We are looking for 15 ounces of colostrum for Lacey’s yet to be born baby. She’s dripped so much we’re concerned there may be not be any. If anyone is in the Ocala area and has any extra please contact me. I may be overly concerned (because of our experience with Joy last year) but I am having Dr. Ryan come to check Lacey today.

The lump on Gentleman’s neck is a mass that you can somewhat manipulate. It is by the esophagus and jugular vein and surgical removal is not an option. We are not sure if it had anything to do with the choke or not but it likely did. He has been getting mushy meals and he’s drinking. His attitude is better today but he’s pretty much just stayed in the aisleway of the barn. We measured the mass and will be keeping an eye on it. Please keep our Gentleman in your prayers.

Lacey is getting antsy. Lots of rolling today and scratching on the hay bales. She’s still dripping milk. I was surprised she was able to get up from her rolls!

I’m not sure she is going to wait for May to get here to have her baby! Please don’t forget about her fundraiser: https://www.bhfer.org/events.html

Our beautiful Aaleyah Belle. She’s doing great.

And look at little Peggy Sue! I don’t know why she was running but she had a great time. She is doing ok and the stifle surgery helped. But the doctor was amazed at how she endured the pain of the original fractures and that she is managing as well as she is. Some days she isn’t as active as others. But she is always there to greet you and to ask for a hug. She really is a sweetheart the big beautiful eyes.

Morning Star, Baby Girl, and Indy got out yesterday morning and loved their little adventure.

Buttercup is doing great and is as beautiful as ever! Gary is doing a great job with her and she is ready for a forever home.

Archer, one of the 3 Amigos, had his first hooficure and he needed it! Archer is a 7 year old Standardbred that is as sweet as they come. He is going to make someone a very nice horse. We don’t know anything about his past but he does not have a tattoo. He came in pretty thin a couple of weeks ago and needs to put on at least another 200 lbs but he’s looking better each day. He’s a tall boy – at least 16.1 hh – we’ll stick him to see. Dr. Bess did his teeth yesterday. All of the volunteers love him – he has a puppy dog disposition. The other 2 Amigos went to their new home, together, a couple of days ago.

Dr. Bess checked out Lady’s teeth and opted to wait to see if she is pregnant before working on them. We won’t have the results back from Lady’s pregnancy test until tomorrow. Dr. Bess says she thinks Lady’s odds of being pregnant are 60/40.

We still have 4 Paso mares that need homes ASAP. Please check out the latest on our Anthony Herd Page on FB. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/172714409506468/

Gentleman’s vet bill is about $250 including a new bottle of Banamine – donations totaling $135 have been received to help with it. If anyone would like to help with the balance it would be greatly appreciated. We had buy hay today – total bill of $1077. Yesterday a load of shavings for here at the rescue was $240. Yesterday a load of shavings for the Paso mares – $200. Dr. Bess was here yesterday to do Archer’s teeth, coggins, and a pregnancy test on Lady – $170. The podiatrists will be here on Saturday and at least 6 hooficures will be done. It all adds up quickly and we need continued support. Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.

Don’t forget that Lacey is up on MareStare – we appreciated eyes on her so we can get some sleep at night!  http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=beautyshaven

We truly appreciate everyone’s support and continued prayers for Gentleman. God bless and have a wonderful evening!

I did call Dr. Ryan to come out this afternoon. Some of the obstruction had resolved itself before I called him but there was enough still there to be concerned. So, Gentleman got sedated and tubed. The rest of the obstruction that could be cleared was – that is the good news – the nasogastric tube passed through the entire length of the esophagus. The bad news is that there is a lump – a cyst or tumor still there that may have helped cause the obstruction by pushing on the esophagus. He is having a tough time swallowing water and is on a liquid diet for now. I’ve got a call into Dr. Ryan to see if an ultrasound would help to determine what the lump is.

I’m so thankful that Marie got me as soon as she knew that Gentleman refused his feed this am. I was out rounding up the 3 kids (Morning Star, Baby Girl, Indy) that were supposed to be in the arena that escaped somehow. As soon as I got to Gentleman he led me to the gate that goes into the paddock where his shelter is. Nikole had been locked in there for feeding time. We let Nikole out and GMan in. I watched as he walked to his shelter and he stood for a minute – I could see discomfort in his eyes. He walked to an area in the sand and wanted to lay down but he didn’t – I went over to check him out and could see a lump on his neck. Then he started to cough and I called Dr. Ryan. I massaged GMan’s neck while Bob got some meds. After administering Gentleman the meds we took him to a stall. The rest of today has already been told but I’m afraid this isn’t over yet. And if Gentleman isn’t swallowing any better by morning and if he needs fluids he will get them.

Someone asked me today how much today’s vetting cost is and I don’t know – I never thought to ask at the time but I can find out tomorrow. If anyone would like to help it would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be called into the vet’s office at 352-237-6151 and should be noted for Gentleman. We do need to buy another bottle of Banamine. I’ll have to cost that tomorrow – we get that someplace else as it’s less expensive.

I wanted to get an update out about all here today but didn’t have a chance. I’ll try tomorrow. We love Gentleman so very much – please keep him in prayers.

Dear Narissa,

You and Twilight have been on my mind – I think of you and the others in our heavenly herd daily. I miss your smell, your eyes, your trust in us when trying to help your foot feel better. We did our best to keep you comfortable so you could stay with us for a long time. But still, even with meds, your pain became too much and you let me know it was time. I’m so thankful for you helping me to make the right decision. A life here with constant unbearable pain is something I would not wish on anyone. I know your foot hurt very much and walking on 3 legs is hard and it makes other parts of the body ache. I’m very thankful that God put you in our path so that we had some time with you.

As I sat with you all morning the day you crossed I told you about our heavenly herd – from the first we helped here at the rescue to cross the Rainbow Bridge, Frosty, to Twilight and all of the horses in between. We’ve lost many but I know that you are all together now and someday we’ll see each other again. And we talked about Barbaro and how laminitis robbed him of life on this earth too. I don’t know if there will ever be a cure but I pray for it every day. Please tell our heavenly herd how much I love and miss all of you.

You were tired, I know. I’m glad you rested before Dr. Ryan arrived.

Once Dr. Ryan arrived I was very proud of your willingness to walk up Frosty’s Knoll. It’s one of the hardest walks there is for me. Linda, Jenny, Bob, Brie, and even Dr. Ryan walked with us. You were surrounded by love.

You held your head high and trusted what we said – that the pain would go away as you cross Rainbow Bridge and only good would be before you.

The last few minutes filled my heart with so much sadness. But we knew that soon you would be without pain and running with the heavenly herd. You left this world knowing love and with your dignity restored. We were all so blessed that you had been part of our life.

And as you left us to cross the Bridge images of you came into my head and heart – a transition to a youthful and whole and happy Narissa. I found comfort in that.

We loved you enough to let you go and loving tucked you in our blanket of gold to say our last “we love you’s.” And now you fly with the angels.

I love you Narissa, always.

Theresa