www.lunarescue.com!

So I have bought my own domain for my rescue. This website will document my rescue journey, trials and successes, and hopefully recruit some volunteers to help, and adopt out some of my horses to make room for more! Site isn't live yet, could take 24-48 hours but I am very excited! Stay tuned~!!

Bones rehab journey!

So today my awesome vet Diana Deblanc came out and floated Bones's teeth. They were so bad, and he had a abscess in his cheek due to the way he had to chew. She is hoping we should see weight come on a bit faster now. I am still working on a horse website. I used to have my own website, but I don't have any webpage software anymore to keep it cool- I think I might just use this blog for now, and link to my Flickr page for pictures. That could change though, just not feeling creative lately, more like overwhelmed but I love every minute of it~

So I am officially a rescue!

So a couple of weeks ago I went back to the SW Livestock Auction. Intentions were to rescue 3 draft mixes that had funds raised by Alex Brown Forum awesome members. But when I got there my heart was crushed and I brought home a extra 3 horses, on top of the 3 I rescued.. Two of the horses were picked up by a rescue in Texas shortly after, but the other 6, yes six are still with me. The horse above I named "Bones" for now as the owner brought him in, said he let his mom take care of him and she fed him once a week.. Another horse rescued was a Belgian, a TB off the track ( who rides like a DREAM ) a Draft cross , and a mini baby who unfortunately I tried to save, but he was too weak and died two days after I brought him home. My vet and I did everything we could to save him, but his pneumonia was too much for his little body. I had a sponsor for Bones, and she also sent me money to rescue a Percheron but not sure if she is going to pick them up, at least I got money for them and I am hoping she is just busy and will come get them! Anyway you can see pictures on my Flickr page of these rescues, and on my Facebook. I am going to start a new blog/website related to my journey so please stay tuned. Also Bones above is doing awesome, he has such a big heart like all the rescues I saved three weeks ago. Its so much work having nine horses and just me, but well worth it. I am grateful alfalfa prices have dropped. Anyway stay tuned, new blog and website coming soon :)

Fall is here!

So I think it is going to be a cold winter.. This week it will be 40's in the AM, in which I can't WAIT! I know crazy but tonight I found a 8 inch centipede in my house, IN MY HOUSE! Bugs time to go hibernate, or whatever they do..

So this summer was hot hot hot.. Not much riding I got in, but I am excited for the fall and winter and how active it will be. Have started to wean the horses off the grass hay/alfalfa mix and will resort to my beet pulp/grain/alfalfa-grass pellet/ corn oil and alfalfa diet. I feed the grains at night with some alfalfa, Alfalfa only in the AM. I have used this diet now for 3 years, with great success and no problems with keeping weight on. I also will add a touch of table salt in the winter to help with water intake.

Its going to be a awesome fall! After this hot summer though, I have a feeling it will be cold and snowy like my first winter in NM.. Time will tell!

Rehoming my first rescue

So yesterday, a friend who went to the rescue with me and rescued Jerry the one eyed pony, and Tennessee the Walker took her horses near her house and asked for Forrest. She will be transporting them to TX within a few weeks, and her brother knows his condition, and wanted him anyways. I was reluctant to let him go, as I really wanted to keep him and provide a good home for him. But I knew that he would cost so much to fix, and that isn't even a 50% chance at his age, and I already have 4 horses that love me and beg for my attention every day. I decided to let him go.

My farrier and vet will be relieved as they know how big my heart is, but care for my well being and told me he would be nothing but added cost, and his recovery isn't even 50 percent. Cowboy, my quarterhorse threw a shoe and was lame the last 3 days. Last night when I came home to three less horses then that morning I soaked his foot and spent time petting him. This morning he was moving around like he was fine and that was a sign that I did the right thing.

I am not saying I won't rescue another horse. But I will look for a project horse with potential and riding ability, one that I can fix up with little cost ( even though cost is a issue with every horse regardless of its condition, that can change in hours )

One chapter closed in my life, what will the next chapter bring?

Update on Forrest

So I have a name for the disability Forrest has- Angular Limb Deformities - My vet came out today for his 2nd round of booster shots and told me that is what he has. What is shocking to me though, is when I do research on it, it can be cured with rest and nutrition..Maybe not at Forrest's age though and my vet is just trying to let me down easy.. I am unsure if my vet, in which I LOVE has experience on this, and I should seek a second opinion.. The above picture is EXACUALLY what forrest looks like!

When I do research, it is something that can be cured right after birth, but Forrest is older now, and this might be a issue- Anyway I am happy I have a name for what he has, and we will see what my research shows !

New EU rules may end slaughter of American Horses

New EU rules may end slaughter of American Horses

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Pawfections Pet Spa- Los Lunas

So everything is going great around the ranch. Forrest is slowly gaining weight and looking better every day! I am at 7 horses right now, with my friends Tenessee Walker and her pony, so food is going fast. With the Goats, I am going through about 2 bales a day, at $6 a bale. She is paying for the feed of course for her horses, but this weekend I will be back on the lookout for a great deal in Alfalfa!

I wanted to write a review about the new dog grooming place that opened in Los Lunas, New Mexico. Its called Pawfections Pet Spa, and I recently took my cockapoo Sophie, and my Chow Mix Buster. Sophie got a trim, and Buster got a full shave ( picture posted here ) The Owner is so incredible nice, named Larissa and she really does care about what she does. I was so happy with both my dogs cuts, shortly after I recieved the cutest letters in the mail made out to Sophie and Buster. Below is what the letter said to Buster :

Dear Buster, It was such a pleasure meeting you! I fully enjoyed the opportunity I got to pamper you. You were such a wonderful guest at my spa and I look forward to providing you with love and papering in the near future.

I have to say, as my job in Customer Service, I am always looking for the extra touch that makes service special. Just the letter alone, as well as how nice, and affordable the pricing was, I will be a promoter and am excited for this new local business in my city to be successfull.

If you are local, the number is 505-865-5369. Pawfections Pet Spa is located at 1400 Main Street in Los Lunas, behind Quiznos and Papa Johns. Hope you enjoy the business as much as I do !

Update!

So all is good at the ranch- Forrest continues to put on weight and is over his cough ( he of course brought home a illness from the auction ) I had him and Jerry the one eyed pony on some antibiotics, they are doing well now.

I got some good news- I thought that the auction/kill pens at SW Livestock Auction took their horses to a non EU regulated slaughterhouse in Mexico- Turns out his contract is with Betrax in Mexico which is EU regulated.. Long story short as of next April all US horses will need to go through a 180 day quarantine before slaughtered, which will hopefully stop the slaughter market in the US as who wants to feed a horse for 6 months just to get $300 in meat ( would cost half that in food ). Time will tell..

Update on Colt

It is so late right now- I have to leave for the airport in 5 hours.. Anyway I wanted to post a update- My vet, Diana DeBlanc saw the Colt today. She said he didn't break his leg, like people at the auction told me. She said it was probably deformed or injured at birth. I can't remember the name she had for his condition. She said that he looks good compared to other colts with this kind of disability. She wants to get some groceries into him as he is underweight. My farrier will start trimming his deformed hoof. She wants to see him in a month, for his 2nd round of shots and make a better prognosis. She said surgery might be a option, but she will know in a month.

I pretty much bought him knowing what I was getting into. Well actually that isn't true. When I bid on him, I didn't even see his leg until a lady in the cashier office told me to leave him there, he will never be sound. She gave me her business card, and said to call her when I want to buy a riding horse. What she didn't know is I have 3 riding horses at home. This colt called me to him I guess. I can't explain it.. I saved his life as he would have been shot or sent to slaughter after he was fattened up if I didnt' bid on him. Out of 4 colts I chose him. In a kill pen with other horses. Terrified with the odds stacked against him.

So this morning I was driving Sophie to her grooming appointment. I was trying to think of names for him. On my XM Radio, the station Cinemagic which I love a song came on. I was thinking what is this song. Then the part came on that I will never forget. It was the theme song to Forrest Gump, by Alan Silvestri. One of my dad's favorite movie. The part of the song in which I came onto was when Forrest was running from the bully's and his leg braces came off. I can't explain how I felt, but I got tears in my eyes. I decided to name the Colt Forrest. In hope that he can heal his leg, and possibly be a success story. No matter what the Colt will have a home with me, as a pasture pet if anything. I just have hope. I took Hope, my Mini from the same auction. Everyone told her she would never be right due to her deformed elf feet. She is fine now, running with her buddies in my field. Happy and free of any pain.

Anyway I have to leave in 5 hours for the airport. Flying to Irvine for a two day work event. Will be lots of fun, tomorrow will be a nice relaxing day as I will be sleep deprived. My neighbor will watch my animals, and my farrier will be out to look at Forrest.

God put me on this earth, at my age not to have children, but I guess to care for the animals. I make a difference and that is a great thing. Will post back soon, with more pictures. Before and After to come

New Project

So I went to the auction today- Read the link to read about it.. I told myself I wasn't going to go back, but I was drawn to it somehow.. Anyways I saved this little colt- About 8 months old, with a bad leg.. Hopefully with trims and corrective shoeing he can get on the right path. If not I just got a pasture pal. I will post updates on him as they come. Also my friend saved a one eyed pony who is cute and sound. Anyways will post his progress, and name soon!

Wednesday Update!

So so far this week I have been really not sticking to any of my goals other then diet and working out- Go figure! My roommate/friend moved back to AZ on Tuesday and I have been spending the last two nights enjoying having the house to myself and being drama free.. Money management has been awesome though, been keeping the house clean- I am currently studying for certification that I am going through at work this week so I should get back to that as I love to distract myself..

Have a busy weekend planned for myself this weekend including doing nothing but house stuff and horse stuff- Can't wait and will check back soon with some updated pictures!

Back to Blogging!

So I am back to blogging- Its been a crazy summer so far, almost like a blur... Anyway I think the things that are important to me, like my animals, my health, my career have been put on the back burner as I have been on auto pilot lately. So as if Today, July 19th I am back to taking good care of myself, not sweating the small stuff, and focusing on the future.

Job is going great, animals are doing great, health is good, but since I have been on auto pilot its time to reorganize my like and try to reinvent myself. What does this mean?

1. No more gossiping or trash talking at work. This is truly lethal, and even though I don't do it that often, I want to stop all together. I want to focus on what is positive, and in turn work will become more positive. I really don't care who is doing what, I just want to be happy at work!

2. Focusing on my health. I have been running at work, I can do a mile in a little over 13 minutes! Of course I am running/walking but I really want to compete in the Duke City 5k in October- Getting healthy, watching what I eat and drink will be priority.

3. Get my house in order. I will not be able to watch tv, play WOW or anything until I vacuumed, organized, dusted one room. I am going to focus on one room a day and repeat the cycle each week- This is starting tomorrow with my bedroom ( today I cleaned kitchen and my roommate painted for me so the front room and kitchen looks AWESOME- Pictures to come.

4. Ride my horses more often. So I have 3 ridable horses, and a pony. I take great care of my horses but riding seems like a chore, versus what I have them for. I will be working 9-6 for a month, I want to ride at least each horse twice a week!

5. Focus on my debt. I have been so focused on my credit score, I just need to get out of debt all together! I have taken all my credit cards out of my wallet, and will only use my debit card. I will use Dave Ramsey's methods on paying off my cards. Enough is Enough!

Is that everything? Probably not but its what is on my mind tonight. I will check back again later this week and use this blog to keep me accountable. My goal is to post what I did every day, so we will see how that works! I have so many other cool things going on also, like Amazon Vine program- They are sending me this for free to try out and review- I should get this week- How exciting is this! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00284AOLQ
Amazon sent me a book that I am reading now, hopefully will have finished in a few days so I can review on- Anyway going to finish vacumning so I can watch Big Brother and True Blood before going to bed- Will check back soon on my progress of my re-invention!

Happy Summer!

So its been a couple of weeks since I got back from my trip- It was so awesome, the best trip I have ever had! I posted all of the pictures on my Flickr page. So this weekend I am cleaning, organizing and having some friends over tomorrow for a BBQ. The horses are all great, going to ride for the first time in a while tonight. Will post back with new pictures soon! Happy Memorial Day! :)

Hello from Europe

So I am blogging from the Baltic Sea- Went to Coppenhagen today, going to hit Berlin tommorrow- Having fun, wish I could share pictures- Off to enjoy another Stella Artois in the bar- Man I am afraid to get my bar bill, but once in a lifetime :)

April Updates

Ok so I haven't posted much lately, been so busy with work and getting ready for my big trip- I leave on the 25th- I can't wait- Had a blast last weekend with Robin & Mary & Trish- Robin and Mary flew in for the weekend and we took the "Drunk Bus" around the many fabulous bars in Valencia County. The animals are doing great- The weather is so nice today, I am going to ride today and spend time grooming the kids- Anyway will post more back soon-

Seattle Weekend

Just got back from Seattle tonight- Had the best weekend in Seattle catching up with old friends and new- Saw the Lion King yesterday, was great. Happy to be back home with my pets and all- Little over a month I leave for Europe- Can't wait! :)

Happy March!

So tonight I am just browsing blogger hitting the next blog page trying to past the time at work. Very entertaining pages, gives me good ideas for mine! Diet is going great, workouts are going great. I am just taking every day one day at a time as its hard not to cheat and eat something really bad ( like fast food ). In 30 min I will be off work and heading to Smiths to get some chicken breast to make a healthy dinner. It all comes down to convience for me and my eating. Its so easy to stop and get fast food, but I could eat so much healthier, and more if I made my own food... So happy March!

Friends where are you?

Ok so this is a rant blog post. I have lived in Los Lunas for a little over two years. My best friends are still related to my work and my new local friends are my neighbors who are all retired and no real fun. My newest friend is my best buddy Grey Goose and Ms. Merlot-Shiraz... I came to the country to meet new people and I love my work friends ( Shauna, Robin, Trish ect.. ) but how can I meet local people? Here it is Saturday night and my best buddy Grey Goose has been keeping me company as we watch Step Up 2: The Streets. I have learned some awesome new dance moves but OMG I AM SO TIRED BEING ALONE! No I am not looking for love, even though that would be nice, but I would love to have friends to hang out with. Go to Wild Pony and have some drinks, do anything! How should I go about meeting local people? Any Ideas?

Working out and I can't move!

So I started a "fittest loser" competition at my work gym, and yesterday I worked with my trainers really hard for the first time. I usually work out 3 times a week, 30 min on the treadmill or elliptical and I feel like I get a great work out but tonight I can't move. Yesterday I did 20 min spinning and 10 min intense ab work and today more ab work and leg work. I have never worked out so hard in my life to the point that I wanted to throw up and my face was red a good hour after my workouts. Tonight I am so sore I am drinking a glass of wine trying to get relaxed but it hurts to breathe my stomach muscles hurt so bad.. Anyway my eating is better, but I know I need to get more serious and probably drop the wine at night but it's my pleasure of the day. I weighed in Monday and I am back to the weight I was a few months ago, so I want to loose 20 lbs by April 24th, when I leave for my trip... Can I do it? Stay tuned! :)

Cowboy on the mend

So my farrier couldn't come out on Sunday to see if Cowboy had a abscess but I soaked it twice a day and I think he is on the mend and doing better. The last two days I haven't soaked his foot and he hasn't had any bute in 24 hours and today he is not limping but still moving slow. I let him out of his round pin and he seems to be doing great. I guess my vet was on the right track when she said get him back on the Hydrochloric Acid shots and I guess maybe her adjustment worked well. I will have my farrier out next week to trim him and I am going to put shoes on all 4 feet as he back feet hooves have gotten a little deformed due to him switching weight when he was sore ( Usually I only shoe his front 2 feet as I don't ride him on the road much ) So thanks for any prayers, I will keep you posted but I think he is going to be ok.. Once he gets his shoes back on I will start riding him regulary as my vet says that is crucial to keep his joints sharp. Anyway off to finish my glass of wine and watch W! Will check back soon

Snow Crane in my back yard

I took this this morning- I apologize for the shakiness of the video in some parts, but this is in the field behind my house- They are so pretty, and loud but I like it. They are also doing some strange mating dance I believe. Anyway enjoy a view from my back yard! :)

Back Massages and Pain Management

So Cowboy did something to his back a week ago. I have been giving him twice daily massages with Absorbine and he seems to be doing better even though I am worrying like crazy. He hasn't been ridden for about two months and my vet says with that and the fact that I took him off his Legend shots it happens with older horses with severe arthritis. He is only about 20. He won't even put weight on his back leg, in which my vet says it has to do with his back pain and possible nerve issues. I think he might have a abscess in his back hoof, since even when I tap it he flinches so I am going to go to the drugstore this morning and get some Epson Salt and try to soak it. Anyway please say a prayer for Cowboy, I am worried even though my vet says he wil be fine. So 1 gram of bute a day, twice daily massages.. My vet did a chiropractic "adjustment" on him on Monday, but I don't think that made a difference. For now I will just baby him and have started him back on his shots weekly, so I am sure he will improve. If not I don't even want to think of my other option as I refuse to have him in pain.. Anyways I will post more soon- Keep cowboy in your prayers! ( The music from the video was from my phone, gotta love Rhapsody with Verizon Wireless :) )

Diet, Exercise and Europe!

Ok so I passed the 3 month countdown for my trip to Europe... What have I been doing to loose weight for my big trip? NOTHING! When I mention diet, I go into panic mode, and I want to eat so the last few weeks I have been not dieting. And last week being home all week due to my eye injury I ate even worse.. So Sunday I changed up my regime and am going to try not to eat out, or I am only able to eat out if I eat out with friends. No more fast food and drive through..

I also have been back to working out 4 times a week at the gym, and starting next week I will be 8-5 M-F for a bit so I am going to try to work out at lunch, and after work at my awesome work gym. I AM NOT GOING TO EUROPE AGAIN THIS OVERWEIGHT DAMMIT!

So I weighed myself Sunday, I will weigh my self every Sunday and post my results. I am too chicken to post my actual weight atm as I am so embarrassed, but if you check out my SparkPeople page you would see the truth.

All the critters and the horses are doing fine. Tonight after work I came home and all the horses were waiting for their dinner, but Sand was no where to be found. I went into a panic thinking he had colic'd or something. I went to get my flashlight to search the pasture and he was in the round pin, I guess I forgot to latch it- He was happy to be free and flew out kicking his heels in the air. Tomorrow I am planning a beauty day for the horses, so I will post pictures, and Hope is doing awesome, seems to be in recovery mode with her laminitis. Pellets, or Bermuda Blend pellets is working well for the winter, all the horses are all plump and happy!

So above is a picture of a dinner I created. I love pizza, but a average pizza for me is a large one, with lots of calories. This pizza has a pita bread for crust, low fat moz cheese, pineapple, onion, green peppers and some cheddar on top. I figure with my calculations, I am looking at no more then 400 calories for a lovely meal!

Anyway will post back soon, also big eye doctor appt Thursday- I pray my eye is healed and I can go back to contacts, my glasses are killing me!

Eye Scare

So on Monday my eye in my left eye got blurry. I didn't think that much about it and figured when I got home that night I would take my contacts out, and all would be ok. I got home Monday night, took my contacts out and went to bed. Tuesday morning I woke up with the worse pain I have ever felt. My eye was totally light sensitive and hurt like their was razor blades in it. I made a appt at 10am at my local Eye Doctor, and called into work.

I made it into the eye doctor and after talking to my mom, figured I had a scratched cornea or something. My eye doctor took one look at my left eye and said "OMG Kristen we need to get you to a specialist. You have a ulcer in the middle of your cornea, you could lose your vision". So needless to say I went into a panic. They gave me some eyedrops to numb the pain, but as I was driving all the way into ALBQ, to Eye Associates the pain came back, and it was hard to drive. I saw a specialist at 1pm and he was very non emotional, gave me some steriods and said they needed to see me in 24 hours. I drove home, filled my presciption on the way at Walgreens which was horrible as the other set of eye drops had wore off, my eye was a weeping painful thing and I am sure I looked freaky with my black rimmed glasses and crying due to the pain. I took the drops/cream 4 times yesterday, and today I woke up and everything is getting better.

So I went to the specialist at 3pm today in the Los Luans office, she said the ulcer as shrunk, and I still have some healing before my vision comes back and to keep up with the steriod drops/creme. I am to go back to my regular eye doctor in a week, in which she assured my vision should be restored, but if I would have waited one more day I would be looking at a cornea transplant. I can't wear my contacts for a week, as my contacts is what has caused this mess. I have been a contact wearer for 20+ years and the last 10 years I sleep in mine only to take out once a month. The specialist said never again should I sleep in my contacts, even if they are made for sleeping in.

So I am thankful that everything is looking up. I had such a busy week at work, it couldn't have picked a worse week to happen but my manager understands. I look like Ugly Betty in my black rimmed ugly ass glasses, but next week when I go back I will order some nicer looking ones as I have had these for 7 years and the prescription isn't even correct. What I sight I am right now.. At least I can wear makeup now :) I hope my eye clears up as its still blurry, but I know it will. Anyway off to bed now, crazy things happen and makes me think I need to get out of this house and meet someone so when I have a crisis I will have someone for me. Maybe I should get back on Match.com.. Anyway off to bed!

Lassie Dog Food

Hello my friends and readers! So its been a busy month but I am back to normality and and back to blogging- The class I am training at my work graduates in a week, so things are winding down and I will have some time to relax and not be so busy. So all is good at the ranch. Today I ran out of my normal dog food, Exclusive that I buy at my local Old Mill Feed Store. My dogs don't really like it but its chocked full of vitamins and good stuff and it hardly leaves any waste behind to pick up in my yard. So the feed store wasn't open when it usually is so I went to Smiths after work to pick up a couple day supply to take me to Thurs when I can make the feed store again. I bought some Lassie all Natural food, not cheap mind you, and the ingredients look great. I poured some in my 4 dogs bowls tonight and they went nuts. Even Fuss my picky too skinny greyhound gobbled it down like it was a Rib Eye Steak.. So I am impressed! A 30 pound bag at Smiths is $22 where I was paying $29 for 35 pounds of senior Exclusive. My dogs liked the Senior Lassie also more then the Adult BTW.. So I am going to switch up foods for a bit and see if the mess in my backyard stays low like it has...

On a side note of feeding cheaper pet food, my cats I am feeding Friskies Natural.. They fill up my littermaid in 2 days in which it was before 3.. ( I have 4 cats ) so the better the food, the less the waste, when I finish the bag I have I will be switching to a better brand..

Ok so that is it, all is awesome- Work is great, horses are doing awesome on their pellet diets and I have added some corn oil to the mix for calories and heat for the winter. Farrier comes out next week and I think I am going to pull the shoes off 3 of them as I haven't had much time to ride, and its good to let them go natural for a couple of months a year I think.

I promise to write more often- I have so many reviews of the various things I have bought and I miss blogging! Also the above picture is of Buster. The dog I rescued from a friend whose trailer park wouldn't allow dogs with viscous breeds in them. Buster is a Chow/Collie and is about 7. Luna and him play all the time and he is a great barker and wouldn't hurt a fly.

Off to bed, you will hear from me soon as my weight loss journey for my big cruise in April has almost begin!

Xoxoxoxo