A DOG NAMED SATURDAY

Howdy Friends!
Coming in a few weeks, “A Dog Named Saturday.” My children’s book about our most spectacular, sweet and loving beagle. Not only is Saturday the most loving of all dogs, he is also a very, very wise dog. He knows things like, “Good is even better when you share it with friends.” And, “Love is much better than everything, because with love everything is better.”
Recently our dear Saturday went to Heaven. Saturday was a most exceptionally sweet dog. I’ve always said his tail is attached to his heart. He had one goal in life and that was to give everyone buckets of love, a goal he exceeded each and every day. Saturday was a discarded dog who wandered into our lane and hearts ten years ago, sick, hungry and tired. But even then his tail wagged full steam.
I posted on facebook about Saturday’s passing, most of my facebook friends have long known Saturday and I wanted to talk about it, and celebrate his life. Several friends suggested I write a children’s book about him. One even suggested the title, which I loved and am using. Thank you Judy.

This is a book about a little dog who woke up every morning just to make everyone he met happy. It’s what he did. Through the stories he spreads love and happy, and most stories have a bit of honesty and guidance for young ones.

We have world class illustrator Troy Locker Palmer creating the most delightful illustrations. Seen here are Saturday, Fluffernutter one of the barn kitties and Kessy the horse. Isn't Troy incredible!
A Dog Named Saturday will be published and available on Amazon in 2 weeks. I'll keep you informed here, and on my FB page and Saturday's FB page A Dog Named Saturday . I think Saturday would love to spend Christmas with lots of new friends. "The best things about friends is you can always make more," Saturday said.

This is first of Saturday’s series of children’s books. He has way too much love, kindness and wisdom to share with young ones of all ages to stuff into just one book. And we are creating Saturday memorabilia. Fun stuff, and are designing his Holiday piece right now.

Keep in touch, follow the fun, tell all your young ones, Saturday is bringing the love. And if your young ones should have a question they would like Saturday to answer, please send them to us.

Please "Like" our A DOG NAMED SATURDAY facebook page. And tell your friends.

~ Gitty Up, Dutch.

The Lights Went Out - a short story-

Howdy Folks,

This is a short story about the innocence of love - I wrote it for a contest a while back. The first words had to be, "The lights went out." I shared it about a year ago, but we've had so many folks join our Coffee Clutch since then, and lots of folks told me it touched them, so I thought I'd post it again ...  I hope you enjoy ...

Kessy, Saturday & me writing (I wrote this story in the barn with Kessy)

 The Lights Went Out 

 

The lights went out as just as she raised the wine glass in a salute to her reflection in the wine bottle. That's okay, it would be easier to remember him in the dark. She thought of his brown shining eyes and how they'd always warmed her when she lost herself in them. The way they glistened when he smiled. No matter the situation those eyes had never failed to reassure her. To comfort her. She took a sip and ran a quivering finger around the rim of the glass.

They say the first anniversary is the worst. She laughed. Who are they, and did they ever go through it or are they just the appointed ones who tell everyone how and what to feel without having a clue of the richness of love that had been theirs. He'd been gone three months now and tomorrow would have been their fifth anniversary…And his twenty-ninth birthday. Peter loved to celebrate his birthday. She felt the corners of her mouth curve. He'd always wanted to open his present before going to work. Peter made a big deal about everybody's birthday that's why it had been so natural, and fun, to be married on his.

A loud blast of rain pelted the kitchen window and a brief flash of lightning lit the room to shine on his present waiting on the table. The room seemed darker after the flash. She touched the bow on the box, then pulled it to her. He sure would have gotten a kick out of this year's present. She'd bought it six months ago, a little bottle of beach sand with a tiny mermaid inside perched on driftwood. A Kansas boy, Peter had never seen the beach. She had planned to fix that this year. In the bottom of the box lay all the paperwork and a brochure from the Anchor Kitchen bed and breakfast.

     

Some people are given a lifetime to share together. Some never find their soul mate. She and Peter were perfect together and they new it the instant they met. All their friends said so. She grinned when she thought of girlfriends' frequent threats to steal him away. Jealousy gripped her as she thought evil thoughts about how unfair it was to give them such a short time together. Her throat tightened, her eyes let go a stream of tears as she cursed God for creating the perfect match…and then tearing it apart. How could he? Why would he? She gulped a swallow of wine and ground the heels of her hands in her eyes, "What am I supposed to do now?" 

     

She looked around the kitchen, in the flashes she saw his boots sitting on the mat by the door. She hadn't been able to put them away. Hadn't been able to deal with much that she should have by now. Take it day by day, they say.

     

Day by day. That made her smile. Peter had said that too. On their wedding night when she was so scared she started to cry and she'd asked, "What are we going to do now?" She remembered his confident smile when he told her, "I guess we'll take it day by day."

     

"That was Peter," she told the darkness. "Count on him to make everything alright." She poured some wine and through blurry eyes asked his boots, "How do we make this alright? What do I do now Peter?" She dropped her head onto her arms and sobbed. "I don't know what to do." Her voice broke as she begged. "Tell me what to do…Where do I start?"

     

A thunderclap so loud it rattled the house preceded a burst of light brighter than any before it. After her eyes adjusted to the darkness she noticed a hint of morning's glow in the kitchen window.

     

Shuffling tiny feet turned her toward the living room doorway. "That was a loud one Mommy!" Their daughter announced as she scrambled toward her. "Today is Daddy's birthday! Can we open his present for him? If we hold it up really high will he be able to see it from Heaven?"

        *********************

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday – Family, Friends, Love and Helping

Howdy Folks,

On this day after Thanksgiving I think it's wholly appropriate to think of love, helping, family and friends. Family is the backbone, the structure, the spirit of who we are. But by family I don't mean to suggest mom, dad, brother, sister and so on only. Family, for folks who understand love and helping is much broader than that.

From the roots and strength our families give us, we can reach out to help others. Perhaps we've never met, and never will meet them, but they are family, and we know them, hear them, and love them. Animal and human. And we want to help them.

Sometimes it's an adoption. Sometimes it's a donation. Sometimes we volunteer at a hospital, a nursing home, a rescue or therapeutic riding center. Sometimes we just call someone in the hospital, or nursing home. Sometimes we send cards, photos or gifts. Always help is offered. Love is given. Support and kindness is given – and felt.

Kessy and Dutch writing about "People & Horses Helping Horses & People"

On this day after Thanksgiving we thank all those who hear the calling to share love, healing and encouragement.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday – New Horizon Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center

Howdy Folks,

Located in Rantoul, Kansas, New Horizon Ranch (NHR) is changing lives every day. Dedicated to helping children who face challenges every day, Brian and Joy Miller  founded (NHR) in 2006 to help children who face physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. Combining a strong passion for helping people, their love of, and passion for horses, belief in God's will, the Millers set out on a mission. "It was clear that God had prepared and equipped us to make a difference in their lives." Joy said. "NHR was founded with a mission to enrich lives through equine assisted activities."

 

Brian and a happy student

Programs at NHR are designed to provide individual growth, stimulate independence and encourage at-risk youths to engage in meaningful pursuits. Families are a big part of the activities at NHR as all the staff and volunteers understand, what the children experience in the programs, the growth, the eagerness to achieve, and the feeling of self-worth can and does radiate through their family.

Programs including Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding are carefully designed for individuals facing challenges and managed by PATH certified instructors. These programs are given individually and in group settings.

There is more to NHR than therapeutic riding sessions. And that more is what is so effective at changing young lives. One of their unique programs is "Mending Fences." A client driven, experiential learning, mental health program which can be individual or group. These sessions are co-facilitated by an Equine Specialist and a Mental Health Professional. The experiential nature allows the client to open up on his own time frame to handle any mental health problems, concerns or issues he might face. This is very effective with a variety of issues including communication, interpersonal relationship skills, coping skills, anger management, substance abuse, eating disorders and many others. This fun program uses activities on the ground to allow clients to discover or develop within themselves abilities and coping skills that will aid in their overall mental health and daily living. "As clients work with the horses to accomplish tasks assigned to them, they encounter many of the same thoughts and emotions they experience in everyday situations." Joy explained. "It empowers them to make decisions with confidence."

Joy, Brian and a whole bunch of happy kids!

Another fun and wonderfully successful event at NHR is their "Summer Horse Camp." An integrated day camp experience creating an excellent opportunity for campers with special needs and campers with typical needs to have fun side by side as they improve their social, emotional, mental and physical well being.  Campers gain self-confidence, develop communication and problem solving skills, learn basic riding skills, and actively engage in hands-on horsemanship and daily horse care in a safe, fun and friendly camp atmosphere. It provides campers a chance to bond over their common love of horses and their desire to learn more. NHR offers the benefits of a small class size, PATH certified professional instructors, EAGALA trained facilitators and safe, well-trained horses. What can be more fun than that?

To have a look at all the programs, learning and excitement happening every day at NHR please visit their website (HERE) .

You can join them on Facebook (HERE) 

Changing lives every day, what a wonderful mission! Thank you New Horizon Ranch!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Feature Friday- Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch"

Howdy Folks,

I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing Troy Meeder co-founder of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch for a story to be published in my Heartbeats column, in the September issue of Trail Blazer Magazine. Crystal Peaks is a faith based organization located on a tiny ranch near Bend Oregon where discarded but rescued horses help to give troubled youths a new start on life.

 Founded in 1995 by Kim and Troy Meeder, there have been tens of thousands of young lives touched and changed by the gentle ministry. With the help of rescued horses, kind hearts of volunteers and God's love the youths who visit the ranch experience one on one sessions at no charge. The only commitment is that they want to be there.

Over 5,000 visitors a year come for healing. That number includes all family members and that's important for one of the pillars at Crystal Peaks is strengthening the family. Sessions vary from one time visits to children being involved with the ranch for years, and everything in between. Seventy percent come more than once. Most of the youths come often, come for years, as often as they can be fit into the program. The staff is allowed to set up forty percent of their sessions for youths they want to mentor, who need the time, the continued guidance.

When Kim published her first book, "Hope Rising," and Kim and Troy had their first interview with founder of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson's show, Family Talk in 2004, people far and wide began contacting them, explaining that they've always wanted to do something like Crystal Peaks to help horses and children. Knowing that God was leading the way, in 2006 they held their first Empowerment clinic, a 4 day clinic teaching what they had learned about starting and running a faith based healing center. Kim and Troy assumed that clinic would be a onetime thing. Shocked by the demand they have held 2 clinics a year ever since and over 2,000 people have attended.

The Empowerment clinics help folks create Similar Ministries of their own to help young folks find firm footing. There are currently 156 Similar Ministries throughout the United States & internationally, including Australia, Canada, England, Honduras, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Romania & Slovakia. Crystal Peaks continues to receive applications from new locations each month.

To learn more about Crystal Peaks, or to inquire about starting a healing place visit their website http://www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org/ .

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Feature Friday – SpiritHorse At Black Fox"

Howdy Folks,

SpiritHorse At Black Fox provides free therapeutic horseback riding services to special needs children in the Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia and Western North Carolina. They specialize in children with autism spectrum disorder.

 Steve Poteet his, wife Darlene, and daughter, Emily, had long wanted to share the spirit and joy of their horses with folks who may not have the ability to know horses on their own. They began seriously looking for a way to make it happen in 2008. In the winter of 2010 a friend sent them a newspaper clipping about the award-winning program of therapeutic riding at SpiritHorse International. They knew instantly this was exactly what they had been searching for.

SpiritHorse Therapeutic Center at SpiritHorse International in Corinth, Texas, founded by Charles Fletcher provides all private therapeutic horseback riding services free of charge in six programs: Disabilities, Children who are Victims of Abuse/Violence, At-Risk Youth, Battered Women, and Youth After-Drug Rehab. The SpiritHorse mission is, "To Assist Each Child with Special Needs in Reaching Their Full Potential through Interaction with Horses." SpiritHorse International has over 80 centers in the US and around the world providing free services to more than 5,000 children and adults.

Emily, and two additional instructors traveled to Corinth, TX for training and certification by Mr. Fletcher. Soon Black Fox Equestrian Center was certified as a SpiritHorse Center and brought in under the umbrella of SpiritHorse International. The program at Black Fox continues to benefit from the extensive research and development of new techniques by Mr. Fletcher and SpiritHorse International.

The core of any healing at SpiritHorse is the horse. Steven and the instructors know and appreciate that fact. They build on it. They champion the retired show horses and ponies, understanding these wise, giving and knowing horses have much to offer. That their spirit touches the spirit of the children, and teaches them. The horses at SpiritHorse At Black Fox have lifetime jobs and when their spirit moves on they are laid to rest under the big Mulberry tree in the back pasture. It's that kind of commitment and love that makes SpiritHorse a special place.

Please visit their website http://www.spirithorsetn.org/ to meet all the instructors and horses, and learn all about their unique programs. SpiritHorse At Black Fox is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

SpiritHorse International Website – www.spirithorsetherapy.com

Photos provided by SpiritHorse At Black Fox.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"FEATURE FRIDAY-Suzanne Warsinsky-Appalachian Hoof Care-Kids and Horses"

Howdy Folks,

The journey to become a respected and influential Barefoot Hoof Care Practitioner, beloved 4-H co-leader and champion of horse and human charities started in Suzanne Warsinky's youth when she read everything she could lay her hands on about horses and travel. It would not be until her college years that she actually had the opportunity to take riding lessons, and then study took her abroad.

"Traveling to spend 4 months in Salzburg, Austria, I had the usual culture shock that many experience. From that one time with it, however, I never had culture shock again, not in Cameroon, not in Germany, not in France, not in Viet Nam or Thailand, not in Guatemala or Peru, nor anywhere else I have lived, journeyed. I learned that culture shock is an attitude, and I left that behind after figuring it out." Suzanne said.

When Suzanne finally decided to leave the international lifestyle and move back home, she wanted a horse of her own. That horse was an 11 year old Arabian who taught her much. Enough in fact to get a second horse, Baja, a young Arabian mare, who stole Suzanne's heart instantly. When Baja died suddenly of colic, it took Suzane more than a year to open her heart to another horse. Then she met Reighny who has become her heart horse, the horse love of her life. Both horses were bred and trained by Mary Ann Rafferty of Valley View Farms in Bucks County, PA.

Suzanne with Reighny

"Reighny is responsible for getting me into barefoot." Suzanne explained. "When she arrived in November several years ago, I had the farrier come quickly to put shoes on her so that I could ride and not harm her feet. Reighny HATED the experience. And she soon lost the shoes. She had a mild bout of laminitis several months later. The vet told me she would instruct the farrier on how much to wedge her shoes. I knew there was no way I was ever putting her through shoeing again and found barefoot on the internet. A whole new world was opened up to me, and I did not need to go through culture shock! I'd already learned that lesson. I jumped in whole heartedly and have been learning ever since!"

When 3 of Suzanne's equines went lame within 2 weeks of each other, after being trimmed "bare but flat," she found Daisy Bicking of Daisy Haven Farm, Inc. She introduced Suzanne to mechanically correct barefoot trimming, based around the coffin bone, and suggested she learn herself. "I didn't think I could ever do such a thing! Then a group of us hired Paige Poss to come to WV and do a barefoot trimming clinic with us. Then a second one. And I was hooked! I enjoyed trimming so much I decided I wanted to "go pro" once my young kids were in school."

Suzanne trained with several individuals, was offered a competitive scholarship for volunteerism into the Equine Sciences Academy, and continued taking clinics with Daisy Bicking, Ida Hammer, and others. "I have built up Appalachian Hoof Care into a nearly perfect job for me, in which I get to care for horses' hooves along with their great owners. Together and we have formed an equine care team. We bring in dentists and body workers. By looking at posture, diet, teeth and horsekeeping practices, we help horses together."  Suzanne attends as much continuing education as possible each year to offer the highest level of service to her clients.

While Suzanne loves caring for horse hooves, the center of her world her world revolves around her children. With careful planning and scheduling she manages to trim and continue to introduce more and more folks and horses to the barefoot lifestyle, and raise her family. Suzanne is co-leader of the High Riders 4H Club in Randolph County, WV..

Suzanne doing what she loves

"We have a great time together, bringing in generous volunteers to be clinicians in their areas of expertise for the kids. We have had a saddle fitter, a natural horsemanship devotee, a massage therapist, an equine dentist, a centered riding instructor and many more! Generous folks have traveled at their own expense, from as far away as a 4 hour drive to impact the horsemanship of this group of kids. How wonderful! This coming year, we hope to have a rope-halter making clinic, a tack care clinic, an obstacle course clinic, a multi day camp with all kinds of volunteers, a show-prep clinic and more. With an appropriate background from my days as an organizer/planner/facilitator I enjoy putting together these programs and am entirely grateful to those who come to help! We would not be able to offer such a rich program without them," Suzanne said.

Suzanne donates some of her profit to children and horse related causes, and takes on young apprentices who learn holistic horse care. She has written several articles for Natural Horse Magazine on the subject of Barefoot Hoof Care, and she now serves as the strategic planning coordinator for the magazine.

"What I find the most interesting about "me" is simply the turning of natural horse paradigm into a workable model for programming with children, when volunteers are ready to share of themselves." Suzanne told me.

Thank you Suzanne for creating that most wonderful model.

LINKS OF INTEREST--

Suzanne's Blog  http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/team-easyboot/who-trims-we-do

Natural Horse Magazine  http://www.naturalhorse.com/

Equine Sciences Academy http://www.equinesciencesacademy.com/

DaisyHavenFarm http://www.daisyhavenfarm.com/

Paige Poss http://www.ironfreehoof.com/

Valley View http://valleyviewfarms.us/

Gitty Up,

Dutch Henry