Wild About Animals Radio Show 11.11.2014 Shawn Crews of Arabians LTD in Waco, TX – The Opportunity of a Lifetime Leads to a Lifetime of Opoortunity
11/18/14 • -1 min
Somewhere around 10-12 years ago I got a call from an Arabian horse farm in Waco regarding a very valuable stallion who had severe laminitis. The horse had been at a university and had been discharged with “interesting” recommendations, and the French Canadian stallion manager was insistent on me seeing the horse immediately. I drove the 2 hours to the farm that night and found a stunning Arabian stallion who could stand up for about 15 seconds, touch both front feet to the ground, then lay back down on the deep straw bedding. I asked the stallion manager if the horse was insured, and when he replied yes, I informed him that if this was about money, the horse would surely meet any insurance company’s criteria for euthanasia. His reply was that this was NOT about the money, it was about saving the horse, “that is why we called you!” We went to work that night, did immediate surgery, and I have been fully blessed to have a relationship with the outstanding people and horses of Arabians LTD ever since. Yes, the stallion survived and I still am taking care of him and his now near normal, healthy, sound feet, every 5 weeks, along with a few others at the farm.
Over the years I have been able to get to know owner Judy Sirbasku’s “right hand woman”, Shawn Crews, but I never knew fully Shawn’s story. I have learned she is a phenomenal showman and evaluator of Arabian horses. I have learned she travels all over the world, working with owners and breeders to perpetuate the success of Arabians LTD and the Arabian breed. She is both tough as nails and as soft and caring as Mother Theresa. She is a relentless worker and a studious businesswoman, and to say she keeps me both challenged and motivated as a health care professional may be the understatement of the century. But I never knew “Her Story”. I kind of figured she was like a lot of people in high places in the horse world, raised in a “horsey” family, developed as a trainer and exhibitor, and progressed into a management roll. Well, part of that is true.
You see, we live in a land of opportunity, not a land of entitlement. This is a lesson I embraced at an early age. No one owes you anything, other than an opportunity. Sometimes recognizing the opportunity only occurs in hindsight, and those occasions should be learned from, but certainly not dwelt upon, or another opportunity may be missed. In this episode, I share with you the story of how Shawn got an opportunity she really wasn’t looking for, but now can see in retrospect how it became the opportunity of a lifetime. Now, through persistence (oh, some might say a little hard-headedness, but surely not me!), diligence, acceptance and realization she has built a lifetime of opportunity and helped to build the WORLD leader in Egyptian Arabian horses in Waco, Texas!
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to lift my game to the level required to be of benefit to the people and horses of Arabians LTD. One of the things we discuss in the interview is the upcoming Fall Seminar the farm is having. I don’t have, nor have I had, clients who work any harder to help their clients and those interested in horses become more knowledgeable and experienced horsemen than does Shawn and her crew. Whether you are interested in horses or not, the business principles and attitude of service exemplified at the farm can be beneficial, and i encourage you to contact and even visit the Arabians LTD team. Thanks for sharing Shawn Crews! And thanks to you for stopping by!
Somewhere around 10-12 years ago I got a call from an Arabian horse farm in Waco regarding a very valuable stallion who had severe laminitis. The horse had been at a university and had been discharged with “interesting” recommendations, and the French Canadian stallion manager was insistent on me seeing the horse immediately. I drove the 2 hours to the farm that night and found a stunning Arabian stallion who could stand up for about 15 seconds, touch both front feet to the ground, then lay back down on the deep straw bedding. I asked the stallion manager if the horse was insured, and when he replied yes, I informed him that if this was about money, the horse would surely meet any insurance company’s criteria for euthanasia. His reply was that this was NOT about the money, it was about saving the horse, “that is why we called you!” We went to work that night, did immediate surgery, and I have been fully blessed to have a relationship with the outstanding people and horses of Arabians LTD ever since. Yes, the stallion survived and I still am taking care of him and his now near normal, healthy, sound feet, every 5 weeks, along with a few others at the farm.
Over the years I have been able to get to know owner Judy Sirbasku’s “right hand woman”, Shawn Crews, but I never knew fully Shawn’s story. I have learned she is a phenomenal showman and evaluator of Arabian horses. I have learned she travels all over the world, working with owners and breeders to perpetuate the success of Arabians LTD and the Arabian breed. She is both tough as nails and as soft and caring as Mother Theresa. She is a relentless worker and a studious businesswoman, and to say she keeps me both challenged and motivated as a health care professional may be the understatement of the century. But I never knew “Her Story”. I kind of figured she was like a lot of people in high places in the horse world, raised in a “horsey” family, developed as a trainer and exhibitor, and progressed into a management roll. Well, part of that is true.
You see, we live in a land of opportunity, not a land of entitlement. This is a lesson I embraced at an early age. No one owes you anything, other than an opportunity. Sometimes recognizing the opportunity only occurs in hindsight, and those occasions should be learned from, but certainly not dwelt upon, or another opportunity may be missed. In this episode, I share with you the story of how Shawn got an opportunity she really wasn’t looking for, but now can see in retrospect how it became the opportunity of a lifetime. Now, through persistence (oh, some might say a little hard-headedness, but surely not me!), diligence, acceptance and realization she has built a lifetime of opportunity and helped to build the WORLD leader in Egyptian Arabian horses in Waco, Texas!
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to lift my game to the level required to be of benefit to the people and horses of Arabians LTD. One of the things we discuss in the interview is the upcoming Fall Seminar the farm is having. I don’t have, nor have I had, clients who work any harder to help their clients and those interested in horses become more knowledgeable and experienced horsemen than does Shawn and her crew. Whether you are interested in horses or not, the business principles and attitude of service exemplified at the farm can be beneficial, and i encourage you to contact and even visit the Arabians LTD team. Thanks for sharing Shawn Crews! And thanks to you for stopping by!
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Wild About Animals Radio Show 11.4.2014 The Chrome Diaries – How to go from a smart ass ex to the chronicler of a Triple Crown candidate and chauffeur of his trainer in less than 90 days – with Kathleen Waldvogel
http://traffic.libsyn.com/waars/WAARS_11.4.2014.mp3
A show titled “Wild About Animals” would seem to suggest it has an emphasis and appeal to those possibly interested in animal health and stories of animals and since I’m a veterinarian maybe some of the odd stories of what goes on in the life of a veterinarian day-to-day, yet the show is under “Self Help” in iTunes (I think, still don’t have it all figured out). I classified the show under “Self Help” for several reasons, including that I believe there are a lot of life lessons learned from non-human animals, and the people I am around who really embrace the joy of their animals and the pride and joy in taking care of their animals generally flows over into other aspects of their lives. The irony of this episode is that I was REALLY interested and extremely excited to interview the lady who was chronicling California Chrome about California Chrome and sharing with you the care the horse receives, the character of the horse, and some of the ways he has impacted the lives of the people surrounding him. What you will hear in this interview is some indication of the Chrome character, but what ended up unfolding was an amazing example of the power of intention and visualization in the story of my guest, Kathleen Waldvogel.
Kathleen Waldvogel is an artist. Her work and services can be found at her website, http://www.forestbirdphotos.com, though her blog on California Chrome has moved to America’s Best Racing (www.americasbestracing.net). I find her story fascinating in that she has personally employed so many suggestions in the self-help world to create a place in the stable of a race horse and his story which has captured America this past year. First, after leaving the corporate world, she decided to do something SHE enjoyed, spending time with her horse, and her camera. Second, she got a coach. Third, she used the arrogant action of an old flame to set an intention, and then allowed things to fall into place. When the opportunity she desired presented itself, her intention became a reality because her heart was in the right place. While the intention was hers, and she had self-interest, the motivation of the intention had at its foundation the larger motivation of service to others.
The horse world can be portrayed and can in actuality be a world of aloofness and exclusion. Other industries, be they other facets of the entertainment world such as sports or stage, banking, law, real estate, I can think on and on about those groups of people who have seemed to be more EXclusive rather than INclusive. However, in every industry there are those who choose to be inviting and inclusive, and while they may or may not have the biggest house or the biggest bank roll or other material suggestions of success, they often have the biggest lives, and while not completely void of challenges and disruptions, there is a peace and joy and sense of personal satisfaction and self-worth which evolves from the advancement of others. As Zig Ziegler said, “You can have everything you want by helping enough people get what they want.” I think the story of Kathleen and Art Sherman and California Chrome provides an enlightening example of what can happen when intention is followed with action. Let me know what you think in the comment section.
By the way, I do intend to do a follow-up with Kat and share the character of Chrome and the team behind him in the next few weeks. As always, thanks for stopping by!
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Wild About Animals Radio Show 11.25.2014 Dr Patty Khuly : Being Grateful – Everyday Should Be Thanksgiving Day
http://traffic.libsyn.com/waars/WAARS_11.25.2014.mp3
A few weeks ago I did a program with a very good friend and fantastic humorist and colleague Dr Bo Brock in which we discussed the suicide of Robin Williams and the alarming rate of suicide of veterinary professionals relative to that in the general population. This past month, my colleague Dr Patty Khuly authored an article in a publication I received discussing the same topic, and while the holiday season brings fun and joy to many, it also brings heightened stress, depression, and anxiety to others. In one of her final paragraphs, Dr Khuly opines, ” ...we should worry more about ensuring that all our colleagues have a nurturing, supportive, and judgment-free profession to work in.”
Profound words of wisdom, especially the final half-dozen words. In a profession where each and every day we as veterinarians are immersed in the beauty of nature, the scent of puppy breath, the elegance of the equine and the wisdom and perseverance of the senior pet, is it this external judgment that creates the vision of hopelessness rather than the appreciation of the environment and opportunities we are blessed to experience? Judgement from colleagues, teachers, employers, owners, family members, spouses and possibly most significantly from ourselves? Without rules, guidelines and standards, any profession would risk becoming a free for all centered on self-interest, losing, eventually, the purpose of service through one’s extensive education and experience which should be the motivation and the character of the profession. That said, I would suggest that the peace of mind so vital to staving off the vulture of depression can be achieved by being true to oneself, over and beyond the pleasing of others, yet with an attitude of service to others and reverence for the standards and rules within which one is expected to perform. This can present a true challenge for those in the service professions in that there can be conflicting thoughts and applications of theories, and the building of one’s clientele, the business to provide for oneself and family, is dependent on “the satisfied client or customer”. But what is the gain to gain the wealth of the world yet lose one’s own self and values? (Someone much wiser and more famous than I has previously pontificated this). While it is established human nature, and I would contend healthy, and debatably even Biblical, to strive for more, to continue to work to get better, to enhance our value and grow our wealth, WHEN WE FAIL TO BE STILL FOR JUST A MOMENT AND BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE, our focus and perspective are blurred to the point of self compromise either physically, spiritually, emotionally, socially or some combination of these. Our perception of an outcome or influence of events, actions, or situations based upon external expectations can limit us in accepting the actuality of the situation and seeking resolution acceptable to our self, alone, without thought for the judgement of others.
Life is a competitive situation. You are not going to win every game, every argument, every job, every bid, every case, and eventually every ailment, disease or malady. BE GRATEFUL you have the opportunity to compete. BE GRATEFUL you have the ability to grow and learn from the situation, not only about the situation, more importantly about your SELF!
I’ve read several commentaries from frustrated veterinarians, have experienced the feeling myself, frustrated with owners who elect euthanasia over treatment, abandonment over responsibility. I’ve learned to step back and be grateful for the owners who make the choice to be responsible and who allow me to pursue treatment. Rather than fret and stress over the person and animal NOT in the exam room, focus on those that are. Rather than stress over the equipment I don’t have, be grateful for that which I DO have. I look at my business management and ask MYSELF if I am doing everything I can to make treatment options as available and affordable as possible. Frankly, I became involved in a networking business because it provided an extremely simple way to allow people to earn more money if they wanted to be able to afford to care for their animals (drbruce.vemma.com- drink your product, get two other people to do the same, repeat, get paid on everything that everyone else drinks, How simple is that?). Am I the only one that walks into a hospital that looks like a 5 star luxury resort and question THAT as why healthcare costs are where they are? ( I digress) But that was someone’s choice, not mine. I can only control my thoughts, my feelings, and my choices. As can you. And when I accept that reality, I CAN do my part in creating a nurturing, supportive, and judgement-free world in which to live and work.
There is not a day I awake that I am not thankful for my health, the ability and opportu...
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