September 28th

Jenny and I gave the big guy a bath yesterday, although I think we ended up just as wet! Donovan is a magnificent horse.

The minis got some play time out of their paddock over the weekend.

Poor Jazzy. Duke was rubbing it in that he fits in the golf cart just fine.

Penny has seen the boys climb halfway into the golf cart a few times. So, what does she do? I think someone forgot to tell her that she’s not a miniature donkey like they are. That cute face really made me want to try to figure a way to get her in just to make her happy!

September 29th

Prayers for Betsy Rose please. The vet just cleared a choke.

September 30th

I open the workshop door to go into the house and almost trip over two little donkeys. Cute little Jazzy likes to put his nose up for kisses. JoJo is the serious one – always on guard duty.

Barbara helped us spoil Foxy a bit more last weekend.

Foxy loves scratches! Marie kept Foxy busy so I could get the golf cart out of the barn without her trying to hijack it.

Timmie has her own cooler to stand in front of but she likes Betsy Rose’s better. We have to shoo her away at times.

Frodo and Bouie have been best buds for years.

Of all places to want to nap. Right in the very middle of the barn aisleway. Foxy and her mom are looking for a forever home.

This is what the boys like to do at night. They rearrange the poop buckets and anything else they can find. Sometimes, they pretend they are a mini rock star band and that the buckets are their drums. And when they play their drums it makes Max howl. OMG never a dull day or night!

I wonder how long it will take Donovan to undo all we did to fix the erosion at his gate today. Well, he’s a great sand compactor.

It was a great day to get some things fixed up. Bob was happy to be back on the tractor.

It was a beautiful day but I spent much of it in the office trying to get caught up on some things.

It’s always a blessing to have unexpected help!! Thank you Angelo! JoJo, of course, has to be in the middle of everything!

October 1st

Sawyer needed an exam and treatment and full blood work by Dr. Julia Simonson today as he’s not been feeling well. Please keep him in your prayers.

Most of you know that Bob recently had a heart attack. It was about the same time the old computer started to fail which is also about the same time many adopted horses/donkeys started coming back. All of this combined has put a huge strain on resources – financially, physically, and mentally. It’s like a flood gate of issues opened up and it’s been a constant struggle ever since. Bob is doing better but needs cardiac rehab several days each week. I’ve given up 1 of my 2 days of needed PT each week because there is no time.

Donations are at almost a record low which may partly be due to me being offline. Now that we have a computer, updates will come in a timely fashion which I hope will help. There are ongoing routine needs, vet bills have been high, and the hay season is quickly approaching. We have fallen behind in our fundraising but we hope to get going again – we have a family of lovely handmade dolls that have been living with Betsy Rose that need homes, artwork, and much more that you will be seeing.

Bob and I are the primary 24/7/365 caregivers for the 40+ equine here. Bob can’t do what he used to do at this time and meet his cardiac rehab needs. He does stay busy doing what he can including applying for grants that may help us during this challenging time and for other needs. I can’t work outside all day, into the night, and accomplish the many things I need to do in the office too as efficiently as I did before his heart attack and the horses came back – I need a clone. We are blessed with awesome volunteers but we need more. Current volunteers have taken over some admin/office duties but a huge need is hands on help with daily chores, property maintenance, etc. If you can mow, clean stalls, scoop paddocks, clean waterers, etc. we need you! We also need volunteers with horse experience that can clean and treat feet.

We need help placing horses ASAP. We’ve had more equine that had been adopted out come back in the past couple of months than we have had over many year’s time, return. Ladybug came back temporarily for her adoptive mom to have surgery, but the weekend we thought she was going back, we got the news that they couldn’t take her back. I was informed today that Kiana needs to leave her adoptive home by the end of this month – we thought we had another home for her but it didn’t work. Handsome and Waylon are having respiratory issues and need to go north – the sooner the better. Donovan needs to find a home up north. JoJo and Jazzy, the donkey pair that makes everyone smile, are looking for a home. It’s hard to believe that not one single application has been received for them. Cute little Foxy and her mom, Timmie, are also looking for a home and we have many more that are ready. But we do have an adoption process – we don’t just let our horses/donkeys go. A process is in place to protect them – that’s what a responsible rescue organization does.

I could go on explaining how urgent our situation is but I need to use the energy and time to find solutions. We have a wonderful village of supporters and those of you that know me, know that I don’t like to ask for help. But please, I ask you to help in any way you can. Spread the word about us and the work we do and reach out to others – help our village grow in order to help get us through this challenging time. Please consider making a onetime donation or set up a monthly recurring donation of any amount. No amount is too small and little bits add up. Many horses have no sponsors for routine care, we need to get vet bills paid, supplies restocked, and we need grain and hay. As we update info about our horses available for adoption on our Facebook Adoption Page, please share it with others – we desperately need help placing horses. We need to get the number down ASAP.

I see “viral videos” and wonder – how do they do that? How does anyone get a video or photo to go viral? I don’t know how to use social media to do anything like that and don’t have the time to learn. But I have so many cute videos of Foxy, JoJo and Jazzy, and so many others. And photos – I have millions! I just don’t know how to use them to make others smile and to help get us more exposure which may bring us more much needed support and potentially help find homes for those that are ready. Can someone who has really succeeded in making something go viral please PM us to give us some guidance?

Someone recently told me it’s ok to not be okay as long as I’m not giving up. Well, we’ve worked too hard to get to where we are, the horses need us and this is where our passion is. We’re not giving up. I’m keeping the faith and believing that help from our village will come and we will get through this challenging time. Thank you all for your continued support.

Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization registered in the state of Florida (EIN: 20-4783950). We are not funded by Local, State, of Federal funds. We operate totally from donations from the public. Please consider making a one time or recurring donation to help the horses. No amount is too small and all donations very much appreciated. We truly appreciate your support – donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made various ways through our website bhfer.org or over the telephone. Donations can be made via PayPal to bhfer or via other methods through our website at www.bhfer.org.

Beauty’s Haven was awarded Verified status by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) in 2012. GFAS is the only globally recognized organization that provides standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries. A Guidestar Exchange Silver Participant and a GreatNonprofits Top Rated Non-Profit 2014 and 2015. Awarded November 2014 Equine Hero.