horse’s immediate response shows them the power of words, and they carry what they learn in the riding ring out into their daily lives.

The second winner  is the horses themselves. Many of the horses at CTEC are rescue horses, elderly animals who had lived out their usefulness in the rodeo ring or riding stable. Carrying rookie riders from one colored square to another or standing patiently while

a child tosses a Nerf basketball into a hoop might not sound exciting to you, but I firmly believe that most animals, like people, are happiest when they have a job and a purpose. The horses are specially chosen for their patience and their bomb-proof temperaments, and they seem to know they’re carrying precious cargo.

The benefits to the kids and horses are obvious, but the volunteers are the third group of winners. Working with the horses and kids has enriched my life and given me a new understanding of a syndrome that now affects one out of every 150 children.

I originally went to CTEC to help out my friend Laura when her daughter had a lesson. I worked as a side-walker, simply walking alongside the horse and making sure Leighann didn’t fall. I was so inspired by Leighann’s ability to focus on horseback—and by the way her face lit up as she rode—that I ended up helping all day and coming back for more.

Through the program, I met a number of kids with autism and their parents, and it’s a toss-up which I admire most. Bringing up kids is always tough; bringing up a child with autism is a challenge most of us can’t even imagine. The parents  never give up, and they’re always looking for new ways to help their kids. Their patience is never-ending, and their devotion even on the hardest day is a testament to the power of a parent’s love. That’s why Cowboy Fever is dedicated to my friend Laura and her family. They are my heroes in so many ways.

Part of the challenge parents face is that no two children with autism are alike. One may not speak at all; another recites lines from TV shows and cartoons. One may be afraid of the horse; another frighteningly fearless. Because they’re all so different, there’s no single solution to helping them learn. It’s like finding your way in the dark, turning one way, then another, feeling around for the doorway that will get you where you want to go.

But I’ve yet to see a child that wasn’t helped by the horses. Some resist it at first or are afraid of the animals, but all of them eventually come to look forward to their lessons, and when one of these kids smiles, it lights up the world.

My goal isn’t just to raise money for CTEC; it’s to let people know that horseback therapy is a legitimate learning tool. It may be recreation for most of us, but for these kids it’s a way into the world, a means of focusing and learning. Hopefully someday it will be recognized for the miracle it is. In the meantime, parents whose resources are often stretched to the limit have to dig deep for the money to pay for riding therapy, and many can’t afford it.

If you have a chance to stop by Barnes & Nobel Cheyenne on Saturday, bring your shopping list! If you let the cashier know that you support CTEC, a portion of your purchase will benefit the organization and let more kids experience the benefits of riding. We’ll also be passing the cowboy hat at the after-party for anyone who wants to help out.

And if you buy online between April 2^nd and 6^th, please use the code 10442713 at checkout to ensure that your purchase helps more kids get all the benefits riding therapy has to offer.
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Thank you Joanne for the wonderful post and the pictures of Leighann! Please help Joanne in supporting the Cheyenne Therapeutic Equestrian Center by purchasing Cowboy Fever between April 2nd and April 6th. If you are in the area, please go meet this extraordinary woman at the release party at the Cheyenne Barnes and Noble.

About Cowboy Fever from Joanne’s website:

Miss Rodeo Wyoming Jodie Bryce is back from the big city to find that her childhood friend Teague Treadwell’s rugged cowboy charm never looked better. But Teague thinks Jodie’s success lifted her out of his reach, and now he’s got to shed his bad boy image to be worthy of the girl next door.

April, 2011
Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN 9781402251412

Review Links (just click the title): Cowboy Trouble and One Fine Cowboy

Please Help Me Find A Home

I found out about this adorable baby from Charming Goats‘s blog.  Please spread the word and find this baby a new forever home!!

An animal rescue centre is struggling to rehome this cat, because it looks like evil Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter films. Workers at The Blue Cross in Southampton say visitors have been scared off by the white cat’s resemblance to Ralph Fiennes’ character in the movies. The abandoned cat, named Charlie, had to have its ears and nose removed after suffering from skin cancer. Vets say Charlie’s pale skin left him at risk of developing the potentially fatal disease. They are now desperately trying to rehome him and say a family of Harry Potter fans could offer their best hope. Charlie was living as a stray before a woman adopted him, fed him and took him to the vets for surgery.

Allcreatures: Shout-out to shewashereaminuteago for this link, http://www.bluecross.org.uk/2574-83377/Charlie.html

February is Adopt-A-Rescued Rabbit Month!

 

Cindi and Zoe wait for their banana chips

It is Adopt-A-Rescued Rabbit Month!  And I am very hoppy!  I am the proud fur mommy of 2 adopted House Rabbits.  Zoe and Cindi are actually my 2nd and 3rd House Rabbits.  And they are a hoot.  They live indoors, are spayed, and are litter box trained.  Because we are renting a room from a friend, they don’t get much time out of their cage.  But that will change when we move.  They love to run around and chase each other and the cats. They are my little princesses.

If you are considering getting a rabbit, please consider making it a House Rabbit.  Rabbits that live indoors and are part of the family dynamic live longer, healthier, and happier lives than ones who live outside in a cage.  Rabbits are very social animals.  They need a buddy.  When you adopt (please don’t buy there are many bunnies who need homes), get a bonded pair.  I was very lucky. My girls were actually from the same litter, even though they look like two different breeds of bunnies.

Bunnies are not much more work than a cat, but they have very specific needs. With a good diet, lots of fresh water, exercise, and lots of love from their human companion, House Rabbits have been known to live 8 or more years.

 

Jessica getting love from her Daddy

But please, DO NOT get a rabbit for a child.  Rabbits need more than a child can give them. Most children become bored with their rabbits quickly.  Rabbits have similar personalities to a cat.  They are not a like a dog who is wants to please it’s human companion.

Instead of getting a child a furry bunny, give them a Chocolate Rabbit instead.

A great resource to use to help you decide if a rabbit is good for you and your family, please visit the House Rabbit Society website.  You will find many useful articles and links to local House Rabbit Chapters.

Adopt a Pet, don’t buy one!

Many of you know that I am a huge advocate for adoption of pets over buying from a breeder or pet store.  All six of my animals were either foundlings or adoptions.  One of the unfortunate side effects of the bad economy has been the number of pets who have been given up by their families.  Shelters all over the country are bursting at the seams with animals looking for their forever homes.

To promote adoptions, Pedigree Dog Food is doing an Adopt A Dog Adoption Drive.  They have set up a wonderful website with information on where to find adoption centers, what characteristics different breeds have, and how to introduce your new pet to your home.  They are also doing a “adopt and get free food for a month” program.

So, if you are looking for a new best friend and want it to be the Canine variety, please read the valuable information at Pedigree Adopt A Dog!

For those who are looking for something a little smaller, but just as fun, consider adopting a house rabbit!  Visit The House Rabbit Society for information on adding a cute bunny to your family!

What is your daemon?

A couple of nights ago, Andy and I watched The Golden Compass.  Andy saw it on the flight from Paris in 2008, but this was my first time seeing it.  I loved the idea of the alternate dimension parallel to our own where everyone had a daemon, a physical manifestation of their soul and that the daemon takes on an animal shape.  After watching the movie, I started wondering what my daemon would look like and is a daemon anything like a familiar.

According to the author of Northern Lights, the book upon which the movie is based, daemons have an upper limit to the size they can obtain.  He also states that a daemon will “settle” on the form of the animal which the person most resembles in character.  So with that information, I started thinking about possible animal manifestations of what my daemon would look like.

After thinking back to my childhood, I have come to realize that there are 3 animals that are reoccurring constants in my life.  The horse, the feline, and the rabbit.    Since daemons have an upper limit to size and in the movie no one has a daemon larger than a snow leopard, that rules out the horse as a possible daemon.   After reading some shamanistic writings about the feline and the rabbit, I have come to realize that I most closely resemble a feline.  I don’t know what type of feline my daemon would take, but I’m pretty sure that is what my daemon would be.  According to shamanistic writings a feline is adaptable, reminds all to be true to your soul, and to accept your destiny.  Very admirable traits.

As for a daemon being a familiar, that is a tougher question to answer.  Traditionally a familiar is an animal who helps it’s human, usually magically.  I think daemons can be a familiar but a familiar is not necessarily a daemon.  Like a daemon, a familiar can take just about any animal form and you never see any reference to it being larger than a wolf.  A familiar is a companion that a human has connected with closely.  In that context I think a daemon is a type of familiar.

Now it is your turn, what manifestation would your daemon take, and why?

Disaster Planning For Your Pet

Hurricane season officially starts in 11 days, and tornado season is already in full swing. It is time to start working on those disaster plans, especially one for your beloved pets. Many people do not bother with creating disaster plans. I did not until I started living here in Florida. After the summers of 2004 and 2005, when we had very active hurricane seasons, I discovered how important it is to be prepared to evacuate, not just my husband and myself, but our animals as well.

Your first step is to create a “pet survival kit”. Mine is in a large plastic tub that I can grab.

In your container, you want the following items:

• At least 3 days worth of food in an airtight and waterproof container
• At least 3 days worth of bottled water.  Tap water can be compromised by contaminants during a disaster.
• Extra prescription of your Pet’s medication.  Including: Heartworm preventative, and flea/tick preventative.
• A copy of vaccine and medical records and a current photograph of your pets (mine are sealed in a zip top bag)
• An animal first aid kit.  You can create your own in a small tackle type box or you can now buy them from PetsMart and PetCo.
• Extra collars, harnesses, and leashes.
• If you have a cat or other litter box trained animals, an extra litter box and litter.
• Extra food and water dishes.

Then place this tote with your pet’s crate and leashes near your front door.

Make sure your cats, dogs, and ferrets have collars with current identification tags on them.  Also consider getting all animals microchiped.  This is simple procedure that your local vet can do and usually for about $45.  After the vet implants the microchip, you send in a form with a one time registration fee and your pet will be put in a national database.

Then create an evacuation plan.  Contact your local Emergency Management Office, or call the Federal Emergency Management Agency at: (800) 621-FEMA to find out where animal friendly shelters are.  If you are going to completely leave the area, make sure you have the names and phone numbers of pet friendly hotels.  You do not want to be stuck without this information.  You may also want to talk to your neighbors about doing a buddy system to evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.  If you are going to do this, make sure to show your neighbor where your pet’s survival kit is located and that you decide on a meeting location in advance. 

This is only a very brief list of things everyone should do in case of a disaster.  The FEMA website is a wonderful resource for creating pet and human disaster plans.  Your veterinarian and local animal shelters are also good resources for your area specific disasters. 

Now is the time to prepare and be ready!

Gentle reminders….

Okay, today sucked! First we euthanized a horse and the later a tiny kitten, in my care, dies. It really makes a person question why they do the work they do. At work, we have a board with pictures and letters. Not all are success stories but the ones that are, are the reason why people like me continue on.

For example, last August we got a horse in that had been hit by a semi-truck. Amazingly, the horse only had bruises, a few broken ribs and a massive laceration. At the beginning of April, we received a picture of him at a barrel racing competition!

Loosing that kitten is really hard, but then I think of my Toby cat and realize that I had to try.

I just have to remember that I can not save them all, but they all will remember that someone cared enough to try.

You can help the Gulf Of Mexico animals!

As everyone knows, there is a massive oil spill in the Gulf Of Mexico. This oil spill is affecting animals greatly. I have compiled a list of organizations that are looking for Volunteers, or donations to help with the care of affected animals. Please help if you can.

If you live along the Gulf and see affected animals, please do not try to care for them your self. Call your local animal control agency.

The Deep Water Horizon (the company who owns the platform) response team is actively working to contain the spill and has laid down 217,000 feet of barrier. They’re asking coastal residents to report areas where oil can be seen on the shore or to leave contact information if they wish to volunteer by calling 1-866-448-5816. Oiled animals should be reported at 1-866-557-1401, but not captured

The Seabird Sanctuary – Indian Shores, FL

The National Audubon Society is carefully coordinating their response with government officials to ensure that the response goes as smoothly as possible. Prospective volunteers who sign up at AudubonAction.org will be connected with state and federal agencies, Audubon leaders and other volunteer organizations who are in need of assistance.

Save Our Seabirds is a Florida bird rescue group that is looking for volunteers and support as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. Call 941-388-3010.

The Mobile Baykeeper is asking for contact details of volunteers is collecting contact information for volunteers to respond anywhere along the Gulf Coast, if needed. Call 251-433-4229.

Just for fun!

I love icanhascheeseburger.com!!!