THE STOCKINGS WERE HUNG ~?

‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the farm,
All the equines were stirring, even those in the barn.
The stockings were hung on the stalls with great care,
In hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The horses were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of presents danced in their heads.
The equines are hoping to find lots of fine treats
But the wish at the moment is to take care of their needs.
Rotational Wormer Kits are a must at the farm,
To keep our equines healthy and free from all harm.
Our prayers will be answered if our wishes are fulfilled
And our Velvet Nosers, of course, will be totally thrilled.
Please consider a donation in this season of good cheer,
Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

God bless us, everyone!


SANTAS NEEDED!

Our equines are currently in need of 26 Wormer Kits (minis share a kit and drafts need 2 kits) at a cost of $25.99 per kit. All donations of any amount would be so greatly appreciated. Contributions may be forwarded by visiting the DONATE page on our website, via PAYPAL or via PAYPAL.ME. Please note with your donation, the name of the horse or donkey whose stocking you would like to help fill.

Sending Horsey Hugs and Kisses,
Aaleyah Belle, Chloe, Oasis, Starbuck, SeAnna, Sophie, Emma, Penny, Nadia, Venus, Little E, Zahara, Magic, Ruby, Elyza Rose, Frodo and Bouie, Ebony and Lily, CaryLou and Lucy, Peggy Sue, Joie and Rosie, Luiji and Warrior, Jo Jo and Jazzy

JoJo Easter

October 30, 2016

We apologize for any old updates that went out again this evening.  I’m not sure what happened but hopefully I can get some tech support tomorrow to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Thank you,
Theresa

We apologize that our updates have not been making it to the blog. We will be posting several from the last few weeks so stay tuned!

ASPCA Help a Horse Day / 6th Annual Celebration of Life is Coming!
April 11th – April 12th
We are reaching out to the community to raise awareness about what we do to help horses – our 6th Annual Celebration of Life / ASPCA Help a Horse Day is coming up on April 25th! Our subject this year is “Kicking Equine Cancer!” However, this past Saturday, many members of the community reached out to us and offered to come help us out! Community helping hands are always appreciated! We made new friends, shared experiences, and made new memories. More information about the upcoming event is at the bottom of this email.
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We had a wonderful day on Saturday with approximately, thirty visitors. Wanda and many members of her wonderful 4H group spent the day giving baths, clipping, and even helping with other chores. It’s always a fun and productive day when they come and we appreciate them so very much! Wanda’s challenge was JoJo! He was a good boy, considering he is JoJo! He doesn’t like to stand still for very long and it was his first (and likely only) body clip. His baby hair was just so thick and that first clip always requires extra assistance! Jazzy will get clipped as well but Daisy’s coat is just fine.
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Rosemary, Vicki, Terri, and Lorilie did a great job clipping many of the horses! This has become an annual event for them that is very much appreciated! That’s Ola in the background giving Little E a hooficure – it was spa day for him!
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Little E wasn’t too happy about waiting on line to get clipped. Look at that face!
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But once the clipping began Little E was quite happy! He’s our eldest here now and is quite precious.
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JoJo now gets to sport his flysheet on sunny days! He didn’t throw himself down and have a fit like he did last year. LOL
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Bouie always loves extra attention. All the mini’s got a good grooming.
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Matilda felt very special with four people clipping her at once! She stood like a pro – she really enjoyed it!
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Sophie was a good girl too and enjoyed getting rid of excess hair, I’m sure! She has Cushings. Just look at that cute smile on her face!
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Our paddocks have even more wonderful hearts now.
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Betsy Rose got lots of attention too. She stayed in the aisle way with Beauty most of the day – thankfully, there was a cool breeze.
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Peaches getting lots of attention and a much needed bath.
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Wanda and CaryLou have a standing annual date for his body clipping. It took a little longer this year – he’s grown a bit. The faces he made were priceless! Caleb did a great job helping his mom, but we very much missed Martina.
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CaryLou’s punk doo always makes me laugh! So, here’s the pretty colors and pattern he hides under his winter coat…
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Members of the UF Equestrian Team also spent much of the day helping out. They met all of the horses and some even got slimed by Aaleyah Belle! Many thanks to the team and to Marie, a much appreciated volunteer (who has been with us for a few years) for all of their hard work and their time!
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Donovan was a BIG hit – everyone loves him!
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Kylie introducing everyone to Matilda. Kylie has been volunteering for a few years now and we appreciate her very much!
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Everyone helped out where needed – it was a great day!
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Willow is doing well but since she’s learned what her legs can do, she hasn’t stopped moving! We were told she’s an Appendix but I wonder – I could swear I saw her doing a four beat ambling gait on Sunday afternoon showing off for Magic. She is a very beautiful, honest, inquisitive, girl that will give someone her all. We are taking applications on her now but she won’t be ready for a few weeks. I’m sure she was pretty amazed with all of the people here on Saturday. She had her first much needed hooficure .
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Beauty stood in the center aisleway of the barn most of the day to oversee all the happenings. She’s still got a ways to go with her front feet but she will get there. She’s the reason Beauty’s Haven came to be.
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Lucy after she was clipped. She’s very cute and I’m sure she feels much better.
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Lucy has Big Head Disease (Bran Disease). Lucy’s head has actually gone down in size since her arrival in March 2012. She had been rescued by Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary and taken to UF where she was treated for colic. She also had trouble eating and breathing. A total tracheotomy was done, but the vets suggested that she be put down – her liver values were horrible and she couldn’t move her jaw to either eat or drink well. Kari had previously asked another rescue if they could offer assistance and they responded that they could help Lucy – they would bury her 3′ under! Kari then contacted us to see if we could help. I went to the hospital to meet Lucy and felt strongly that her body just needed time – she had lots of light in her eyes, eyes that appeared to be screaming for a chance. She was brought to the rescue the following day. We fed her via IV’s and then, after her little veins collapsed, she was fed orally with Wel-Gel. Over the next few days, she improved. The vets from UF called at the end of the first and second weeks to check on Lucy – fearful that she did not survive and when they learned she was still very much alive, and improving, they were both very happy and relieved to say the least! At Beauty’s Haven, we never give up and we truly believe in miracles as we’ve experienced them firsthand! One can clearly see Lucy’s cheekbones now! When she first arrived at the rescue, her head was huge! She’s an incredibly sweet little mare with such a huge presence – everyone loves Lucy!
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Lucy, upon her arrival in March 2012.
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Barbara doing her best to keep the little ones from destroying the sod that was put down last weekend.
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GO GATORS!!!!
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Come to our ASPCA Help a Horse Day event on April 25th and meet Daisy and her awesome care team! Drs. Porter, Mangan, and Simonson will be there! Learn about the way in which to prevent and recognize tumors and what the various diagnostics and treatments are. It could save a life! Please make sure to RSVP!#ASPCA #helpahorse #bhfer #kickingcancer

This past weekend was very busy. On Saturday, UF students came out to visit and to do an interview. I always love it when we have an opportunity to share the horses, their stories, and raise awareness about helping horses!

The joy seen on the ladies faces when they put their hands on the horses, was priceless!

Daisy is simply adorable. She LOVES to be loved on. She comes over and literally lays her head across my lap (on those rare occasions when I get to sit down) asking for scratches.

Dr. Mangen was out a few days ago to treat Daisy again – he’s very pleased with what we are seeing. The mass under her right eye is smaller and appears to be sloughing off. We still believe!!!!

Our trio of trouble! They are hilarious – just love them all!

"Shhhh Mommy Theresa! We can’t talk now, ok? We’re playing Hide and Go Seek with CaryLou and we don’t want him to find us behind this tree!"

So we have two diva’s living at the barn now. They’ve come to some sort of mutual understanding which is very good. Beauty senses that Betsy Rose is fragile, I’m sure. Anyone else and she’d pin her ears to warn them away or just simply run them off. Beauty stands in front of Cookie’s stall door a good part of the day and makes faces at Cookie.

What is the first thing the girls do after a bath? That’s Aaleyah Belle standing and Baby Girl rolling.

Can anyone guess whose nose was peeking around at me in the golf cart? It’s a give away! LOL

Two simply stunning horses – Donovan and Athena.

Yesterday was a perfect day for laying sod – it was overcast with a nice breeze. We had a lot of help for this project and it got done in record time! Now, we just need a few more pallets to try to fix erosion issues around the barn and at the smaller paddocks.

Betsy Rose, Freckles, and Vermont Bear checking out their Easter basket! So cute! Betsy Rose is always so thankful for every little thing.

The boys sure enjoyed their Easter Day!

"Jazzy do you think we look like bunny rabbits? We have whiskers, a cotton tail, and long ears! Do you think mommy Theresa is going to make us wear our masks today? I don’t think bunny rabbits wear masks. Maybe we’ll get out of it today! Let’s go try to hop on down the bunny trail! I know we don’t have a bunny trail, but we can make one up as we go along!"

The boys most certainly, loved being bunnies for Easter…..

"Vermont Bear do you think me and Jazzy look like bunny rabbits? I think the bow tie thing on the head looks a little silly. Bunnies don’t wear bow ties, do they?"

JoJo practiced his hopping skills – he hopped up on the porch when Elizabeth and I started to put things away. Oh my gosh these boys don’t realize they are not humans at times!

Daisy seemed to really understand how it important it was to the boys that they look like bunny rabbits for awhile. And they did – by the stretch of our imagination.

I think Daisy enjoyed watching the boys get their wish of being bunnies for a day! She’s like a big sister to them. They all got an Easter basket.

How often can you see the sun and the moon in the same photo? It was beautiful! The moon is off to the right – little white dot in the middle of the sky.

I told Willow she’s coming to the rescue tomorrow! Her response was simply priceless! Her coggins came back and she’s all set. If anyone would like to help with her monthly care costs, donations can be made via various ways through the "Donate" page of our website at bhfer. All donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.

Today Willow begins a new chapter in her life.

Willow looks much better without her fuzzy coat. I think she’s even gained some weight over the last week. Everything is so new to her. She’s talking up a storm!

Willow will be getting her teeth done on Thursday by Dr. Bess Darrow and her Hooficure later in the week – maybe Saturday.

March 31st

Beauty getting her acupuncture treatment today. She’s no worse. We are still icing her feet.

I said I’d never ride a horse again with an English saddle but I couldn’t resist. I’m an incomplete quadriplegic and can’t feel anything below my neck – I’m just not comfortable in an English saddle. Well, yesterday Kylie had just finished riding Romeo and the saddle was calling me – I couldn’t resist! And I needed a little break – it was wonderful.

We do have someone coming to meet Romeo tomorrow – he’s so sweet. Please pray that she will be the right one for him – he deserves his own home where he’ll get lots of one on one attention!

April 3rd

I should have known when I got to the barn this am and found one of Betsy Rose’s friends floating in her water bucket that the day may not be a normal one. Freckles stayed with her until help arrived.

Amber Cream looks a little silly in this mask – it’s too big for her. But I wanted to show you all how beautiful she is – look at those dapples!

Amber is a Tennessee Walking Horse looking for a forever home. She’s young, smart, and willing.

Beauty gave us quite a scare today when she experienced choke for the very first time in her life. Thankfully, we were able to clear the choke before the vet arrived.

Her choke, coupled with her feet issues, really shook us up here today. I’m waiting for the vet to get back to me upon reading the x-rays but there is more rotation. Please continue to keep Beauty in your prayers.

April 4th

Beauty today. Makes me feel better.

Willow is the mare whose owner recently passed away. This sweet girl is our Easter save and I can’t wait to get her to the rescue – she needs a total makeover, but she’s a diamond in the rough!

We have enough funds to cover her initial vetting, dental, and farrier needs but she needs sponsors to help with her monthly care. You can sign up for a recurring monthly donation through our website, over the phone, etc. Or, snail mail works too! Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.

I need to ask everyone for prayers for Beauty. She’s my heart horse and I love her dearly. It’s because of her that Beauty’s Haven came to be. If you are unfamiliar with her story, a short version can be found on the "About Us" page of our website at www.bhfer.org.

Beauty foundered a couple of years ago – it was bad, very bad – she rotated a few degrees. But thankfully, she recovered and just recently, I got on her for the first time since she foundered. I only rode her for a few minutes and it felt so good to be upon her back once again and she truly seemed to enjoy it too!

Beauty has been living at the barn with Betsy Rose these last few days. She’s in Soft Rides and we are doing ice wraps, Essential Oils, massage, etc. Beauty will be having lab work done and I’d like to get Dr. Julia to do acupuncture on her. I’ve been a worried wreck. I do believe in the power of prayer and there’s strength in numbers – so I’d appreciate all the good thoughts and prayers possible. Thank you.

March 24th

JoJo had lost his mask. Again.

Donovan is doing well. No more abscesses. Now, if only he would sweat!

Matilda’s eye is much better.

Presley is doing better.

Daisy loves running and playing with the boys. They are so fun to watch! She was having such a good time she wiped out and got her left side filthy! She got up, shook off, and kept going.

The masses around Daisy’s eyes continue to shrink – you can see her left eye now!

March 25th

“It’s my birthday! My wish is that I can do anything I want today! I haven’t told mommy Theresa that yet but I’m sure she’ll find out soon."

Happy dance!!!!! Thanks to our village the tractor is back from the repair shop!!

No sooner did the tractor get back to the rescue today Bob put it right to work! It’s such an important tool here – thank you to our Village for helping to get it fixed and back to the rescue!

Not sure what CaryLou was trying to talk Lily in to this morning but – I think he was trying to get her to go up the stairs to the office.

Like 3 peas in a pod.

Baby Ray is stunning! He’s so sweet with such a kind soul.

Ruby – she’s one of the kindest mares you could ever meet. Just don’t stand in between her and another horse that may pass by her stall or you could get nipped.

Sisco is another handsome horse that is looking for a forever home.

LouAnn and Joshua did a great job today getting quite a few feet got cleaned – it’s great because my back needs a break!

March 26th

Magic – Such a beautiful boy. Calling it a day here. Have a good night everyone.

March 27th

Guard dog. Guard donkey.

STRIDE Dressage of Ocala, FL has most generously designated Beauty’s Haven to be the recipient of one half of each entry fee for their Poker Run Trail Ride on 25 April 2015!

Come to our ASPCA Help a Horse Day event on April 25th and meet Daisy and her awesome care team! Drs. Porter, Mangan, and Simonson will be there! Learn about how to help prevent and recognize tumors and what the various diagnostics and treatments are. It could save a life! Please make sure to RSVP! #bhfer #ASPCA #helpahorse

March 21st

Yesterday, we were blessed with a group of visitors from the Equine Photographers Network! What an awesome group of people! EPN is an international association of 200+ photographers! Betsy Rose was the main attraction and she soaked up the extra attention (and the cameras)! EPN is having their Winter Meet Up in Ocala through this week and we greatly appreciate Carien Schippers including us in the schedule – it’s truly an honor!

Betsy Rose is in front of all of those cameras!

The weather was a bit toasty and we didn’t have any volunteers yesterday so we weren’t as prepared as I would have liked to have been. All the horses did get a good makeover on Thursday by volunteers but we had a very heavy dew early Friday am and, of course, most of the horses decided to roll and get filthy.

It was awesome seeing Carien again, and Darlene. And it was a pleasure to meet so many other wonderful people that are passionate about capturing the beauty that horses offer! Take a few minutes to look at Carien’s website at www.imageequine.com and her ImagEquine Facebook page. If you visit the EPN Facebook page, or website, you can learn more about their great network which is an excellent online resource for equine photographers – it represents photographers worldwide! And, oh my gosh, be careful – you can find yourself looking for hours and hours at the many beautiful photos! If you are looking for an equine photographer, career development through education, portfolio reviews by peers, and so much more in equine photography – EPN is the place to start!

I came across this photo tonight of Princess and Gentleman and wanted to share. I still look out my bedroom window each morning, remembering Gman under his tree and wishing he was still there. I miss them both, very much.

Katherine, one of our wonderful volunteers, on Donovan – a big, comfy, sofa horse.

March 22nd

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! And the fact that ALL of the horses/donkeys here now have the cost of their spring vaccinations covered is a HUGE worry off my plate! Thank you Jeanne for sharing my wish to make it happen and thank you to those that donated!

So, tomorrow is my birthday. "Tomorrow" really is a good word! But we never really know if tomorrow will come for any of us, do we? I think we always need to make the best of our tomorrows starting in this very moment.

The past year, well, where did it go? There were lots of ups and downs, tears both good and bad, and memories made that can never be taken from me that I’ll cherish forever. We lost so many beloved horses over the past year – it takes a toll on the heart. But most of them come to us in poor condition and the effects of neglect take a toll – we are blessed to have the time we are granted with them – be it an hour, a day, no matter how long.

I’m blessed with a great family – a wonderful husband who has helped me achieve my dream and he continues to work hard beside me to maintain it, and our two wonderful (adult) kids who support my passion and make us so very proud with their accomplishments! I’m blessed by the support of a Village of great people who believe in what we do and help us to continue in our mission to help horses. We have awesome volunteers and I’m surrounded by horses that are happy! What more could I ask for? Well, maybe a few more volunteers; a few more hours in a day and a couple more days in a week; a short family vacation with my family would be nice; and a winning lottery ticket which would enable us to help more horses which would be great!

Thank you all for being part of our Village and thank you for all you do! I know you also make sacrifices to help the horses – we truly appreciate all of you. We’re calling it a day here – have a great night everyone, and thank you for the wonderful birthday wishes!