Betsy Rose’s Day

Watching Betsy Rose graze this am when she went out for some exercise and sunshine brought tears to my eyes. I was so happy for her! She had been out and would try to graze before in the sling but she never once bit off a blade of grass. Today when she tried – it was like total shock to her! Dr. Bess worked on her very sharp teeth yesterday which made a huge difference. The look on Betsy’s face was worth a million dollars – she looked so surprised! Once she realized she could bite off the grass she didn’t want to pick her head up! She likely hadn’t had grass for a long time – her gut was loaded with sand when she came to us. She was very happy and I enjoyed seeing green stains on her lips!

Betsy Rose got to do this 3 times today!

It was another horribly hot day that slowed everyone down – even CaryLou. Betsy is a bit tired tonight. Her poop is now formed and is looking healthier. There is still sand but not nearly as much. Dr. Julia will be back tomorrow to do more acupuncture on Betsy. Thank you all for caring about this little mare – she’s loved from around the world and I tell her so!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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Good morning!

Good morning from Betsy Rose!

Keep believing!!!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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The kids and Betsy Rose Update

Some updates from the last few days..

Wally and CaryLou – the heat is getting to them too.

Celesta seems to be feeling better. She will be examined/x-rayed again on Thursday.

Harvey is getting tall! This little guy has (hopefully) overcome the odds! Let’s continue to pray he keeps on his healing path!

Betsy Rose is a rack of bones…

Her hips.

Sunday: The gray/white in the below picture is sand that was left on the mat after I washed her dry poop away. Dr. Natalie is coming out to oil Betsy Rose. It’s very sad to think how this mare suffered and how hungry she must have been – for a long time.

And guess who greeted Dr. Natalie when she arrived to oil Betsy Rose? Lucy – our mini with Big Head disease! Dr. Natalie was Lucy’s vet when we met her! Lucy was so happy to see old friends! Lucy is more proof that miracles DO happen! She also beat the odds – and what a sweet and appreciative little girl she is!

Betsy Rose was a great patient – she was tubed and oiled. Dr. Natalie said she was amazed at how better Betsy looked in such a short time. She wasn’t so sure Betsy would even make it to the rescue.

By yesterday morning she was already passing oil. She took a good nap and got some needed REM sleep.

Monday morning: Dr. Julia Simonson will be out this afternoon. Acupuncture may be very good for Betsy Rose. We did get more blood tests back. Her muscles are an issue. When a horse is starved the body feeds off its fat and then muscle. This is going to be a long process. Please pray for Betsy.

Dr. Julia said Betsy is a “bright and engaged” little mare!

Dr. Julia Simonson doing acupuncture and electrical stimulation on Betsy Rose. Betsy responded nicely – some of our concerns were put to rest.

Betsy Rose after her treatment. Dr. Julia says she has high hopes for Betsy Rose! Her body has been deprived of everything it needed to survive – she has no muscle. She has very little energy and rests a lot but that is just what she needs to do right now. But she is better. Today she stood in the sling and actually walked herself a very short distance. It wore her out. Her refeeding and rehab will go slow. Too much, too fast, could be detrimental. She passed some oil today – looks like much of her diet was sand. So sad. I think that I forgot to mention the owner said his daughter would ride Betsy Rose but he assured me they didn’t use a saddle. Grrrr…

2:30 am Tuesday: Betsy Rose is munching on her mash and carrot. Babies are playing in their stalls pestering their moms. Neighbors donkey is braying. Birds are singing. CaryLou and Wally are snuggled sleeping. Bright stars are shining in a clear sky. God is good.

9:30 am Tuesday: Betsy Rose is currently napping out of the sling. She is in good spirits but needs to relax more. The thrashing is causing sores which isn’t good. I’m treating them while she naps. For all of you that believe in her – thank you.

Tuesday noonish: How many people does it comfortable take to get Betsy Rose in the sling? A lot! Pat Schmoll brought a crew over this morning to help us. Ginger, her sister, and 2 daughters were also her to help. Marie and Judy were here and took care of routine chores. We needed to get Betsy up and ready for Dr. Bess Darrow to do her teeth!

Dr. Bess looked in Betsy Rose’s mouth and said "Unfreaking believable!" There is evidence of years of neglect.

Betsy Rose has a hole in her tongue, she had several sharp points – her mouth is just a train wreck. Dr. Bess couldn’t do everything that needed to be done today – there is just too much to fix in one visit. Betsy Rose had no sedation – she’s just too fragile. Dr. Bess got rid of a lot of sharp points and took out a tooth that was wedged between two other teeth – possibly infected. Betsy also has an abscess in the front of her mouth. But now she can actually move her mouth to chew! But the hardest dental work is yet to come. Betsy will need to get stronger before Dr. Bess can do more because she will need to be sedated. You can’t do too much too soon with a horse in this condition – it’s too risky. But at least Betsy will be much more comfortable without the sharp points and loose tooth. Dr. Bess thinks Betsy is around 20 – 22 years old.

This evening – baby steps! She walked on her own for a few steps. I’m so proud of this little mare!!

Thank you all for your support and for believing in Betsy Rose – we couldn’t help her without help from others! She has a long, long road to recovery ahead of her but she’s on the right path. Just as a reminder and to show how far she has come – this was Betsy Rose on Friday – the day we had Dr. Natalie initially treat her and stabilize her to get her to the rescue. She would not have lasted the day. When I think about how she must have been feeling, physically and mentally, while laying there helpless to help herself – it just makes me feel horrible. She didn’t get in this condition overnight. She has a huge love for life and is a very kind and wise soul. We’re very blessed to be able to be a part of her life. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help us to continue to help the horses. No amount is too small. Donations can be sent to PayPal address Theresa or made various ways via the “Donate” page of our website. https://www.bhfer.org/oldsite/donate.cfm

I apologize for not responding to emails, PM’s, etc. I won’t be in the office for more than a few minutes each day until we get Betsy stable – we won’t leave her alone. Our little Betsy Rose – the little mare than can! Miracles – I believe!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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Betsy Rose – She’s Determined! 06/16/13

June 6th, 2013

This morning: Betsy Rose is quite a determined little pony.  She tries to get up and thrashes which is causing more body sores.  And she needs every ounce of energy she can get for her body to heal.  She needs to rest to regain her strength so when the time is right she can get up.  To try to calm her when she thrashes we use Rescue Remedy with her – she loves the smell of Lavender – and it does seem to help.  Betsy Rose has been so weak at times we’ve had to help her support her head with a wrap but look at her holding her pretty little head up!

This afternoon: Betsy Rose got into her sling around 11:30 this morning and she wants to go!  She is determined to walk but her body just isn’t strong enough yet.

This little pony has light in her eyes! She has her water bucket, hay, and mash all within reach.  She is trying to walk more and she has put weight on all 4 for feet short periods of time.  

The sling is an awesome lifesaving tool and we are very blessed to have it but it can be quite a bit of work getting Betsy in and out of it – especially when she tries to walk and she can’t.  We can’t leave her in it full time – constant pressure against her organs isn’t good.  And for her to get good REM sleep, which her body desperately needs, she needs to lay all the way down.  But when she tries to get up she thrashes about which can be dangerous for the humans trying to help her and it causes her to get bed sores which we are treating.  And she needs to use all the calories she gets to help her body to heal.  When she’s out of the sling we have to roll her over every couple of hours and we also prop her up using a bale of hay.  And yes, the umbrella goes where needed.  🙂

It’s just me and Bob for the most part of every day and after doing this around the clock for a few days it can drain you.  We have a volunteer(s) some parts of some days for routine things – we won’t let the care for the other horses down.  Our snow bird volunteers have gone for the summer so it leaves us short.  If anyone knows a local labor pool that we could pay (at a reasonable price) to come at least once a day for 3 or 4 hours it would be so helpful.  I won’t leave Betsy Rose unattended.  I don’t know if she’s going to make it but we will do everything possible to help her recover and live out her sunset years wanting for nothing.  

Betsy Rose was simply starved.  When this happens the body feeds off its own fat and then its muscle.  Next, it feeds off of organs and that is where Betsy Rose is.  She scored a 0.5 on the Henneke Body Condition Score scale.  Most horses don’t recover once they get to a 1.5.  Hopefully, the damage isn’t so bad that we can’t nurse her back to health but her odds are not good.  The effects of starvation may be long lasting – only time will tell.  We can’t just feed her a normal diet.  Food is a shock to her body and we have to take it slow.  She may get worse before she gets better, but if she doesn’t make it, I don’t want her to be alone.  I promised her she won’t be alone.  She has a positive, can-do, attitude which helps tremendously.  

Please keep Betsy Rose in your prayers – I believe there is strength in prayer and miracles do happen!

#betsyrose #bhfer @weneedamiracle #prayersplease #believe

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

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Betsy Rose Update Sat PM

Betsy Rose is about the same. X-rays show no fractures which is great news. We don’t know how long she was down before we got the vet out to treat her yesterday but we do know she was down on her left side and could have been that way for several hours (24+ hrs) which could have damaged nerves. If there is damage we don’t know to what extent or if it will heal. Her heart rate is still high (but lower than yesterday) – it’s been working overtime for awhile now and we pray it holds out. I asked Dr. Jessica if she thought Betsy is suffering and she said no. Betsy is eating, drinking, whinnying, and passing pee and poop. Her eyes are bright and she’s alert. She still whinnies for her carrots!

She’s getting antibiotics, meds to keep her comfortable, and some supplements including Stress Pack, probiotics, etc., and she’s being treated with HealFast patches – http://healfasttherapy.com/. She does get frustrated because she can’t get up on her own. She’s weak and needs time to get stronger but in the meantime she is in and out of the sling, we turn her over, and she lays sternum. When she’s down she tries to get up which doesn’t do her body good – it causes sores. Since I started this update a couple of hours ago we have a new development – she is able to turn herself over now. This is good because she must be stronger but in a way it’s bad because she is rubbing her sores more. She needs to be able to get up – please keep her in your prayers and keep the good thoughts coming. Thank you all, very much!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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Betsy Rose Update 3 pm 06/15/13

The vet will be coming out to x-ray/ultrasound Betsy Rose’s left front leg today. She has not put full weight on it again since she first got up and into the sling this morning and went for a short walk.

Other than this concern, she is doing well. She is still eating, drinking, etc. She still whinnies when she thinks she’s going to get a carrot.

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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Betsy Rose this am…

Good morning! One of our many prayers was answered this morning – Betsy Rose went poop!

And she has put weight on all four, stood on her own with supporters next to her, taken a few steps on her own (it was shaky though), and she is happy to be able to graze in the sling! Go Betsy Rose!

Betsy Rose has been started on antibiotics. We don’t know if she’s going to make it or not but I’ll tell you that today, so far, she’s a happy girl. And her whinnies are adorable! She tried to get up through the night but was too weak and we didn’t want her to wear herself out. So we rolled her and made sure she was comfortable. She has an injury to her front left leg and is pretty lame. We were told she was kicked by a big horse a month ago. She is far from being out of the woods but at least she seems to feel pretty good and she is trying. And she knows we’re trying. I’ll update later – need to run some fluids. Thank you all for caring and helping!

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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Betsy Rose Update

I apologize for not updating sooner. My cell phone is broken – dropped it in water a few days ago – it works sporadically. Betsy Rose LOVES carrots! She sparks up at the sound of one breaking and she gets excited! She even lets out a whinny when she knows she’s about to get one! She drinks and tries munching on hay but her teeth are pretty bad. Her heart rate is quite a bit better than it was earlier today and her temperature is normal. She hasn’t gone poop but has gut sounds.

Dr. Natalie just called with some good news – blood work shows that organs haven’t yet been damaged. The bad news – there is infection going on somewhere. Dr. Natalie is running another test and we’ll have that result in the morning and then we’ll be advised what medications she needs. Betsy Rose can’t get up without assistance and she can’t stay up without the sling. But she does go sternum and we roll her every couple of hours. We won’t be able to get her in the sling again until tomorrow. She’s currently napping.

We truly appreciate your prayers, good thoughts, and donations to help her. I don’t know what her future holds but for now, she is comfortable, and she knows she matters. Be assured we won’t let her suffer but we aren’t ready to give up – she isn’t ready to give up. It’s really sad she’s had to endure this. With help from others, we can make sure her future is everything her past should have been. God bless and have a good night. Going to take a quick much needed shower.

Betsy Rose – she has light in her eyes…

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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Pony Mare in Dire Need

June 14th, 2013

I got a call from someone about their pony mare that is down and can’t get up – they don’t know what to do and they can’t afford to have a vet out.  When I started asking questions, I didn’t like the answers.  When I asked how old the mare is the owner said they didn’t know but they’ve had her a long time and a little girl has been riding the pony, but without a saddle.  I asked for a photo and was appalled.  This mare has been laying there on the ground, like trash, for days.  It’s June in Florida and it doesn’t even appear that anyone has even taken the time, or cared enough, to brush out her winter coat.   Even with the coat, you can clearly see she’s skin on bones.  There is no excuse to allow an animal to suffer – and this mare has obviously been suffering for awhile. 

We have a vet on the way to her but we need help.  I am asking for pledges at this point – I don’t know if this girl can be saved or not but a vet will be there soon to assess and advise.  If the mare is too far gone she will be humanely euthanized – she won’t be left to linger and die and she will not die alone.  If she can has a chance, we have a transporter on standby with MMC Eventing, and we will give her our all.  One way or another, this pony will know that she matters. 

The vet arrived and the pony is being run fluids now.  Her HR is very high – please pray that it comes down and that the fluids will help and that she will be able to get up.  We have someone enroute to transport her to us if she can make it.  She doesn’t deserve to die like this.  The vet recommends the pony be helped to Rainbow Bridge but I feel a very strong need to give the mare a chance.

After receiving fluids, and with assistance, she was able to get up!  She’ll be loaded and brought to the rescue where we will do everything possible to help her to recover.  Please keep the good thoughts and prayers coming!  This one is tugging hard at my heartstrings – there’s just something about her….

To everyone that offered a pledge to help her – thank you!  Please send when you can.  I’ll update once she’s here and settled in.  We’ll be awaiting blood work results too.  Let’s pray it isn’t too late.

The pony has arrived and it doesn’t look good for her.  She’s too weak to stand or to even hold her head up.  I’m amazed that she is alive.  But this says something about her will – we’re going to give her all of the help we can until she tells us she’s had enough.  She has a determined look in her eyes that says she’s not ready to give up.  We will see what the blood work results are to see how badly her organs have been effected and then regroup.

We got her up and into the sling which will be a key tool to her recovery.  It’s going to be a long ride but we’re in it for as long as she is willing and wanting to heal.  She doesn’t seem like a mare that is going to give up easily.  There’s still light in her eyes.

We can’t leave her in the sling – the amount of time that the pressure the sling puts on her body has to be limited since she can’t even stand.  We will take her out periodically in order for her to lay flat to get good rest which her body needs.

We will turn her every couple of hours to help prevent damage to her organs.  She drinks and munches on her mash and when she is awake she is alert. But she tires easily – she is in very bad shape.   We really do need a miracle.  I’m going to call her Betsy Rose.

#betsyrose #believe #wecandothis #prayersneeded #bhfer

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

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Babies and Story

Celesta is about the same – no more temperature so that is a very good thing. Harvey, well, he’s doing fine and wants to get out of his stall! The heat is taking a toll on everyone – including little CaryLou! Everyone is moving a bit slower. LOL! Celesta is not liking getting poked with a needle 3 times a day and I don’t like poking her! Hopefully, Harvey’s remaining stitches will come out tomorrow and Celesta’s blood work will show improvement.

Have a good night everyone. And thank you for your prayers and thoughtful comments/emails/posts about Story’s crossing. My prayers are with his foster mom and dad tonight.

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: www.bhfer.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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