Star Ridge Acres Miniature Horse Farm

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The rest of my family

This is Jack, my first born and forever my baby. He was a purebred Italian Greyhound, not registered, weighed about 10lbs and was totally blind by the age of 7 or 8. He fooled me for a long time until I moved to my current home and could tell something was not right. He was so hesitant to walk around the house - I even told a friend that I thought he didn't like our new floor for some reason! But eventually I figured it out, had him examined by a canine Ophthalmologist and he confirmed it. Looking back, he started showing signs even before I moved but he knew his way around the previous house so well he managed to fool me!

Jack got along just fine without his sight. He navigated by sound, smell and touch and seemed to still be able to enjoy his life. He was my dearest treasure. All the worries of the world would melt away when I held him.

I don't know for sure, but he most likely was born in a puppy mill in southern MO. I was his second home and had him since he was 6 months old.

Sadly, Jack passed away on August 9th, 2007. He will be forever missed and is truly irreplaceable. The void he left will never be filled. He was 11 years old.

Until we meet again...Mommy loves you.

This is Oscar. He is a purebred smooth-coated Chihuahua, not registered, weighs about 6lbs and was born in 2000. He is a total clown and just about the cutest thing you've ever seen! He's got endless energy and makes me laugh every time I see him. He's just adorable and I can't get enough of him. He loves to give kisses! He has to have a toy in his mouth constantly - he runs around the house carrying some little stuffed animal that probably has its ears chewed off! I bought him from a local in-home breeder and brought him home at 9 weeks. He fit into a coffee cup!

This is Carmelita. She is a purebred smooth-coated Chihuahua, registered, weighing about 7lbs. She is Oscar's mom. Carmelita is a very special little girl and I almost didn't end up with her. It was a long road that required a lot of diplomacy and begging, but I finally was able to pick her up and bring her to her final home in 2004 at the age of 10.

The first time I met Carmelita, she had given birth to some adorable little pups, one of which was Oscar. She was living in a loving home where she had great vet care, comfortable surroundings and lots of attention. But due to unforeseen circumstances, she was sold in a lot of many dogs to a woman that turned out to be less than reputable. I only found out by placing a phone call one day to ask how she was doing and to see if she'd been "retired" yet from breeding. If so, I was going to ask if I could buy her to be one of my family. To my horror, I discovered she had been sold and there was no contact information available on the new owner. But, I was given the phone number of someone else who "might" know. After much detective work and basically begging, this "other" person intervened on my behalf and got me in touch with the new owner.

But it didn't end there. This new owner was basically a puppy mill and had no regard for how I felt about this dog and how much it would mean if I could have her. I was told things like "she's 10 years old and crippled! What do you want with a crippled dog?" I cried for days. Finally, the "other" lady called and said she had convinced the current owner that she had no use for the dog and I could have her if I came right now to get her. I jumped in the truck and headed for the home.

It was a shocking sight, but I had to maintain my composure or I might not get out of there with Carmelita. The owner said "she's been running with the boys and if she's pregnant I want at least one of the babies. She's the last of the blah blah line and I need one of the babies." I agreed even though I had no intention of following through. I just wanted to get out of there with the dog. What was a crippled 10 year old dog doing running with "the boys" anyway?

I got Carmelita in the truck and couldn't believe how poor she looked. She smelled like she'd been dipped in 409 or some other cleaner, her nails were bleeding because the lady had trimmed them too close, she was basically non-responsive. I thought she was probably blind and deaf and I hoped I'd at least be able to give her a peaceful place for her last few days.

That was 5 years ago and Carmelita is going strong! She is in fact crippled in the back end, but that doesn't slow her down. I carry her outside, to the feed and water bowls and to my bed at night. The rest of her day is spent on the couch under a blanket! But when she has a mind to, she scoots herself all over the yard - exploring everything that is interesting. She sees and hears just fine and has been bright-eyed and otherwise very healthy. She has no teeth so her tongue hangs out all the time, but it just makes her that much cuter! Early in 2008 Carmelita wasn't feeling very well. She was diagnosed with Pymetria and congestive heart failure. An operation and antibiotics cured the Pymetria and daily medication has controlled the excess fluid in her body and made breathing somewhat easier for her. I wase told her prognosis was good for the short-term, meaning weeks. Well, almost 2 years later she is still with me! As the vet stated "she's one touch old lady!"

In addition to the many dogs at the location where Carmelita was, there were several minis tied to tethers in the yard and she had 4 or 5 foster children - all girls. These children seemed very unusual. They were very quiet, very polite - unusually so. While I was there, they were doing all the chores; feeding and cleaning up of the dogs and horses. I think this lady had these children so she didn't have to do any work. It was a very sad and creepy place.

Sadly, in August of 2009 Carmelita passed away. Her congestive heart failure had become more than she could live with. It was devastating to lose her but her time had come. I had almost 6 years with her and I enjoyed every day of it. Her care never seemed like worked because she was so worth it. Carmelita is buried next to Jack.

Ethyl is a Chihuahua that we adopted from a shelter in 2005. At that time she was estimated to be as young as 10 to as old as 15 years. The shelter named her Ethyl because she was found on Ethlyn Road in Lincoln County. She was covered in ticks and fleas, and in serious need of a bath and nail trim. Mark initially brought her home as a foster but of course we loved her instantly and knew we'd end up adopting her.

Ethyl goes to all the horse shows with us and loves it! She stays in the living quarters part of the trailer most of the time, but sometimes you'll see her at the stalls with us.

Although she only weighs 3.5lbs, she is totally in charge at our place! No other dog or cat will even think about messing with her. She has them all so afraid of her that they don't even make eye contact with her anymore

Ethyl now lives with Mark and is still going strong!

Our livestock guard dog, Isabella, is a purebred Great Pyrenees. We've had her since she was only 8 weeks old and she's lived with our minis every day since. She loves the little guys and gets along very well with all of them - stallions, mares and babies. She protects them but also loves to play with them as evidenced by the picture of her grabbing Elvis' tail! She loves for the babies to "groom" her and will stand in front of them until they chew her ears - she loves it!

At 3 years of age she weighs about 110lbs!