Rachel's Birthday

This morning there was absolutely no breeze and the lake was reflecting the houses as a mirror. The stillness of the morning was glorious. The only movement was a blue heron flying about 1 foot over the surface of the lake until mom let Heidi out. Then the quietness was broken by howling and barking. Finally mom and Joan came out and Heidi was content to RUN! Diane joined us, then Rachel. Just as we started back over the dam we broke into a very LOUD off key rendering of Happy Birthday to Rachel. She turns 38 today. Hard to believe my LITTLE sister is that old. We had a good talk on the walk, rehashing Rachel's party.
Steven pulled up at the farm to work on manes just after Izadora was moved into the small paddock. There is more hay there and she is now out of season. By the time the walk was over he had Sangria's tail done and was working on her mane. The cowboy magic was in the trailer so once that was applied it went a little faster and Steven had both Big Sally and Sangria finished by 9:00am. They were turned back out and both went galloping through the fields with their manes and tails flying. THANK YOU STEVEN.

Chloe

I didn't have time to video tape Chloe and only got a couple of pictures of her. First I had to get the burrs out of her mane and tail and the MUD off. She was well behaved for all of it. She had a burr in her ear and didn't fuss when I had to pull a bit to get it out. Rhoda had left so I ended up just tying her to the tree for the pictures. Of course she was always looking the wrong way when I went to snap the picture. It is now 9:30pm and feels LATE.

Khelly's Class Act

After church today, I pulled Classy out, cleaned him up and had Rhoda help me take some pictures and a video. He is a yearling, out of Chiquita Too and by our Friesian stallion RAVEN. Chiquita Too is by the Arabian stallion Khelly, a Western pleasure champion. Classy inherited the Arabian good looks with the Friesian bone. He really does have great movement. He is glossy black with a little brown around his muzzle. I guess technically that makes him a black bay but he sure looks black most of the year. We are asking $2500.00 for him. He is still a stallion but we would be willing to geld him if the new owner desires this. He is very well behaved.

Blind

Last night after the party I jumped in the drivers seat of the car to drive home, put my glasses on and thought, mmmm somethings wrong I can't see very well. I made it out of mom's driveway without hitting anything but just kept saying, I can't see right, there is something wrong with my left eye. Once on the road, I tried taking off my glasses and honestly without them was just about better than with them but when I put them back on my left eye felt blind. I tried a few times taking the glasses off and putting them back on and each time exclaimed, "There is REALLY something wrong with my left eye!" I was terribly concerned until Mark asked for my glasses, looked at them and told me I was missing the left lens. Thank Goodness!
This morning searching through the car I found the lens so hopefully I can get the glasses repaired.
At the farm, the mud is so discouraging. The mares were let out into the field to get their babies out of the mud. Izadora is still in and was covered by Raven but Sandy is not as interested so she can probably go home. Karin came around 1:00 and helped me put the horses back. Her youth group is scheduled for a trail ride next weekend. Sure hope the weather improves and the mud starts to disappear.

The Sauder's Costume Party

Last night Rachel and Dave hosted their annual costume party. It was a amazing seeing the unique way this family can dress up. Each year Rachel has a contest with prizes for the many different categories. Karin won best women costume as a terrorist, Noel won best girl costume as orphan Anni, Tydon Kellenberger won the 11 year old and under boy as a police man, David Jacob won the guy division as the grim reaper and Ben and Taunya Sceggel won the couples as midgets. The prizes were fantastic, Ben and Taunya's prize was a gift certificate of $25.00 at a resturant. The best part of the evening was during the time the names were called in the young boy division. Each time Tydon's name was called he got more and more excited, when he won he started pumping his arms in the air. It was a good laugh watching. The party was a lot of fun. Thanks Rachel and David.

Canton @ Old School Center

We got over 2 and a half inches of cold drenching rain last night and today it is STILL raining. The lake is very close the the very edge of the dam, if it raises much higher it will be OVER the dam. The overflow is a rushing river. Driving out to the farm I see that the Kickapoo Creek is also close to overflowing. This morning Sandy was covered DURING our walk. With Rachel's help and Sandy being very cooperative it took maybe 3 minutes so Rachel and I were able to join Diane, mom and Joan on the farm loop. I reminded Joan about the Canton 8th graders coming to the Old School Center this morning. Diane and mom also offered to come and help, Spark and Rhonda were already there waiting for us. The three bus loads pulled up just before 9:30am and started unloading. The kids were taken right into the gym for Spark to give his welcome and rule talk, then off they went. We video taped some of the party when we weren't too busy selling food. Below is the video.
Clean up went very easy with such great help and soon we were all driving home in the RAIN again.

Grace

Emily Ricketts sent me this picture of Grace today. Grace is no longer with us, but we are thankful to have her daughter Jewell. Grace was one of our favorite mares, she was a retired race horse and wow could she run. She was originally purchased for $25,000.00 as her racing bloodlines are wonderful while Grace did not do very well on the race track, she shined at jumping! Her foals have all been athletic, tall and each has had a wonderful disposition and GREAT conformation. Grace was also our very first combined training horse. Thanks Emily, it is great to see a picture of her.

Izadora

Above is Izadora and her colt. I need to get some updated pictures, this was taken last week (I think he is 2 days old)in it, these foals grow so fast.
made it to the farm by 7:00am, got everyone grained, then over to mom's to get ready to walk. It is very entertaining watching Heidi before mom comes out of her house. Heidi takes flying leaps onto the deck, off the deck, through the doggy door of the garage, out the doggy door and onto the front porch all the time howling and barking. As soon as mom comes out and tells her "Go" Heidi takes off in a huge circle as fast as she can run. Once this circle is out of the way she is ready for the walk.
Mike showed up right as we got to the farm loop the second time so I dropped out and helped get Izadora covered. She is in big and stood very well even with her foal on the other side of the fence. Izadora has settled down and not acting nervous at all any more. She is very proud of her son but no longer trying to keep everyone away from him. Once she is out of season she can go back into the mare and foal paddock. We moved Sanna into the paddock with Jenis and Ylse. It is good to have the 3 foals together. Before I left for home we removed 6 of the 2x6 boards off the side of one of the shelters so horses can eat from 2 sides instead of just from the front.
6:00pm It has been a gray rainy day, just about the entire day but this morning we saw a tiny and I mean tiny bit of sunshine. Still I got the shopping done for Canton School tomorrow at the Old School Center. We are serving hot fragrant, salty popcorn, sweet pink and blue cotton candy, luscious moist bun length hot dogs and bottled water to any of the students that were well behaved during this semester. They will be here from 9:00am to 11:00am. Joan and her daughters will help.
We left for Bible study at Howard and Nancy Herman's house at 6:15pm and drove through wave after wave of rain. Mark actually dropped me off at the door to try to keep the books dry. I think we need to start ordering lumber for the Ark that will be needed if this keeps up.
We were home by 8:30pm and it is still POURING!

Thursday

We were up early, not that the sun was out, in fact it was raining during the night and more rain is predicted today with perhaps a thunderstorm.
My book came in the mail yesterday. I finished Black, skimmed back over Red and now am about half way done through White. It is really good and I hated to put it down. I'm heading out to the farm to get Izadora covered after our walk, then down to TSC to pick up more grain.

Sandy & Izadora

I over slept this morning, didn't have time to drink a cup of coffee or read the paper if I wanted to be at the walk in time. I actually made it with a few minutes to spare and was able to drop off a box for Joan to take to Haiti when they leave. We had a great walk today even in the mud. Yesterday and last night the rain was falling pretty steady and there has not been any sunshine to help dry up the ever present mud.
Rachel helped me get Sandy covered by Raven and once done Raven had to be taken over to Izadora's paddock to check her out. She is either in or coming in, she didn't kick, squeal or move away. We will plan on getting her covered tomorrow as Sandy won't need to be done for 48 hours.
Sandy was covered yesterday but Raven had not been used since he covered Kesha's mare so the yesterday's cover is considered a clean out. Anyone that is managing a breeding farm would realize to not follow the 48 hour rule if the stallion has not been used in the recent days. The first picture is of Sandy's filly from 2008 Rachel named Bella (sold) and below that is Sandy's 2009 colt named Raven's Shadow. They are like 2 peas in a pod. Both pictures were taken the day of their birth. This is real proof that Raven throws WAY more of himself then the mare! We are so proud of Raven.

The colt is such a little stud. He threatened Heidi this morning on our walk. He was protecting his mom. At least He thought so!

Garage Sale for Haiti

Below is an email from Michelle Kellenberger:

we are planning a big garage sale at the Herman's barn on November 6th and 7th with all the proceeds going to Haiti.
anyone interested in helping can contact Beth Herman at 309-303-4740.
anyone who has items to donate can drop them off at the barn anytime starting on Tuesday the 3rd.
this is only a week and a half away so lets get going!!
we need your help and your old stuff!

Raven our Friesian Stallion

Raven was busy today. Sandy, Rachel Sauder's mare is in season and was covered today, Sangria is coming in season and Izadora should start coming in on her foal heat. Raven will be busy for a while.
Mark sent me out to the farm this morning with a 176 pound propane tank. I left shortly before 7:00am and it was still dark. By the time I got to the farm it was daylight but cloudy and misting. I was able to unload the tank by myself, then thought as long as I'm here, I'll move Lily in with the herd now that her filly is at Bridlewood. I took a short cut so I didn't have to get muddy but instead of it being a short cut I caused more work. Jenis pushed open the gate as I was moving Lily and they all took off for Ralph and Jamie's YARD. With all the rain the ground is very soft and they were causing damage(the stinkers). I don't know why they didn't just go into the field like they usually do. They wouldn't come for grain so I just left them and met up with mom, Joan, Diane and Rachel and during our farm loop the girls helped me get Lily in the main paddock and the others in the field. Of course I got filthy moving them, so much for being ready for work.
We decided to just let them graze and I planned on being back after lunch but Rachel called that Sandy is now showing so she put them all back for me and brought Sandy over. We didn't finish with work until after 2:00pm and back to the farm I drove. Rachel came over to help, Sandy stood well and we will mark her down. I havn't started getting the burrs out of Sangria's, Big Sally's and Walker Sally's manes yet. The foals were waiting for me to bring their grain. It is so nice that Ciera and Classy come right up and wait quietly, the other 2 are not yet sure grain is worth coming up for but by the time I was ready to go back into the house all 4 were eating the grain. I won't start working on cleaning them up until I know they will come when I call. I'm so tired of MUD!!!

Letter from Tim Reinhard

Dear friends and loved ones,

We would like to especially thank each and everyone, of you for demonstrating such love and concern to us during this difficult time. It truly has been a collaborated effort, in God, that made it possible to exit the country with Gabriel’s body the same day of the accident. Our hearts are broken, but it is the love and prayers that are truly carrying us at this time. It was cold and rainy outside, but with the warmth and Love of the body of Christ, we had the visitation and funeral of our precious son Gabriel. Sarah and I have had tremendous healing already within this past week, and we are encouraged at the progress. There are still some concerns with regards to infections, but everyday has been another victory. It is my hope that we would be able to come back down to Haiti in three weeks and start with the process, in every aspect of healing, as a family there as well. We know from experience this does take some time and patience and we will continue to lean on your prayers. A benefit of having lost a child before is the fact that God has proven himself Faithful in this same situation and we can use that as a Ebenezer. A discouraging thought is we know it wasn’t easy and it took a long time to feel really healed. I am thanking God for the wonderful opportunity to be called Dad to Gabriel and to rejoice in life with him for 5 years. At this time we feel a tremendous hole in the family, but know God is God, and he does not have to answer to us. My prayer is that I, or my family, will not ever stand in the way of bringing Glory to his Name or his Kingdom in whatever way he might chose. He never promised the road to be easy, but he does promise Grace, for which we are grateful. Attached are a couple pictures of the before and after to give you a reference of the healing progress. The second picture is a picture of Gabriel right after his passing as I shared some last fleeting moments with him and committing him to God. Please feel free to forward this e mail to your prayer circles. For those of you who are a bit more enthusiastic in searching for pictures or news blogs we have a facebook page called Reinhard connection, and some blogging at horsemeister.com.

Carried by your prayers,

Tim & Joan & Family

A 2 month old Friesian Filly by RAVEN

This morning we, Diane, Joan, mom, Barb Munther, Rachel and I walked in the mud and by the time we were almost finished, in the rain AGAIN! After the walk, Barb Munther went in to take some stitches out of Tim in various places before she left for her home in Ohio. I had to go in town for a funeral while the rest just went to work. By the time I got home Philip was here eating lunch, then Ruth and finally Mark came in all for lunch. After lunch I worked on the video of Sanna's filly. Rhoda and Monica took some video clips of her yesterday and wanted them uploaded on youtube. The problem is that the music we attach to the videos will no longer be accepted on youtube. It seems we must use their music. While I was waiting for the uploading, I made 4 pumpkin pies to share around.
I still need to get out to check on the Friesian foals, I can see them from the door, but I want them to look forward to people coming so will bring them some grain each time out. It is cute how all 4 are half siblings and all 4 are also now best friends. The mares were quiet this morning and so are the foals. The hard thing about weaning abruptly is the mare's udders, the easy thing is that they forget so fast and usually there is only a few hours of calling. We have weaned both ways and the easiest on both foals and mares is the abrupt taking the foals off the property. Even so it is about the only part of horse management I really do not like.
Below is the video of Sanna's Friesian Filly.

Sanna has given us 3 beautiful fillies, and this one is the BEST! She was born silver, is now very black and wow does she like to show off.

Weaning Day

After church Diane, Mike, Barbara Munther, and I drove out to the Middle Grove farm and loaded up 6 horses, 3 went to the Hanna City farm and the other 3 plus Ciera came to Bridlewood for weaning. The mom's are crying, the babies are crying and Classy, who I brought with the babies for company is crying. Big Sally's colt was left at Middle Grove. He attached himself to Ribbon after we loaded up Big Sally and Ribbon took off for the back 40 so we gave up on him. We will load him out the next trip. Classy is very black except for a little brown on his muzzle. I will clean him up, get the burrs out of his mane and tail and get a new video of him, he is GORGEOUS! Royal is very elegant looking, Walker Sally's filly Chloe is the smallest but also the youngest. She was so good, stepped right in the trailer, let me halter her but didn't lead as well as I'd hoped, OH well that will come with some work. Ciera is amazing, she jumped right in the trailer and leads great.
Rachel was out at the farm taking Christmas pictures so we took wings and a halo and put them on Darcy and took a picture for the back of our card. Mom decided she wanted hers on a Friesian but the girls brought her Ylse instead of Jenis. After wards mom told me that horse was not very well behaved. She didn't realize she was on the WRONG horse. Ylse has the least amount of training and would have stood and posed if the girls would have brought even one other horse over. Good thing mom didn't get hurt. Rhoda and Monica took some video of Sanna and her filly, I'll try to get it uploaded tomorrow if all goes ok.
Back in Hanna City we had pizza around the fire, the kids (with a few adults) played football while the rest sat around the fire talking.

Christmas Pictures

Rachel called this morning, the sun is out and she will be taking family Christmas pictures at the lake for anyone that wants to come after church. There is no sitting fee for this. Her pictures are precious, what a wonderful idea!

A Prayer From the Kata's To the Reinhards

I AM SO VERY SORRY about Gabriel!!!
I saw his picture and recognized him right away from the pictures I have of him with princess. It just took my breath away to read about what happened! What a terrible tragedy and loss! He was such a darling boy and I always commented when I would show those pictures about the little guy there in his bare feet and big smile out in the barn with Princess.
Ty and I prayed for your whole family today and my eyes poured like rain with compassion. God has shown me that His love knows no boundaries of time or space as He has given me the indwelling of His Spirit by the evidence of the love I feel as I weep with those who weep. Even though we have never met in person or spoken on the phone, the family of God transcends. I am amazed.
I pray that our Heavenly Father will send His Holy Spirit to comfort the broken hearted loved ones that Gabriel has left behind on this earth. And while we know he is safe in the arms of Jesus, the hole he has left from the loss of his physical, earthly presence is a wound deeper than any flesh could bear. May the tears of your season of mourning bring healing in God's time, as you walk closely with Him through this dark valley. The rain falls on the wicked and the righteous. Thank you Lord that you have promised to work all things together for good of those who love you and who are called according to your purpose. Let Your Glory be seen in the midst of this storm, as you command, even the wind and the waves obey. Let your Truth shine forth it's light in the lives of Gabriel's family, as Christ has given us His Truth, and Hope, and Life eternal. Amen.

Our Deepest Sympathy,

Alesia and Ty Kata

Reinhard Update

Joan and Tim are taking it easy today, they said good by to the rest of Tim's family this morning. These last 5 days have been exhausting. Both Tim and Sarah are healing well, Sarah didn't even take any pain medication this morning. Tim still needs it but is hoping to be off soon. We have a beautiful sunny day after 2 days of rain so Ruth picked up Nancy and brought her out to mom's to carve pumpkins with Joan's girls. They made some funny looking jack-o-lanterns!

Izadora's New Colt

I'm finally getting around to posting the pictures of Izadora's new colt born on October 19th, 2009.
He has a beautiful face, wonderful conformation, and is BLACK, what more could anyone ask for?

He loves to run around his mom driving her crazy, just like most boys!

He is a big fellow, and just plain beautiful!

We had a productive day at the farm, the sun was out but the ground is saturated with the over 2 inches of rain again. When we drove up to the farm Karin came through with some riders from Denver, CO and Mansfield, OH. They were going on a short ride as the Denver people were leaving and had a 14 hour trip ahead of them. Mike helped move in 3 round bales while Mark checked out the heating system in the office. We now have it hooked up and will have heat this winter. Hopefully no one will leave a door open. Last winter we had frozen pipes so this was a must do. The skid steer tracks will need to be power washed off again, the mud is awful but thank goodness we have a way to move hay in the mud. We have had so MUCH mud this year. Once done with the morning chores we walked over to mom's to visit and she was still serving breakfast. That really tasted good, we ate some of the left over egg casserole from the Old School Center. Most of the food was taken to the church where it was divided up and sent with out of town guest for their long drive back but the breakfast foods ended up back at moms. After breakfast Mark started up his chain saw to cut up the trees that were down along the fence line while I took Darcy over to Diane's to check on 4 horses Mike had prepared for the next trail ride. Darcy had to jump in the pond for a quick swim and I mean quick, the water is COLD! Once home we heated up some left over chicken and wild rice soup for dinner, then crashed by the heater reading.

Tim's Healing

We have not discussed Tim's physical healing but this is something that should be told. After the accident, Joan called to give us an update on Tim and Sarah's injuries. She told us that Tim had a badly broken left arm. Dr. Carroll saw it, told Joan, yes it was broken then said we'll discuss the arm later as there were many other injuries that needed to be dealt with. The other bad injury was what seemed to be a broken bone pushing up out of Tim's shoulder. Joan told us she saw the bone and thought that Tim had probably also broken his clavicle and dislocated his arm socket. His wrist had quite a bit of separation which was confirmed by x ray. When Joan was looking at Tim's left arm she told us it was in an S shape. Even in the pictures Joan showed us, we could see right in the middle between the wrist and elbow the indentation that would show both the radius and ulna broken. He also had a bad concussion and needed stitches on his head. Tim also received many stitches in different areas of his body with a drain in his leg. Sarah had a huge chunk of skin and muscle missing from her knee with her patella very displaced. At Haiti they did the best they could with Sarah's knee sewing the skin together leaving in a drain.
When they flew into West Palm Beach, Florida Tim was taken to the hospital so they could better assess his injuries. The x rays showed NO broken bones. The indentation in his arm was gone and the bone sticking out of his shoulder was gone. His arm was not dislocated and even the separation of his wrist was gone. Tim still has much to heal, lots of road rash, much soft tissue damage but the fact that none of his bones are broken gives hope that the soft tissue will heal quickly. If Joan will share the pictures, I can try to post them.
We do not know the answers, in fact we really don't even know what the questions are!