We are now back home at the LOPE Ranch! The flood damage to the house has been repaired (after nearly six months). We still have some fencing and driveway repairs to do, but two nice pastures are ready for horses again (and full of grass).
Two of LOPE’s retirees, Zuper and Tulsa, are home at the ranch. They were recently joined by Showtime Queen, an adorable four-year-old TB filly from Retama Park. She will be up for adoption after we get to know her a little more. Zuper and Tulsa are showing her the ropes here. So far, Showtime Queen is enjoying her very busy schedule of just grazing and being a horse for awhile.
Until we have finished the remaining repairs, we will be limiting the number of horses at the ranch. We also want to take the opportunity to rest some of the pastures here at LOPE. After years of our adoption herd grazing down the fields, combined with the past extreme drought, the pastures could use some time off to refresh and become healthy again. But we have some exciting plans ahead for putting a LOPE horse or two into extended training at professional training facilities — stay tuned for more details.
If you would like to help or donate toward the last of the repair efforts, LOPE’s needs list includes road base to fix the driveway, labor and materials to repair one 30 foot section of pipe fence, assistance with rebuilding a run-in shed, and help with removing dead trees from the property (the combination of extended drought followed by a flood was too much for many of our trees).
It feels terrific to be at the ranch again! We would like to thank Hy Court Farm, Austin Equine Associates, Graymar Farm and all the LOPE supporters, foster homes and volunteers who helped us through such a difficult time this past spring. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!
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