Save A Life, Today!   by Sarah Winfrey 

Horses were once revered creatures who explored the planet with humans, helped us build nations, and sometimes died so people could live. Today, these noble creatures struggle for their very survival. Like so many things in this world, they have become merely disposable. 

Think about it. Each sweet foal today is born into a harsh world. People have expectations for these young animals that are unreasonable for their minds and little bodies. A foal will have just a few months with his mother, to grow and thrive in peace. Then, if he is lucky, he will find a wonderful family and live out his life trail riding or learning another discipline with a human companion. But it's more likely that he will face a life of torment, trying to please people but never being able to do so. He will face discomfort and unkindness and, in the end, will die alone.

This might seem like overkill, but it isn't. Every day, horses suffer abuse, neglect, and starvation at the hands of human beings. In this misery, they spend their final days on the road, being hauled to slaughter. This is the plight of so many wild, domestic, and working horses, and it doesn't only happen abroad. Here, in our country, state, and town, horses are disposed of like trash every day.

At All God's Creatures Foundation/Beyul Ranch, we do everything we can to save the lives of these noble animals. We strive to bring them peace and comfort and to relieve their suffering. In many cases, we are their last hope, with one of the only programs still around that offers these animals comprehensive care and a life-time sanctuary.

But we need your help! Caring for these sick, injured, dispirited animals is expensive, and we can't do it alone. Participate in the Save A Life Today! campaign and come alongside us as we work with these wonderful creatures.

Save A Life,Today



Photo credit Steve Boen Daylight Dream©

Sedlmeier, Carolyn Grace  65, of Phoenix Arizona passed away peacefully on November 3, 2009. She is survived by her husband Thomas of 43 years, sister Mary Ann (Bill Eder) brother John Voelz (Patti) and her four children, Matthew, Julie, (Dean Stone), David and Jennifer (Nathaniel Simcoe) and also five grandchildren - Sarah, Katie, Emily, John and Michael. She was very involved with her horses and loved spending time with her family and friends. She will be in our hearts forever. A visitation will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2009 from 5-8PM at Shadow Mountain Mortuary 2350 E Greenway Rd Phoenix. The funeral service will be held at 10 AM, Monday November 9, 2009 at St Paul's Catholic Church, 330 W Coral Gables in Phoenix, followed by a graveside service at Holy Redeemer Cemetery on Cave Creek Rd. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Carol's name to All God's Creatures at www.allgodscreatures.org    Donations  



                          IN LOVING MEMORY OF CAROLYN GRACE SEDLMEIER

                                               John and Jean Bagley
 
                                                    Teresa Bohaty  

                                               Mary Ann Wetenkamp

                                                  Teresa  Jimenez

                                                       Jon Froke

                                                    Michelle Whan

                                                   Karen Fattorosi

                                           Jeffrey & Laurie Sedlmeier

                                            Richard & Lavonne Sims 

                                               Carol A Sedlmeier

                                             Richard & Karen Janke
 
                                                   Joan M Pope

                                            Joseph & Alice Stephen

                                                Nikki D. Migliorino

                                                Richard Sedlmeier

                                                 Kathleen  Zagar 

                                     Special Friends at Ligon's Livery
                                            
                                             Mary Ann & Bill Eder

                                                  Donald Horst         
                                             



                                                   
                               Carolyn's Arabian Mare Shami  and Granddaughter Katie

HAPPY PREVIOUS YEARS 2009

Plant your feet on the ground and raise your eyes to the heavens.  

We all enjoy a fresh start, a new beginning, and a sigh of relief after a long journey.  That much enjoyed new start, only comes after a long journey of change. Whether you traveled a seasoned road of familiarity or a road pressed against a sand storm of resistance, you travel it and you earned your rest.  

The brightest light comes from clinging.  Fire burns and purifies as it clings. It has no distinct form but we know what it is.  We cling to its warmth. It protects us from all the other elements.  And we are often comforted by the heavens above, filled with clinging fire.     

So for just a moment cling to your previous travels.  

Letting your light be ever so brilliant. 



                         
   November 30, 2008  Celestial Event over Phoenix, Arizona

                                                 The Heart Sutra

Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, meditating deeply on Perfection of Wisdom, saw clearly that the five aspects of human existence are empty*, and so released himself from suffering.  Answering the monk Sariputra, he said this:

Body is nothing more than emptiness,
emptiness is nothing more than body.
The body is exactly empty,
and emptiness is exactly body.
The other four aspects of human existence --
feeling, thought, will, and consciousness --
are likewise nothing more than emptiness,
and emptiness nothing more than they.

All things are empty:
Nothing is born, nothing dies,
nothing is pure, nothing is stained,
nothing increases and nothing decreases.

So, in emptiness, there is no body,
no feeling, no thought,
no will, no consciousness.
There are no eyes, no ears,
no nose, no tongue,
no body, no mind.
There is no seeing, no hearing,
no smelling, no tasting,
no touching, no imagining.
There is nothing seen, nor heard,
nor smelled, nor tasted,
nor touched, nor imagined.

There is no ignorance,
and no end to ignorance.
There is no old age and death,
and no end to old age and death.
There is no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no end to suffering, no path to follow.
There is no attainment of wisdom,
and no wisdom to attain.

The Bodhisattvas rely on the Perfection of Wisdom,
and so with no delusions,
they feel no fear,
and have Nirvana here and now.

All the Buddhas,
past, present, and future,
rely on the Perfection of Wisdom,
and live in full enlightenment.

The Perfection of Wisdom is the greatest mantra.
It is the clearest mantra,
the highest mantra,
the mantra that removes all suffering.

This is truth that cannot be doubted.
Say it so:

Gaté,
gaté,
paragaté,
parasamgaté.
Bodhi!
Svaha!
Which means...
Gone,
gone,
gone over,
gone fully over.
Awakened!
So be it!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Emptiness is the usual translation for the Buddhist term Sunyata (or Shunyata).  It refers to the fact that no thing -- including human existence -- has ultimate substantiality, which in turn means that no thing is permanent and no thing is totally independent of everything else.  In other words, everything in this world is interconnected and in constant flux.  A deep appreciation of this idea of emptiness thus saves us from the suffering caused by our egos, our attachments, and our resistance to change and loss. 



                                                                            
                                                    Showie

                                            04/04/1992 -10/13/2008

On September 16th Showie will be having surgery to help saver her life.

The procedure is called a Fetlock Arthrodesis; attaching a plate to her cannon and fetlock resulting in a bone fusion of the joint. This will relieve the constant tension from the damaged contracted tendons.         

Showie is remarkably healthy! Her body condition is good; her coat is shiny and feels ever so silky to the touch.  She is bright and always looking for new adventures to involve herself in the activity.

Her veterinarians are impressed by how well she as responded to her constant daily care. I have developed a specialized feeding formula to meet her nutritional needs for her special conditions.  Modifications are made daily to her living environment to insure her comfort.  Supportive leg bandaging and special hoof boots are cleaned, replaced and refitted on a daily basis.

It has been a life changing experience for everyone caring for Showie.

The decision to more forward with the fetlock arthrodesis surgery was a very difficult choice.  Even though the choices are this surgery or euthanatize her.

After her surgery consult my head and heart were just spilling. I was driving to Pet food Depot (a local feed store) to pick up wrapping supplies for Showie and the tears just started poring down my face.    What was I going to do?  How was I going to make a good decision?  What ever decision I made was going to have a far reaching impact.   

So I said, “OK GOD, I really need your help with this one!  What do I do?  Oh, I need a very clear sign on what decision I need to make!  As I drove into the back parking lot at the feed store and parked my truck.  One of the employees had brought two of her horses to work for a vet check-up.  This is not a usual situation!  She was now headed for home and requested my help to load the mares.  As she loaded the younger of the two horses, I held the older thoroughbred mare awaiting her turn to be loaded into the trailer.  I started looking over the mare and noticed her fetlock joint was fused.  On closer examination I ran my hand down the front of her leg and could feel the plate in her leg.  I knew this was my divine guidance on the direction I needed to embark.           
     

             Tomorrow is our big day!  Please send us your loving prayers! 


Here our additional links with additional information
 http://www.allgodscreatures.org/e-mail-update.html
http://www.allgodscreatures.org/about-showie.html
http://blog.beyulranch.com/categories/Showie.aspx

Donations are greatly appreciated at this time especially.
This surgery will cost between 12,000 to 15,000 thousand dollars.
http://www.allgodscreatures.org/donations.htm

Showie’s content attitude continues to amaze everyone involved with her care.  She moves through her daily routines as this is how her life has always been.  She is interested in all the activities she can visually see, plus she listens intently to distant sounds outside of her field of view.   She stays at a very high level of mental involvement with her environment, still remaining calm and contented.

Showie’s surgery on October 4th 2007 to aid in restoring the tendon and fetlock use in her left leg was beneficial.  It removed the adhesions and scar tissue that developed from the initial surgery to release the distraction of the deep digital flexor tendon on the distal phalanx.  Translation; surgically cut the tendon, to stop the hoof bones and leg bones from pushing through the bottom of her hoof.  

The mechanical functions from the contracted tendon however of the leg, fetlock and hoof are still rounding forward.  It is just not functioning like a spring and moving back behind her hoof.  The hoof it self has grown, healed and is strong and ready to be weight bearing again.

What to do now?  

Like a gentle whisper and solution presented itself.  I was at a clients office working, a moment when my mind was involved thinking about the task at hand.  The word splint just floated into my awareness it was so clear and so matter of fact feeling. I stopped what I was going and typed equine splint into Google.

There it was!

Dynasplint, splinting system that works on equine fetlock flexural deformity.  The dynasplint system is designed to restore joint range of motion/ muscle flexibility after periods of immobility. The Dynasplint applies a low load prolong stretch and encouraging the corrective functions of the fetlock tendon structures.         


The Dynasplint was fitted Friday and Showie just acted like she has always worn a splint.   She is truly a SHINNING STAR.   

http://www.allgodscreatures.org/e-mail-update.html
http://www.allgodscreatures.org/about-showie.html


My deepest appreciations to everyone’s support and continued prayers

Blessings Tracy 

Clean Stalls, Brush Horses


There is a Zen master proverb:

Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water
After enlightenment, chop wood carry water
Magical power, marvelous action!
Chopping wood, carrying water…

Seems there is a marvelous  in the mundane of everyday living!

The world is vying for your thoughts, your attentions, and your resources.  
Influences are around us daily about what you should be…how a person should be, but is not.  How you can get there with another’s secret to success.   How you will be happy if you only buy, think, or do thus and so.

In your day to day life what do you find yourself thinking about?
How does that thinking influence your attitude about your life’s perceptions?
What thinking and attitude leads you to actions?

So, there is a possibility that the art of living is the thoughts we think about the things we do.  The thoughts we think about the things we have or have not done. The thoughts we think about everything.

While you chop wood and carry water throughout your day, contemplate the now.  Contemplate who you really are now, what your hearts desires are now and what brings peace to your heart now.  Take your thoughts, give them your energy and take an action to be the very best YOU!
 

At Beyul Ranch we have our own version;

Before enlightenment, clean stalls brush horses
After enlightenment, clean stalls brush horses
Magical power, marvelous action!
Cleaning stalls, brushing horses …

Volunteer and find your own peace of mind





                                   Belle  &  Dollar    Both One of a Kind

The Gem Tree

A tree represents so many wonderful things in our world.   It offers a place of gathering for shade, a landmark of recognition, the peacefulness of just being, and patience of growing in one place.  The saying of “Be a tree, grow strong roots and reach for the vastness of the stars”, applies to all of our lives.
 
Now image a mystical tree supporting beautiful colored filled gems of wisdom, compassion and healing.  The gems are shared freely with everyone whom cares and nurturers for, the brilliant wish-fulfilling gem tree.  The light from the gem tree fills the inner atmosphere of people and the glow can be felt into distant far off places.
 
This is your invitation to become part the gem tree at Beyul Ranch.  Making a difference in the lives of others and growing your own internal atmosphere.  The Gem Tree will help keep our minds focused and our hearts open.

 

  
         With this moment, I wish for you,
                         That everyday starts with hope
                                       And everyday ends with peace…



Blessings Tracy