It is with a heavy heart to inform you, that Mila, the blind cat that Shadow found in one of our paddocks just a few weeks ago, went to Rainbow Bridge on May 27th. At first we believed Mila to be one of the two feral cats that live under the storage building who we feed nightly, but she was not. We have no idea where she came from or how she found her way to one of our paddocks which is farthest from the road. We do know that she was very lucky to have survived. I can’t imagine being a blind little cat, all alone, not knowing where her next meal would come from, where to find water, or if her next few steps would put her in danger of becoming a predator’s meal.
She was such a brave little girl and it is truly remarkable that she survived on her own despite her condition when we found her.
Mila’s initial visit to the vet revealed that she was approximately five years old and weighed just five pounds. She was visually impaired (only able to see shadows) likely due to some sort of trauma. Mila’s fecal and blood tests for other potential issues were done, her little ears were cleaned and she was treated for fleas and other parasites. She had a good size hernia, but, thankfully, it was not painful. As per our vet’s recommendation, she was not microchipped at this time, as he wanted to wait until she was a bit stronger. She did, however, get her vaccinations.
Mila’s blood test results came back the following day with elevated numbers. Since her kidneys and liver were of concern, additional tests were performed. After Mila was started on an antibiotic, she became a bit more active, she ate and drank well, and she became quite talkative. She would follow me wherever I went, but I had to be careful not to stop abruptly as she would run into me. She was a real trooper though – she’d run into walls many times but she soon learned to navigate her way around.
She was such a sweet little girl who loved curling up next to me whenever I sat with her which truly melted my heart.
When we took Mila back to the vet for additional tests, we learned that her kidney and liver values had remained elevated and her cognitive impairment was getting worse. In her final days, when she tried to navigate her room she would walk into a wall and stop and drop and that’s where she’d stay for quite a while. During her first few days with us, she’d respond to our voices or a noise, but in her last days, she would not. Her quality of life was not getting better – it was getting worse.
I’m very sorry for whatever happened to Mila before we found her, but at least, she went to Rainbow Bridge, knowing she was so very loved.
Until we meet again, Mila. You will forever remain in our hearts.
Theresa
Mending Fences Part II
Over the past many weeks we have been replacing broken fence boards which has been quite the task! We are very grateful to those that donated to help make the paddocks safer for the horses. Our next phase is electric tape. We have spliced and done what we can with what we have, but we need to replace about 1600′ of 1.5″ electric tape. The image on the lower right above depicts the quality of the fencing, and while one can find less expensive tape but it won’t hold up as well – this tape has a 20 year warranty and it contains 15 strands of 12-millimeter stainless steel wire.
Would anyone like to help sponsor Magic’s tape? Other horses impacted include Mo, Oasis, Mishka, Valley Girl, Chloe, Aaleyah Belle, Nadia and Venus. Would anyone like to help any of these?
Tax deductible donations can be made here on our website, just click the button below. If you can help, please note that the donation is for “electric tape.” No amount is too small.
Thank you, very much.
Theresa
Happy Teeth & Feet!
It’s dental day for some of our horses! Would anyone like to help sponsor dentals for Venus, Nadia, Mishka, Dancer, and Jo? In addition, some of our “Velvet Nosers” are still awaiting sponsors for their “hooficures,” so if you would like to help your favorite Beauty’s Haven equine have “happy feet,” we would appreciate that as well. The average cost for a hooficure is $40
Just click the button below and please note that your contribution is for either “Dental” or “Hooficure.” No amount is too small and donations are tax deductible.
Thank you so much for your support.
A Wonderful Day!
We had a great day at the North Central Florida Outdoor Expo event that was held at the World Equestrian Center on Saturday! We met some awesome new people and saw a number of friends who have adopted from us in the past.
It was great to see Bill and Judy who adopted mini horses Timmie and Foxy a few years ago. Foxy was, and is still, quite the little pistol! Stephanie and her family who adopted Bryce many years ago, also stopped by. Bryce is doing great and may be looking for a friend in the near future. Hopefully one of our horses will meet their need.
It was so wonderful to see Patti and Peter who adopted Annie, Velvet, and Sophie, as well as three precious cats – Jasmine, Jasper and Piper. Last year, Patti and Peter made a heartbreaking decision to let Sophie go to Rainbow Bridge, after a consultation with the veterinarians and us. Sophie had arthritic hip issues for quite some time and Patti and Peter helped her along with it as long as they were able. Jasmine was also lost due to a freak accident which left her with neurological deficits from which she was unable to recover. When we adopt out any animal, we don’t look at it as though we are losing them, but rather, we look at it as gaining more family members.
We met many new people, who sadly had absolutely no idea that some horses end up in horrible situations.
Many people do not realize that students can even get credit hours at nonprofit organizations such as ours to help with a Bright Futures or other scholarships. We are so very thankful that Elizabeth had a few people sign up to potentially volunteer, as volunteers are truly the backbone of this organization and we desperately need many more.
Many thanks to everyone who helped make the day a wonderful success including 92.5 Wind-FM and 93.7 K-Country as well as Karen, who did an awesome job putting together our lovely display boards.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Open House
Please join us at our Annual Open House in ‘Celebration of the Horse’ on Saturday, September 17, 2022, between the hours of 11am – 3pm.
You may register for the event by clicking on the image to the left or by forwarding an email to BHFERopenhouse@gmail.com or by texting Elizabeth at 352-339-2784.
GreatNonprofits
Stories about us from people like you will help us make an even bigger impact in our community. GreatNonprofits is honoring highly regarded nonprofits with their 2022 Top-Rated List. We have been on their Top-Rated List for many years and hope to make it again this year. Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by posting a brief story of your experience with us? Just click on the GreatNonprofits logo.
Oh Peggy, My Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue’s Hooficure
We used the new winches today with the sling when it was time for Peggy Sue’s hooficure. They worked great and were much safer than the manual ones that we’ve been using for years. Winches with the sling are most necessary tools to help equines like Peggy Sue.
Peggy Sue can’t bend her bock left leg at all. Her pelvis was fractured in three places many years ago when her humans opted to ‘help’ her deliver her baby. She’s really a precious and determined little mare and she truly gets around quite well.
A number of our ‘Velvet Nosers’ ore also scheduled to have their hooficures this week, so If you would like to assist with this most necessary need, we would be forever grateful. The overage farrier fee per horse or donkey is $40 and this week’s visit will total $535. Just click on the ‘Donate’ button below and note thot your contribution is for ‘Happy Feet.’
On behalf of Peggy Sue and the Herd, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Don’t forget to RSVP for:
Celebration of the Horse
Saturday, September 17, 2022
We are excited to announce a special guest appearance and performance by “Ivory Pal” at our Celebration of the Horse Open House event this year!!! Ivory Pal, the golden palomino champion Tennessee Walking Horse stallion – owned, trained, and loved by Rafael Valle – is an extraordinary performer and partner with exceptionally great temperament. This will be Ivory Pal’s first public appearance in Florida in 13 years after returning from Nashville, TN. To learn more about this amazing duo, CLICK HERE.
Details about the event can be found at https://bhfer.org/event/beautys-haven-annual-open-house or https://www.facebook.com/events/822279948753292.
Email BHFERopenhouse@gmail.com or text Elizabeth @ 352-339-2784 with any questions.
Champion Ivory Pal headlines Beauty’s Haven Annual Open House
Celebration of the Horse
Saturday, September 17, 2022
We are excited to announce a special guest appearance and performance by “Ivory Pal” at our Celebration of the Horse Open House event this year!!! Ivory Pal, the golden palomino champion Tennessee Walking Horse stallion – owned, trained, and loved by Rafael Valle – is an extraordinary performer and partner with exceptionally great temperament. This will be Ivory Pal’s first public appearance in Florida in 13 years after returning from Nashville, TN. To learn more about this amazing duo, CLICK HERE.
Details about the event can be found at https://bhfer.org/event/beautys-haven-annual-open-house or https://www.facebook.com/events/822279948753292.
Email BHFERopenhouse@gmail.com or text Elizabeth @ 352-339-2784 with any questions.
Horsey Hooves, Oreo & Upcoming Events!
Here we go again! Farrier week is upon us and Bouie, Frodo, Dancer, Jo, Mo, Peaches, Oasis, Valley Girl, Ruby, Nadia, Venus, Luiji, Warrior, Gabe, JoJo, Mishka, CaryLou and Lucy are just a few who are scheduled to receive a “hooficure” this week.
The average cost of a farrier visit has increased to $40 per equine, and we need help with this most important and necessary need. Just click on the ‘Donate’ button below or on our Facebook page. Also, please note on your contribution that it’s for farrier care, and include the name of the horse you’re designating it for.
Thank you! We are grateful for your support!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Surgery Success!
Oreo is back home and recovering from a total ear canal ablation that was performed at the Institute of Veterinary Specialists in Gainesville. Oreo had been treated for a chronic ear infection for more than a year without much luck. The surgery went well and the vet stated that Oreo is in great shape and will soon be feeling much better.
Many thanks to those who made Oreo’s surgery possible!
Upcoming Events
We have exciting news to share about two very special upcoming events, the return of our annual Open House and our always enjoyable Trail Ride! Click the links below to learn more:
Mindi Update, Presley’s Passing and Oreo’s Surgery
Mindi on the Mend
Mindi is becoming a bit more animated each day. Mentally, she’s still processing and adjusting. It may take her days, weeks, or even longer to come around. But she will. She’s approaching me now instead of walking off when I go into her paddock. That’s a very positive step in healing, in my opinion. Her coat is looking much better and her eyes are brighter. She needs to gain quite a bit of weight and muscle.
Regarding Mindi’s physical health, her blood test results were what we typically find in malnourished horses. She needs a few supplements; Liver Kleen, Ferrofood from Standard Process, Transfer Factor Stress Pak, a Panacur Powerpac, and Succeed. If anyone would like to gift her any of these supplements it would be greatly appreciated. I’ll try to post links to them tomorrow. Dr. Julia will be back tomorrow to do an Infratonic treatment on Mindi. Hopefully we will be able to get on the dentist’s schedule soon. The farrier comes on Sunday.
If anyone would like to gift any of those products to Mindi, please contact us. Thank you.
Presley
Our beloved Presley transitioned to Rainbow Bridge yesterday afternoon. Presley was truly precious and we will miss him so very much. Grief is truly the price we pay for love.
Oreo
Oreo’s ear canal ablation surgery has been scheduled for July 7th! Thank you to our wonderful little village of supporters who have made this possible.
Mindi, a discarded mule in need
She gave 15+ years of service to her humans. Once she was too old to keep up the pace, they showed their gratitude by discarding her. Sadly, this happens a lot. She’s thin. Her skin is very unhealthy. She has scars from the heavy tack she wore while working. I’m sure her teeth are also in need of attention. We have named her Mindi.
We were a bit concerned about Mindi by mid-afternoon after we brought her in. She hadn’t passed any poop and wasn’t drinking nearly enough but she wasn’t dehydrated. She did seem a bit uncomfortable. Her temperature was normal but her respiration was high. We gave her some electrolytes and Ulcergard. She looked totally exhausted and finally laid down and took a late afternoon nap. When she woke up she looked better which made me feel better. She finally went poop which made us all feel better.
After her nap, she got a good grooming. I wanted to give her a bath but she’s in quarantine for a couple of weeks. Her skin is pretty unhealthy but this will improve. She obviously hasn’t been getting good nutrition. The vet will be out in the morning and I’ll update when I can.
We are requesting donations to help to address Mindi’s initial needs: an examination, bloodwork, fecal testing, dental, quality hay, etc. She also needs monthly sponsors for her ongoing care. Contributions may be made here on our website, or on our Facebook fundraiser for Mindi, just click the buttons below.
Please keep Mindi in your prayers, and thank you in advance for enabling us to grant yet another precious soul a second chance at life.
Sincerely,
Theresa
‘Til We Meet Again
It is with a heavy heart to inform you, that Mila, the blind cat that Shadow found in one of our paddocks just a few weeks ago, went to Rainbow Bridge on May 27th. At first we believed Mila to be one of the two feral cats that live under the storage building who we feed nightly, but she was not. We have no idea where she came from or how she found her way to one of our paddocks which is farthest from the road. We do know that she was very lucky to have survived. I can’t imagine being a blind little cat, all alone, not knowing where her next meal would come from, where to find water, or if her next few steps would put her in danger of becoming a predator’s meal.
Mila’s initial visit to the vet revealed that she was approximately five years old and weighed just five pounds. She was visually impaired (only able to see shadows) likely due to some sort of trauma. Mila’s fecal and blood tests for other potential issues were done, her little ears were cleaned and she was treated for fleas and other parasites. She had a good size hernia, but, thankfully, it was not painful. As per our vet’s recommendation, she was not microchipped at this time, as he wanted to wait until she was a bit stronger. She did, however, get her vaccinations.
Mila’s blood test results came back the following day with elevated numbers. Since her kidneys and liver were of concern, additional tests were performed. After Mila was started on an antibiotic, she became a bit more active, she ate and drank well, and she became quite talkative. She would follow me wherever I went, but I had to be careful not to stop abruptly as she would run into me. She was a real trooper though – she’d run into walls many times but she soon learned to navigate her way around.
When we took Mila back to the vet for additional tests, we learned that her kidney and liver values had remained elevated and her cognitive impairment was getting worse. In her final days, when she tried to navigate her room she would walk into a wall and stop and drop and that’s where she’d stay for quite a while. During her first few days with us, she’d respond to our voices or a noise, but in her last days, she would not. Her quality of life was not getting better – it was getting worse.
Until we meet again, Mila. You will forever remain in our hearts.
Theresa
Is it Too Late to Help Them?
Hey Everyone, Magic here!
I had a talk with Mommy Theresa this morning and she is really concerned that we will not meet the deadline for our Big Fundraiser. We must raise $2148 before midnight on May 25th so if you would like to help us meet our goal, you may donate here on our website or via our Facebook fundraiser. Please note that it is for the Match Game. Thank you!
All donations will be doubled, so that is a very good thing! If you are unable to donate at this time, that is okay….we truly understand, but you can still help by sharing this with your family and friends. Thank you!
Love,
Magic