I apologize for being remiss in keeping everyone informed about the latest happenings at Beauty’s Haven, but as you know, we have been dealing with Pigeon Fever here at the rescue, which, unfortunately, has affected our donations significantly. The extra biosecurity measures and daily care required a great deal of time, making it difficult for me to stay active online. Thankfully, things are getting back to normal, but now, we have a lot of catching up to do. We are, thereby, reaching out to share some of our current needs, hoping for your support as we move forward. As of today, we are, therefore, launching a fundraiser with a goal of $5,000 which will help cover these pressing needs:
With the rainy season upon us, horses with thin soles, like Mishka, who carries two thousand pounds on his feet, need extra attention. It’s essential that Mishka has soft sand upon which to stand, but the rain has washed away much of this soft footing. To fix this, we plan to add fabric at the front and side of his shelter to help keep the sand in place. This is a big job which requires a tractor, but the tractor currently, needs repairs – a parking brake, hydraulic actuator seal, hood latch, 4-wheel drive shift lever and seat replacement. The repairs are estimated to be $1,800, and a regular maintenance will not be needed for another fifteen hours of run time, so that is, most fortunately, not an immediate expense.
As the seasons change, our fence boards expand and contract, oftentimes breaking. This creates a safety risk for our horses. We therefore, need to replace at least 20 fence boards and keep 5 spares on hand. The 1”x6”x16” pressure-treated boards cost about $19 each, and we’re hoping our wonderful supporters will sponsor a board (or part of one) to help us maintain a safe environment for our herd.
The Beauty’s Haven truck, essential for our daily work, needs to have its annual maintenance done in order to keep it running smoothly. We’ve received an estimate of $2,400 from the dealership to perform this work, as well as an additional estimate of $1,700, for the installation of five new tires with sensors. We plan to get the installation of the tires and sensors completed at Sam’s Club at a lower cost.
In preparation for hurricane season, we’ve had the generators serviced for $440. We also still have veterinary bills ($3,000+), farrier expenses, hay, fuel, as well as many additional ongoing needs.
While these needs might not be as exciting as rescuing a horse, they are crucial in ensuring our mission of rescuing and rehabilitating horses in need, so if you are in a position to donate, please click on the ‘Donate’ button below. If you’re unable to help financially at this time, we completely understand, but you can still assist by sharing our needs amongst family, friends and social media.
Special Thanks!
We were blessed to receive a $1,000 donation from the Pine Ridge Equestrian Association, which helped cover our most recent hay run. We are so deeply grateful for their generosity! We have also received a most generous Match Game offer whereby, all donations up to $250 will be matched dollar for dollar.
Freedom at Last!
This is what freedom looks like! Valley Girl is back out with her friends and she is so very happy! I am happy to say, we are, at least for today, free of Pigeon Fever! It’s still in the surrounding area so we will continue to take precautions. But we are thrilled that Valley Girl is finally out and about once again. Please click on the image to view Valley Girl’s joyous return to freedom.
Mishka, Our Gentle Giant
In 2014, this majestic Percheron – truly a gentle giant – captured my heart during a chance drive past a kill buyer’s property. There he stood, huddled in the corner of a paddock by the road, his spirit visibly shattered. Drawn irresistibly to him, I saw beyond the unhealthy coat that masked his underweight frame: open sores marred his frail body, a heartbreaking testament to his suffering. He desperately needed help, and that’s our calling at Beauty’s Haven – to extend a lifeline to horses like him, pulling them from the brink and into a world of compassion and care.
We named him Mishka. He was vetted and his dental and feet needs were taken care of. We doctored his sores, tended to his feet, put him on a controlled diet, and showered him with love. Day by day he grew stronger, his spirit ignited, and he blossomed into a vibrant, loving horse that everyone simply adored.
I later discovered that Mishka was once owned by a renowned NBA star that once live in Florida, who undoubtedly never imagined his equine companion could fall into such dire straits. Regrettably, his story underscores the critical need to verify that anyone receiving your horse is fully dedicated to its lifelong well-being. Equally important, in my opinion, is ensuring that you, yourself, are prepared to offer a horse exemplary care throughout its entire life before ever acquiring one. It’s the sole reliable guarantee against your beloved horse ending up in a horrible situation such as Mishka did.
We were truly blessed to share so many precious years with this gentle giant, whose kind spirit touched us all. Though he battled chronic foot problems throughout his time with us, our devoted care team poured everything we had into easing his discomfort.
As the years took their toll and his struggles intensified, our hearts ached at the thought of losing him – but our love ran deeper still, guiding us to grant him the peace he deserved. Now, free from all pain, he runs alongside our cherished Beauty’s Haven herd that awaits us at Rainbow Bridge. Run free, beautiful boy. You shall forever remain in our hearts.
Run Free, Beautiful Girl
Please keep Dancer in your prayers as she transitions to Rainbow Bridge. She rotated and sunk in her front foot and sadly, there was nothing more that we could do.
Run free, beautiful girl. You shall forever remain in our hearts.
Godspeed, Beautiful Boy
Our beloved Mishka has sadly transitioned to Rainbow Bridge. We are all completely devastated at this time and do need time to grieve. A more detailed post will be forthcoming. Thank you all for your understanding.
Bemer Time!
Family Fun
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer weekend!
Mishka’s Lucky Week!
On Wednesday, Mishka was really good for his hooficure with Tom, one of our farriers, who is so very patient, kind, forgiving and truly wonderful with him. Dr. Julia Simonson was also here in order to discuss and assess Mishka’s feed plan and supplements so as to make some adjustments to his protocol.
On Thursday, Dr. Chris Burnham came out to do some bodywork on Mishka which went really well. Mishka melted with each adjustment! That evening, beneath the most beautiful rainbow, Mishka was all over the place! It’s so nice to see him feeling better while experiencing the joy of just being a horse!
I also discovered another little bird in one of the small waterers this week. We most fortunately, saved him in the nick of time, unlike the baby bird we found last week, who, sadly, did not survive. This little bird, who was a bit larger, fell out of his nest by Mishka’s shelter. We dried him off, warmed him up and returned him to the shelter where he sat in the warm sunshine. When we checked on him about forty-five minutes later, he was gone, so hopefully, he is safely back with his beloved Momma Bird.
We are so very grateful for the shade. When we purchased this property several years ago, there were only five trees by the main road. Over time, we planted over a dozen more, which are all flourishing!
$1000 Match Game & Summer Fundraiser Update!
A dear friend and supporter has recently come forth to offer a Match Game whereby all donations up to $1000 will be matched dollar for dollar. Once the Match has been met, our Summer Fundraiser goal of $5000 will be complete! This is a wonderful opportunity in which to not only double your contribution, but to make an incredible difference in the life of each and every member of our beloved little herd.
The Tractor & Mishka’s Paddock – Covered!
With the rainy season upon us, horses with thin soles, like Mishka (who carries 2,000 lbs. on his feet), need extra attention. It’s essential that he has soft sand upon which to stand, but the rain has washed away much of this footing material. We plan to fix this issue by adding an additional load of sand ($250) which will be kept in place by adding fabric at the front and side of his shelter. This is a big job that requires a tractor, but the tractor needs repairs – a parking brake, hydraulic actuator seal, hood latch, 4-wheel drive shift lever, and seat replacement. The estimated repairs are $1,800, but we will not have to schedule the next regular maintenance check until we have utilized fifteen hours of run time.
Fence Boards Still Needed
As the seasons change, our fence boards expand and contract, oftentimes breaking. This creates a safety risk for our horses. We need to replace at least 20 fence boards and keep 5 spares on hand. The 1”x6”x16” pressure-treated boards cost about $19 each, and we’re hoping our wonderful supporters will help sponsor a board to assist us in maintaining a hazard free environment for our little herd. And, with the Match Game, each donation for one board, will automatically, translate into two!
Beauty’s Haven Truck
The BH truck, essential for our daily work, needs its annual maintenance to keep running smoothly. We’ve received an estimate of $2,400 from the dealership which does not include 5 new tires with sensors, which would add another $1,700. We plan to get the tires done at Sam’s Club for a lower cost.
Miscellaneous Expenses
In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, we’ve had the generators serviced for $440. We also still have veterinary bills ($3,000+), farrier and hay expenses, as well as additional ongoing needs.
If you’re able to participate in the Match Game, please click on the ‘Donate’ button below. If you’re unable to help financially, we completely understand, but you can still assist us by sharing our fundraiser amongst family and friends.
More than HALFWAY THERE!
We are more than halfway there in our Summer Fundraiser thanks to the generosity and love of our wonderful little village of supporters! As we still have a ways to go, we would be forever grateful for your assistance with any of the much needed items listed below.
The Tractor & Mishka’s Paddock – Covered!
With the rainy season upon us, horses with thin soles, like Mishka (who carries 2,000 lbs. on his feet), need extra attention. It’s essential that he has soft sand upon which to stand, but the rain has washed away much of this footing material. We plan to fix this issue by adding an additional load of sand ($250) which will be kept in place by adding fabric at the front and side of his shelter. This is a big job that requires a tractor, but the tractor needs repairs – a parking brake, hydraulic actuator seal, hood latch, 4-wheel drive shift lever, and seat replacement. The estimated repairs are $1,800, but we will not have to schedule the next regular maintenance check until we have utilized fifteen hours of run time.
Fence Boards Still Needed
As the seasons change, our fence boards expand and contract, oftentimes breaking. This creates a safety risk for our horses. We need to replace at least 20 fence boards and keep 5 spares on hand. The 1”x6”x16” pressure-treated boards cost about $19 each, and we’re hoping our wonderful supporters will help sponsor a board to assist us in maintaining a hazard free environment for our little herd. And, with the Match Game, each donation for one board, will automatically, translate into two!
Beauty’s Haven Truck
The BH truck, essential for our daily work, needs its annual maintenance to keep running smoothly. We’ve received an estimate of $2,400 from the dealership which does not include 5 new tires with sensors, which would add another $1,700. We plan to get the tires done at Sam’s Club for a lower cost.
Miscellaneous Expenses
In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season, we’ve had the generators serviced for $440. We also still have veterinary bills ($3,000+), farrier and hay expenses, as well as additional ongoing needs.
If you’re able to participate in the Match Game, please click on the ‘Donate’ button below. If you’re unable to help financially, we completely understand, but you can still assist us by sharing our fundraiser amongst family and friends.
Summertime Blues & Freedom at Last!
I apologize for being remiss in keeping everyone informed about the latest happenings at Beauty’s Haven, but as you know, we have been dealing with Pigeon Fever here at the rescue, which, unfortunately, has affected our donations significantly. The extra biosecurity measures and daily care required a great deal of time, making it difficult for me to stay active online. Thankfully, things are getting back to normal, but now, we have a lot of catching up to do. We are, thereby, reaching out to share some of our current needs, hoping for your support as we move forward. As of today, we are, therefore, launching a fundraiser with a goal of $5,000 which will help cover these pressing needs:
With the rainy season upon us, horses with thin soles, like Mishka, who carries two thousand pounds on his feet, need extra attention. It’s essential that Mishka has soft sand upon which to stand, but the rain has washed away much of this soft footing. To fix this, we plan to add fabric at the front and side of his shelter to help keep the sand in place. This is a big job which requires a tractor, but the tractor currently, needs repairs – a parking brake, hydraulic actuator seal, hood latch, 4-wheel drive shift lever and seat replacement. The repairs are estimated to be $1,800, and a regular maintenance will not be needed for another fifteen hours of run time, so that is, most fortunately, not an immediate expense.
As the seasons change, our fence boards expand and contract, oftentimes breaking. This creates a safety risk for our horses. We therefore, need to replace at least 20 fence boards and keep 5 spares on hand. The 1”x6”x16” pressure-treated boards cost about $19 each, and we’re hoping our wonderful supporters will sponsor a board (or part of one) to help us maintain a safe environment for our herd.
The Beauty’s Haven truck, essential for our daily work, needs to have its annual maintenance done in order to keep it running smoothly. We’ve received an estimate of $2,400 from the dealership to perform this work, as well as an additional estimate of $1,700, for the installation of five new tires with sensors. We plan to get the installation of the tires and sensors completed at Sam’s Club at a lower cost.
In preparation for hurricane season, we’ve had the generators serviced for $440. We also still have veterinary bills ($3,000+), farrier expenses, hay, fuel, as well as many additional ongoing needs.
While these needs might not be as exciting as rescuing a horse, they are crucial in ensuring our mission of rescuing and rehabilitating horses in need, so if you are in a position to donate, please click on the ‘Donate’ button below. If you’re unable to help financially at this time, we completely understand, but you can still assist by sharing our needs amongst family, friends and social media.
Special Thanks!
We were blessed to receive a $1,000 donation from the Pine Ridge Equestrian Association, which helped cover our most recent hay run. We are so deeply grateful for their generosity! We have also received a most generous Match Game offer whereby, all donations up to $250 will be matched dollar for dollar.
Freedom at Last!
This is what freedom looks like! Valley Girl is back out with her friends and she is so very happy! I am happy to say, we are, at least for today, free of Pigeon Fever! It’s still in the surrounding area so we will continue to take precautions. But we are thrilled that Valley Girl is finally out and about once again. Please click on the image to view Valley Girl’s joyous return to freedom.
Summer at the Farm
Summer – a time of fireflies twinkling in the early evening light.
Summer- a time to light sparklers and eat watermelon and let both drip down.
Summer – a time of homemade cookies and lemonade on the porch.
Summer has a magic all of its own!
As we navigate through the intense heat and torrential downpours of summer, we continue to count our blessings for our remarkable little herd, our wonderful volunteers and our truly loving supporters.
After several attempts to trap a sweet little cat for quite some time with no luck, we were blessed that somehow, she managed to catch herself one evening last week. She is small with beautiful eyes and markings. I named her Opal, and after transporting her to the vet to get spayed, she was then released within a few days. I believe she is the last feline here who needed to be fixed, although we did spot two kittens a couple of weeks ago who appeared to be just passing through. Opal is TNR Feline Sixteen.
One day last week, Jo didn’t come in with Dancer for her breakfast. We checked her vitals which were normal, but we decided, nevertheless, to give her some IV meds, which made her more comfortable, and she was, thankfully, soon back to normal after a few minutes. Jo does experience ‘dementia days,’ but this is the first episode she’s had in quite some time. We are truly grateful that she recovered so quickly.
The ‘Three Amigos’ constantly bring us so much joy each and every day with their silly shenanigans! They love their little excursions into a small paddock with lovely green grass. I release them from their dirt paddock once or twice weekly for a few minutes as they are all a little on the ‘porky’ side. Their paddock also appears to be quite conducive to growing melons to which Kathy and I can attest after discovering seven nice melons the other day, which were just ripe for picking and so very delicious!
Mishka recently enjoyed a cool shower and brief respite from the hot weather. He’s such a big love! Peaches, in the mean time, so loved showing off her new fly mask, gifted to her from her Auntie Gillian.
We are so very appreciative of our kind and wonderful supporters who continue to assist us in fulfilling our mission by supporting our needs here at the rescue – needs such as hay (fundraiser below), our farriers, our equine dentist, our veterinary expenses, as well as a myriad of additional necessities such as fly spray, fly masks, meds and supplements to name just a few. Click here to donate.
We are so truly blessed!