It was a long and tiring day but a good one. Bob had to go to Jacksonville to get the sling and hoist and once he got back he had to make a few mods to it. Smarty tried a couple of times to get up but she couldn’t and we simply could not lift her again – we knew the sling was key. She seemed more tired today but that was understandable – she went through a lot yesterday. Being put on a stretcher, loaded into a trailer (especially when her initial experience with loading into a trailer was a horror story), a road trip to the rescue, meeting new people, being examined and treated by Dr. Ryan, sleeping in a new place with new horse friends.

I have to share this picture of Lacey – this is how she watched Smarty after she arrived at the rescue – she knew the little one wasn’t in a good way. Lacey seemed very concerned.

I have to add that little Dora is doing better each day – those back hips/legs are getting stronger and stronger. She now thinks the birthing stall is the Indy 500 Speedway. I keep telling her she’s not supposed to be running around and she just looks at me and takes off again!

Smarty slept more today – she likely needed the rest. Although, she did seem to brighten up and beam after I brushed her mane. I laid the brush on a bag of shavings and she must have wanted me to keep brushing because she picked it up with her teeth and dropped at my knees. Yep, she has us trained. Graphic picture of sores is below this one.

The sores at her elbows would get worse each time we’d have to turn her over no matter how we treated them. She has a long way to go. Infection is a concern and you can see why. These sores came about from her struggling in the sand trying to get up before we got her. The left one is the worst but both are bad.

I didn’t realize how tall Smarty Pants was until she stood up in the sling this evening!

I’m calling it a day – have to get to physical therapy myself in the morning. Jenny will be spending the night with Smarty Pants and Marie and Aima will be here to relieve her in the morning along with Bob. It was a physically hard working day but with the help of others we met our goal of getting Smarty into her sling. And I want to thank everyone for all of your support – prayers, donations, emails, etc. It takes a lot of things coming together to make a goal a success sometimes. By working together we are most effective in helping horses. Please continue to pray for Smarty and that her open wounds heal without complication and that all of her injuries heal and that she can soon run and play like a yearling should. There is a lot of swelling in her legs – especially the front right. We’ll be working on that and more tomorrow.

Have a great night everyone! Look at those loving and thankful eyes that are full of life!

Sincerely,

Theresa

Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

www.bhfer.org

Ok, our little filly has a name – Smarty Pants! And smart she is – she’s learned how to get us to respond to her every request! She lets us know when she wants to sit up. She uses her nose to point to the water bucket when she wants to drink. She helps us when we need to roll her over. She really wants to get up. We got her up twice through the night but the sling we have is too big for her and rubbed the open sores on her elbows. The sores are from her trying to get up before we picked her up. They are being treated often and around the clock. I’m very pleased that her temperature is normal. It was spiking at about 102 yesterday.

I called the company that made the sling that we have and they have a sling designed to better fit her and it has a hoist – we won’t have to physically pick her up and when in the sling she will be able to walk around. When she lays down we just lower it and the sling stays under her. I haven’t seen it yet but Bob is on his way to Jacksonville to pick it up. It cost a bit but we will be able to use it not only on Smarty but with Peggy Sue too – she has to be in a sling for her hooficures.

I’ll update again later – need to get changed and back to the barn. We had a really good rain which we needed. Please keep Smarty in your prayers. It’s imperative that we get her up and into the sling – I’m anxious for the sling to get here. God bless – thank you all for caring and for your support. Smarty thanks you too!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org

A quick update – must get back to the barn.

A little prayer upon arrival and before trying to get her on the trailer. She’d been down since Thursday. With help from humans she did get up twice but didn’t stay up long.

Getting the stretcher prepared.

Sores from trying to get up. There is also a lot of swelling – edema.

Success in getting on the trailer. Just look at those eyes – there is hope.

At the rescue and waiting on Dr. Ryan who got there within about 10 minutes. You can see spark in her eyes. She is trying, she really is.

Just before Dr. Ryan arrived.

Dr. Ryan examining her.

Dr. Ryan wasn’t so sure she’d be able to get up – she hadn’t been up in over 2 days. But here, we believe…

It took a lot of physical help and prayers but with help she did get up.

And she did walk into her stall with support under her.

While she didn’t stay up long that’s ok – she was exhausted from what she did do. Sometimes you have to resign yourself to take baby steps to get to where you need to be. Being down for all but about 4 hours of the last 6 days – I’m amazed at her will power. But I will say she is tired and frustrated. Her temperature is high. She is getting antibiotics too. She won’t be able to stay in a sling but the sling is critical to her staying up for periods of time. When down we will be turning her every few hours. She’s got a long road ahead of her but she is young and truly wants to live. All of us are amazed at her obvious desire to live. She is eating and drinking.

Dr. Ryan ran fluids. She got DMSO and other medications. I knew going into this it would be a lot of work and take a lot of time to care for her around the clock but we are her last hope. And if it isn’t meant to be at least we know we tried. We won’t allow her to suffer – but she clearly hasn’t given up yet and neither have we. She is now resting while we are getting the sling set up. She needs her strength in order to help us get her back up and into the sling.

For those that have pledged – I truly don’t have any idea how much we have in vet and related bills at this point or what is ahead of us. I won’t be able to check emails to respond to any until tomorrow – but please know that I appreciate all of your support. If anyone would like to call donations in to the vet’s office directly the number is 352-237-6151. God bless and please keep this little one in your prayers – as well as us caregivers. She just has to make it – she’ll be a year old on May 23rd.

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org

Things have been very busy here – as usual. Fortunately, MoonShadow is doing well and has not had any setbacks with his colic. We truly thought we were going to be going to the hospital this past Saturday evening. He gave us quite the scare.

This is Dr. Paul examining MoonShadow. He tubed and oiled him.

He really wasn’t feeling well at all.

Saturday was a big day here – volunteers came in to clean out the barn aisle way – which is quite the task! Spider webs seem to grow overnight! Jenny and others are preparing for the Celebration of Life Day. If you plan on attending please RSVP me at bhfer – it would be a great day to come out and meet the horses and us humans!

Dora is doing better each day but her mom is getting a little cabin fever. Dora’s hips and back legs have been a bit weak and unsteady since she was born. So until her hips/legs are ready – she is confined to her stall. For the first day or so she kind of hopped around like a bunny. But now she is actually putting one leg in front of the other. Her backend is still low and weak but it appears to be coming up, slowly. Dr. Ryan will be assessing her again in a week but today I saw a noticeable improvement in her using her back legs.

I’ll get pictures of both Dora and MoonShadow tomorrow. I meant to take more today but I got a late start into the day here at the rescue because I started physical therapy again and once I got home one thing after another kept coming up. I’m off to try to get to bed early tonight – another big day tomorrow.

Thank you all for your continued support – have a great night!

About 4:15 am…

Welcome to the world little one! We’ve been patiently awaiting your arrival!

Lacey welcomed her baby and let her know everything was ok.

Dora is beautiful – she looks like her momma – even with some white lacey spots throughout her body. Some places are small and can’t be seen in the pictures but they are there.

She tried to get up a few times but it took a few attempts. “Mommy – are my back legs supposed to be like this?”

She tried and tried. Those little back legs just were not ready for much – they’d been cooped up for quite awhile and it took some time to get them going.

She ended up laying on her mom’s hay. Lacey didn’t care – she simply adores Dora. We truly needed this miracle and bit of joy in our life.

Trying hard to get up – it took some times for her back legs to help the front ones. And she hopped like a bunny rabbit for awhile.

“Ok mommy – I know I can do this! I know I can – I know I can – I know I can! See mommy – are you and mommy Theresa proud of me? That took a lot of work and thinking!”

And of course – both mommies are very proud of her!

She rested for a bit while the sun came up. She’d tried, multiple times, to nurse but just couldn’t get it right.

But we made sure she got all of her colostrum. She didn’t have any problem with a bottle – she was very hungry!

We’re wondering if there’s another baby in there – Lacey still looks huge! LOL!

I hope to update more tonight. Dr. Ryan will be here soon to pull an IGG test and examine mom and baby. Have a great evening everyone!

Theresa