Hiya, FsOB! Well, it's the start of one of those work weeks in which I'll be confused as to what day it is! May each of you have a safe & productive Tuesday. Peace, RMH

#### To Laurie H.: You're welcome! I hope that Bart is doing well. ####

Good morning FOB,

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

Alex, thanks for the link to Lights on Broadway's retirement story. Dallas Keen is now one of my new favorite trainers. Thank you so much Donna and Dallas for taking him in. What a wonderful ending for LoB. A great way to start the day!

Morning skritches to the BBH, Sir JH, Gorgeous George, Belle, KeyKey, Genny, Sky and the rest of the charming group of Heavenly Equines...!

For them:

STRATEGY FOR WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1

Although Congress has now recessed until September 8, Legislative Aides are still there to take your calls. Until further notice, the strategy will be to continue to gain co-sponsors for HR6598 and the plan is to start with those co-sponsors of HR503. A list is on the DB and the Wiki with their names and we are asking that they are only called by constituents. Please do not call the names in red because they are already on board. If your Representative is already a co-sponsor of HR6598, the best way to help is to reach out and find constituents in other districts. We now have 46 committments which is great!! They cannot not be added to the official co-sponsor list until session resumes.

There is still a very small window of time to try to see your representatives while they are in their home district. Many will be out on the campaign trail so should be easy to find. Below is a Fact Sheet for you to hand out if you do get the chance to see them.

http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/legislation/110_equinecruelty_hr6598.pdf

Remember, this list will be friends of the anti slaughter legislation and there is no reason to go into detail. We've been asked to make sure they know that HR6598 , the Conyers-Burton Prevention of Equity Cruelty Act of 2008 is taking the Title 18 approach to end horse slaughter and has been introduced by Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. It is not necessary to answer complicated questions or try to explain the bill. Sometimes "less is more"!!

Although the paperwork cannot be done to co-sponsor while they are not in session, we will update this list periodically as commitments are received by the proper people in DC. When their name goes red, there is no reason to call again.

You have have done a fabulous job of setting the groundwork and it seems that we're off to the right start. We have been advised that our grassroots efforts have made a tremendous impact and YOU ALL are the reason. It is important that we now follow directions and stay focused on what has been requested of us.

Our mission is to GO RED!!!!

We are BARBARO'S VOICE..let it be heard!!!!

Thanks,
Shelley and Deb
AMERICANS AGAINST HORSE SLAUGHTER

Posted by: ShelleyA at September 1, 2008 11:52 PM

Cheers,
Friar Tuck

It's Tuesday FOBs - holiday over and back to work. I hope all have survived Gustav in good condition. Now we have Hanna to worry about. Ike is right behind Hanna and there is another storm right behind Ike. Jeez - I'm not liking this at all.

Have a great day.

Janice
A forever devoted to Kaiser FOB

This article is a few days old but it contains some great news about Nicanor...

It's a go for Ready Set in Monday's Pennsylvania Derby
By DICK JERARDI
Philadelphia Daily News

Michael Matz thought he might have a Kentucky Derby horse in his barn this spring. Barbaro's trainer hopes he has one in his barn now who might be good enough for the Derby next year.
Ready Set simply was not ready by the first Saturday in May. Nicanor is not ready for much yet, but May 2009 is quite a long time away in the life of a young horse.

Ready Set will be entered today for Monday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. Nicanor is just about to return to galloping, after a very minor setback in his training.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson bought Ready Set for $800,000 in September 2006, 4 months after their Barbaro won the Derby and then shattered his right hind leg in the Preakness.

Nicanor was born that same spring when Barbaro ran into racing history in Kentucky and into the public consciousness in Maryland. Nicanor was the next foxhound on that now famous portrait in the Jacksons' Chester County home. That was the name they chose for Barbaro's full brother.

The Jacksons typically have not spent much money at the sales. They bred Barbaro and Nicanor. That cost the stud fee for Dynaformer. So, why $800,000 for Ready Set?

"Good question," Gretchen Jackson said. "A moment of insanity. We lost it."

Ready Set, Gretchen said, "does have a good page," as in pedigree. By 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold out of a mare by two-time Arc de Triomphe winner Alleged, Ready Set certainly had the bloodlines to be a star. Horses, like human beings, often develop at their own pace.

Ready Set was 97-1 when he finished 10th in the roughly run Fountain of Youth Stakes in February. That ended any Derby thoughts, but not thoughts that this colt has talent.

"We always thought he had plenty of ability," Matz said. "He worked together with Visionaire all the time. And I didn't know who was the better one."

Visionaire won Saturday's King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga, giving Matz his first Grade I win since Barbaro won the Derby.

Ready Set is less than a length from being unbeaten in four races since May. The colt broke through with a win in the Aug. 2 West Virginia Derby and has earned $596,040, so the $800,000 is no longer looking so insane.

The Pa. Derby will not be easy, because it almost certainly will have a full field of 14.

"I'd love to win it," Gretchen said. "I'd like to win anything."

Ready Set looks as if he is running in slow motion. After 11 races, the colt still is far from a finished product.

"Hopefully, the light will go on when he comes around the turn into the stretch," Gretchen said.

The colt's best might not come until 2009.

"I don't want to say he's not smart," Matz said. "He can get distracted in the littlest of ways . . . Hopefully, by next year, he can be a nice handicap horse and become even better."

And if the 2-year-old Nicanor is as good as Matz hopes, 2009 could be a very good year.

"He was up to working a half a mile," Matz said. "He got a little body sore, so we backed off a little bit, and we're just jogging him through the woods. He looks like he's about ready to get back to galloping again."

If all goes well, Nicanor could make his debut in October.

"I don't even want to think about that," Gretchen said, knowing the emotions will come flowing back when Barbaro's brother does make his first start.

Matz is not prone to brash statements, so when asked whether he had seen enough to tell what kind of racehorse Nicanor might be, his simple statement was telling:

"He's nice."

Clearly, the trainer saw potential.

"Oh, yeah," Matz said. "He's worth taking the time for."

Barbaro's yearling full brother is in Kentucky and will head for Florida this fall. There was no foal this year as the mating did not take. Another full brother will be born in Kentucky next year.

Replicating Barbaro likely is not possible. But there is no way the Jacksons can't try.

"We're not going to let go of that one," Gretchen Jackson said. *

Good Morning FOB !

This is rare for me to post in the morning as I am usually at work -but I am on vacation -yehaw !!

Will be heading to the beach with my granddaughter

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor day and here's wishing you a great week !

Homes for horses... that is what we need for now,until we can get the changes in place to make the world a better place for all horses !

Eight Belles memorial will be this Sunday, Sept. 7th at Churchill. I Will be thinking of that beautiful girl ! Is anyone going ?

Well Barbaro, I miss you boy, look what you started, your legacy will be monumental!

Love and hugs to all !

Julia B coming to you from Virginia Beach ( just for a few days )

EQUINE CRUELTY FACT SHEET

TOUGH STUFF FROM JOE
************************************************
Tuesday, September 2nd... Taking a minute to view reality. Things are out of hand. It all began when a farm in foreclosure asked us to find homes for their horses. Then came a second farm. And a third. Soon a ranch closing their doors asked Tbfriends to place their horses. Then came another ranch out of business. And then two more ranches in foreclosure. Then a large thoroughbred breeding farm calls it quits.

And now in the last few days Tbfriends is asked for help ranch foreclosures in San Diego. From far away in Wyoming. A ranch in Santa Barbara is closing their doors today.

Strange as it sounds, finding homes for horses sight unseen is the easy part. Watching families give up all they have worked for is the difficult part.

You can debate our crappy economy till the cows come home. You can shrug and say people get themselves into a mess, well it must be their own fault. You can blame George Bush. You can blame Erica on All My Children for having 28 husbands.

But what about the horses? They have nothing to do with George Bush. They have no say in what is shown on television. The horses only ask for food and water. And for respect. We brought them into this world, we must respect their needs.

Yet Ryan Andrews and Jennifer Wright say there is an internet campaign to punish people in financial trouble. Make them feel even worse by not helping their horses.

Thank goodness Tbfriends has not come across any of those people. There was one phone message saying Arabian horses taste great on the barbecue. But mean messages come every so often, and some are very creative. I save them for Cathy to hear.

You should meet the folks Cathy and I get to meet. And we are not talking families with money. We are talking families who struggle from paycheck to paycheck. One family takes a truck load of laundry to town each week. They cannot afford a washing machine. But their horses are shinny and well fed and the daughter competes in jumping events with her ex race horse gelding.

more to come

SHELLEY -

The link to the EQUINE CRUELTY FACT SHEET didn't work. I copied it from your posting, could you please check it again.

Thank you,

OH MY GOODNESS...

That is just EVIL!! Joe at TBFrens telling us that there is an organized internet group to punish people in financial need!!! FsOB this is just awful!
What rock did these people slither out from under???
Joe is so right...It will be the horses that suffer!!

WE NEED TO MAKE MORE CALLS...SEND MORE FAXES !!
WE MUST ENSURE ALL HORSES ARE SAFE!!!

May God bless dear Joe and Cathy for everything they are doing for HORSES in NEED!!!

We need to keep an eye on them.We need to make sure they are OK????

WE CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL...BUT WE CAN SURE COME CLOSE!!!

DEFEAT IS NOT AN OPTION!!

HUGS and love to ALL

*********** HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY **********

to Dr. Dean Richardson and wishing you many, many more.

Hoping today's party brings a smile to all of NBC. We didn't forget the donor horses, bless their hearts.

It is September, approaching fall and the most wonderful time of the year. Have a good week, everyone.

Debbie in CO

COMMENTS TO CITY OF HICKMAN REGARDING PETER RABBIT - 32 yr old HORSE BEING EVICTED

PETER RABBIT'S STORY

I FELL SO MUCH BETTER NOW THAT THEY ARE HAVING A MEMORIAL SERVICE SCHEDULED FOR 2 : 00 P.M. SEPT. 7TH FOR THE GREAT FILLY EIGHT BELLES.. SHE SOO MUCH DERSERVES IT... SO SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. AND DID NOT DIE IN VAIN... ... MAY HER LEGACY LIVE ON FOR FINISHING 2ND IN THE DERBY..... THEY ARE GOING TO BURY HER REMAINS UNDER A MAGNOLIA TREE... AT CHURCH HILL DOWNS.... GOD BLESS YOU EIGHT BELLES, AND I HOPE YOU ARE RUNNING WITH THE OTHER GREATS.. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEBERED.. EVERYONE REMEBBER EIGHT BELLES THIS SUNDAY @ 2:00 P.M. NO MATTER WERE YOU ARE AT TAKE A MINUTE TO PRAY FOR OUR FALLEN ANGEL.... EIGHT BELLES.. WISH IT WAS TELEVISED...
AND :
DON'T FORGET TO PRAY FOR ALL OF THE REST OF OUR FALLEN ANGELS, OUR DEAR ANIMALS .... THOSE IN NEED, THOSE HUNGRY, TOSE WITH OUT SHELTER... AND IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT MIS TREAT THEM.. GOD LOVE OUR ANIMALS, AND PROTECT THEM. AND WATCH OVER THEM AND I'M SURE HE HAS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR ALL OF THEM..... .... /DIANE

####I dont post here very often, but today I feel I must. After reading Joe on TBFriends, I just want to quote Jonna.....If not us, who??? If not now, when????

Please, however small your contribution, or whatever little way you can help, please do something to help our horses.

I realize we all have our own personal lives and all the stress and strain that goes with simply living in these terrible times, financially, emotionally, whatever. But we have to get this all turned around and start moving forward in our lives. What kind of a world are we leaving to our children and grandchildren?????

Sorry for the ranting, I am very upset with everything at present. No matter what we try to do, it gets complicated and seems undoable.
We must double our efforts. We must look for ways we can help our friends, families or even complete strangers, without trying to see what is in it for ourselves.

We simply have to keep trying to make this a better place to live.

Thank you all for all you do. Every time I read the posts here and on the DB, I feel people are trying to do the best they can. It is very up-lifting to read of some of these stories.

Everyone....have a great day, and never give up trying to help.

Thank you,all.

Ellie az.

September 2 Cherokee Devotional [sharing email from Harriette Brillianthawk]

Everything has a reason. We may have to wait a while to understand, because much of what we see is a puzzle with all its pieces strewn about. The whole thing is there but in our present condition we do not comprehend the first thing about fitting the right pieces together. It is going to take some time.

Maybe our dullness is necessary to keep us from making foolish moves. It is better to stand and let life creep back in and our blood to flow normally before we begin again. We still do not know the reason for something but we handle the time better and we recover our senses more quickly.

We are all Seminoles here together. We want no long talk; we wish to have it short and good.

Chief John Hicks
Seminole, 1829

So pleased that Peppers Pride people did not take a chance on the sloopy track at Ruidoso. I keep thnking about George Washington dying in the mud and rain.

crossposting message from NetPosse

Stolen Horse International, NetPosse.com offers help to Gustav victims to find missing pets

Home of IDAHO ALERTS for Missing Horses

I pray no one will need our services and all the animals will be safe and in the grasps of owners after the storm. If not, we are here for support.

After Katrina we opened our network to all animals missing during the storm and will do the same for victims after Hurricane Gustav. For any animals lost, including horses, dogs, cats etc, missing as a result of Hurricane Gustav, Stolen Horse International will list the missing pets and send out our IDAHO ALERTS for free after a report is filed. To do so go to www.netposse.com and click on FILE REPORTS.

More details re NetPosse at the DB, post 28082.1, in the General Non-Horse related folder.

oooops sorry, that's in the General Horse Related folder at the DB.

Hay Fambleee

Here's another heartbreaking matter that speaks is so reflective of how so many are badly influenced by the economy. This person is in Palm Springs, CA and hopes to move to Eugene Or.

Please read:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=28051.43

If you know of anyone who can help provide temporary housing until Flyer is able to move to OR, it would be so appreciated

rats....that was supposed to link to 28051.1 I'm sure y'all can figure that out :)

My heart beats for your heart, Barbaro, always and forever! Run with the angels honey!
And all love to the entire Heavenly Herd . . . as you know you take me to where angels walk! As Angel Dee says, "It is AFFIRMED!"

Holding hands, paws, hooves with the entire Barbaro Nation.

Just checked in to see if there was any word from KF yet regarding some special arrangements for Barbaro's special pal, Dr. Richardson;
and also especially thinking of you and continuing all the prayers for you OTHERLYN.

with all my heart,
Lou Ann

Good Afternoon Barbaro

Love you and miss you so much....we are here...your family speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves....Please ask God to give us strength and courage to get this bill passed...and for Congress to open their ears and hearts.

Good Afternoon Family/Fans of Barbaro

PLEASE FAX, CALL, EMAIL...PLEASE.....

Also remember and help our rescues...please read the db and follow your hearts....

Remember our Fallen Angels, those suffering human or animal, our wildlife and always our loving family....we live in the house that Barbaro built.

Have a bless day.

#####
Good Afternoon Alex.
Good Afternoon Tim and Fair Hill.
Our Fallen Angels...we are here....we know your pain, your barbaric death...and we are moving forward....

THE REST O' JOE:
**************************************************
One young owner drives her junky old jeep to school. You can hear her coming from three blocks away. At least once a week her jeep breaks down. Yet her sight unseen rescued gelding has a brand new shelter which cost over two thousand dollars. The young owner tells me her horse staying dry this winter is more important than reliable transportation.

A family in a town not far away, and often they must eat cheap noodles for dinner. On sale at Safeway. Their sight unseen rescued gelding eats top of the line Equine Senior. Eighteen bucks a bag.

Another family in a town not far away, and Dad gets a second job working nights so daughter can have a sight unseen gelding.

A young mother only 19, and life is hard. There is no way she can have her own horse. But she comes with her infant to our front gate. Gives me a $100.00 gift card to Chevron. She says please give this card to one of our horse haulers. And then she kisses my cheek, and says God Bless You.

What a long weekend just passed. Winds were crazy. But we continue to meet the nicest people on earth.

Joe

### Lou Ann R., PA

Alie has posted on the DB that the party was held this morning and details and pictures will follow.

Debbie in CO

september, 2008- for eight belles and her people
her nation

the song of eight belles
in the wind and sun
the seasons will come and
the rain and the dust of god's
stars and black brown velvet
woven into our hearts
her song
may you keep her fire alive
glowing
that black sheen of her muscled power
partly hidden by her grace and walk
large ears pinned up straight to heaven

she had a look in her eye of presence that bespoke
of some ancient egyptian queen
out for a ride that turned into a revolution of fluid poetry
she came to the barn
where with folks in twanged english and rolling ‘rs

her feet were exactly placed
into a rolling running gate
that sped her past the others
in a flash - passion to compete

her bones taught with the joyful anticipation
of crossing the finish line first
her heart so big
pounded and in the end
tremors took over
sudden stop
collapse into the holy dirt of her sweat panting breath

they came fast
the great arch angels
kind big men down there by her side
in their butterfly hands
helped her speed into the sky
of timeless gods
kingdom gates opened to her song
right away
recognizing her great gift

yet she hovered low
to see her people run
to find her body already cold

so many teachings
such loss and pain
the best teacher of all: time

i leave you
so sorry to leave you

please then, hear me
then great barbaro
head us well

work not from greed
but put us first
so we can serve in the great care
attention to detail
intentionality

we give you so much
may never my nation be packed into trucks
abandoned by drugs, shortcuts and empty fools
tools
in our fame
so soon gone
forgotten
pressed muscles and fibered legs
who ran for you
drenched in our tears
ignored by all
how is it then
that the horse of the year
in 2001
almost became meat
betrayed by the hands that took the money
all too fast
that he earned

thank you
for hearing
my glory ,my heart
my soul
my joy of running
and like Barbaro
at night
we will dance
over the course
running the track
to our delight
visiting our farms
together, apart
and with others
we join
our lessons wrapped
in silk clouds
used to gather jewels
worn and tender are those hands
that stroked me
at the end of the day

open your hearts
as i did
live wildly
open hearted
love as i do
in the sky
now for you


martita

####
After reading Joe and tb friends....what love those people show....

You do not have to be rich...to have love, to show love and to be loved....

and those who have the filthy minds....well God will take care of that too.

####
PLEASE KEEP BARBARO AND HIS FRENS CANDLES LIGHT UP....NUMBERS ARE LOW....

THANK YOU...FAMILY.

####Martita, just beautiful, thank you.

Judy

Oh, Martita, yes...

####
BEAUTIFUL....JUST BEAUTIFUL...MARTITA....

God Bless ALL FOBS....AND LOVE ALWAYS TO BARBARO, EIGHT BELLES, JOHN HENRY, RUFFIAN...AND SO MANY....OF ALL THE ONES IN HEAVEN....

Dr. Richardson Birthday

Great JOB FOB's! Thanks Allie and Lyn

Anybody heard from Debbie LA???

She may have lost power.

Hope to hear from her!

####
OOPS! Guess I missed your post! Glad you are ok!

A belated Happy Birthday to the one and only great Dr.Dean Richardson our hero. May only good things come your way Dr. Richardson, no one deserves them better than you do.

Harriett- check your mail. I shot you one, asking for advice Jen

Hiya, FsOB! What a fabulous birthday celebration for Dr. Richardson at NBC today. Kudos to Alie, Padme/Lyn, Nancy in CT, Debbie L.A., and everyone whose names I inadvertently omitted. Fabulous to see that $2219 was raised for the UPENN Laminitis Fund! That is a great example of what good folks coming together can do. Isn't it similar to the stories that Joe Shelton shares with us each day? Here's to ACN for us all! Peace, RMH

#### To Janice: May Hanna, Ike, and any subsequent storms stay out at sea. I hope that you, Denny, & Marshmellow have a better week.
To Julia B.: Hoping that Storm Ike doesn't affect your vacation at VA Beach. Enjoy!
To Ellie: Your posting today raised excellent points. Many thanks!
To Martita: Thank you for sharing your artistry with us in honour of Eight Belles.
To Judy Scott in Ont.: How was your son's "launching" at college in Thunder Bay last week. Great seeing you back here again, Judy.
To Otherlyn: I've kept you, your family, and your animals in my thoughts today. I hope that you were treated fairly. I suspect that there are more than a few of us here whose marriage ended badly. Hang in there, Otherlyn, and know that we are here for you. ####

martita goshen ......

for the horses in michigan tracks..cantor
that may die even tonight
fast being loaded up
in the shadows where no one can see
empty shedrow
or what happens
when the stall is suddenly empty?
the groom comes back tight lipped cornered
and the horse is gone
maybe this horse has been on many trailers
since he won the big ones
now the barns are run down
.stench of fear
nothing secure
..dirty careless
.tracks hard
a lot of folks milling around looking for that one to load siletny to his death
that look

hard cold at the flesh on the bone

i believe that horses know
when they lose a race and when they are done
,not heard or not brushed or fed
with any love
just automatic property
..
john henry was the perfect example
..he knew when IF HE stopped winning
he would die
that two by four
that hit him as a yearling
he never forgot to the narrowed eyes
of the screaming sweating man
he dodged and ducked but missed

so what happens when tender folks
rescuers
are banished from the tracks- back-stretch
ask the tb racing commission from michigan
WHY they banned cantor rescue groups ?
..
maybe the horse killers are so desperate for horse meat
they are finding new allies in the pipeline
as alex has pointed out many times already

i just signed a petition to bring attention
to a group of these guys who are obviously
in for the money and not for a or any
horse
some awful precedent
some awful curved knife
cutting their tendons fast deep
heat
blood spilling out

WHAT a way to say thank you
for all the great heart running
for winning
for that thing
called money earned

i hear them nickering back and forth
in the darkness
to each other as if checking that they made it
through another day
..no man around
just them
under the roof of the sagging barn

stars watching
blinking
if stars could cry
they surely would
for what they hear floating up
a muffled stifled chorus -tears
into the deep night
shhhh quiet
crying still
..deep longing
to be wanted
eat grass
love
be scratched
fed and ridden bathed ..combed--

each horse trying to face its own fate
must feel feeling the impending doom

yet another devious way
to get more horse meat
no matter what the toll or consequence

i hear then finally
the shuffle of hay
for one last time
as the groom comes to lead this one away .
.he tried and just could not run i anymore
in all that pain
they shoot him up
endless convicts
selling their soul for money yet again.hollow
.
wow
what a capture
their souls lost in some far away land
where nothing grows.
.but that HUNGer for more
to fll up on stuff
POWER that in the end feels so empty oh why?
.
for them i speak up
i know you will too
sign and call and write
.it is endless
never to let go of his song his dream

Barbaro died for
..we lost a brilliant diamond
powerful
other worldly
horse
to open our eyes..
the night in shinning blazing light

martita