GREAT start with the first chapter of your journel, Karen!  I am SO anxious and excited to hear how things go on Monday and then his first minutes and hours at MHWF.  I'll also be looking forward to the many photos I know you'll be taking!   

With the three journels about Mista, Sileque and Mac, that might make for one heck of a good book!  LOL   "Life of the Forgotten Stallions" 

OK - so now I'm sitting here crying as that was a truly amazing journal entry.  You have such a talent for writing, Karen.  Thank you for sharing.  I can't wait to read the updates and I am wondering now if Mista is going to be looking for an adopter or if he already has a home......  Congrats to you.

Karen, as you know, and as Scott knows, I've repeatedly told you and myself that I was taking Sileque in as a "foster" horse and that my job was to make him more adoptable.  Don't know exactly what happened between then and the day we picked him up but, apparently, Scott could see right through me as he had me sign the "adoption" papers!  LOL  Sileque isn't going anywhere!   (am I being selfish???  )   

Once you start living and working with Mista, I wouldn't doubt it'll be hard pressed for you to say good-bye to him.  As sweet as that old guy is, I'm sure you won't have any trouble at all finding him a new home.  I know if I could've, I would've stuffed him in my pocket that day we picked up Sileque!  Mista is just TOO sweet!  Anyone who gets him (including YOU, Karen!) will be one lucky soul. 

Hi, I just read your last entry-- it's bizarre that these people "concerned for the bloodline" care more for the bloodline than the horse himself.  It's okay if he stands in a field and starves, just don't geld him???  That is a very strange stance and reeks of someone thinking there was profit in the bloodline if they could come up with registration papers.  Conveniently concerned, I would say.  I can only hope they read this forum as well, Karen.  You are rerouting the futures of these horses to people who will consider their health, safety and well-being ahead of their bloodline.  They are most certainly deserving of that -I think they ended up right where they needed to be.  As big a rehab task as it is for you and all the good people involved, these horses have the opportunity to be loved for themselves instead of the money their bloodline is worth.  I think it's great. 

One more thing- your pictures are just beautiful! And so is Mista!!

Thank you so much everyone!  Mista has learned so much since he has been here, and has taught me more than I have taught him. 

I just wanted to let everyone know that Mista does have a new update in his journal. 

Mista and Josh

P.S.  Thanks again guys, and Sophie please do go ahead and use the picture for your background..thank you so much for asking.    That is very flattering! 

I only ask that any of the pictures I post that people do abide by the copyright law, and no one use them for making any type of artwork, etc., unless they get permission from me.  Thank you again!   

Karen this is BEAUTIFUL !!!  Definitely good for the spirit !

Hi everyone, and thanks again.  Scott suggested that I do an update on the forum from time to time on Mista for those who don't read his LiveJournal.  Not a bad idea, so here's a little update on the Mista man. (although I will be keeping much more detailed updates of him in the journal) 

Mista has come a long way since arriving here on June 26th.  He really does tend to take things in stride and does adjust to new things pretty quickly.  He has now met all of the members of the herd here at MHWF in one sense or another, some close and personal meetings, and some just across the fence not being able to touch but yet being close enough to smell each other.  As most of you know, he has had Libby as a paddock mate, then Hailey and now Marcy (one at a time).  Mista learned to pick up his feet very nicely and has even had them trimmed.  He was really a trooper for this.  We've worked a lot on leading and on leading in different situations and places and he has done beautifully!  I can lead him all over the yard and hang out and let him graze in the yard now very comfortably, with him at ease leaving his paddock mate behind for these ventures. 

I won't get in depth here regarding Mista's arthritis and lameness issues, but just want to touch base on the fact that he is required to be on a good glucosamine/chondroitin and MSM supplement.  He is doing very well, but we realize that Mista will never be rideable, and that is just fine.  At 23 years old and the life he has had he deserves a very comfortable retirement.  He sure seems to be enjoying his new life here to the fullest. 

We have also constructed a couple of new lines of well marked fencing to accommodate a nice separate pasture for quarantine purposes, as well as other purposes, of about 3 acres in size that includes a double 3-sided shelter (it is like two 3-sided shelters in one).  We are very proud of Mista!  He has already graduated from being in the very small pasture area we made for him and Marcy to the larger 3 acre pasture and is doing beautifully!  He respects fencing very well and has never once even thought of testing it (unfortunately, I don't think he really knew what electric was and did get a little shock, but he is a smart boy and I know he won't be touching it again). All of the horses have come to the fence line to meet and greet him.  There is a double line of fence separating them, so it is close but not too close of an encounter.  Rein has met Mista outside of the pasture setting and they hit it off beautifully, and it still shows that they will be friends.  Rein comes to the fence line to visit with Mista and it is a very pleasant type of exchange (absolutely no challenging or anything of the sort).  When Sierra, Miss Herd Boss (Belgian mare) came to the fence line at very first encounter she did her usual..gave Mista a look and turned her butt to do a fake kick.  This is her MO.  She has never kicked a horse, even though she is the "herd boss".  She just makes herself look scary enough for horses to move away from her at the flick of an ear.  She is also a kind boss and doesn't do any interfering in anyone's business out there.  The "bachelor boys", as I like to call them, the playful geldings of the group, all had their fun coming up and seeing the new guy in the pasture.  Absolutely no challenging or threats going on on either side of the fence.  We had only one encounter of a challenge....Mista did one of his studdy voice kind of calls and this inflamed Festivo a bit.  Just enough to make him perk up and run up to the fence, arching his neck and looking all tough.  We are not ready for the herd yet.  Today there was none of that as we spent a lot of time out there observing them all.  We need to keep our eyes on Festivo and see how he is going to behave.   If need be, when the herd and Mista are ready to be intermingled, we can separate Festivo from the mix with a buddy or two and see how things go.  This will take some time yet before we are all ready for that.  With the auction rescue tomorrow, we will need the quarantine area for whatever horses we are able to take home from the auction, so Mista and Marcy will have to go back into the smaller area again for the time being. 

Well, I only have a couple of pictures uploaded and ready to put on the forum that I took yesterday. 

Here is Mista out in his pasture looking over at the herd.  If you look closely, on the far left of the picture you can see Ranger running.  That is hard to see as this is not a very good quality picture, but it is just such a good sight to see Ranger feeling so well.  Ranger is also going to be a friend to Mista...they seem to get along very well, as well as Rose. 

Here is Rein visiting with Mista, as well as Ranger and Rose coming up to say hello too.  The angle of this shot makes them look closer than they really are..that is a double line of fence with 4 feet in between fence lines.  Rein really does like Mista, and Mista likes Rein for some reason...odd creatures horses are.  They have only spent a couple of hours together outside of the pasture setting. 

Here's two of the goofy "bachelor boys".  They come to say hello to Mista and them show him how they groom each other.  Here's Pride and Volare grooming each other across the fence from Mista. 

Thanks everyone, and talk to you soon! 

Karen

Whenever I am feeling blue, and, life is getting me down, I come here, and, I read about you and Mista, and, Susan and Sileque, and, I am overcome with joy.  Your livejournal is so very beautiful, and, the photos even more so.

It is easy to tell your love for, and, understanding of, the horses in your care, and, I can't tell you enough how very touching that is.  I hope to be able to contribute, financially, to your place in the future.

It is a shame that you and Susan do  not live closer, as it seems you have so very much in common, besides just Mista and Sileque.

I have fallen in love with Mista and Sileque.  What beautiful souls they are, and, it is so very heartwarming to know that they are both, finally, home, and, safe...forever.

Thank you for all that you do.

Michele

The July 28th entry, entitled, "Happily at Home," on Karen's Live Journal, again, brought tears to my eyes.  What beautiful sentiment you have expressed, about Mista, and, the others out there waiting....

I'm such a sap, my eyes welled up reading you last entry Karen.  I'm so glad the boys were able to "talk" things through.  Can't wait to hear where your relationship with Mista goes from here!!