Thursday, March 5, 2009


Just a quick update. Not much new. Donna is still resting the horses and herself at a host farm in North Florida. It's been cold the past week so it's best. I'll let everyone know when she decides to continue. Please post this blog on any forums that you are a member. Miss Jay and Tonto are doing well and having a nice relaxing time.

19 comments:

  1. I've been following Donna's journey from the beginning and I just wanted to post a note saying, "thank you" for keeping us updated and "telling the tale" for her!

    It's so great she stayed on & hasn't been traveling this week because with the temps we've had here in central Florida, I can only imagine how cold it is up there for ya'll! (yeah, I said ya'll...what of it?!) ;P

    I'm jealous of Donna's grit, determination and independence too, so I find her story to be an inspiration...especially now-a-days! ;)

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  2. I am so glad you posted an update.
    I have also been followiing from the beginning and sending links for Gail and Jan to post here.
    I know they got you a checking account and a debit card but people might have an easier time putting $ into your account if you had a paypal account. It would really be easy now that you have a bank account and an e-mail address. Jan, think about it for her.
    http://www.paypal.com/
    And if they put the song on ebay it would be really easy to buy with paypaI wish so much that I could ride with you Donna. My life long dream was to start at the top of the Grand Canyon abd ride it to the bottom. I never got to do it so I am with you in spirit on your ride. Iam such a woossy I tear up everytime I hear that song they wrote for you. LOL I love that song. It reminds me of when I was homeless with my dog in a car long ago. Now I have 10 acres of my own but I sometimes get wanderlust anyway. Like now watching you. LOL
    I was so glad you weren't riding this week with that weather down there. I worried about your health.
    Did they give you the links that you can find ranch jobs on? It may make finding that job easier. If not, here they are again.
    http://www.ranchwork.com/
    http://www.farmranchjobs.com/
    http://www.agraplacements.com/farm-ranch-jobs.html
    Good hunting Donna, I hope someday I can meet up with you in person or something. Check out my blog to I added some stuff to it.
    Sue

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  3. Hi again Donna,
    I just tryed a search for TX jobs and came up with this site.

    http://www.twc.state.tx.us/jobs/job.html

    When you get to it click on the bar above the girls head where it says "Looking for a Job?" it will take you to another page.
    The Quick links box under the log on has
    browse jobs, click on that.
    Where it says enter text (with the red star) put "Ranch Work" in there. You will get '20 pages' of job listings. If you want the job specs just Register with the site. They will give you the job orders so you can choose ones you like and you will be able to apply to them.
    Hope this helps again.
    Sue

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  4. As of March 13th, Donna and her horses are settled in the Marianna Florida area and will be leaving again on Monday, if weather permits.
    She still needs contacts on the west side of Dothan. If anyone can help her please call me so I can forward the information to her, or email.
    850-573-2585
    oranchapps@msn.com
    What a pleasant person to talk to.
    Easy going, funny and always ready to help.
    Horses look great and are eating well and playing nicely.

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  5. Sweet! So glad you could help her out... tell her Gail says Hi! : )

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  6. Hi Donna,
    Love what you are doing and would like to interview you via skype for Trot on TV support@trotontv.com
    Can you make contact?
    Really would appreciate it

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  7. This is an OPEN BLOG... no one person knows where Donna is always.. we just hope she " Donna" will tell those she is staying with to post... this is as good as it gets...

    Donna is on her own... we just started the BLOG as she passed our way. And to provide somewhat of a comunication if Donnas tells people - or Media Post the link to it.

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  8. I would love to hear what part of Alabama Donna is in if anybody knows. I live in Talladega county and have friends all around and could possibly be of some help.

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  9. As of today, Donna is in Andalusia, AL. She plans to leave there Saturday or Sunday morning and will continue West on 84.

    She's looking for places to stay along 84 West.

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  10. TwoRzz-

    I'm not sure where Talladega County is but she's traveling West on 84 from Andalusia. Do you know anybody along that route that could put her up for a night? I know she's looking because she's been calling me quite a bit lately asking for contacts. Unfortunately, I don't have any.

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  11. Tonya
    I have some information that I will pass along to Donna in the morning. Someone has offered her a place to stay near Evergreen Alabama off of 84. I will contact her with the information

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  12. Travelling cowgirl Donna Byrne was hospitalized in Louisiana yesterday (April 9) with a serious leg infection.

    Travelling cowgirl Donna Byrne was hospitalized in Louisiana yesterday (April 9) with a serious leg infection.


    http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/apr/08/081626/traveling-cowgirl-hospital/

    Traveling cowgirl in Louisiana hospital

    News Channel 8 file photo by PAUL LAMISON

    Donna Byrne, 44, loaded up her two horses and headed for Texas after she lost her job.

    By LINDSAY PETERSON | The Tampa Tribune

    Published: April 8, 2009

    Updated: 04/08/2009 04:26 pm

    Related Links

    Previous coverage
    Photos: Going West
    Web site set up for Byrne

    Travelling cowgirl Donna Byrne was hospitalized in Louisiana yesterday with a serious leg infection.

    Doctors are giving her intravenous antibiotics and pain medicine, said Donnis Birkicht, who visited her this morning at Huey P. Long Medical Center, in Pineville, La.

    Byrne asked Birkicht for two things, Chinese food and the latest issue of Western Horseman magazine. "She was very insistent that it be the latest issue," Birkicht said.

    Byrne made it to Natchez, Miss., on Monday and was staying with a family who noticed her walking with a limp.

    She wouldn't let anyone look at it at first, said one of the family members, Delana Tradewell, in a post on a website following Byrne's trek, cowgirlsjourney.webs.com. Finally Tradewell's husband persuaded Byrne to take off her boot and was alarmed at how bad it looked.

    Byrne didn't want to go to the doctor, but the Tradewells took her anyway. "One look, and he sent her to the hospital," Delana wrote.

    Later in the day, Byrne was taken by ambulance to the Pineville hospital, about 90 miles from Natchez.

    Byrne, 44, started out in Arcadia about 10 weeks ago. She'd lost her job working on a small ranch.

    Then she lost her home when she couldn't pay rent. So she loaded up her two horses and headed for Texas, where she hoped to find a job on a large ranch, she said.

    Traveling north on U.S. 301, she attracted a following of horse owners who have used the Internet to find her and her horses places to stay on their journey.

    She was physically worn down by the time she arrived in Natchez, Delana wrote. She'd been taking care of her horses better than herself, and didn't want to go to the hospital because she was worried about who would take care of them.

    She finally agreed to go, Delana wrote, when her husband, Bert, promised to take good care of the horses, Jay and Tonto.

    Bert works with Donnis Birkicht's husband and asked the Birkicht's to check on her at the hospital in Pineville.

    The horse that she has been riding, Jay, stopped eating after Byrne was taken to the hospital, Delana wrote yesterday. Jay paced in circles in her stall. "She know's that something is wrong with Donna and she is so upset."

    But Birkicht said Jay was calmer today and had started to eat.

    Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at (813) 259-7834

    ************
    Joy Ezell
    Perry, FL

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  13. Donna - Pinedale, Wyoming is sending the message "Show up and we'll put you to work" The area has too many jobs and not enough people....also its mostly ranchland so there's a place for your horse! Good Luck!

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  14. We live in Northeast Texas and just saw a news feature on Donna - she is presently in Louisiana and heading toward Amarillo for a possible job, according to the story - may be another month to get there. Story also said if that didn't work out, she might head for Colorado. I hadn't seen any recent posts, but thought this news might be of help to those keeping up with her progress. BEST OF LUCK DONNA - you are such an inspiration to us all!
    Jinelle Boyd, Atlanta - Texas

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  15. Donna Made it to Tenaha Texas and is resting with us for a few days. Donna and her horses are doing good. I will have her post later tonight or tomorrow !!!

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  16. Donna just left Carthage, TX and will be staying at the city arena in Marshall, TX. We made arrangements for her there. She was very tired and so were the horses. They plan to stay in Marshall for a rest.

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  17. Donna will be in Marshall, TX home of "Wonderland of Light" and Wiley College in the Great Debaters! We'll treat her well!

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  18. What's the latest on Donna? Did she reach her destination and get a job?

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