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Valley Girl & Cowboy

Cowboy is such a very sweet soul who is becoming much more animated each and every day as you can see in the video by clicking on the image above. A proper diet, most certainly, does the body good!

The vet was out yesterday to check on Cowboy’s progress, and I’m happy to report that he is better overall, including his heart. Most of the open sores on his body have healed (with the exception of the large sores on his ankles), and his coat and skin are healthier. Blood and fecal tests were repeated and we hope to have those results later today. We felt it best to wait another week before performing a biopsy on his ankle sores as well as having his teeth done, until he is a bit stronger for sedation. Until his teeth are done, we will continue giving him a mash several times a day, which he truly loves, as well as chopped forage. While temperatures were in the 70’s yesterday, they were predicted to dip into the 20’s during today’s early morning hours, together with high winds, so Cowboy, as well as other members of our beloved herd, were tucked into their cozy blankets last night.

The vet also x-rayed Valley Girl’s feet once again due to her chronic founder and Cushing’s, as she had been having a tough time this past week. Thankfully, her second round of x-rays were better than expected. She did blow an abscess in her front right foot a few days ago and another abscess on the opposite side of the same foot, erupted yesterday. Due to the continued abscess issue, the vet prescribed antibiotics. I am a bit concerned, however, about the position of the coffin bone and bone remodeling.

Cowboy and Valley Girl are such sweet, kind, and deserving horses. I am most certain they both very much appreciate your good thoughts and prayers. I have added items to our wish lists on Chewy and Amazon so if you would like to make a year-end contribution designated for their needs, or to address the needs of other members of our beloved herd, you can do so via the ‘Donate’ button below. As always, contributions of any amount are both tax deductible and so very much appreciated.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year!

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New Rescue: Senior Arabian Gelding in Dire Need

As time was of the essence, we decided to pick up a black Arabian gelding in dire need. Approximately twenty years old, “Cowboy” loaded successfully onto the trailer and did well on his ride to the rescue. He settled in nicely in the quarantine paddock and enjoyed the enthusiastic greeting from JoJo, Jazzy, and CaryLou in the next paddock. As always, they put on quite a show!

Dr. Valle came out to do an exam, administer blood and fecal tests, as well as a Coggins. Cowboy is not healthy, by far. A poor diet and starvation can impact many things. He is underweight, his feet are in dire need of a series of trims, and his dental needs have never been addressed. He doesn’t like anyone touching his mouth, most undoubtedly, due to discomfort from sharp dental points, blisters, etc.

Cowboy’s heart rate was extremely irregular during his exam, almost as if he was having an anxiety attack. I was fearful that he might pass out! He may have heart disease, but we just do not know.

Cowboy’s skin is also quite horrible. A horse’s skin is the largest organ on their body which helps control blood pressure, regulate the immune response, protect against the environment, and is an overall indicator of general health. Cowboy also has a sore on each of his front legs that will need to be treated with perhaps, injections, debridement, etc. When he is strong enough for this issue to be addressed, tissue will have to be sent off for analysis.

Cowboy is in such poor health that we cannot do anything to address his teeth or leg sores at this time (other than protecting them from bugs) as it wouldn’t be wise to sedate him. Sedation comes with cardiovascular and other risks and he is just so very, very fragile at this time. Dr. Valle also stated that Cowboy has the highest parasite count that he has ever before seen. Cowboy’s other numbers were out of the normal range as well.

Our plan is to tackle the parasite issue, provide him with good nutrition, supportive care, supplements, and time, and we’ll regroup next week. For now, Cowboy seems to be loving the attention bestowed upon him from his human family and he adores his mashes and chopped forage. I’m afraid to give him hay because of his dental issues which may cause him to choke.

Cowboy is truly a sweet, kind, and deserving horse, and at least for now, he has a chance. He could really use – and I am sure very much appreciate – good thoughts and/or prayers.

I’ll be adding items to our Wish Lists on Chewy and Amazon to support his needs and I hope to post an update on him daily. If you would like to help Cowboy, donations can be made via the Donate button below. Donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. And please feel free to share this post amongst family and/or friends who may wish to help Cowboy as well.

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Grant a Wish for Good Boy Beau

Poor Beau has had quite a time this past week. He somehow managed to slice open an area under his jaw, so I treated it as best as I could. I felt it more prudent, however, for the vet to come out in order to better clean the wound and discern if there was an embedded foreign object which needed to be removed. Thankfully no object was found, but the wound was quite deep and simply in a bad place. After Dr. Julia had cleaned the injury, Beau proceeded to rub the area all along the top fence board, thereby, making it even worse. As the farrier was here, Beau then had his hooficure, after which Jessica and I dressed him up in a Sleezy (which he most definitely didn’t appreciate) to aid in his wound healing.

Since Beau was such a good boy for the farrier, I promised him I would include his Christmas Wish in this post in hope that his very special wish will, indeed, come true!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

Hey Everyone!

Beau here, asking if anyone would like to be my sponsor to make my Christmas Wish come true. I presently, do not have any sponsors, even though I am a very good boy! Won’t you please make my Christmas Wish come true?

Love,
Beau

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Christmas Countdown!

Jazzy has asked me to let you all know that there are just fifteen days remaining until Christmas, and since Christmas is our little herd’s favorite time of the year, they are so hoping to find their stockings brimming with gifts on Christmas morning. And with your help, we are confident that all of their Christmas wishes will come true!

So, if you would like to help fill the stockings of our ‘Velvet Nosers’ with a donation or an item from their Christmas wish lists, such as dietary supplements and specialized grain, not only will it fill their hearts with innate joy, but it will assist us in achieving our year-end goal as well. And, since we are almost halfway to meeting our goal, with a new $1,500 Match Game on the table, we are confident we can do this! All contributions are tax-deductible and no amount is ever too small. Just click on the ‘DONATE’ button below.

Thank you for your love and support!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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ANOTHER Match Game?!


Our second Match Game is now complete and our GivingTuesday campaign is almost halfway to the finish line, thanks to the amazing generosity of our Match Game sponsors coupled with the support of our wonderful little village! As in previous years, this fundraiser will now morph into our End of the Year Campaign in hope that we will be able to reach our goal of $10,000 by year’s end.

And thanks to the amazing generosity of two additional friends and supporters, a new Match Game is now on the table, whereby all donations up to $1,500 will be matched dollar for dollar.

All donations, as always, are tax-deductible and no amount is ever too small. Just click on the ‘DONATE’ button below where you can contribute in a variety of ways.

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On This Giving Tuesday

GivingTuesday is crucial for nonprofit organizations like Beauty’s Haven for it enables us to continue our most important mission of helping equines and other sentient beings in need.

Our campaign this year will focus upon helping horses in our care as well as others in need, by providing assistance for the numerous ongoing expenses involved in running an equine rescue organization, expenses that are necessary to ensure the overall safety, health, comfort and well-being of each and every member of our little herd – many with special needs. This includes providing each with a specific tailor-made nutritional plan consisting of both dietary supplements and specialized feed.

Our goal this year is to raise $10,000, and we are so truly grateful for a dear friend and supporter who has offered to kick off our campaign with a Match Game in loving memory of her beloved horse, Onyx.

All donations, up to $500 will be matched dollar for dollar, so this is a wonderful opportunity to help the horses of Beauty’s Haven, while doubling your contribution at the same time.

All donations are tax-deductible, and please be assured that no amount is ever too small. Just click on the ‘DONATE’ button below.

Thank you all, for your love and support!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Valley Girl Home from the Hospital

Valley Girl returned home on Thursday from the Equine Medical Center of Ocala after having twelve teeth removed due to Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH), a condition that results in resorptive lesions of the incisors and sometimes, the canine teeth. She thankfully appears to be doing well. Jo missed Valley Girl and she is so very happy that her best friend is back at the farm – we all are. Please click on the image above to view the girls’ truly joyful reunion.

Valley Girl’s hospital bill which includes the cost of the extractions, coupled with the fees for her hospital stay and follow-up visit is $2,925.

A dear friend and wonderful supporter of the rescue, however, has offered to match all donations up to $500 designated for Valley Girl’s expenses, and I am confident that with the assistance from our wonderful little village, we will get this done. So, if you would like to help with this need, while doubling your donation at the same time, just click on the ‘Donate’ button below. All contributions are so greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small!

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Valley Girl and Beau – So Brave!

On Tuesday, Valley Girl was transported to the Equine Medical Center of Ocala to have several teeth removed. Brookledge was right on time and the gentleman who helped me load her was so very nice and patient. Valley Girl’s surgery was scheduled for Wednesday and she is to arrive home later today.

Jo was a bit anxious when Valley Girl left as both have been pasture pals since Dancer went to Rainbow Bridge. One of the hardest things for me is when any member of our little herd leaves, whilst hearing their friends crying out for them as they leave the farm.

At the beginning of the week, we were very busy blanketing the horses due to the arrival of unusually frigid weather with a ‘feel like’ temperature of 25 degrees in the wee hours of the morning. Beau reluctantly accepted his blanket albeit with a little encouragement and patience – this was a very new experience for him. We do not know what his past life was like prior to his arrival at Beauty’s Haven, but sadly has not accepted anyone approaching his backend and has always kicked out. We’ve been working on this issue and I’m so very proud of the progress he has made. Good boy, Beau!

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Valley Girl, Peaches, and a message from JoJo

Valley Girl has been experiencing an issue in her front foot. We were concerned she was having a laminitic flare up so we had x-rays done this week and learned that there was an abscess which has since resolved. Now that we know we’re past that, she will be going to the hospital on Tuesday to have some teeth pulled. She has equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH).

As per Equine Wellness Magazine: “EOTRH is characterized by internal and external tooth resorption (loss of the tooth) and destruction. Excessive cemental deposition is also a primary factor in this disease and the roots of the teeth eventually become enlarged – a condition known as hypercementosis. Infection, abscesses and fractures are also frequently seen with this condition. The tooth degeneration that happens in horses with EOTRH leads to painful fractures and tooth loss, and can express itself through weight loss and difficulty eating, as well as performance and behavioral issues including head shyness and resistance to bend during work.”

Peaches could also use some good thoughts and prayers. She has arthritis in her right knee which has progressively worsened over time. The vet was out this week to do x-rays and determine what more we can do to help keep her comfortable. On Thursday, Peaches’ knee was injected with a synthetic joint lubricant and with the cold temperatures heading this way, we are praying this works.

Sincerely,
Theresa

A Bale for JoJo

JoJo here, with Phase Two of our Hay Fundraiser! Now that Phase One is complete, we are now looking for sponsors for two one-half size compressed Orchard bales at a total cost of $292.50, but thanks to the generosity of a very special auntie and supporter, we now only need $192.50 to complete this fundraiser! So, if you would like to help feed me and my friends here at Beauty’s Haven with a tax deductible contribution, just click on the ‘Donate’ button below for which we would be forever grateful!

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A Bale for JoJo & a Match Game!

JoJo has asked that I send you all an email on his behalf:

Hey Everyone!

JoJo here! Mommy Theresa is very busy taking care of all my friends here at Beauty’s Haven, so being the good boy that I am and her very best helper, I thought I would come here and try to raise money for this week’s Hay Fundraiser. I am hoping to find sponsors for forty bales of two-string orchard hay at a cost of $20 per bale. Once we have enough sponsors, the second phase of this fundraiser is to raise funds for two one-half pasture bales of hay.

The good news is, a very special friend has offered to match all donations up to $400, and thanks to our wonderful aunties and supporters, together with the Match Game, twenty-two bales of hay have already been sponsored with just eighteen bales to go! And, with $175 still remaining in the Match Game, this is a perfect time to double your donation. Think of it as two bales for the price of one!

Contributions can be made by clicking on the ‘Donate’ button below. All contributions are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small. Thank you!

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