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Hope Never Gives Up

I was so hoping to bring Hope home today! However, when I spoke to the vet at UF this morning, he expressed concern about Hope potentially having Peritonitis or some lingering Pneumonia. Her heart rate was elevated and her temperature was at the high end of normal. Although the hospital was willing to discharge her today, there is no way that we would risk bringing Hope home since the hospital staff can immediately respond to any issue that may arise.

We decided that Hope will remain at UF until her symptoms subside, which of course, is in her very best interest.

We are so very grateful to each and every one of you for your generosity, love and support, which has up until recently covered both Hope’s surgery and hospital stay. But due to her recent setbacks requiring her to remain at the hospital for a longer period of time, we must regrettably continue our fundraiser to cover her additional hospital fees.

If you wish to help Hope donations may be forwarded in a variety of ways here on our website (CLICK HERE), or via PayPal. Please designate your contribution for ‘Hope.’ If you are unable to donate at this time, we truly understand, but you can still help by sharing this post amongst family and friends.

Thank you all so very much for your understanding and please continue to keep little Hope in your prayers.

God bless,
Theresa

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It’s a Holiday Ornament Raffle!

Just in time for Christmas, we are offering a wonderful raffle for a set of four ornaments each featuring an image of a Beauty’s Haven horse: Aaleyah Belle, Betsy Rose, Beauty & Mo. These very special ornaments would make a wonderful gift that would certainly be treasured for years to come, or you can just keep them for yourself to hang upon your very own Christmas tree.

For each suggested donation of $5 that is designated for ‘Ornament Raffle,’ you will receive one chance to become the lucky recipient of this wonderful collection.

Donations may be forwarded via various means by clicking the ‘Donate’ button below, or via PayPal.me. If there is no allotted space in which to designate your contribution, please forward an email with your name and the amount of your donation to bhfer_admin@earthlink.net in order that we can enter your name for the correct number of chances.

– RAFFLE HAS ENDED –

*A name will be selected at Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc., located in Morriston, FL, on 17 December 2020, at 6:00pm.

Thank you, all, for your love & support!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Setback extends Hope’s hospital stay

Little Hope is experiencing a setback as she has developed pneumonia but she’s on antibiotics and has a good appetite. She’s even had a BM a couple of times which is good! We are very grateful for her team of caregivers at UF, I think she has them wrapped around her little hoof.

Following any major surgery like hers, the days after can be a roller coaster ride but Hope has toughed it out and I’m sure that prayers are helping.

Hope will remain at the hospital until she is stable and comfortable. There, she’s monitored around the clock and, should something arise, they are able to diagnose and treat her right away. As badly as we want her back at the rescue, she’s right where she needs to be for now.

Thank you all for caring and please keep this little angel in your prayers.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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High “Hopes” for Mini Mare’s Recovery

Little Hope, our new mini mare surrender we took in on December 3 that was presenting with colic, made it out of surgery. Whew! It turns out she had a double whopper – not only a horrible sand issue but also a fecal impaction which would have never resolved without surgery.

Hope will have to stay at the hospital for a few days but I’ll post pictures when I get them. The wonderful people at UF Large Animal Hospital are smitten by her and promise me that she is in good hands. What a relief!

Now we pray for a non-eventful recovery with no issues with infection or other complications. So please keep Hope in your prayers.

Thank you all for your support. It takes a village and I’m so very thankful for all of you!
Theresa

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Colic Emergency for Precious New Mini Mare

Okay, Village, we need prayers for this wee young mini mare we have named Hope. She is suffering from colic due to sand in her gut, and we are desperately hoping to save her. Below is an account of her status, observations, and care thus far.

December 3, 2020

5:22pm – Hope is suffering from an impaction and the vet arrived to tube and oil her. No gut sounds.

11:50pm – A few gut sounds heard, finally. She’s on IV fluids and medication will be administered as needed. If she does not have a bowel movement by late morning, our vet will do an ultrasound. She is exhausted and is quietly resting at the moment.

Please pray that this precious little girl makes it through the night.

December 4, 2020

4:51am – No poop yet but better gut sounds.

10:05am – God’s light shined down on little Hope this morning as Dr. Templeton worked on her again. Unfortunately, x-rays show quite a bit of sand in her gut. Hope is on her way to UF. Sand impactions are never a good thing and neither is colic. But she’s only three years old and a real trooper. She’s such a sweet little girl that deserves a chance at life.

With the drastic weather changes we’ve been having, please make sure your horse is drinking. Provide good quality hay which will help the gut to work more efficiently. Don’t put their feed tubs in the sand. Feed hay in hay feeders or bags. Give psyllium for a week each month. Do everything you can to minimize sand intake.

11:00am – Little Hope is now in surgery, more prayers needed.

If anyone would like to help Hope, donations can be easily made by clicking the button below, through Facebook. or via PayPal. No amount is too small. All donations are greatly appreciated as her medical bills will be sizable.

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Thank you, all & God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

 

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Kindness, the Language of Love

Nicky is another senior Thoroughbred mare we recently rescued, from the same farm where Aries and Raz formerly resided. Nicky hadn’t been doing well but the owner would not release her – she would not eat the hay that had recently been brought to the farm and she refused to walk to the waterer, so food and water had to be taken to her in her paddock. This went on for several days and she still showed no signs of improvement. On Sunday, we finally received the call – Nicky was no better and was being released. She needed a place to go where she could get the help she so desperately needed, so Nicky is now a member of our beloved little Sanctuary herd.

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The day Nicky arrived, we looked forward to reuniting her with her friends, Aries and Raz. We brought her to their paddock but she showed no interest. She was weak and unstable and her back legs were swollen, especially the left. I opted to put her in a paddock by herself, next to them, for a few days, so she could settle in, get a bit more stable, and get to know her new surroundings.

Once in that paddock, we led her to the waterer and she drank a good amount. Then we let her go. Ears forward, she didn’t walk off, but rather, put her head down and nibbled on a little grass and then unsteadily walked in a circle and stopped. She stood there, ears forward. After awhile, I walked her out into the paddock and told her that she would be okay as I gently removed her halter.

Ears forward, she walked in a circle a couple of times, still unsteady on her legs. She then stopped and stood. I brushed her and told her she was very much loved and would never be hungry again. Then I let her be.

I checked on her often and she was still standing there, ears forward. Twice, I saw her weakly walk in a circle and then stop and stand, ears forward. After awhile, I took her some water and a mash. She drank and slurped up about one half of the mash. I was relieved that she did drink. I was worried about colic which can be an issue with a starved horse that has a lot of sand in their gut and is fed coastal hay (before she came to us). A horse that Nicky had lived with prior to her arrival, suffered an impaction colic the day before. Dr. Rullian tubed and oiled the mare, fluids were run, but sadly, she didn’t make it.

The rest of the day, the volunteers and I checked on Nicky often and took her more water, forage, and mash. She still had no interest in hay. She continued to stand there all day, ears forward.

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When I tucked her in that night, I walked her to the waterer and left her with a tub of forage and a bag of hay. She refused the hay but did nibble on a little forage. The next morning, I discovered her ten feet away from where I’d left her the night before. The tub of forage had been knocked over. I put a halter on her and walked her around the perimeter of her paddock, in and out of the shelter, and then to the middle of the paddock.

I took her halter off and she stood there, ears forward, and then I knew – she couldn’t see. I thought to myself how humble and trusting this precious mare is. I realized then, why, out of so many horses, this particular mare came to us – it’s because she is very special and needs a little extra special care!

I thought about how scary it must be to be a blind horse in an unfamiliar place, separated from a herd that you had lived with your entire life, surrounded by new humans. I told her how brave and beautiful she is and then walked her around the perimeter of the paddock again and in and out of the shelter.

We took her water every couple of hours. She still refused hay but would slurp up a little mash. That night, I put a halter on her and walked her into the shelter. She put her nose down and found the tub of forage, a bag of hay, a bucket of water, and a salt block. She planted herself at the salt block. When I left her, I said a little prayer that she’d be okay there and as I walked away, she was still licking that salt block, ears forward.

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The next morning, she was still there, under the shelter, ears forward, looking content. She didn’t put her head up or respond when I approached her. She had eaten some of the forage. The water tub was only half full, so at least she was drinking.

I talked to her and when I reached out and touched her neck, her eyes opened wider, but then she relaxed. I clapped my hands next to her ears and that’s when I realized that she couldn’t hear. What a very special mare she really is!

Nicky was examined by Dr. Julia Simonson yesterday. I’ll continue Nicky’s story later today after we get her lab results back. I’ll also post an update about Aries and Raz.

Please keep Nicky, Aries and Raz in your prayers. They all have some challenges to overcome, especially Nicky, but I believe they will!

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Thank you to all who have donated toward the three mares thus far. Your donation is so very much appreciated. If you have not yet done so, you may simply click the button below. Please note that your donation is for “Year-End Campaign or ‘YEC.'”

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Thank you all, and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Mares’ Rescue Ushers in #GivingTuesday, Year End Campaign

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc. is once again participating in #GivingTuesday, a global giving movement which connects diverse groups of individuals, communities and organizations throughout the world for one common purpose – to celebrate and encourage giving. #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season on December 1, 2020, when many focus upon their holiday and year-end giving. #Giving Tuesday is also the kickoff day for our 2020 Year-End Campaign (YEC) for the horses!

We are beginning our #GivingTuesday campaign with a $2000 Match Game to help the three senior Thoroughbred mares, Aries, Raz and Nicky, we rescued on Thanksgiving Day. As their needs are many, their road to recovery will be not only long, but quite extensive and costly.

Watching these precious mares settle in and grow more relaxed in their new surroundings is so very rewarding and we are eagerly awaiting the day when they once again become proud and healthy horses. Seeing this, and new friendships taking root and growing, makes us feel truly blessed about what we do. Beauty’s Haven is indeed, a place “Where life begins, again!”

Beauty’s Haven is home to many special needs horses with individualized nutritional needs and supplementation, as well as more frequent veterinary, farrier and dental care. It’s only with your support that we are able to help these magnificent creatures who give so much and ask for so little.

Donations are understandably down due to Covid-19, but the needs of our beloved herd remain constant:

  • More hay is needed during the cold winter months,
  • Our medical supply cabinet needs to be restocked,
  • Maintenance to our farm equipment and shelters is ongoing, and
  • Our riding mower still needs to be replaced as it requires constant and costly repairs. (If anyone would like to donate a commercial grade zero turn mower, it would be so very much appreciated!)

The needs of our horses, however, always remain first and foremost. Our YEC goal this year is $15,000.

Your donation in any amount is very much appreciated. Please click on the button below to contribute!

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You may also donate via PayPalMe, click here. (Please select the tab ‘Send Money to Friends or Family’ and no fees will be deducted from your contribution). Please also note that your donation is for #GivingTuesday.

Thank you all and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Update on Aries and Raz

Here’s a quick update about Aries and Raz, the two Thoroughbred mares that we recently took in at the rescue. They had a spa day yesterday. Their physicals were done. They both scored a 1.5 (barely) on the Henneke scale. Their teeth need help badly and Dr. Bess will hopefully be out this coming week. Raz appears to have had a couple of her top front teeth knocked out at some point. There is a large gap which has caused her bottom teeth to grow up and out, which, in turn, have irritated her upper lip.

We will better know what is going on once we get the blood tests back, but both Aries and Raz appear to have jaundice, are likely anemic (they were loaded with ticks), have uterine infections, heart murmurs, horrible rain rot, very loose stool, lots of sand in the gut, etc. I’ll post an update about their blood work once we receive the results and consult with Dr. Julia.

After their physicals, Aries and Raz each got a much needed warm bath thanks to Jenny. She managed to get the knots out of their tails and their sores/rain rot were treated. The mares already look much better and I truly believe they feel much better as well.

Many thanks to Equiderma – they recently made a very nice donation of products which are truly making a difference to many members of our beloved little herd.

Then it was time for the farrier. Aries’ and Raz’s feet were absolutely horrible. The impact of their long feet upon their tendons, ligaments and whole body was quite significant. Raz had gone down in the trailer on the way to the farm and was a bit sore, so it took Stephanie quite some time and work to get her feet as good as possible on this visit, but she did a great job.

Raz went first and after her trim, she stood there for a bit like she knew something was different and had to adjust. Then she took a couple of steps towards Stephanie and put her head down in front of her as if to say ‘thank you.’ Then she looked at me and yawned and yawned which is a very good thing. Aries was a very good girl as well, and you could also see relief in her face as she walked away with her ‘new’ feet.

Raz and Aries have a ways to go in their rehab, but they have strong wills and the light in their eyes gets brighter each day. We appreciate the love and support for Raz and Aries – they are truly deserving.

We have promised them that all of their tomorrows will be what all of their yesterdays should have been – their needs will never be neglected again.

Thank you all so very much & God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Please keep Tilly in your Prayers

It is going to be a very sad day – an emotional one. Little Tilly’s COPD has progressed to the point where her quality of life is just not there and the kindest thing we can do is to let her go to Rainbow Bridge.

Tilly is so very sweet. She still has spirit and spunk, but she is now really struggling. Over the last couple of weeks, she’s lost weight and is having a significantly harder time breathing and she’s not finishing her meals.

Dr. Elizabeth spent time with her yesterday and after reviewing her condition, and what options there are (we are out of options, really), we agree it is time to let her go.

We lost Ceri a few days ago to colic and I learned that we lost Reese yesterday. I will update about them after tomorrow. They were both very sweet mares that were adopted out years ago.

We have lost so many this year. It’s very, very hard on the heart.

Please keep Tilly (and those of us who love and adore her) in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you & God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Thanksgiving Rescue

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day. Ours was very busy. We weren’t planning to take in more horses for awhile as COVID has taken a toll on donations, but we simply couldn’t walk away from these two Thoroughbred sisters.

Very cold temperatures are headed our way in the coming days and they have no body fat to help them stay warm. We went on faith and a prayer that help would come. I’m sure they will be grateful to have a warm blanket and hay before them.

The mares require everything – physicals, blood work, dental, etc. Monthly sponsors for their ongoing care are desperately needed. They are in their late 20s.

If you are in a position to help, you can sign up to make an automatic monthly recurring donation via our secure donation form, which you may cancel at any time. There, you also have the option of making a one time donation which may be in honor or memory of someone.

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Or, you can donate via Network for Good or JustGiving – these links can be found on our “Donate” page along with our snail mail address. You may also contribute via PayPal.me. Please note that your contribution is to be applied towards “TB Mares.” All donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small. If you’re not in a position to donate, we completely understand, but you can still help by sharing this post with friends and family.

Thank you and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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