Prairie Oaks Equine Service

01/01/2020

CLOSED

03/11/2017

Time for GOOD NEWS !!!!!!

12/13/2016

Merry Christmas to ALL my friends. May you All be Blessed This Christmas Season !!!! Pete

This outstandingly beautiful version of “Hallelujah” will give you goose bumps for 5 minutes straight! Promise!

10/31/2016

More Equine Hero's !!!!

08/31/2016

The Pride of Blue

Many years ago, as a young boy, I saw the rolling country side dotted with the most beautiful dark nave blue silos. They were to be seen at many of the farmsteads thru out America. They represented the promise of a more profitable farm enterprise which was to be gained. But at what cost? The farmer’s wife was apprehensive and uncertain of the claims which were made. She quietly protested the cost verses the gain. The grandfather shared his concern, which fell on deaf ears. Yet as the farmer gazed at all those beautiful blue silos, it was an enticement he couldn’t resist. The exhibitor at the state fair made the case for profitability and the contract was signed. Followed by a fistful of contracts from other farmers who were slower to sign on. The farm which had been paid for many years now found itself saddled with debt it had never known. The guarantees made by the company promised net returns far beyond ever the farms bottom line. The first few years where difficult but manageable. Then the farm prices plummeted. Farmers were taking everything they had to sell just to make the financial commitment they made to keep the payments current. Yet, by year 4, 5, & 6 it became obvious that it was too much of a financial burden to bear. The farm had to be sold. Gone were the dreams farms are made of. The tears flowed throughout the country as story upon story was told at the local coffee shops. What can be learned from all of this, perhaps, that the listening of the council of your best friend, your wife, should be considered much more carefully? Prayer was never a thought, it was a hindsight after the realization of the inevitable set in. It was the pride of life that caused the fall: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”. And finally, “Better with little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.”
Blessings,
Written by Pete Karpe

08/11/2016

America's other fallen Hero's

Dion Dassanayake has compiled an incredible collection of pictures which showcase the amazing horses that were involved in the First World War. Over 8 million horses were killed in the First World War – a fact which is not well known at all. Every single one of these horses was a hero in his own rig...

07/19/2016

Heatstroke is a potentially deadly condition that can come on suddenly with little warning. Heatstroke occurs when heat production outpaces heat loss. A horse's normal temperature is 100 to 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures beyond 103.5 challenge his metabolic processes. Beyond 105 degrees, it…

05/26/2016

Doughboy

It was the fall of 1917. Young Robert T. Olson was excited that he had just graduated from high school. The spring was not like any other spring. The vibrant green colors on the leaves had just awoken from a long winters nap. The fresh turned earth from his father’s horse drawn plow could be smelled from the dirt road to the long driveway heading up to the farm. The lilacs everywhere could be smelt for miles around. The smell of Mom’s fresh baked bread swirled around the house as he entered. Fresh strawberry jam was cooking on the stove. With 30 more jars readied to be filled. A letter was on the table as he took a bite from the fresh bread and strawberry jam. Enclosed in the letter was a notice that he was to be drafted into the army. He was to report to Fort Bennington in August. Robert sat back in his chair as he tried to wrap his head around the news.
The summer went by like a streak of lighting across the prairie sky. All his plans were now changed forever. As he rode in the horse drawn wagon to the train station his pa reminiscent of the years he watched him growing up on the farm. The many fond memories fishing at the lake, summer picnic’s even the smell of the fresh cut hay in the meadow was remembered as they passed by.
A handshake from pa and a hug from ma was savored as he rode the train to the basic training. He traveled throughout the night only to be awoken by the next train stop as the next group of boys who joined him to their destiny. Finally they arrived at the fort. There where whistles being blown. There were young men marching in perfect formation. Horses were being ridden by men in sharp looking uniforms. The training lasted 30 days. His physical appearance changed from a baby fat high school graduate to a chiseled young man.
Orders were given and he found himself going to fight the axes of evil in France to which he had only seen in his history books from school. Five weeks later he found himself assigned to a unit that would be headed to the front lines. The shear fear of war and of taking others’ life settled in. The difficulty of being able to sleep was unimaginable as to what he might have to endure.
The unit that he was assigned to was the first to be placed as a shear plow to break the enemy’s lines. With due diligence and much courage the assignment was perfectly executed. A few days of rest and the next assignment was given. This was more difficult. A bridge needed to be taken and secured. This was the first time a young gunner from England called him “Doughboy” Their units were joined to form a stronger resistance and become a more formidable foe to the enemy. This time the loss of life was brought closer to home as they took on a number of causalities from their unit. The on slot of heavy fighting lasted three days. The thoughts of making it home alive now became a constant motivation for survival. Weeks turned into months as Robert continued to be a standout of courage and spiritual strength to his unit.
It was June 15, 2018 that became a day to be remembered. Young Robert had witnessed the first true setback of the war. Three days before Robert’s division had been repulsed and the following days the war was at a complete standstill. On the morning of the 15th Robert was given the order to advance his unit and at all costs and take the high ground. As he led the way he saw a very familiar friend. The horse he knew from home was running loose without a rider, just a saddle and bridle were on him. His father had donated him for the purpose of helping out the war effort. Robert had trained as well as nursed this horse as a foal from the milk from the cows on his farm because the foals mother past away during his birth. He gave out his special whistle that only Danny Boy knew. Danny boy stopped turned and ran to Robert. The meeting was short lived as both Robert any Danny boy where laced with lead from the enemy. Both fell to the ground and the war raged on. Both sensing that time was short Robert managed to crawl to Danny Boy. The tears flowed from each face as they looked each other in the eyes for the very last time. Robert put his nose to Danny Boy’s as they breathed together their last. Robert could smell the unforgettable smell of his closest friend. Together with his arms around his best friend’s neck they both breathed their last. It may be said that on Memorial Day “That all gave some and some gave their All” let us not forget the many units of horses that also gave their all, for freedom we now enjoy. This Memorial Day please take the time out of your day to put flowers on the graves to the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit of our freedom that both you and I have been given the privilege to enjoy. Then set out a lone flower in a vase for the courage and strength our fine equines who also paid their ultimate sacrifice.
Blessings,
Written By,
Pete Karpe
Just a side note: WWI Stats. 17 Million Men died ~30 Million people total died
8 Million Horses died just from the United States. Untold millions died from Europe

05/16/2016

The Barn

The wind changed directions; the weather vane on top of the barn couldn’t make up its mind which way to point. As the fall colors laid a corset around the barn in a most picturest painting. The barn found the years were no longer kind. Gone were the days of loose fresh hay in the hay mow. The stalls are empty to which horses where kept. The harness, bridles and saddles had become dusty and weather checked, useless by today’s standards. The faint smells of the stable were reminiscent of years ago. Activities in the barn had been dances, milking cows, and harnessing horses hay rides around the farm; all of which are only now a memory.
Technology & progress has become the norm for young people. Getting outside for a last trail ride of the year seems like a dream found on some country song cd which can be easily filed away for some other time or some other moment. Learning how to interact with horses and people have fallen by the wayside. Our society is fast becoming as obsolete as the few barns left standing. These monuments are to be standing stones of visions of a better future as well as a safe haven to protect us from the hurts from our society. We hardly take note of all the ones that have fallen over during the winter sky. Their foundations have crumbled and their roofs are left gaping wide open as if they were in some sort of a war. Society tells us progress, progress, progress. I ask progress to where? Truly in my day we never heard of disrespecting adults or mass killings in schools, universities, or even in our places of worship. We and the animals could always find shelter and protection under the great massive roof of the barn, no matter what was happening outside. The sturdy beams where carefully selected and hand hued. Every intricate piece of lumber was in its proper place. Secured by the many contributing members of its constitution. Perhaps the next time you see a barn your perspective may change and a greater appreciation may be found of the old values we used to hold so dear.
Written by Pete Karpe

05/13/2016

Just read the highlighted paragraph. No hashtags needed.

05/13/2016

05/06/2016

Let us not become weary in doing good.