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A Very Busy Week & Match Game Update!

Another busy week and it’s already Thursday! The heat has been absolutely horrible! The sprinklers, misters and fans are constantly running. Warrior has allergies and does not sweat, so he is much more comfortable in the feed room with the AC. He oftentimes ‘asks’ us to join him and appears to be ever so grateful when we do so. Frodo, who also doesn’t sweat, prefers to remain in a stall with a swamp cooler during the day. Aaleyah Belle, Mo, and Walker can oftentimes, be found cooling down in the shade while Shadow and Benjamin come to life a bit more once the evening starts to cool down.

We have had some wonderful help during the week. Vickie spent the day washing thirty plus feed tubs with a great deal of help from Danni, who somehow, managed to get a nasty wound on the heel of his front foot, but thankfully, it is healing.

We did take time to celebrate the birthday of Kathy, a dear friend and supporter, as well as enjoy a visit by Abigail, who so enjoyed her time pampering Magic, who has truly come so far. We are so very proud of him.

Lastly, and thankfully, our two precious kittens have found a wonderful, loving home!

Sincerely,
Theresa

Match Game Update

We only have a couple of weeks remaining to meet the deadline for our Match Game! Once we receive $6K in donations, the funds will be matched and morph into $12K. We still have $3513 to go. Please share this out – we can do this, but only with your help. You can contribute via the ‘DONATE’ button or via our Facebook fundraiser by clicking on the thermometer image. Thank you, all, for your love and support.




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A Wonderful Visit!

The horses, mules, donkeys, cats, and dogs all enjoyed some extra attention this past week! Jean visited and made friends with our sweet Walker who currently has an adoption application in the works, as well as met with several new members of the herd. Benjamin tried to capture Jean’s attention one hundred percent of the time as he always does whenever she visits. He is really a very good boy!

*To view Jean’s close up and personal visit with Walker, just click on the image above!*

Barbara also came up for a few hours and, she, too, had the opportunity to meet the newbies and visit with the herd. Both Barbara and Jean enjoyed meeting Cracker, our very sweet and entertaining retired QH games horse.

And of course, Jazzy, too, loved all the attention showered upon him, whereby, JoJo, who is rather the unruly one, doesn’t hesitate to throw a kick now and then. Some say he’s a momma’s boy but in reality, he’s just a very independent and opinionated donkey.

It was really great to see Jean and Barbara once again. It’s a 2.5 to 3 hour drive for each of them and both horses and humans, alike, truly enjoyed and appreciated their visit.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Happy July Fourth!

“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” – Benjamin Franklin

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Independence Day!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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We’re Getting There!

As of last night, the thermometer has risen to $1104, so we are one-sixth of the way there! These funds are desperately needed and can help us recover from vet, farrier, facility, maintenance and equipment repairs, as well as other rescue related expenses. The weekly hay expense alone is $1000+. We also need assistance with ongoing expenses for the feral cat colony that lives on the farm.

And then this morning, we received a $300 donation towards the Match Game! A huge thank you to the generous donor! With this donation, we’re one step closer to reaching our goal. But we still need help! Each donation, regardless of the amount, greatly assists us in continuing our mission of making a difference in the life of each and every current and future member of the Beauty’s Haven herd.

Please join us on our journey! Donate now and be a part of something amazing. You can contribute via the ‘DONATE’ button below or via our Facebook fundraiser by clicking here. All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. We will be posting a thermometer on a nightly basis which will indicate the donations received across all platforms (BHFER Website, FaceBook and Instagram.)

Thank you, all, for your continuous generosity, love and support.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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DUSTI ROSE – A PONY SAVED IMO BETSY ROSE

June is a very special month for us here at the rescue. Betsy Rose, a very special pony, came to us on June 14th, 2013 and JoJo and Jazzy’s birthdays are in June. We usually have a birthday party each year to honor Betsy Rose as well as to recognize JoJo and Jazzy’s birthday, but this year, we didn’t have time to put it together. For those who do not know Betsy Rose, and her story, there is a link on our website blog where you can learn about the day she arrived as well as the years we had with her. https://bhfer.org/pony-mare-update/

Betsy Rose was much more than that one special horse who comes into your life – she was a friend, teacher, comic, helper, healer and a heroine. Her story about overcoming incredible odds is one that should never be forgotten – she will never be forgotten.

Betsy, literally, helped many people to believe in themselves, to overcome, and to never give up. Sadly, we lost Betsy on December 22nd, 2017, due to her inability to swallow. With tears flowing, I held her tightly as she peacefully transitioned to Rainbow Bridge while I promised her that her legacy would forever live on.

Recently, one of our supporters notified us about a pony mare that desperately needed help. As she viewed the photo of the pony, she immediately thought of Betsy Rose. The pony had been run through multiple auctions as a no-sale and her next stop would have been Mexico where horses are slaughtered for human consumption . When I saw a photo of the mare, my heart skipped a few beats and memories of our Betsy Rose came flooding back. In honor of our Betsy, we quickly made the decision to rescue this precious little pony mare providing she was able to make the trip here. And with that, a new story begins.

We named her Dusti Rose. She arrived thin, her coat was unhealthy, her mane and tail unkept, and her feet had not been trimmed in months. Like Betsy, she has vision loss in her right eye. She had multiple auction stickers and/or glue from old stickers in her mane, on her backside, and in her tail.

Dusti’s personality is so sweet – she’s almost like a younger version of Betsy. She warms the heart and is good for the soul. And like Betsy Rose, she appreciates everything done for her.  She really enjoyed her first bath.

With all of the losses we have had over the past year or so, the toll it has taken on my heart has been great. I’m still trying to accept the loss of my heart horse, Beauty. There are times that the tears flow and nothing takes away the pain. But I do believe that, sometimes, God puts people, and animals, in our lives just when we need them (or they need us) the most. I think we needed little Dusti as much as she needed us. From the moment I met her, she had my heart. We have promised her that we will make all of her tomorrows everything her past should have been.

We have much going on here, 24/7, and it’s challenging to post updates which impacts our presence on social media which in turn, impacts donations. It’s a very stressful time. Grants are hard to come by, but we constantly apply.

However, we do have some good news!  A couple of dear friends and supporters have joined together to offer a $6000 Match Game!  

All donations up to $6000 will be matched dollar for dollar… $5 will morph into $10, $50 will morph into $100, and so on.  These funds are desperately needed and can help us recover from vet, facility, maintenance and equipment repairs, as well as other expenses. We also need assistance with the ongoing expenses for the feral cat colony that lives on the farm.

If you would like to play the Match Game, you can contribute via the ‘Donate’ button below. All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. We will be posting a thermometer on our social media pages on a daily basis, and in upcoming emails, that will indicate the total amount of donations received across all platforms (BHFER website, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) as of that day/time. We would also ask that you please share this out to family and friends.

A very special “Thank You” to our dear friends who are making this Match Game possible.

We thank all of you for your continued generosity, love and support.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Kittens & Cats Galore!

Please click on the above image to view a sweet video of Momma and Baby.

As we may have previously mentioned, during the past year, we have been trying to catch a feral cat who had four kittens about two months ago, in order to get her fixed. As a feral, she has had at least four litters since she was born here at the farm. We have cameras set up throughout and we have seen momma with her four kittens in tow, coming for their nightly meal which indicated the kittens were able to eat on their own. Since the opportunity arose to catch momma and one kitten, we opted to proceed. Since the kitten was not big enough to get fixed, she stayed with us, accompanied by a warm, stuffed sloth and she did just fine. Momma was spayed and upon her return home on Thursday, her kitten was so happy to be reunited with her beloved momma once again. Both are presently staying in one of our A/C storage cabins for a few days and then will be released together. Since the other three kittens have been visiting routinely to eat and get fresh water, we know that they’re all doing just fine.

Last week, Jessica found a kitten in the middle of a paddock who was approximately, just seven to ten days old. We waited and waited, but sadly, the momma did not return, so we had no choice but to help this sweet little kitten. Jessica took her home and, thankfully, she is doing well. Then yesterday, we found two additional kittens who appear to be the same age, and once again, we watched and waited. Since the mother cat, perhaps a first-time momma, had not come back, the kittens were becoming weak, especially the smallest one. The kittens received KMR, were bathed and had as many fleas removed as was possible. They are presently in our bathroom, contentedly napping away in a little cat snuggly house, accompanied by a cuddly stuffed rabbit. Have I mentioned that I am very allergic to cats?

If anyone in the area is skilled with raising orphan kittens and could take these two precious and innocent little ones, please text me at 352-258-9309.

I know kitten season is upon us and everyone is full, but I’m praying for a miracle. Sadly, with all that is happening here at the farm, we have not had time to send weekly updates for which I truly apologize, but for the past five weeks, both Bob and I have had a severe case of bronchitis, yet we are trying to do our best. Our physician changed our medications this past week, so hopefully, we are, at long last, well on the way on the road to recovery.

We try not to ask for assistance for our TNR efforts but we could really use it at this time. KMR and cat food is not inexpensive. We have trapped and had over a dozen cats fixed and including the new kittens, there are at least, nine to eleven more cats/kittens that are in need of TNR.

All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. Just click on the “Donate” button below where you may contribute in a variety of ways, or, if you prefer, you can help by visiting our Chewy Wish List by clicking here.

Thank you, all for your continued generosity, love and support.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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New: Farrier Friday!

As we begin the month of June, we have decided to launch a new program, “Farrier Friday,” in hope that it will inspire our wonderful little village of supporters to help ensure that each and every member of our beloved herd will have “Happy Feet.” Whilst the majority of our equines receive trims every four to five weeks, sweet little Bouie and Frodo must have specialized farrier care every two weeks and as the average cost per hooficure is $45, it really adds up quickly!

Jazzy, Cracker, Shai, Elka, Danni, Tobi, Walker and Gabe are all scheduled to see the farrier this week. We hope and pray that we can raise $395 to cover the cost. We would be forever grateful for any assistance you can offer to help with this need, but if you are not in a position to do so at this time, we truly understand. You can still help, however, by sharing this message amongst family and friends.

All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. Just click on the “Donate” button below where you may contribute in a variety of ways.



Thank you, all, for your continued love and support.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Kitten Season is upon us!

Kitten season sounds like a magical time of the year, but to animal rescuers and shelters, its mere mention creates a sense of panic as preparations must be immediately put in place to address the multitude of mother cats with their litter of adorable kittens in tow who will soon be appearing on our doorstep. In most places across America, animals mate and give birth in springtime due to longer days, lovely weather and more access to food, which means a higher survival rate. In Florida, however, kitten season is basically, year-round. Cats, many merely kittens themselves, can have litter after litter, throughout the year, making this quite the vicious cycle.

At times, orphaned kittens who are under four weeks old and unable to eat on their own, kittens who must be manually stimulated to urinate and defecate, requiring hands-on care every two to four hours, appear at our farm. With their fragile immune systems and labor-intensive care and socialization needs, these precious babies are, tragically, the most vulnerable of species.

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc., is not only dedicated to saving these precious kittens by caring for and nurturing them, but is actively addressing the situation with a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program, a program that has met with great success across communities nationwide.

Beauty’s Haven provides these kittens and cats with shelter, food, toys and “catios” to keep them safe and warm prior to their veterinary care (spay, neuter, vaccines) and subsequential release and many oftentimes return knowing that they will be safe, warmly welcomed and be fed a nutritious meal.

With a herd of thirty horses, mules and donkeys, as well as four dogs and five cats, with little monetary assistance for our TNR program, we would be forever grateful for any contribution or item from our Wishlist, specifically food, which would greatly assist us in this most important and much needed endeavor.

Thank you, in advance, for your love and support.

Sincerely,
Theresa

Nala is just one of the many cats we help through our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program. We provide kittens and cats with shelter, food, toys, and catios to keep them safe and warm before their veterinary care, which includes spaying, neutering, and vaccinations. Many of these cats return to us, knowing they will be welcomed with warmth and a nutritious meal. Your support is crucial for us to continue this important work. Please consider donating to our fundraiser—every contribution makes a difference!

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Photo of bay horse with a Memorial Day frame and theme.

Memorial Day

Photo of bay horse with a Memorial Day frame and theme.

Valor

“Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.”
~Michel de Montaigne

Memorial Day . . . This is the day that’s set aside . . . To remember with gratitude and pride . . .
All those who served and died . . . for our country and our freedom.
May your day be filled with memories and peace.

(Please click on the image above.)

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Happenings at the Farm

I thought I would share a brief update regarding the daily happenings at Beauty’s Haven where there is never a dull moment! Elka continues to do well and she truly enjoys getting extra love and attention as she did this past week from Pam and Donna. Elka is such a sweet mule but when breakfast time rolls around, she eagerly waits at the fence with her friends with that “Hurry up with breakfast” look!

And then there are the doggos! Shadow and Benjamin are a constant source of entertainment with their daily shenanigans! Shadow is, of course, the “boss dog” who never fails to remind Benjamin of that fact many times throughout the day!

Thankfully, when you’re having “one of those days,” it helps to just hop on a horse and ride away, if only for a little while.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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