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All Hands on Deck as Pigeon Fever Descends

I didn’t want to let another week end without sending out an update. To say we’ve been extremely busy would be an understatement. As some of you know, Valley Girl got sick about a month ago. It started with edema under her tummy. She was examined by the vet and blood tests were done. Over the next couple of days without improvement, the vet came back and did an ultrasound. A culture was also done and, unfortunately, the results were positive for dreaded Pigeon Fever. Valley Girl had already been separated from other horses and the barn was placed in lockdown. Valley has had a few abscesses rupture from her tummy to her chest. She had another, hopefully the last, to open yesterday.

Each horse is inspected from head to toe daily, sores are treated, SWAT and fly spray are applied, and fly masks are changed.

A couple of weeks ago, we found swelling on Addi’s chest that was suspect, so we put her in quarantine. The vet examined her and performed blood tests and a culture. Most recently, Mo also had some chest swelling so the vet came again to examine him, do a culture and run blood tests. Cultures for both Addi and Mo came back negative, but, out of an abundance of caution, we continue to treat them as a worst case scenario. Since then, the vet has lanced the swelling on Addi’s chest in order to drain and collect the discharge, but there is still some swelling. Mo had one open under his tummy on Friday and although I collected the discharge, he continues to experience some swelling.

Pigeon Fever is transmitted mostly by flies carrying the bacteria when they land on a horse that has open sores or wounds. It is, thankfully, not transmitted nose to nose like strangles. We don’t know where it originated but we are located in an agricultural community and have farms all around us with cows, horses, goats, etc. and the flies are absolutely horrible this year. It is possible that it was already in the ground, but we’ve been here almost twenty years and never before have had this issue.

Bio-security is real and it takes time and resources, all day, every day. Volunteers have been very good about following protocols put in place. It’s been quite an expensive, and exhausting, endeavor with no end yet in sight.

We’ve invested quite a bit into bleach, exam gloves, fly spray, SWAT, etc. If anyone would like to help, we would greatly appreciate it. Donations are tax deductible and no amount is ever too small. We don’t know how much the veterinary bill will be, but we will share it once it is received.

A few of our needs can be found on our Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/363QQBR2KM14O

Thank you and have a safe and blessed weekend.

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A Very Special Visit!

We had a very special visit yesterday from Dr. Christopher Burnham, D.C., accompanied by a great group of students learning about chiropractic on the horse. Chiropractic adjustments can help restore and correct spinal alignment while decreasing muscle tension, leading to increased flexibility and range of motion, thereby, helping to relieve pain and discomfort. And we most certainly, witnessed that today!

It is so very rewarding to see the impact chiropractic has on the horses.

Mishka, Jo, Peaches, Valley Girl, Dancer, and Danni all greatly benefitted, but we saw a tremendous improvement with Mishka! After his treatment, it was so good to see him grazing and moving about much better. The look that came over Mishka during, and after, his treatment was priceless! We truly appreciate Dr. Burnham and the entire group for taking the time to come out today. Dr. Burnham may be contacted through his Facebook page or via his website. He is located in the Ocala area and I learned that he also works on Magnum, a horse that Dr. Bess Darrow adopted from us a few years ago!

We hope to see Dr. Burnham again in the near future. We can’t thank him enough for the relief he brought to many here today. And I do believe that Valley Girl has a new best friend in Dr. Burnham.

Many thanks to our volunteers who came out too – our Saturday crew today was Tara, Pam, TJ, Melissa, and Yessaira. We appreciate them all!

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And Then There Were FOUR!

Beau is just the cutest boy! Not just because he’s an Arabian, but because he just is! Upon his arrival at Beauty’s Haven, Beau had a Nasal discharge and a cough which did get better over time. He was in QT for at least three weeks and then we moved him to the other side of the property away from the lime rock road which blows dust throughout the paddocks. While in his new paddock, his cough and nasal discharge continued to improve. He never had a temperature and he has always had a good appetite. Out of an abundance of caution, however, we had him scoped and he is now, thankfully, clean! As soon as we figure out where to put him, he will be sharing a paddock with other horses for the time being.

On the last Sunday in March, we thought we would be needing an ark due to the extremely heavy rains, but thankfully, we did successfully weather the storm! March truly did “Go Out like a Lion!”

Then on April Fools Day, Amira seemed to enjoy the joke that she played on us! The prior evening, we had gone to bed with the knowledge that there were only three horses in one of the paddocks. The next morning, however, we discovered that there were now, four! Amira had walked through the electric tape during the night, which thankfully, was turned off, to join her friends. And then there were four!

Lastly, CaryLou and Jazzy, together with JoJo, continue to bring us so much joy and laughter as they are always up to some type of shenanigans especially when it involves a golf cart!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

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On The Farm: A Pictorial Overview

A few pictures from last week – everyday has been very busy. The weather has been a bit better and we’re thankfully, starting to see the paddocks turn green! This week we’re getting ready for the trail ride on Saturday.

Pictured in Row One

(L to R) Valley Girl seems appreciative of having been relocated to a paddock where she has hay. Valley Girl, Jo, and Dancer are all in their 30’s and get multiple meals a day along with hay that’s available 24/7.

Kali and Flint were moved down to a paddock with Amira and Valley Girl was moved into the main paddock with Jo and Dancer. Since Amira cannot have hay due to her history of choke and her pasture mate, Valley Girl, was losing weight, we felt that it was in the girls’ best interest to separate them. These horses all get fed at least four times a day and they are on grass 24/7.

Mishka and Willow just enjoying one another’s company while hanging out beneath the tree.

Pictured in Row Two

(L to R) Beau getting a hooficure on his front feet only – he was a bit unsure and uncomfortable. He still has mental cobwebs that need to be cleared out. I feel so badly for any horse that has been mistreated. He wants to trust but it’s just going to take some time, consistency, and TLC. He’s pretty vocal – he lets us know when it’s meal time or if he’s out of hay. He still has a cough but his nasal discharge has cleared. If the cough is no better in another week, we will have the vet back out to scope him.

Magic taking a rest after a rather chilly night.

Peaches is still doing ok. She’s twenty-five years old now and since she has very few teeth remaining, she cannot have hay. She, too, is fed multiple times a day.

Pictured in Row Three

(L to R) Frodo gets his hooficures with the assistance of the sling. He took an indirect lightening strike a few years ago which caused him some permanent issues. His hoofs grow at least an inch every two weeks!

Danni and Tobias are both very sweet. Danni loves to give kisses and Tobias is happy with every bit of attention he receives.

Bouie and Frodo are both special needs boys. Bouie has metabolic issues and is prone to founder. We are very careful with their diets. They live around the barn where they have access to their stalls throughout the day.

We hope you enjoyed your little tour of a day at the farm!

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Around the Farm at Beauty’s Haven

We caught another kitten yesterday, from the feral colony that stays around our storage buildings. She is about seven months old. A growth was sadly discovered under her tongue so she was scheduled for surgery today in order to have it removed. She is now back home after doing just fine during the course of her surgery, spay, examination and vaccine administration, and she will be ready to rejoin her friends in a couple of days. If anyone would like to assist with the veterinary expenses ($452) of this precious little kitten, please click on the ‘DONATE’ button below.

On Sunday, I took twenty minutes from my very busy schedule for some much needed ‘me’ time! It was so wonderful to be back in the saddle, riding past Mo, Walker, Aaleyah Belle, Dancer, Jo, and Danni who were all out and about enjoying the beautiful weather.

Sweet Flint is always smiling! He is just a ‘makes you feel good’ kind of guy! Flint is in charge of this month’s hooficure fundraiser so please assist him in raising the necessary funds, so all his friends here at Beauty’s Haven will have ‘Happy Feet.’ The average cost per hooficure is $45, so if you are in a position to help, please click on the ‘DONATE’ button below.

Lastly, for your enjoyment, a video of CaryLou, who is always in the ‘ready, set, go’ mode,’ which can be viewed by clicking on the image above. At the start of the video, notice how CaryLou stops for a few seconds and stares right into the lens of the camera to make certain that all eyes are upon him! CaryLou has always been and will forever be, such a hoot!

Thank you, all, for your continued love and support!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Backbreaking Day Brightened by Resident “Super Model”

Yesterday was truly a backbreaking day to say the least! As the tractor is no longer functioning and is in need of major repairs, Bob and I had to manually unload big bales of hay which was not only tiresome, but took away many valuable hours from caring for our herd. The tractor, like the golf carts, is one of our most important tools here at the rescue, as we use it to haul hay, pull fence posts, together with many other tasks. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to address erosion issues until it is repaired.

Since the cost of repairing this essential piece of equipment is quite expensive at $3,500, any help with this need would not only be very much appreciated, but would greatly reduce our work load here at the farm.

If you are in a position to assist with this need, please CLICK HERE TO DONATE. If you are unable to contribute at this time, we truly understand.

The bright spot in all this? Our beautiful and sweet Addi, strutting around the farm and showing us how all the “Pretty Girls Walk.” See video below. She is most certainly Beauty’s Haven’s resident super model!

Thank you, all, for your love and support and please stay safe and warm!

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Hooves, Hay & a Wonderful Day

On Friday, Stephanie, one of our awesome farriers, came out to trim Peaches, Danni, Magic, and Jazzy. Of course, CaryLou made sure to oversee Jazzy’s hooficure – he’s a hoot! Laura, another of our amazing farriers, came on Sunday afternoon to give Frodo and Bouie their hooficures. As several other members of our herd are scheduled for farrier care this week, we would be forever grateful to anyone who wishes to help sponsor ‘Happy Feet’ for their favorite Beauty’s Haven horse, mule or donkey.

We were blessed on Saturday, to welcome members from the GFWC Williston Woman’s Club who visited the farm to meet the horses, together with new volunteers, Tara and Melissa and her husband, TJ. Pam, another of our wonderful volunteers, was also here as she is on every Saturday. We were also so very blessed to receive a most generous donation from the WWC.

On Sunday morning, we awoke to one of the worst sudden storms we’ve had in quite a while – it almost seemed like a microburst. We are grateful that Cindy and Kristi came out to help with the morning chores, once the rains temporarily stopped. Temperatures continued to plummet throughout the day and night on Sunday bringing extremely cold weather, so blankets will likely stay on for the next couple of days. Thankfully, we do have a blanket for each and every member of our little herd. The porch on the storage building where the feral cats visit is also all set up with heat lamps, which I am certain they truly appreciate. As the terrible rains continued throughout Tuesday, while it was still light, we took Mishka and Willow up to a paddock on higher ground as the big guy’s feet would not do well on wet ground for very long.

Flint continues to do very well and he appears to have a renewed sense of purpose as he carries himself with greater confidence. His eyes are brighter and he’s holding his head higher. He is such a precious and very kind soul. He truly enjoyed meeting our visitors on Saturday and he was literally basking in all the love and attention he received! We are deeply grateful for the support he has received. He still has a ways to go, but his future is looking more promising!

Lastly, during the winter months, we go through many tons of hay on a weekly basis so if anyone would like to contribute to this most important need, it would be so greatly appreciated. Just click on the ‘Donate’ button below.

Thank you, all, for your love and support and please stay safe and warm!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Facing Another Hurricane with Amira in Distress

Here we go, again.

We are currently in the midst of battening down the hatches once again for Hurricane Milton, and repairing the fences damaged by Hurricane Helene. Bob made a run to the feed store this morning, made possible by the most thoughtful generosity of our wonderful little village of supporters, so, thankfully, we now have enough hay to last until Friday. We still have many additional hurricane related needs – we do need to get grain and forage as well as fill up the truck and gas cans now that we have found a source for gas.

Amira, however, could use some good thoughts and prayers. She had issues at breakfast this morning and was treated for choke. Although she seemed somewhat better following a bit of stall rest, I felt it would be in her best interest to call the vet who is en route to the farm as we speak.

If you would like to contribute to our hurricane fundraiser which includes Amira’s emergency vet visit, you may do so by clicking on the “Donate” button below.

Thank you, all, for your love and support!

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Sassy and Helene

Sassy just had to live up to her name today – she never has a care in the world (as it should be)! These three snuck out of their paddock gate as Sandy was trying to get in to clean up. Lucy was a good girl and stayed behind. Please click on the image above to see a video of our little “wild things!”

Helene is way too close for comfort. The winds are getting worse with gusts up to 140 miles per hour and the rain bands are intermittent.

Everyone is tucked in, ID bands are on and hay has been distributed under the shelters and to the horses in the barn. Poor Peaches wanted to join me in the feed room so I made her a snack and will check on the remainder of our herd in the paddocks as soon as there is a break in the band. We have also lost power so we are truly very thankful for our generators.

A big thank you to our wonderful volunteers, Pam, Jillian, Bruce, and Lori for helping Bob and I prepare for the hurricane and for making certain that each horse is wearing their break away halter and ID collar. All members of our little herd are microchipped as well.

We are anxiously awaiting for this storm to pass. Sending prayers to everyone who in the path of the Hurricane Helene.

Match Game Update

There is still $375 remaining in the Match Game. Preparing for the hurricane involved a number of additional expenses – making yet another hay run, picking up additional grain as well as topping off the gas cans and vehicles. Thankfully the propane tank was recently filled. All donations to assist with these needs will not only be appreciated but will automatically be doubled – $1 becomes $2, $5 becomes $10 and so on, and no amount is ever too small. So please help if you can by clicking on the ‘Donate’ button below.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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A Runaway Horse!

We have had yet another busy week welcoming new visitors as well as a new volunteer! And, of course, there is never a dull moment here at Beauty’s Haven! Last Monday, Cracker decided to go on a field trip! He, somehow, managed to get the driveway gate open and off he went! Fortunately, someone driving down the street stopped to tell us that they had just spotted a runaway horse! Thankfully, Cracker had only galloped across the street and up a neighbor’s driveway! As soon as Kathy and I corralled him, the sky opened up and it absolutely poured! We walked him back to the farm, much to his chagrin, and immediately after the rain stopped, Cracker happily, went off grazing with his friends. And then of course, watching the antics of the ‘Three Amigos,’ JoJo, Jazzy and CaryLou, is a constant source of entertainment. There is a saying that ‘Laughter is the best medicine,’ and with these three boys, we sure do have our fair share!

Our feline residents are thankfully, doing well. Oreo is still with us but at the age of eighteen, he prefers to remain primarily, in the workshop now – he will not go outside for anything. Dr. Kristi was out last week to do exams and vaccinations on some of the dogs and cats and I must admit, Oreo was her very best patient!

Pearle, one of our TNR cats also is fine despite her very sad start in life. She was just a four- month-old kitten when we trapped her, and when we took her to the vet to get spayed, we sadly discovered, albeit too late, that she was pregnant with five kittens which she tragically lost. It took her awhile to recover from losing her babies and getting spayed but she is now ready for her very own loving, forever home which she so truly deserves.

And Allie, our sweet Orange Marmalade Tabby, faithfully performs her duty as our resident ‘Watch Cat’ as she watches over her charges in the barn, namely Luigi and Warrior. By the end of the day, Allie is usually exhausted from her barn watching duties!

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