Ok - so I am trying to think of something profound here as I sit at the keyboard looking out the window at the snowy landscape on Ground Hog’s Day. Hmmmmmm…..
Here at the rescue it is always great to get January behind us. Typically it is our coldest month in Wisconsin and when February comes around we can begin to think of spring or at least the promise of spring!
The horses do not seem to mind winter. They are not wild about wind and freezing rain but even the cold temps do not bother them like the rest of us. If it is below zero, the stalled horses usually stay inside to munch their hay and pester each other. Today, it looks like winter and feels like winter but every horse has turnout and they seem very content. Hay, water and shelter and a little bit more. Love!
OK - so February is that month where we think of Valentine’s Day and all that it means. Bill and I are very blessed to have love and respect for each other. We are a team here and we (usually) pull in the same (right) direction. We are pulling for a herd of horses that depend on us and our volunteers for everything that they need. We will not let them down. This is where the rest of you come in (you didn’t think I would forget you all, right?) 
We are still trying to collect funds for our hay drive. We are very close. We only need to raise $1,490.00 to get this behind us. That is not the end of our need however. This is a new year and with it we need to pull coggins on all the horses (done), have dental checks on every horse here (coming) and spring vaccinations (also coming). Of course there is always farrier visits as well. Any amount of money you can donate to SFHR to help the horses is appreciated. Thank you!
We are a retirement farm. We have retirees! Bonzo, Rainbow, Goldie along with the rest of our recovering horses need your support. Retirees have special diet requirements and they also can not eat hay so they get a bagged alfalfa product called Chaffhaye along with beet pulp, senior feed and loads of supplements. It is pricey to keep them going but so worthwhile. These old timers have so much wisdom and kindness in them. They also have the wisdom of a groundhog: If you can see your shadow (clear and cold) - stay inside and wait for spring to happen…it is right around the corner!
Enjoy your day!
Blessings from Mary, Bill and the herd at St. Francis Horse Rescue & Retirement Farm, Inc.
Congratulations to Deb M. and Bob W. - 5 years of great care gives them ownership of Jackson (f/n/a Buck) !!
