I am thankful for my fans and . . .

1) a cozy place to sleep out of the rain

2) people who love and care for me, and

3) homemade apple oat treats on Thanksgiving Day!



All these things make me smile!

Love, Winnie

Mustangs at Equine Affaire

Hi, Winnie fans.

I just returned from four informative and fun days at Equine Affaire in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The Mustangs were spectacular this year. There were twelve of them. One of them was captured from the Wheeler Pass, Nevada herd in January 2007. That's where and when Winnie was captured. They probably know each other. The high point of the Mustang demo was Lonesome. Lonesome is an all black Mustang. He looks like Winnie but is much bigger. Lonesome works pulling a caisson for military funerals in Arlington Cemetery. There are two Mustangs in the caisson platoon. The other one is Wyatt. Lonesome does eight to ten funerals a day. He works for two weeks and then gets a little time off, then works again. Before the demo I went over to his stall and met him. He is very cute and friendly and his nose is velvety, just like Winnie. I talked to the soldiers for quite a while and they told me all about the caisson platoon and showed me pictures of Lonesome pulling a caisson. They said he is very talented and can be an inside horse or an outside horse and can pull the caisson or walk alongside.

He was the finale of the Mustang demo. After the other Mustangs had been introduced and given their demos they lined up and stood quietly at the back of the arena. Lonesome came out. He was ridden by a soldier in dress blues carrying an American flag. Bag pipes played Amazing Grace as Lonesome slowly circled the arena. Everyone was on their feet, all hats were off. People were crying. The announcer read some additional information about Mustangs and explained the Caisson Platoon. It was very moving. How appropriate that the American horse carries veterans to their final rest. All the more reason why they shouldn't be slaughtered or turned into food.

These are pictures of Lonesome and Sgt. Weis.

Mister Albino

It's Unanimous! Reinstate Mister Albino!

HI FANS!
Winnie here, warming my back in the bright California sun and giving you the latest celebrity news. A month ago, I asked my fans to give an opinion on whether or not Mister Albino should remain as my Fan Club President. The response was overwhelming! Everyone agreed he should stay in office, as he has done a great job as my President. Even though I am not walking across country right now, my fans agreed there are plenty of things Mister Albino can do to help my fellow Mustangs. He's good at getting the word out, and a lot of folks still don't know we horses are in big trouble. For example, my relatives and friends in Nevada and other states are kept away from water sources, or rounded up and taken off the range, or worse (I don't like to talk about the worst part; it makes my stomach feel queasy).



I know Mister Albino wants to help all horses who need rescue. This week he traveled to the Springfield, Massachusetts Equine Affaire to learn more about our species. He wore his "Dixieland Drummer" t-shirt and told people about this fine race horse who won his first race but also broke his leg at the finish line. Dave Balz at Wyandot County Equine Rescue in Ohio accepted the horse last summer and I met him when I stayed there. Drummer told me race horses like him are given shots to make them run faster, and when they collapse, break a leg, or fail to win, many end up asleep--permanently.



On a happier note, Mister Albino ran into one of our former hosts, Barb Macon, at the Equine Affaire and they had a nice chat. She and her husband were exceptional hosts, helping us in Massachusetts just after we started out.

Anyway, when I told Mom about the opinion survey and how much everyone loves Mister Albino, she said she'd ask him if he still wants to be my Fan Club President. I told her Mister Albino can raise money for horse rescue places like the one in Ohio where my friend, Drummer lives.

Mom said our good friend and another exceptional host, Joyce Anderson, who volunteers at Peaceful Acres Horse Rescue, cares deeply about horses, too. Joyce recently sent her an email and Mom read it to me.

Joyce wrote, "Kill auctions run every single week in NY, PA, NJ and all over our country. It's race horses, work horses, recreational horses, show horses, and..." Pay attention, Fans!--even baby horses!--"foals who are considered a waste product on the production of Premarin. This has to end in this country and I will die trying to make that happen!"

Mom promised me she's going to see what she can do here in the west, to bring attention to these issues, in between her other chores. Today Mom and her filly, JayaMae, had to move 22 giant hay bales into the smaller barn, so Donovan, Asali, and Forest will have plenty to eat until Christmas. That's Mom up there on the big stack of hay. JayaMae said each one of those bales weighs more than her. I sure wish Mister Albino could be here to help!

Grandson Jakob Rides Big Donny

Big news yesterday, as my seven year old grandson took the reins on my 16-hand Walker, Donovan, and rode him on the trail without ponying behind another horse. His mom and I decided he was ready after he demonstrated a perfect emergency stop, effectively turning Donovan's head toward his knee. His mom let go of the pony rope and I declared, "You're riding on your own now!" Jakob guided Donovan the rest of the way home, even cantering up the hill toward the barn with the rest of us!



Another first for Donny that day when I parked him on Winnie's highline outside my trailer. He soon figured out the hay bag and I sat on the stoop enjoying my own lunch of refried beans and salad.



This afternoon my grandson surprised me with a gift of a brand new toaster for my new mobile home! Jake bought it with his own money after hearing I needed one. Isn't that sweet? It's really beginning to feel like home now.



Winnie and I are riding again, walk-trot and not too many hills, with the go-ahead from the vet/chiropractor who said "Get her moving again!" She improved greatly after a couple of chiropractic adjustments, and we are working on getting her fitness back. She's very happy to be out on the trail again!



After last week's blog, some folks asked how I earned the nickname "Worm." Hope this picture explains it. That's me, crawling under the trailer to help install the skirt. Thanks again to my son-in-law, Gary, for helping with this project. All cozy now!

Spirit Quilts Visits the Handi-Riders

Today my daughter JayaMae, Founder of the non-profit organization Spirit Quilts, visited the Handi-Riders, a local therapeutic riding center, to present the Director and Program Coordinator with hand-made quilts for each and every child in the program.



JayaMae and volunteers recruited from the town of Paradise lovingly patched together seventy quilts for the Handi-Riders. Each year JayaMae and her helpers, some of them children, piece together "comfort quilts" for disabled, ill, or orphaned children. The organization also makes quilts for hospice patients.




This year, in honor of Winnie's Walk Across America, JayaMae decided to donate quilts to a non-profit organization that uses horses to help heal and strengthen children. Each quilt includes material with horses in the design. Except for that common thread, every quilt is unique, constructed mainly from donated material, according to the whim of its creator.



Smiles from the Director, Danny (left), JayaMae (center) and Sid, the Program Coordinator, as they display three of the quilts handed out today.