warmed by WindChill

Tennessee Walking Horses / Gaited Horses
Breeding ▪ Training ▪ Riding Lessons ▪ Sales

Welcome to Raindance
'Breeding hope for a better tomorrow'

Home to 18 Tennessee Walking Horses, 2 spotted saddle horses,  1 miniature horse, and the memory and spirit of a little Walkaloosa colt named Windchill, and his half-sister Isabelle. This is also the home of Walker, an Australian Shepherd, a collie puppy, 3 adult cats, 4 kittens, and a humungous garage frog.

Located in South Range, Wisconsin, our herd enjoys lush pastures, rolling hills, fields, trails and forests giving us the room we need for all the training, boarding, breeding and riding. The variety of terrain in the surrounding area gives our horses a wider breadth of experience - everything from riding an open field to alongside a road, to trails, to climbing hills in the woods as well as riding alongside, through and over streams.  Combine that experience with kids coming to visit and dogs running alongside on our rides and you'll find our horses to be fairly 'laid back' and friendly!

Windchill Links:
The WindChill Legacy site
Sign Windchill's Guest Book
See Windchill's Original Guest Book & Memorials
Windchill's letter to all the children who wrote him

Raindance Webcam & Picture Links

Raindance Barn Cam - outside
(facing out front of barn - pen/riding arena area)
 Raindance Barn Cam 2  - inside
Raindance Pasture Cam
(faces trailer parking/riding pen/barn)

New Arrivals Pictures and Videos (being re-built)
Kathi & Jeff's Wedding Pictures*
More than a trainer

Raindance Farms/Jeffrey L. Tucker's official blog site
(the entire blog archive has been moved to this new site)

June 28, 2009, 10:01am: Sorry folks, forgot to update on the main site...the little guy was picked up by its owner Sunday night...laws really have to change...sigh...

After again seeing that poor little horse go back to that environment as of last night we bring you a nice change of pace, here's Raindance Farms Kitten Cam. Broadcasting live from our living room...(offline currently) 

June 27, 2009, 10:11am: Here's some shots after we went back and hooked up the trailer to load the wandering horse up and get him safely off the road. Apparently the inherent safety issue of a loose horse wandering down the middle of a county highway with traffic doing 55 to 60mph isn't enough to warrant a response from the Douglas County Sheriff's Department - not so much as the courtesy of a return call. I wonder what the liability is to law enforcement when they've been repeatedly called on the danger and they take no action whatsoever to respond or take action and an accident with a fatality occurs? They were perfectly fine knowing that we were handling their responsibility for them, standing there waiting. Our township representative tried very hard to assist, however, and we're grateful to Oakland Township. Unfortunately, the township doesn't have the authority to confiscate a horse and area farms were unwilling to get involved without the sheriff's department 'blessing'. He couldn't be brought to our farm as he's a stallion and our stallion was already going wild trying to get through the fencing when he caught scent of the nomadic wanderer. The short time he was at our farm the animals went wild. Very dangerous situation.

Thus I took the plight direct to the sheriff's office. Hidden behind mirrored, thick glass a voice asked what I wanted and I asked where they wanted this horse I've called in repeatedly about. This was after wandering the Superior Police building and banging on the doors trying to catch the attention of officers who looked at me, then back to their reading and wandering around inside. Thank goodness there's helpful cleaning people at the Douglas County Courthouse who were able to point out the unmarked safe fortress that is the sheriff's department - they were the only ones willing to give any help up until that point. I had already determined the horse couldn't be tied outside as that was a safety, liability and abandonment issue in itself. But that safe fortress offered a place I intended to leave the horse.

Eventually the Superior Police Department had a representative come out and wait with us until the sheriff's department representative arrived. In the meantime we had found a farm willing to house the horse temporarily (until Monday). Monday if need-be we will be loading the horse back up and returning to the courthouse. We're hoping that won't be necessary. A horse in that entryway to the fortress will block access to the jail visitation area and I can imagine that would be inconvenient to those hidden behind the glass.

June 26, 11:11pm: update - Apparently nobody has thought to bring the plight of a horse directly to the jailhouse/sheriff's office door...  The horse is officially confiscated and has been brought to a temporary location - it has until Monday at that farm. At that point I told them if there is not official resolution the horse will be returned to the sheriff's office. Unfortunately the media was unavailable though wanted to be kept posted.  By the way, that was one very happy horse - he ran and ran, probably for the first time in a very long time in his life.

June 26, 8:05pm: Windchill Legacy & Raindance Farms, LLC are involved in a rescue of an abandoned horse as I type this:

Watch the news tonight folks...the WindChill Legacy, Ltd. & Raindance Farms, LLC are involved in another rescue - and after repeated calls to the Douglas County Sheriff's Department as we sat alongside the road with the abandoned horse, it was finally turned over to the township who is not equipped - nor does it have the legal right to confiscate a horse. This horse has been reported repeatedly to the Douglas County Sheriff's Department. Tonight as we waited alongside the road for the sheriff's office to pay us the courtesy of a return call to direct how to handle this horse we finally gave up. Apparently it wandering down the middle of this highway isn't enough to get Douglas County to respond to a clear safety issue. The horse is a stallion and thus we are unable to again attempt to house the horse. Other farms in area refuse to take the horse as none of us have legal right without the Sheriff's office intervening.

So we're taking the horse to the sheriff's office. That's right, since we have no legal right to hold the horse and the Douglas County Sheriff's Department will not respond to our repeated requests we are doing the only thing we know we can legally do - bring the horse to their office and tie it to their door.

June 11, 2009: Duluth, MN, Announcement: Head of the Lakes Soccer Tournament will honor Jordan Tucker. Awareness of SADS conditions is the highlight of the upcoming Head of the Lakes Soccer Tournament this weekend - June 12-14. Jordan L. Tucker, age 18 years and 5 days, of Cloquet, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep early Saturday, November 15, 2008 due to an undetected hearth arrhythmia. He was an honor student with a passion for fishing and hunting. Jordan loved soccer and was named all-conferences goalie and played in the all star game this fall. He also was an excellent youth soccer referee

To participate in the tournament, visit http://www.gitchigummisoccer.com/.

For a risk assessment, questions, or to support the SADS Foundation, please visit www.StopSADS.org or call 1-800 STOP SAD.

June 5, 2009:

Hi Fear,

I just wanted to tell you I miss you. I miss our nightly routine the most. You knew it as well as I did...your mom falls asleep on the couch by 9:30pm as we watch a movie...I quietly make my way outside, the glow of a good cigar my only light as I stand out under the stars in the driveway. It helps relax me. Problems seem so much smaller by comparison. I walk out to the barn with Walker, Olivia and Ashpepper trailing along. Magic gives a little nicker and there you stand and wait. You refuse to move until your nightly pet, the hug, the kiss on the nose. I call you a "goofball" for the umpteenth time. You continue to stand there. Layla leans around the post for a pet, then back to checking yet again to see if she somehow missed any remaining grain from the previous thousand checks. You had a quiet presence like my own son had, a good natured sense of humor and personality. One last pet and I head back outside. When I look back you've moved back, still looking in case I change my mind and continue hanging out with you.

Your mom still hurts. She brought our charge card along with the highest limit on it when she brought you to that hospital. I guess that wasn't enough though little guy. I know you felt her love for you. I know you still do.

I'll watch for you each night, just like I do for all the souls we've had to say goodbye to. Know that we miss you and love you all, even now as your memory floats on the smoke trails of that cigar I salute you all with each night.

Your dad,

Jeff

June 1, 2009, 10:00am: Good morning everyone, I have returned to the land of the connected.  I have been intentionally away from the 'net and email as much as possible. Took a month away from work to hang out around the farm and take a trip which turned into a major adventure and race. As most of you know, Kathi pulled Fear to a hospital in Kentucky for surgery. Unfortunately that didn't go the way we'd want. I know she's written about having to have him put down on the forum so I'm not going to go into detail other than it was heart-breaking for her - he was her baby and they had a very special bond. I know there's an awful lot of people who wouldn't have bothered trying to do what she did for Fear. If it was only Fear that she poured her heart out to, we could probably actually get ahead on bills...  But she had to try and his loss furthers research as she donated his remains to them for ongoing research and study.

So the original plan was for me to take some much needed vacation and so I headed for Florida a couple of days prior to Kathi's departure with Fear and Grace. My truck's new fuel injectors had just been installed so it was a trial run. Around Dothan, AL smoke poured from the right side near the exhaust and I thought I worried the new injectors had failed and poured diesel into the oil...  turned out the caliper was leaking heavily onto the drum causing tons of smoke. I limped it into Panama City, FL using an alternate route to avoid all the slow and go that exists on the direct route. So we went to work under the truck the next day. Got it working - only to find the other side binding and the temperatures so hot I got sick working out in the heat. Meanwhile, several states away Kathi found out Fear's condition was terminal and had a truck problem so I told my brother we had to get my truck put back together and ready to launch - which we did in record time. I headed out of Panama City that next morning and proceeded across the FL panhandle, Alabama, Tennessee, part of Kentucky and into Illinois and never dropped below 85mph. While my brother acted as ground control - looking up traffic updates and construction online, he helped me project an intercept point, finally calculating that at my current average of 85mph and Kat traveling between 60 and 65 that my goal of a southern WI intercept so that I could shadow her back in case she had other problems was nearly unattainable - I could only get within .06 hours using the most optimistic calculations. By the way, A 3/4 ton HD Chevy Duramax Diesel gets 17.1mph consistently at 85 to 90mph cross country. Not too shabby for a truck that big traveling with its afterburners lit most of the way. Fortunately Kathi and Ann stopped in Bloomington, IL on the way back and that gave me the window I needed to catch up.

Now we're both back safe and sound at home, home on (South) Range...

May 28th was Windchill's birthday - ironically the same day as the final step in the legal process for the Javenkoskis - the restitution hearing. Not much to report on that, it's been a long road...Kind of strange how all the legal events coincided closely with major events in Windchill's brief life.

Pictures of how I spent my vacation in FL:

the culprit...(where we spent most of my time there)

my brother Rick and his wife Maureen (no it's not their car)

The boat across the channel from where I had breakfast every morning - Bayou Joe's (which absolutely rocks!)

My brother Rick at Uncle Ernie's (I think that was the place) and our view as we had a beer my last night in Panama City, FL

This is Harold, who visited on my last morning as my brother and I ate breakfast. This gang of pelicans came cruising over as well.

May 13, 2009, 8:40pm: I know it's been awhile, we've been involved in some major decision-making and some changes here. The stress is off now that all that's done. So I've been taking some time off and enjoying life as part of that process. And Kathi has gone full-time at Raindance, giving her the time she needs for all those lessons as well as all the training she has to get done. Now the poor horses are going to have to work hard...

After the crazy day when the colt was born, we've officially changed his name to Simply Chaos (which I personally like much better!). Mom and son continue to do well. And he's taken to a curious mannerism that I caught on film tonight...see if you recognize it...

Downright uncanny, isn't it?

He has the sweetest personality - gentle, playful, a bit mischievous and he brings a smile to the nursery stall.

April 27, 2009, 9:40pm: Raindance Farms, LLC is pleased to announce the birth of Simply Chaos, born this evening to mom, Gwen. Mom and son are both doing well. The little guy is on his feet...and off his feet...and on his feet...and off his feet...quite the spirited little fella!

April 23, 2009, 8:56am: Good morning folks. For those that haven't been following on the forum, Gwen is due at any time now and there's a group of folks following her via maternity barn cam. Hopefully it will be during this warm-up we're having right now!

Probably more importantly right now our friend Helen L in Canada is not feeling well and needs your support, prayers and well wishes. I don't have her permission to post her email address and so I'm asking all of you to send her well wishes through my email: 

jeff@raindancehorses.com

As the emails come in I'll be forwarding them to Helen in a hoped for barrage that will battle the forces that are hitting her right now. Helen is 79 years young and I want to keep receiving emails from her for another couple of decades!

March 22, 2009, 9:44am:

Rest in peace
A Dance in the Rain (Rain)
June 25, 2001 - March 18, 2009

Rain, I thought I would retire to you when we finally were able to set this circus down. You were my first 'dream horse' - and ended up far exceeding my hopes and dreams for you. Whether we went riding with someone else or you endured hour after hour of our alone time, riding through deep snow, water, jumping a river, or exploring where this trail or that one would take us you hung out with me without complaint. Alone on a dirt road or trail I'd climb down and let go of your reins and together we'd walk. I'd jog and you'd follow right behind. I'd stop, you'd stop most of the time (you always had that penchant for wanting to look around and not always pay attention...) I'd tell you "back" and you'd start stepping backwards.  Eventually I'd take up your reins again, swing back up on your back and down another trail we'd go. We finally found a home and naming it came easy. A Dance in the Rain became Raindance, our home. It won't be the same without hearing your call when I didn't pay enough attention to you while doing chores. You didn't take crap from anyone and didn't dish it out unless it was deserved by someone needing to be put in their place. Patiently you'd take newcomers around in circles in the riding arena, loop after loop, looking at us to see if you're done yet then off for another loop. Our years of my trying to spook and scare you paid off with your easy-going acceptance of just about everything. I'd do my best to spook you and you'd roll your eyes. In turn I learned to trust your instincts on steep hills, jumps, ice and snow. I don't even know how many offers to buy you I've had, or how high the price had gone. But you and I knew that it was impossible to put a value on what you had become in our time together. I'd always just say the same thing - you weren't for sale, yes I know Rain's what the market is looking for...but I just like her...  Truth was Rain I loved you and as much as I try to run this place like it's a business, it's really not. It's a life - with living, breathing beings with souls of their own. And yours was truly special to me, yours was a part of my own. Your name and your spirit will live on but I will forever miss a big piece of me that was intertwined with you. You helped me find this life I now live, and I never imagined you wouldn't be in it. I miss you Rain and I'll watch for you in the swirling rain...

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL PICTURES
(you can send your pictures/comments to: Jeff@raindancehorses.com)
Windchill's Photo Gallery

To our many good friends - the members of our Windchill family - thank you. Thank you for your support, your prayers, your thoughts and the donations that made his non-profit Legacy possible. Together we've done amazing things. Together we've reached out because we all know...

…”Maybe somewhere deep in each being’s heart and soul is a belief that it can be loved and that’s what WindChill holds on to…” (Jeff Tucker)

February 8, 2009, 9:07pm: A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10)

January 20th, 7:11pm:
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL PICTURES

The new blog is located at: 
Raindance Farms & Jeffrey L. Tucker's official new blog site

Jordan Lee Tucker
(click on name to go to his page)
November 10, 1990 - November 15, 2008

WindChill
May 28, 2007 - February 29, 2008
Windchill's Goodbye Message To Us

The country life:
"I live out on the backroads
Where I walk my country mile
And if it’s so good in the city
Why don’t anybody smile?
The traffic’s always heavy
And the air ain’t fit to breathe
I ain’t saying that it’s wrong for you
It just don’t make
sense to me.." (Toby Keith)

CAUTION! BEWARE OF VIRTUAL GUARD DOG

Well. Maybe just be careful not to trip over him as you peruse the site.