“Many have forgotten this truth, but you must never forget it.You remain responsible forever for what you have tamed.”

- Antoine de Saint Exupery

Dear valued friends: November 2019

From the desk of John

With 2020 around the corner all of us at Blue Rose Ranch are bracing for significant changes that will welcome the New Year.“…I feel the earth, move, under my feet.” We are all singing a new tune around here. It seemed to start when we went from Summer straight into winter and only now, does it feel like fall. The horses have it figured out and they all have their winter coats in varying states of bloom.

Blue Rose Ranch is growing in every area. We have 56 horses receiving wonderful, comprehensive and individualized care. We have a new addition to our staff starting right after Thanksgiving. In Corral 5 we have a row of ten new feeding pens. We have new hydrants, buried electrical lines, a host of new equipment and other changes and expansions, that we are all learning to navigate. “…the times they are a changing.” There is a lot of equipment and maintenance that goes into horse care. We have finished a terrific 2019 and in this newsletter we are featuring a look at what goes on behind the scenes.

First let me thank all of you, our incredible supporters, for your continued love and support for the cause of unwanted, ne-glected and abused horses. Every year the number of horses in need remains constant yet the number of organizations who care for them unfortunately, continue to decline. All of us in the horse rescue industry have to up our game.

Southern Charm

Elizabeth Willet will be relocating from Georgia in December to join our staff. Elizabeth is a talented young lady with many years of experience riding and caring for horses. She has a business degree, and certification for Therapeutic Riding. We are pleased to have her join the Blue Rose Ranch team, and look forward to the areas where her talents will help us grow.

Improvements & Expansion

Day to day operations at a horse rescue involves more than feeding horses and caring for their veterinary needs. Horses need shelters, safe fences, and water. Trucks need fuel and tires, and horse rescue organizations need to maintain trailers to move horses, and flatbed trailers to move hay and equipment. This Fall at Blue Rose Ranch we completed several important projects that have been on the “to do” list. They will increase our efficiency and expand our capacity.

We recently added another large corral area known as “Corral 5”. Last month we extended water and power lines to this corral. While working on this project we also buried some overhead power lines across several corrals. It is easier to move large bales of hay without overhead power lines, and buried water lines eliminate the need for long water hoses that freeze and break.

Why a wheel loader? 1 Ton bales of hay need large equipment to safely unload and move. The wheel loader also helps in snow removal and road maintenance.

Delivery day: Our new Bush Hog Backhoe assists with digging trenches and holes. The backhoe is designed to at-tach to and run off our tractor’s power and hy-draulics.

A special attachment de-signed to remove brush and downed trees as a result of past floods on Bear Creek has helped us reclaim land and open up new areas of pasture.

Construction of Long-needed Feeding Pens

We constantly need to provide special feed for older horses, and these horses need a space to eat at their own pace without competition from other horses. Horses at Blue Rose Ranch roam and graze the ranch afternoons and at night. Mornings they come into large corrals and have access to large bales of hay. Older horses are separated for alfalfa hay, and some also need additional special feed. The new feeding pens help the horses and also help staff improve the efficiency of horse care.

Replacing Well Pump

There is much involved to pulling 250 feet of pipe to replace a worn-out pump for our corral area stock well. We have four wells that support our horse operations.

Family Reunion!

Our beloved Windsor was adopted to a great home. Actually, it is the same home his dad, Nugget, was adopted to last year. Windsor is a newly trained colt and needed an owner with the ability to continue his training. Wind-sor has an infectious personality and enormous potential. It is particularly heart-warming to know he is reunited with his dad.

Pedal the Plains

Pedal the Plains is an annual event where hundreds of bicyclists challenge themselves while they learn about and experience the unique beauty of the Colorado eastern plains. The location and routes change, and this year on September 14th, Springfield was an overnight stop. Blue Rose Ranch provided an in-route “aid and water station” for the bicyclists. By the time they made it to us, close to the end of their ride on a very hot and windy day, the bicyclists were happy to rest in the shade of our indoor arena. Some had never been around horses, and enjoyed interacting with our equine greeters. Some horses had never been around bicycles, and were curious and amused. Many groups in Springfield welcomed the bicyclists and provided meals and amenities. We were happy to be part of our community’s efforts, and to observe the horses bringing smiles to weary faces. Our volunteers were awesome and worked hard to make the event successful. Pedal the Plains was also an opportunity to promote the cause of horse rescue to a new audience.

Regarding making donations to Blue Rose Ranch

There are many avenues to donate to Blue Rose Ranch this holiday season. We are participating in “Colorado Gives Day” (Tuesday December 10th this year), and you can donate via their website. You can also designate Blue Rose Ranch as your charity of choice through “Amazon Smiles” when you shop on Amazon. Throughout the year you can donate with links from our facebook page and on our website. And, of course, you can mail a check directly to the ranch.

A special on-going opportunity to support Blue Rose Ranch: You can Remember or Honor an individual or beloved family pet with a memorial plaque to be displayed in our indoor riding arena. Please see the enclosed form. If you would like to donate a plaque as a Christmas Present, Blue Rose Ranch can provide an acknowledgement “gift letter”.

If you have never visited Blue Rose Ranch, remember you are always welcome. It is a great get-away, and you will be our guests.

We wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and Peaceful New Year

John and Cheryl WebbExecutive Directors

30997 US Hwy 287, Springfield, CO 81073 / 303-796-7739 / www.blueroseranch.org / directors@blueroseranch.org

Blue Rose Ranch would like to thank the following Foundations for their support:

Alice Jenkins FoundationAnimal Assistance FoundationAnschutz Family Foundation

ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)Buell Foundation

Build-a Bear Workshop Bear Hugs FoundationColorado Unwanted Horse Alliance

El Pomar’s Hambrick FundEl Pomar’s Sally Beck Fund

Equus FoundationMerck Animal Health

Rutherford FoundationSally Beck Foundation

Southern Colorado Community FoundationWilliam H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation

Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign

Plaques in Honor or In Memory We would like each of you to know about an opportunity that is de-signed to help raise funds to pay off the remaining balance of the Blue Rose Ranch Indoor Riding Arena. The inside of the arena is beautiful. The fabric material of the building allows light and warmth to permeate and the ceiling gives the space a cathedral feeling. The arena interior has a white equestrian railing for safety. We will be accepting donations in honor of or in memory of individuals or beloved pets, whose names will be mounted on this rail. The plaque is black steel, with a brass engraved name plate. They are beautiful. The cost of a name plaque is $100.

To make a tax-deductible donation for this campaign and designate a name plaque, please complete this form and mail it with a check for $100.00 to Blue Rose Ranch, 30997 US Hwy 287, Springfield, CO 81073

Name of the individual/pet to be engraved on the plaque: i.e. Joe and Betty Smith i.e. Cinnamon

__________________________________________________________ Please write clearlyYour name and contact information:

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

Phone:_________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________ If you have questions please call the ranch at 303-796-7739 or email: directors@blueroseranch.org

Gift Notification Letters

Name of person to receive the letter: ___________________________________

Their address: _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Special message for your gift letter:

i.e.: As a holiday gift, John Doe has made a contribution to Blue Rose Ranch, Horse Rescue and Adoption, in your honor. A beautiful plaque with your name will be placed in the indoor riding arena at the horse rescue to recognize this contribution.

Your Special Message:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________