Let’s start with the news that Maggie is okay. But boy, did she have us worried!
Last Friday evening, we noticed that Maggie simply wasn’t quite herself. Taking into consideration the amount of manure in her paddock, coupled with her demeanor, we felt that she may have been colicking, so we called a vet to come out. Upon arrival, the vet assessed her, tubed and oiled her and ran fluids. Once a rectal examination was done, the vet removed a good amount of healthy-looking manure and after running five more liters of fluids, she felt that things were looking up for Maggie. We were advised, however, that should Maggie take a turn for the worse, it would be in her best interest to admit her to the hospital. We finished running the fluids and took Maggie out of her stall for a little walk, but after she started to paw at the ground, we felt strongly that she still had an issue and it was imperative that she be immediately transported to the hospital, despite the horrific weather and torrential rains that we were experiencing at the time.
Once at the hospital, an ultrasound and tests were done. We were advised that Maggie might need surgery – there was an issue in the small intestine.
They ran blood tests every few hours, gave her fluids, and managed any discomfort in hopes the issue would resolve without surgery. If Margarita did not improve or if her condition worsened, she would go into surgery. It was time to pray!
On Saturday morning, the vet called with the good news that Margarita remained stable throughout the night, and they believed the issue had resolved. Whew! They started a slow refeeding protocol planned to keep her another day or two to ensure that she could eat, process the food and pass manure without issue. Surgery still had not been excluded, so she wasn’t completely out of the woods.
We were prepared to do whatever was in Maggie’s best interest, in accordance with the vet’s recommendations.
Other than this episode, Maggie has been doing great since we brought her in. She has gained 300 lbs., her coat is shiny and her eyes are bright. She has free roam in grassy paddocks and access to shelter 24/7. Grazing and walking is a natural thing for horses – it helps keep the gut happy. Maggie is a sweet and happy mare who shares a paddock with her best friend, Gabe, who missed her so very much.
Fortunately, Gabe got his friend back yesterday. We are so very grateful for answered prayers!
Sincerely,
Theresa
A Board for the Horses
The rescue (17.5 acres) has no-climb fencing around its perimeter with top boards and electrical tape. As boards have a tendency to expand during the summer season, they quickly become stressed and many, unfortunately, break, which creates a very hazardous environment for our ‘Velvet Nosers.’
A number of paddocks, as well as the arena, have three-board fencing with an average of five boards in each that are in need of replacement. This presents a bit of a challenge at this time due to the increased price of boards.
This will help ensure the overall safety and well-being of each and every member of our beloved little herd, for which they, and we, will be forever grateful.
If you are in a position to help with this need, please click on the ‘Donate’ button below where there are many options in which to forward your contribution. Please be assured that all donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small!
Thank you, all, for your love and support.
Sincerely,
Theresa
The Little Mare with the Flaxen Mane
I woke up thinking about her and she’s been on my mind all day. Hopefully, she will be in my dreams tonight.
June 14th, 2013. Betsy Rose arrived skin on bones with a Body Condition Score of 0.5 (Henneke Scale 1 to 9). The odds for her survival were next to none. When a body is deprived of nutrition, it feeds off its own fat, muscle, and then organs. It shuts down. This is where Betsy Rose was when she arrived. From the moment I saw her, there was an overwhelming connection and I sensed a fierce determination in her to overcome. I promised her that we would do everything we could to make all of her tomorrows everything her past should have been. I believed that if we could stabilize her, enable her body to be able to ingest and digest food through a proper refeeding program and give her body time to heal and grow strong, that she could overcome. I knew her rehabilitation would be absolutely demanding and intense but I also knew she deserved a chance. Her recovery and survival were nothing short of a miracle.
Throughout her incredible journey to overcome all odds, she taught us perseverance, courage, compassion, patience, wisdom, and to never give up. She taught us to believe. We were blessed to have her in our life. Sadly, we had to let her go to Rainbow Bridge on December 22nd, 2017, due to a condition that prevented her from being able to swallow. If one cannot swallow, they are unable to live, and there was nothing more that could be done.
Betsy Rose had an incredibly strong life force about her that naturally captivated countless hearts from around the world. She motivated many people to overcome various types of obstacles. There is no way to measure the love this little mare generated amongst people far and wide. She will always be in our hearts and she will never be forgotten. Her spirit and her legacy live on through our work and through others that she inspired. We will forever be indebted to this little mare with the flaxen mane that taught us to believe.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Feet & Feed!
It is so hard to believe that summer is fast approaching, which of course, brings yet another round of hooficures. Almost all members of our beloved little herd of 30 are due for a hooficure. Farrier visits have been scheduled beginning yesterday, June 9th, and will be ongoing until next Friday, June 16th, in hope that each of our ‘Velvet Nosers’ will have ‘Happy Feet’ by the very first day of summer.
While donations toward basic needs such as farrier care and hay may seem trivial to many, they are vitally important to the overall health and well-being of our equines. Please be assured that each and every dollar designated for these needs brings us great relief and an inordinate amount of gratitude.
The average cost per hooficure is $45. If you would like to sponsor or donate any amount toward a hooficure, you may forward your contribution simply by clicking on the ‘DONATE’ button below. All donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small.
Thank you, all, for your love & support!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Let’s Fill Up the Hay Trailer!
The weekend also means that it is time for yet another hay run. Although we do have grass, we must still continue to feed hay to our ‘Velvet Nosers’ in order to keep our grassy areas from turning into sand paddocks.
We estimate this week’s purchase will be approximately $1,000, so if you would like to contribute toward this need, both horses and humans alike would be forever grateful. Just click on the donate button included on this post. All donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever to small.
A Wonderful Visit
We had a fun time introducing some of the ladies from the GFWC Williston Woman’s Club to our beloved herd last weekend. Waylon tried to monopolize the time – he just adores attention and JoJo, Jazzy, and CaryLou, thankfully, behaved! Everyone had an absolutely wonderful time!
Beauty’s Haven is currently in the lead in Radiant’s Charity of the Month Contest thanks to the dedication of our amazing village of supporters. Please remember to VOTE DAILY by CLICKING HERE in order to assist us in winning the grand prize of $1000 which will truly be a godsend to our beloved little herd! Please note that only one vote may be submitted per every twenty-four hour period.
We will also be reviving our ‘Strive for Five’ program in honor of our beloved Betsy Rose, so please stay tuned for further information.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Let’s Win This!
Radiant’s Charity of the Month program donates $1,000 each month to a charity receiving the most votes for a given month. This Charity of the Month contest is brought to you by Radiant Credit Union and Our Town Magazines.
It is FREE and really quite simple. All you have to do is click on the VOTE button below to cast your vote. Please note that you can only vote once per every 24 hour period. So, let the contest begin!
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Please Vote Today, May 30th!
Today, May 30th, is #GivingTuesday at MyGivingCircle – a movement to encourage generosity and giving. They are giving away an extra $3,000 to the six charities that get the most NEW votes today. MyGivingCircle will give $500 each to the two USA or Canadian charities with the most new votes today and with your help, it can be Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc.
Please help Beauty’s Haven win a grant from MyGivingCircle. It costs nothing to vote once per week and if you donate, you can vote as often as you wish. MyGivingCircle will add one vote for every $1 in a one-time donation and more if you commit to a monthly recurring donation. To receive a grant, a charity must receive a minimum of 2,000 votes.
The current grants round will end on June 30th and the top 20 charities with the most votes will receive a share of $500,000, which is awarded annually.
We are very confident that our wonderful little village of supporters can do this, so just click on the button below and cast your vote and please share!
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Theresa
In Honor of Momma Sue on Mother’s Day
On Mother’s Day 2023 we would like to honor Momma Sue, one of our incredibly amazing equine mothers who arrived at Beauty’s Haven 15 years ago with a newborn baby by her side. That baby is our beloved Aaleyah Belle, who, despite her challenges, never gave up and represents one of the many miracles that we have witnessed at Beauty’s Haven since our inception in 2006. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Momma Sue and Aaleyah Belle, please click on the image above where you can view a video as well as read a story about their remarkable journey, a journey which begins just hours following Aaleyah’s birth.
In celebration of Momma Sue, we believe that the most meaningful way in which to honor your mother or anyone in your life who has shown exceptional love and kindness, would be to make a gift in their honor to a rescue organization who represents the voice of those who are unable to speak for themselves. Should you select Beauty’s Haven, not only would we be forever grateful, but your gift will enable us to continue our mission of helping horses like Momma Sue and Aaleyah Belle, as well as other countless sentient beings in need.
Should you decide that making a donation in honor of your mother or other special person in your life is something you would like to do, please click on the ‘DONATE’ button below where you will find numerous options in which to forward your contribution. Please make certain to note the name of the person(s) who you would like to honor on their special day, or you could simply send an email to bhfers@gmail.com.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Mother’s Day and thank you, all, so very much, for your love and support.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Maggie Gave us Quite a Scare!
Let’s start with the news that Maggie is okay. But boy, did she have us worried!
Last Friday evening, we noticed that Maggie simply wasn’t quite herself. Taking into consideration the amount of manure in her paddock, coupled with her demeanor, we felt that she may have been colicking, so we called a vet to come out. Upon arrival, the vet assessed her, tubed and oiled her and ran fluids. Once a rectal examination was done, the vet removed a good amount of healthy-looking manure and after running five more liters of fluids, she felt that things were looking up for Maggie. We were advised, however, that should Maggie take a turn for the worse, it would be in her best interest to admit her to the hospital. We finished running the fluids and took Maggie out of her stall for a little walk, but after she started to paw at the ground, we felt strongly that she still had an issue and it was imperative that she be immediately transported to the hospital, despite the horrific weather and torrential rains that we were experiencing at the time.
They ran blood tests every few hours, gave her fluids, and managed any discomfort in hopes the issue would resolve without surgery. If Margarita did not improve or if her condition worsened, she would go into surgery. It was time to pray!
On Saturday morning, the vet called with the good news that Margarita remained stable throughout the night, and they believed the issue had resolved. Whew! They started a slow refeeding protocol planned to keep her another day or two to ensure that she could eat, process the food and pass manure without issue. Surgery still had not been excluded, so she wasn’t completely out of the woods.
Other than this episode, Maggie has been doing great since we brought her in. She has gained 300 lbs., her coat is shiny and her eyes are bright. She has free roam in grassy paddocks and access to shelter 24/7. Grazing and walking is a natural thing for horses – it helps keep the gut happy. Maggie is a sweet and happy mare who shares a paddock with her best friend, Gabe, who missed her so very much.
Fortunately, Gabe got his friend back yesterday. We are so very grateful for answered prayers!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Walker & Waylen Improving, Jo Needs Prayers
Walker and Waylen did great for their eye exams last week. Walker has some old scarring in his left eye but, thankfully it doesn’t bother him. Both of these very sweet boys have gained weight and are looking good!
Jo, however, could use some good thoughts and prayers today. Her dementia was on full display this morning. She has been given medication and is being hosed down. Her best friend of thirty-plus years, Dancer, is never far away. I’ve spoken to the vet and I’ve done everything I could. If Jo takes a turn for the worse, the vet will be called out. Jo, presently, is swallowing, so we’re on the right track.
Jo’s Symptoms: Dazed, aimless wandering when she did move, standing looking lost, confusion, staggering, withdrawn, not swallowing, unable to pull her tongue back into her mouth, a moment of being totally startled as if she’d just come out of a period of “nothingness.”
Jo’s Treatment: Banamine, craniosacral massage – bending the neck to get release, using what I call a ‘thumper’ adjusting tool on her and observation time.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Walker & Waylen Update, Bonus-Match Game!
Walker and Waylen got to spend some time around the barn today in order to get acclimated before Dr. Mangan’s visit to examine their eyes. Walker’s favorite spot is right outside the feed room door. These very sweet boys are feeling so much better. They have gained weight and are much more animated each and every day. Please enjoy the short video of my little ‘discussion’ with Walker, a ‘very good boy.’
Match Game!
Lastly, just when we had given up all hope in regard to our farrier fundraiser, a dear friend and supporter has come forth and has offered to match all donations up to $200! If you would like to participate, just click on the ‘DONATE’ button below where you can contribute in a variety of ways. All donations are so greatly appreciated by horses and humans alike and no amount is ever too small! If forwarding your donation via PayPal, please note that your contribution is for ‘Happy Feet.’
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Theresa