December 2009 - MacenBuc

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Name: Marge King

Location: Mount Carmel,PA. Deep in the heart of the great Anthracite coal region and Amish country.

What’s your typical day like?
I get up around 7:00 am to feed our three little terrier dogs, named Mollie, Jake and Autumn. Mollie has had diabetes for four years now and eats at certain times of the day and requires two shots of insulin a day. Mollie is also 90% blind. Ed and I take turns with Mollie’s shots and feeding. While they eat I start the ‘ole coffee pot up and make myself a cup of instant because the darned pot isn’t fast enough and I need that first sip. After the dogs are fed, and the shots are given I go into the parlor and either read about horses or go into U Rock ‘n Ride and try to keep up with other horse folk. In between that, Ed and I search for small farms for lease, or rent to own. I think we hit every state out there, LOL. But now we have decided to hold off on renting and save money for a down payment to purchase something so we can bring our horses home. At any given time I go up to my shop and think of new jewelry designs. Mandi comes along at times too and she makes key chains. She sat and happily made 40 key chains in one day for the riding program. I then just go with the flow of the day.

How did you first find horses … or did they find you?
It’s kinda both. As for horses finding me, I believe my Mom gave birth to me in a stall next to a foal being born at the same time. Since I could remember all I talked about was horses. I was always two hours early for the local block party just to be first in line to lead the ponies around in a circle. They were tied to a walker and needed no assistance but I felt they did just in case. LOL. Anyway, I was nine years old and nobody was gonna tell me those cute little ponies didn’t need help walking in a circle. The owners were always delighted to see the local kids want to help. At age 10 my parents took me to their friends farm every weekend to ride for five years. My first official ride was on a Norwegian Dun Fyord. Then I graduated to a skittish QH mare that I adored and she taught me so much and in return she learned from me. We both learned kindness, forgiveness and the will to please. At age 15 I finally got my first horse.

Did they find me? Yes, in a way. This year we adopted two rescue horses. It was not our plan but this is how it went. We were notified of a beautiful Palomino QH gelding in need of a loving home. He would only be a light rider but had an awesome sweet disposition, We thought of our kids in Illinois due to the fact they had two already and were looking for something for the little ones. Ed and I talked about this for two weeks. Unbeknown to us, Mandi was in close ear shot of every conversation about this horse. When we were told that our kids in Illinois were not interested, Mandi sat next to us and said Mom? Why can’t I have him? I can pay to board him and I’ll take care of him. Well, after a few phone calls we said yes. And I wish I had my camera to snap that look on her face. I can’t tell you how many people she called to let them know she has a horse again. And how many people called back asking to speak to us to verify it. She would of taken an ad out in the local paper if she could. I truly underestimated the love Mandi had for horses and how she missed hers so much.

I should mention that Mandi has Cerebral Palsy and has ridden horses most her life for therapy. It was then we decided to take a long awaited vacation to have Mandi see her horse and look around for a nice small farm to rent. It was instant love when Mandi met her new horse. The part that made me realize just how much Mandi loved her horses was the day she met Haun in person. She proudly walked him off the trailer and over to me so she could introduce us. After holding his lead, petting him, talking to him and grooming him for about an hour she decided to let him go visit with his horsey friends in the pasture. She took off his halter and told him to go say hello to his pasture buds. His name is Haun and as he slowly walked away Mandi looked up at the sky. She had a tear roll off her cheek and looked at Haun, telling me how she wished her Mammam (my mother) was here to see her new horse and how proud Mammam would be of her and Haun. Mandi never spoke of my mother since her passing 14 yrs ago. This was the first time. It was at this point I was determined to try my hardest to make sure Mandi will have Haun until his time was up. I have two videos and some pictures on Photobucket you can check out. The videos with Mandi trying on her riding helmet and boots were a trial run so her sister would know what ones to get her. Mandi’s sister bought her the boots and helmet.

The second horse Ed adopted and was supposed to be very shy and stayed in the background a lot due to being abused by men. When they went to pick Mandi’s horse up, this mare came right up to Ed and just loved all over him. He was horse struck. The next day he asked to go back over to the other farm to bring her to the place we were staying because he wanted her. Her name is Pearl, a Missouri Fox Trotter and is a Perlino color. He loves her to pieces and also misses her. They are both presently being boarded at Rae Cleveland’s place in Nebraska until we can get into our own place. A special thank you to the Cleveland’s for helping us out so much.

Favorite horse story?
Oh boy, my favorite story? Well, I’m not sure if this is a story but the most memorable horse story has to be when Mandi saw her horse for the first time and the emotions she showed that day. Yes that’s it folks. In my 40 some years with horses, that day will forever stick in my heart. It goes deeper than that but that’s it in the nut shell.

If you could change one thing within the horse industry, what would that be?
WOW! So much to say on that subject.

First off I’m a Quarter Horse person and believe the ole type “Whimpy” breed should be preserved. If there was such a thing and I could vote on the subject, I would not cross breed the QH with the Thoroughbreds. To me it’s just people breeding for their own pleasures, not the breed.


Another thing I would change is no breeding of a mare that’s positive with HYPP. I’ve seen horses having an HYPP attack and it’s not pretty. I also know the attacks can vary in severity. Why would someone want to breed a mare like this only to have a chance of its offspring inheriting the mutant gene.

I would also like to see a ban on all these meat buyers! Somehow, someway. My thoughts on the Bureau of Land Management - let our free horses roam free. I agree with slimming the herd, but there are too many people out there adopting these Mustangs with no clue how to handle them. Nor do they have the proper facilities for them. I know that’s asking for a lot, but that’s just what I would change if I could. Give the Mustangs more acreage to roam freely. Don’t put them in the wrong hands only to suffer.

Back yard rescue shelters really get my goat. If you’re going to rescue abandoned, abused horses do it the right way. Get licensed and get your local ASPCA in to approve your facility. If your love for abandoned horses is that strong, you will think of the horse, not yourself and the income you can make. Same goes for transporters of our beloved horses. If you’re going to transport, please have the proper trailer, disinfect after each haul, offer your animal hay while in transit and make frequent stops to check on them. Okay. I’m done before I take up five pages.

My dream is to one day be able to have a place to offer unwanted horses. But I will not do it until I am 100% able and have everything down to the doors inspected by the proper authorities.

Other than horses, what else do you enjoy doing for fun?
I love making jewelry. I am a self taught jewelry artist and have been designing my own jewelry for eight years. My style is Altered Art & Tramp Art. I gather vintage 50’s pieces of jewelry and new pieces; putting them together, I produce Altered Art. I have items donated to me, I buy at flea markets and online auctions. I so enjoy designing new pieces. I have sold locally and had a store on eBay for seven years. I closed my store due to the high fees and something inside me just wasn’t suiting me in selling my items. I sold every piece I created but there was still something else bothering me and it wasn’t till two years passed that I figured it out. I suppose God had a hand in this part because I would pray a lot and ask what the heck am I going to do with boxes and boxes of jewelry supplies? I thought of selling it but part of me said no, just hold onto it and something will come my way.

When I joined U Rock ’n Ride and started making friends I saw inside these awesome people and saw they also, just like me, had their ups and downs. I decided to create a piece of jewelry and send it to them as a pick me up. I was happy to do so and happier yet when the person receiving it had some joy when it came in the mail. Who doesn’t like getting surprises? Of course I had to tone my designs down because altered art really is not for everyone. Boy was that a challenge for me. But I got it down pat and off they went. This makes me happy! Making jewelry filled the void of not having our horses with us. Anyone who is interested in seeing my jewelry is more than welcome as I keep the pictures on Photobucket and they are open to the public. There are eight folders of jewelry.

At this point I’m creating new pieces and donating them to an awesome therapeutic riding program, Stampede of Dreams, to help defray their costs and hopefully help some of their dreams come true. I love every second of it and am honored and proud to be able to help them out. As small as my jewelry is, I will continue to support them. So if I may I would like to say if anyone has any bits or pieces of jewelry new or old to donate please send me a message through U Rock ‘n Ride. It would be much appreciated and will be used solely for my charity work.

Is there a special significance to your avatar?
Yuppers - there sure is. I change my avatar every now and then. Each one has special meaning deep in my heart. The first one I had up was a picture of my beloved horse Mac. I had to give him up but he will always have a special place in my heart. The one I have up now is special to me because those are the awesome people from U Rock ‘n Ride that drove 1,100 miles round trip to transport our horses.

Anything else we should know about you?
I’m married to an awesome man named Ed aka sirblaster and together we have seven children and twelve grandchildren. Half of them live in Pennsylvania and the others are in Illinois and Iowa. Our daughter Mandi lives with us. Mandi is 31 years old (shh - don’t tell her I said that). We currently live with my brother and share the expenses but soon hope to have our own place so we can be with our horses. I love to be outdoors. Love taking pictures of wildlife and flowers and scenery. I feel I am a kind, loving person even when my choppers fly across the yard and treat others as I would want to be treated. We live paycheck to paycheck like most everyone now days but I will be the first to offer or give to anyone in need. That’s what life is all about. And if I am unable to do it, by golly I will call someone who can. I believe everything else about me is written above. That’s me in the nut shell. I am very honored and proud to be December’s spotlight and want to thank Christi and Reiner for asking me to have this chance at shedding a bit more light on myself and my family. God Bless you all and may you have many, many happy trails ahead.