Webers Retired Horses LLC

12/05/2024

Andie’s Final Sunset

It rarely ends well when I am awakened with a phone call from Rob when he is feeding horses in the early morning. It was Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. The day when retailers excitedly get their books out of the “red”and into the “black”. This past Black Friday is one I will never forget, it now carries a different connotation for us. It truly was a black one, as the light in Andie’s eyes went forever dark.

Andie arrived in September of 2023 from Boston, Massachusetts. Her full name was Andromeda and she was as Arab/Fresian cross who was an amazing partner for her owner Wendy in the dressage discipline. Andie suffered from a tendon injury in her right hock that caused her to become unsound. She had a history of colic, and was also treated for Cushings disease, another issue which required diligent management in her diet.

Andie truly enjoyed her time here with her little herd of mares, she was the smallest, but definitely the one with the most s***k and zeal of the bunch. She had no problem standing up to a mare twice her size. Unfortunately, her leg injury had worsened and we had recently moved her to a smaller pasture where she could keep up with the other horses more easily. We were very happy Andie’s owner had recently visited and was able to see her one last time. She shares the following about her Princess.

“When we talk about an exceptional horse it doesn’t always mean the ribbons and medals we accumulate. She was amazing because of her character. She took care of me and loved me back. Andie would turn her head and look at me with both eyes. Came when I called her from the paddock. She stayed with me when I had health issues and fell off out on a trail. She put up with me learning dressage after 25 years away from riding. She was gentle when I put my grandchildren on her. Loved to be spoiled and I had no problem doing that. I owned her for 13 years and loved every year of that. Steady and brave. I will miss you terribly my Princess Andromeda!”

Andie was 22 when she colicked for the last time. We spent all day with her, made an emergency visit to the vet clinic, and ultimately laid her to rest after it was clear we could no longer keep her comfortable. Andie was a trooper through it all, loving the attention that was showered on her all day from everyone in visiting for the holiday. A big thanks to all my family, and Dr. Libby Maddux for giving up their plans that day for the sake of a horse🐴💔

11/28/2024

These visitors were supposed to be included in the earlier post! Q and Juliet and Andie and her horse mom Wendy!

11/28/2024

On this Thanksgiving Eve, we are especially thankful for all of our amazing owners! Fall is usually a busy time for visitors and we have had several come lately. It is always so enjoyable to watch them interact with their owners! They never forget them.

11/11/2024

11/06/2024

🦅Heaven Sent🦅
Two days ago my husband, Rob, was praying for our nation in the field behind our house. He watched as an eagle flew high over the trees and all of a sudden it dropped down super low and flew right in front of him. It then turned back and flew right back in front of him again before returning high in the sky. He said the eagle even tipped his wings towards him as to acknowledge his presence. He felt it was a sign from God that He was not giving up on our nation. He talked about it several times yesterday.

Then this happened this morning. Rob and I were sitting on our porch drinking coffee and thanking the Lord for all He has done. Suddenly an eagle flew right in front of us the whole length of the porch only about 40 feet off the ground! We were both in awe and Rob commented, “It is another confirmation that God has got our nation!” We were both moved.

It is not uncommon for us to see eagles occasionally around the farm, but they are always flying high. Normally we see all kinds of birds flying when we sit on the porch. Not today. It is a gray gloomy morning and there wasn’t a bird in sight, except for the one the Lord sent to bolster our faith. I hope our experience lifts your spirits as well.

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
(This photo was not from today. It is one that Rob Weber did take previously. )

11/02/2024

It was a relaxing night fireside by the pond. I heard the thunder of hooves just before I stepped out of the camper this morning. The boys gallop out like wild kids then immediately they settle in for a lazy day of grazing. Life is good for them and us! ❤️

10/25/2024

This morning’s update on the transition to retirement. Vegas has found his place in the herd. He has found a friend in the chestnut, Frano. Kip is the leader and he respectfully hangs on the outskirts with him. It has been a good transition to retirement for Vegas. It took almost a month, but we have found it is always best not to rush these show horses into a a completely different life altogether.
I had a little trouble getting some pictures as he was following me around wanting some loving rubs. He is a good boy😊🐴

10/22/2024

Vegas finally made it into the herd we hope he will be part of for a long time. He is the big black gelding who is wearing a halter. The slow introductions over the past couple of weeks have warmed him up to the idea of horse friends.

You will notice some squeals and some front feet striking out, however, neither he nor any of the others did any kicking. We hope that will remain the case. He is now one of seven in that herd and it will take some time for him to find his place.

I’m going to take a guess that he will end up as a “middle of the pack” horse. Who knows, he might surprise us and be more aggressive as he finds his way.

If you watch until the end you can see he ended up just grazing side by side with a couple new buddies. None of the horses came in missing any hair or dripping any blood. That is always a good sign! Let’s hope tomorrow is more of the same.

10/16/2024

The first day on the same side of the fence went very well. Several stop and sniff sessions and just checking each other out. By the end of the first hour they were grazing side by side.
The next step will be to continue to turn these two out together so they will hopefully bond somewhat. The plan is to set Vegas up for success when he goes into the big pasture with 6 other geldings on 15 acres. More space than he has seen since he was a baby and more personalities than he can even conceive meeting right now. Hopefully, Jack’s steady presence will be calming and reassuring to him when he meets the others. Stay tuned for updates about Vegas’ transition to retirement!

10/15/2024

One of the most anxious times we have is when we have a new horse arrive. Most often they have not been with another horse since they were babies. It can be quite dangerous when they get turned out together for the first time. They can be fearfully aggressive and there can be a lot of kicking.

We take our time introducing new horses together. Our program involves letting them get nose to nose and greet each other on opposite sides of the fence first. We also choose an ambassador who we will be most tolerant and non aggressive towards the newcomer. We then will turn them out together one on one to help assure the new horse without overwhelming them by just throwing them out to defend themselves in the herd. Below Jac allows Vegas to check him out and get a taste of what it will be like to have a friend.

09/27/2024

Yesterday was such a pretty day! Kinsey, Andie, Fefe, and Ellie are enjoying the good life. The rain is here with the winds expected to pick up pick up later today. We wish all who have been in the storm’s path all the best.

09/24/2024

We finally got some rain yesterday afternoon and boy did it blow in hard and fast! It even hailed for a bit after I took this. The horses were as calm as could be in their stalls.

09/12/2024

September 11 is always a somber day on the farm. We all remembered where we were and what we were doing when our nation was attacked. We reflected on the lives that were lost and all the lives that were forever impacted that day as well.

We also remembered Tuff yesterday. Bridgie ordered a stone for his final resting place, and it turned out very nice. It will need to be moved several times as the ground settles. It will eventually rest in the shade of the tree like those directly behind it. We also had a couple of young deer that were resting in the shade of that very tree. They watched us pull up to honor Tuff, and then finally popped up and trotted off. I will share that sweet video in the comments.

09/07/2024

Four beautiful boys are enjoying this cool weather this morning. Zeizo, Romeo, Marten, and Bigboy. We are enjoying it as well!!

08/21/2024

Avalon’s Final Sunset

“It looks like it’s snowing.” John said as he watched his wife groom her beloved horse for the last time. The white hair was definitely falling, piling like a thin covering of new snow on the ground beneath him. Avalon was pushing out his beautiful summer coat readying for the fall growth before winter. The summer month of August, which still holds all the joys of summer, seems much too soon to be thinking about the dead of winter. Yet here we were, with a beautiful horse with the spirit of summer, and the body of winter.

These are the hard ones to say “goodbye” to. Their spirit is strong but the flesh is weak. We’ve all heard that before. Avalon’s spirit was still living the joys of summer, he was happy, he loved attention and being groomed, and he always let you know when you scratched “just the right spot”. He wasn’t suffering in constant pain; he wasn’t ready for the dead of winter to come for his life.

Avalon’s story began with us two years ago. His owner visited the farm and shared all about Avalon, and that he had somehow suffered an injury in his right hind leg, possibly while being turned out. Unfortunately, he had to spend a year on the waiting list before we had room for him. When he did arrive a year later, his lameness had worsened. What once were powerful hindquarters jumping a course, and performing intricate dressage moves, had atrophied to the point of basic life function.

We all knew his time here wouldn’t be a long one. However, during that time, he instantly became a farm favorite with visitors as he was the kindest, friendliest horse who you could definitely tell loved every minute of interaction he had with you. With other horses, he was more stand off-ish, he preferred to graze peacefully and really didn’t pay that much attention to what the others were doing. He was a very content horse. We want to thank his owner, Trish, for contributing the following about his earlier years:

“Avalon was foaled in Washington state in June of 1997 and was sired by U. Avenir who had competed in the 1984 Olympics in LA in the pentathlon. His breeder intended on him being her next stallion, but ended up gelding him at 6 years of age and had placed him with a local trainer for a career in eventing.

He literally was a ‘love at first sight’ purchase. I saw him in a turnout and a friend of mine was standing at the gate and I stopped and asked her who that horse was, as I knew he wasn't hers, and the rest, as they say, is history.

My Irish Sport horse Ivan was coming off of a ligament injury and could no longer event and I still wanted to compete. I went home and told my husband I wanted to purchase this horse. I had to use our home equity line, as I didn't have enough money to pay for him.

He was an all-around horse, he loved trail rides, galloping in the hills of Southern California and just cruising down the creek beds. I knew he was special, and I didn't want to break him down with a bunch of shows, so we would occasionally event and do local dressage and jumper shows.

In 2018, we moved to Tennessee when Avalon was 20. I was able to show him the last time as a jumper, at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, OH in August of 2021. By the age of 23, we showed him as a hunter.

He was my constant companion, and he will be dearly missed for the rest of my life.”

He will be missed by all of us here at the farm as well, rest in peace sweet soul.

08/17/2024

Bigboy enjoys a cool, refreshing shower on a hot day. Now to head to his stall for nap time in front of his fan for the afternoon. Our retirees are so pampered❤️. Life is good 😊!

08/14/2024

SERIOUS content to follow. My name is Kim Weber, and I am the author of all the horses stories and photographer of all the pretty pictures you are used to seeing on our page. It is our hope that if you arrive on our page it will generally make you smile or touch your heart.

Today’s post is different. As a small business owner in the horse business, I want to share a perspective that I’m sure will resonate with other farms and small businesses in general.

The first of July we raised our prices as we could not absorb the price increases any longer. We had hoped that inflation had reached a point it would stay awhile. Not even two weeks later, our shavings’s supplier raised his price another $210 a load with no notice. This increase brings our cost to more than DOUBLE what we paid just a few years ago. I’m not blaming him, his cost went up as well and he passed it to us. This is just a fact and the costs have increased with all of our supplies, hay and grain.

I am a reader, I am a listener, I am always trying to stay educated as to what is going on in our community, our nation, and our world. When I picked up the weekly paper this week I was affected in a different way. The topics were nothing new, it just seemed I couldn’t absorb the news any longer and felt the need to share with fellow horse owners and actually, everyone.

We have all felt the crunch, but I just want to say, your barn is not being greedy, your local restaurant isn’t either, we are all just trying to continue to feed our families serving in industries we love.

I read the following excerpts from the paper this week. “A new survey of 80,000 small businesses found that 48.6 percent believe they won’t survive the United States’ current economic conditions. “ “Retailers, restaurants, service providers and those in the hospitality industry were among those interviewed across the country.”

As I turned the page the next headline gripped me even harder as it portrays our agricultural industry and how it affects food supply. “America’s Looming Cattle Crisis” “Beef cattle herds in the U.S. have fallen to their lowest levels in more than 70 years as ranchers quit in droves.” “There is a loss rate of over 20,000 ranchers per year for the last five years, says Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF.”

As I share these findings, it is my hope that you are one who keeps up with the world as well, and who has patience and understanding for those small businesses you do business with everyday. Shop small, shop local, use cash, it really does make a difference. For those who support us, please know that we are a financially stable business, who are very fiscally conservative and not in a position to close our doors. We have, however, heard of many horse barns who have done so. Feel free to share this post, it impacts us all. I am also a person who wants the facts and the origin of information. The source of the quotes was the Aug 7-13 edition of The Epoch Times.

To those who follow Weber’s Retired Horses regularly, I promise my next post will be much lighter content! Thank you for reading about my concerns.

08/13/2024

The weather has been fantastic and we took advantage of the “fall like” weather in August, to enjoy some time on our trails and around our fire pit with friends. Life is short….make the most of every moment😊. The sticky weather is on its way back, but real fall will be here soon enough. Have a great day everyone!