Maude is a Percheron mare, a big Percheron mare. She was available for adoption and at the same time, Dream Power, a non-profit Therapeutic Riding Center for disabled children, was retiring their best therapeutic draft horse. We agreed to let Dream Power take Maude on a trail basis to see if she can fill the big 'horseshoes' of their retiring draft horse. Maude is very sweet, very willing and very big. She loaded in the trailer easily, especially since we opened the window to make it look more inviting. The innocent pictures don't tell the big story. Maude put her big head out the window and had no idea of how to get her big head back in. It took about 40 minutes and many different inventive techniques to get her big head back in the trailer so she could be transported to Dream Power's farm a few miles away. We finally had a few lead ropes attached to her halter, but a big towel over her head to blindfold her and pushed, shoved and pulled her big head back into the trailer and shut that door. What a big adventure! Horses never cease to amaze me how they constantly make us think, 'out of the box'

Thank you, Tom Doran, for taking the pictures. Great job.

Mrs. Flanagan,
As I understand it from talking to Jodi Hannah, you were largely responsible for the load of hay that will be arriving later this week for Vermilion Parish cattlemen hit hard by Hurricane Rita. We have survived the immediate effects of Rita because of donations just like this. How can we thank you? So many of our cattlemen lost homes, vehicles, fences, winter hay supplies, and most of their personal belongings. The donations of feed and hay have made it possible for many of our cattlemen to have hope that they can rebuild, and salvage what they have been able to gather after the storm. I have included a few pictures that show loose cattle on the road; plant refuse on top of sheds; and one of thousands of houses damaged.

Again, I thank you, on behalf of the Vermilion Parish cattle industry.

Howard J. Cormier
Extension Agent
LSU AgCenter
Vermilion Parish