Please Support Susan’s Recovery And Horse Care!

Dear Friends:

Thank you for donating, to help me through this debilitating health struggle and to save my two horses! I would appreciate too, if you could share this fundraiser to others, who care. Thank you ! ❤️

My name is Susan, a College instructor who has lived frugally in an apartment for 30 adult years and gained success as a teacher of archaeology art history and studio art (painting) due to training and guidance from wonderful colleagues and friends. It’s been an interesting journey for which I’m thankful! I’ve been so lucky to meet and work with insightful and talented friends and mentors, and pass forward their legacy of teaching Art (studio-painting) Art History and Archaeology to another generation of students and scholars!

I haven’t been that lucky physically though, the past couple years! Along with the arthritis many of us have, as well as a serious injury to my foot (I require an operation so I can walk again, normally) I was also debilitated by Long Covid two years ago, causing me to retire from my job of 18 years!

These years I’ve been able to teach classrooms and forums of gifted students and seen them at their jobs in the community. They are an inspiration! Despite huge challenges in thr many years starting with the crash of the stick market (many students even came to class hungry during that period!) these classes of strongly motivated learners, have continued to carve their paths, first in classrooms then suddenly having to switch online during the Covid scare! They had families to take care of and many worked part time or suddenly found themselves isolated and without income! Teachers worried about them often especially as we could not really see them except online. I know many of us faced challenges too as students (though these times were especially disorienting to students and colleges alike) which at least gave me the chance to support them the best I could, from experience. (including starting a food program at the college the last year I was there. )

So I love my profession but I’m only now beginning to recover and still struggling with debilitating fatigue and pain from Long Covid. I’m used to being active and this has been a very difficult recovery!

The owner of the barn where my two horses are boarded has been patient with me, I was able to catch up for most months with donations Thank you!

But I suffered a relapse and am now needing to complete the fundraiser through September that I started!

Helpers from the city have been here with me and physical therapists to get me up on my feet and helping me exercise, clean house and working with me through fatigue and disability. They gave me a readout of my physical issues and I was astonished with the effect Covid and resulting maladies have had on my body- aches and pains seem magnified and I must still rest a lot! But also with their help im beginning to go outside a bit more.

So, I’m still in this plight and terrified for my horses! And the barn owner needs to see payments now!

I’ve been working with horse advocates for 17 years to make sure wild horses have not gone to slaughter! I cannot let that happen to my two horse companions and have seen many “new homes” for horses become a nightmare!

So I ask you once again dear friends to help me catch up, so the horses will be safe while I’m beginning to walk again.

I owe the barn:

1230x4 months at this time as reflected in the fundraiser! You have been generous with your donations and I am grateful! Donations of any amount add up quickly! But now I must pay these 4 months so the horses will be able to stay safely where they are through the Fall, moving into the months of Winter.

At some point, Teaching online instead of the classroom this time, will allow me to battle the debilitating fatigue from Long Covid, at home!

Under a doctor's care, I’ve been healing, but it’s been a long road, starting with a strange and debilitating exhaustion ! Formally being an active person, I had no idea this was referred to as “Long Covid” but this terminology helped me find medical assistance.

My Two Horses need urgent help!

Eight years ago, I bought a friend's horse to ride in the arena and on trails, at a wonderful barn where horses are well cared for. I could not walk well anymore on my broken foot and often fell while walking. but I had ridden horses when I was a child and at college. The riding and posture helped me develop balance, strength, and allowed me be to be in the forest and in nature again which was a great relief! The horse walked for me!

I also saved a second sensitive wild horse that had been abused and I realized that by walking with him, we were both learning not to be afraid, together. It brought up memories for me of my own abuse in childhood, which took all the courage I had.

We developed a very special bond. We slowed down time for both of us- we took all of the time in the world because I realized we were taking this trip for courage and physical strength, together. We learn together what required a cautious approach while learning to identify those experiences we can face bravely, but won’t cause harm!

With a broken pin in my foot, he helped me walk and I helped him learn about the scary things in an unfamiliar world. He is gentle and courageous, so does the same for me. I may create a children’s book about him someday. I’m presently training him to be a therapy horse as well, because he is so intuitive, smart and kind.

And then this training, riding and healing experience, came crashing down. I had to quit my job of 18 years, to recover because of Covid and I couldn’t go to the stable, frequently, as I had. We have been at the stable for eight years, the horses are happy and bonded with their horse pals and I have made progress in every area of my life because of the horses and fellow riders.

My horses keep me courageous and building muscles, trying to increase my strength, but then when I became ill recently, I couldn’t focus or work! For now, a friend is riding the Arena horse and pays a small amount for trims and vaccinations and for the attentive barn manager who turns out the arena horse, daily. The other horse likes the pasture and shelter with his friends. VAX has been recently been done by the Barn Vet as well as teeth floating and that needs to be paid for ($350.00) The two horses receive good hay, turn out and kindness at the barn.

So, Im asking for angel donations, to pay horse board for the two boys, ❤️through the Fall. I’m not used to being debilitated like this, I’ve been active my entire life so it’s not easy to ask for help, but I must! It’s for four months of horse board and the vet bill of $350.

For 18 years I have helped friends rescue horses in need. We have too often seen horses end up in terrible homes or shipped to slaughter, even with efforts by humans to place them well. We know of too many innocent horses “falling through the cracks” this way when owners fall ill or sadly pass away. Economics often push owners to let go of horses and it’s heartbreaking, especially without guarantees for their safety and care!

I know the owner cannot wait much longer for payment! I’ve been there with my horses for 8 (eight) years paying consistently so the kind barn owner has given me until NOW! But hay is more expensive in the Winter. This fundraiser has become urgent.

I must pay now pay the barn owner an average of $ 500+/week until the end of August to catch up:

The board for the two boys:

1230./month

June, July, August and September

and $350. for the Vet care received.

I must also pay the barn manager $100.00/month raised from $50/month

So I now must complete this fundraiser, I started.

Other steps taken:

I have been trying to get a roomate for my apartment which could defray costs but people are terrified of the town and area I live in. It’s a good community for the Arts and colleges, but It used to be so much safer! I was here to teach, as my job was close by. Crime has increased the past three years! I’ve been trying to find a reliable boarder or roomate for several months, with very little luck so far. Twice, people said they would move in, I was ready to pay the board for the horses from their rent payments! But then, potential roommates checked out the neighborhood, misunderstood the unique international culture and struggling as this town is, with economics (like many towns today it seems!) So, they changed their mind, before they put down their deposit! This caught me off guard a bit, as in the past it’s been fairly easy to rent out a room here, close to public transportation! This delay put me back further while struggling with health concerns.

I’m also actively looking for a less expensive place to live in CA, even a trailer or ADU would be great if anyone knows of something, fenced so my friendly dog is safe! I also do some gardening and pet care! Please let me know! I will do this because I love my horses and I’m responsible for them the rest of their lives. They are saving my health and with adjustments of my circumstances and living location and your assistance for a bit longer, they will be safe again! Thank you!! ❤️ I have applied to subsidized housing while I heal, to save money I will give to the barn. The horses come first! I’m just about ready to find an RV and live frugally again only most of my current rent going to support my two horses the rest of their lives.

A long range goal:

I have been receiving help from doctors. With the return of health and work eventually, I may hope to purchase an acre+ in a couple years where I’ll care for my horses the rest of their lives, so they are never shipped off, never abused nor sent to slaughter. They can still be together and well cared for. But right now, they live at a safe barn with good people and food so I’ll keep them there as long as I can, hopefully at least another year.

The horses are more important to me than a fancy house and I’m an outdoor lady who loves nature! I’m a Gardner too who loves to grow fruit trees. It’s been especially hard recently though. I’m astonished by my lack of strength, these past couple years!

I’ve helped save horses, and other animals both online, and with friends on location “boots on the ground” for years! I didn’t realize that one day I would need help myself!

Thank You, you are angels and I appreciate your kindness and donations here! ❤️ With your help, I can urgently pay the board owed to the kind owners who board my horses. They need to buy hay as part of the board, and it gets more expensive, every year .

When I know my horses are SAFE Then I can continue to focus on getting my health back and teach online classes from home. Eventually, I’ll even be able to locate the correct surgeon to repair my foot so I can walk again with greater ease!

I retired and was awarded an “Emeritus” in teaching , by my peers, who I greatly miss. This award means a lot to me, thank you! As a teacher, I can never really retire fully and like all of us, must make a living. Soon, with your help, and with the two horses SAFE, I can continue healing under my Doctors care and I’ll be teaching again! I’ll be able to be with my two Boys and ride again, because as we know, horses are healers themselves!

Thank you so very much!

Please share this urgent fundraiser also, with other caring people, animal lovers, and equestrians! That will help a great deal.

I hope someday I can help you as well, if you fall into an urgent abyss like this (though I hope indeed that you will not!) Helping each other gets us back on our feet, so our crisis is temporary!

Gratefully, ❤️ Susan and the two Boys

I wish you the very best as well and thank you from the bottom of my heart!! ❤️

I am urgently asking for:

1) four months of board: 1230x4

2) the Vet is owed 350.00

teeth floated, VAX,trim)

Vet visit (upkeep/cleanse) upcoming

3) the barn manager asks for 100/month for

turn out.