January 16,2004Dear Susan and Dale
I hope this letter finds you and Dale well.
Scott and I have been working very long hours, in the morning and
after work we also have to care for the horses. Macee requires
constant care as her healing process is very long. She has
developed a hernia and if we are unable to get it to close she
will have to have a second surgery. Macee is a wonderful mare, she
is loving most of the time and has trusted me to do what is needed for her.
I am not saying all has been pleasant, yet procedures the vet has to twitch
her for she allows me to do, however Scott is not as welcomed as I.
Funny how horses pick their owners. When Macee was so very ill,
she kept her head in my lap as I sat on the stall floor, if I left
her she would began thrashing.
I think it was at that time she and I bonded.
Can Macee ever be bred again, the vet says yes,
my heart however at this time is not willing to take that chance.
Can she ever be ridden, yes as soon as she is healed, free from the hernia.
The recover time can take up to two years after the surgery she went through,
yet without it she would have died in just a few more hours.
I never have as good a day as the day I see Macee, at times Scott will go
over in the evening as I cook dinner, to save a little time, mostly we are
burned out from long hours at work and arriving home around 9 P.M.
Those are the times I miss being with her, as well as Peppy and Footsie.
I enjoy just brushing her after a long stressful day, it seems to
calm both Macee and me.
Funny I enjoy just listening to her eat as I burry my face in her warm winter coat.
Macee talks a lot to us and comes as soon as I call her name.
Yes at times she gets a mare attitude, making that ugly face over her bucket,
but a stern word and she knows to put the ears back up.
Yes a little spoiled I guess, but she has the right after such a
long journey to recovery. Macee still has Peppy at her side,
she is a wonderful mother, she is strict
with Peppy and give him correction when needed.
Of course that has helped Peppy with his manners.
I let peppy out with our other mare Footsie, she likes
peppy but also keeps him in line. Peppy is very well mannered.
He leads, ties, blankets, bathes, ponies,
uses the hot walker trailers and lunges and is able to move his hind
and front with slight pressure as well as backs.
Stands fairly well for the shoer and has learned to watch his nibbling.
He is however not as excepting of other people, very leery.
I plan on working on that more this summer, taking him more
places, maybe even a few shows. Peppy is not weaned yet.
Macee is in that process with him, due
to the wet cold weather I have been waiting for that right time as well.
Our vet feels Macee is holding up very well yet at seven months
he is almost as big as his mother. I have also been concerned at
putting him in with our mare Footsie, she is very aggressive
at feeding time and I want Peppy to keep his good legs.
The stable has no open place for him yet, so we are
thinking of getting a pipe stud corral for him ourselves at the
end of February. Peppy is just handsome and has great conformation.
We have a client who has several Peppy San mares and wants
to use Peppy when we stand him his first year. We hope it all
works out and peppy can go on the show circuit.
That will all depend on his performance when he goes to the trainer.
I am excited about building a home and having a barn, yet the land will
have to be graded so most likely we will have a small turn out, unless the
horses like big hills, gullies and overgrown sage brush. Yet we do plan on
getting more horses. Peppy will need a mare or two and I would like to breed
a mare to the Hollywood Dun It line. Scott and I love reining competitions.
We are more the performance horse types, yes I love to look at the halter
horses, yet am more impressed with ability.
Peppy San Montana is the name we want, will see if the AQHA will issue it.
So I am now just waiting on his paper work to come back. I hope to take some
new photos this weekend and get them scanned, I will send them when I do.
Have a few older ones for you and Dale.
I do hope all is well with you both and you have a wonderful year, free of illness.
Please excuse my late correspondence, it's a work thing, gets in the way of life.
Sincerely,
Sandie Smith
4 mo Old "Peppy San Montana" & Macee in her brace
January 3,2003Dear Dale and Susan,
Macee is here, she arrived safely. Macee was a little shy and nervous at first.
On new years day Macee went for her first ride, Scott enjoyed her willingness
and her smooth gates. I have not ridden her yet but just watching her go I
can surely tell she is well broke and has a wonderful rein on her.
Our good friend Julie took a spin on Macee and remarked she would
"buy one from Dale", now you do not know Julie and let me tell
you that is quite a compliment.
Macee is still out in a large pasture alone, however next week
hopefully we will be moving her into her own stall, which converts
to a foaling stall and includes a large paddock in the barn.
Of course I enjoyed giving her the beauty makeover, she was
very good stood nicely for the clippers as well as main-pulling.
I will make it a point as soon as I get a day to take some photos
to do so and e-mail them to you both.
I hope this short note finds you and yours well and happy this New Year.
Sincerely, Sandie Smith
January 3, 2003Dear Susan,
Thank you for the pic's, Macee is sure a good girl, boy she put up with a long drawn out exam.
Macee so far is healthy and not showing any sniffles from her long trip.
We have found that she loves carrots and a hot bran mash, she is a very dainty eater for a horse.
Hope you have a good evening, give my best to Dale.
Sandie