“Did you know temperatures are dipping down really super cold for the next few nights?
Did you know Mommy Theresa is sick with something called Covid and she’s really worried about us staying warm? She’s been in isolation now since Tuesday and is anxious to get out.
Did you know that if we have hay it will help us stay warm? It’s not too late for us to make a run to the hay store by tomorrow.
Could anyone help us raise $2,005 for ten bales of orchard hay, one ton of alfalfa, two big half pasture bales as well as some coastal hay?
And guess what? Two of my very special aunties have joined together and will match all donations up to $1,150, so not only will you be helping me and my fiends here at Beauty’s Haven, you will double your donation as well!
We don’t even have to fill up the whole hay storage trailer – if we just get it half full, it will last us until Monday.
So, please help if you can. All donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small!
Have a very Merry Christmas!”
Love,
Jazzy
I share this story each year at Christmastime, written by Reverend D. Griffith. Some know it as “Only for Love” and some call it “The Old One.” The ‘old ones’ continue to remain near and dear to my heart. Sadly, this past year we lost Peggy Sue and Venus. Others still with us, 25 years old and up, include Dancer, Jo, Komanchee, Ebony, Nadia, Ruby, and Valley Girl. Their wisdom amazes me and their appreciation knows no bounds. We are blessed for each minute that we are given with them.
*************
“The young couple had made their usual hurried, pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt the elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine which topped the hill behind the farm, and through the years had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside. The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, but they sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day’s end.
Crossly, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. “Why do you not at least dispose of “The Old One.” She is no longer of use to you. It’s been years since you’ve had foals from her. You should cut corners and save where you can. Why do you keep her anyway?” The old man looked down as his worn boot scuffed at the barn floor and his arm stole defensively about the Old One’s neck as he drew her to him and rubbed her gently behind the ears. He replied softly, “We keep her because of love. Only because of love.”
Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. So it was, that because of the leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the “Old One.”
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire’s fury.
By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife. They thanked those who had come to their aid, and the old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as he clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, “We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us, therefore, climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared.”
And so, he took her by the hand and helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his hand. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they looked up and gasped in amazement at the incredible beauty before them. Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this.
Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy as he pulled his wife forward. There, beneath the tree, was their Christmas gift. Bedded down about the “Old One” close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe. At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping daintily through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares pressed uneasily against the “Old One” as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of those she loved. Her body was brittle with years, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift- because of love. Only because of love.”
We brought Jo to Beauty’s Haven on the evening of October 20, 2019. Time was truly, of the essence, as we did not know how much longer she would have survived. At the time, we were unsure if Jo had hours, days, weeks, months, or hopefully, many years left on this earth, but we did know that she would get the very best of care in her sunset years.
Jo’s initial vetting and bloodwork were performed soon thereafter and revealed that her kidneys and liver were stressed and she was fighting infection. She had a heart murmur, severe muscle atrophy, and was at least 300 pounds underweight with a Body Condition Score of barely a 1. She had a poor coat, patches of rain rot, and she was treated for stomach ulcers.
During her first days at the rescue, Jo received a much-needed bath and spa treatment which she thoroughly enjoyed, and she even seemed to hold her head a bit higher afterward! Her sores were treated and her mane and tail were brushed.
Jo also received necessary farrier and dental care; Dr. Bess Darrow, our equine dentist, determined that many of Jo’s issues arose due to the condition of her teeth. Ulcers were discovered in Jo’s cheeks, gums, tongue, and soft palate due to sharp points.
One sharp tooth point put the palatine artery at significant risk of being cut which could have caused Jo to bleed out. There were large “ramps” and her front teeth were on a slant due to misalignment which physically obstructed the motion she needed to properly chew. Because Jo couldn’t chew, it decreased the ability of her digestive system to extract much needed nutrients from any food she did manage to get down. It also put her at risk for choke and colic. The day after Dr. Bess did Jo’s teeth, it felt wonderful knowing that she could finally use her mouth without the pain and discomfort that she had experienced for quite some time. Jo actually looked brighter and happier!
Jo, thankfully, overcame her most recent crisis, thanks to our amazing care team, coupled with the countless heartfelt prayers offered by our wonderful village of supporters. Jo is now able to graze, once again with Dancer, her very best friend, both experiencing the innate joy of ‘just being a horse.’
Jo’s wish this Christmas is for contributions toward her vet bill, coupled with her much needed supplement, Cosequin.
If anyone would like to contribute toward such, it would truly warm precious Jo’s heart! And, a very special ‘Auntie’ has offered to match all contributions up to $500 in order to help fulfill Jo’s Christmas wish! Just click on the ‘Donate’ button below and note your contribution to ‘Jo.’
Wishing you a Blessed Christmas.
Sincerely,
Theresa
As we reflect upon our blessings during this most wonderful time of the year, we thought that it would be most fitting to introduce each member of our beloved little herd, our precious band of “Velvet Nosers” to our many new friends and supporters in the forthcoming days.
As you read the many poignant stories about each of our precious equines, we hope that you will consider donating an item from their respective wish lists in order to make all of their Christmas dreams come true. And if you are unable to do so at this time, please know that we consider each and every one of you, a cherished member of the Beauty’s Haven Family as well.
Thank you all for your amazing generosity, love and support.
Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Annual Trail Ride for the Horses
Many thanks to those who came out to our trail ride this past Saturday. It was the one thing I’d been looking forward to since our last ride. We didn’t have a ride last year due to Covid. This year, it was scheduled earlier in the year but was postponed due to an incoming hurricane. Unfortunately I had to stay at the rescue to take care of Jo, but Elizabeth did a great job managing it alone on very short notice. I really appreciate her and everyone who participated and donated. And Karen did a great job putting together some really nice raffle items. Hoping we get a ride planned again for the spring.
Sincerely,
Theresa
As we reflect upon the past year, we are filled with gratitude to have such a wonderful little village by our side.
Because of your most thoughtful generosity, you have enabled us to provide the very best of care to our beloved little herd: quality feed, top-of-the-line medical, dental and farrier care and love beyond measure. And because of each and every one of you, we have been able to fulfill our mission of rescuing, rehabilitating and caring for equines and other sentient beings in need.
Because of you, we were able to rescue and provide extensive rehabilitation for Gabriel, Misti, and Mindi, together with our newly rescued mare who is currently, embarking on her long and winding road to recovery.
Because of you, we were able to provide loving care to Benjamin, our ‘Golden Boy,’ a multitude of TNR kittens and even a baby squirrel who all, miraculously, found their way to Beauty’s Haven.
Over the course of the year, we also found loving, forever homes for a number of our equines and welcomed back several horses whose adopters, sadly, were no longer in a position to provide adequate care.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and dedication to the Beauty’s Haven herd.
Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Theresa, Bob, and the Beauty’s Haven Family
“On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.”
– DAN LIPINSKI –
Guess what everybody? A special day called Valentine’s Day will soon arrive! It’s is a day when humans show appreciation for loved ones, family and friends by giving them Valentine’s Day cards. It would really make all of us ‘Velvet Nosers’ so very happy to be someone’s very special valentine.
You could choose any one (or more) of us to be your valentine and all you have to do is tell Auntie Jeanne or Mommy Theresa which horse or donkey that you would like to have as your valentine and a heart will be placed next to our name(s).
And, if would like to send a suggested donation of $5 for each valentine (or any amount), we’d really appreciate it! Just click on the ‘Donate’ button below. If you can’t donate at this time, it’s really okay. But we still want each one of you to be our valentine because you’re all so very special to us!
Love,
Aaleyah Belle, Beauty, Belle Star , Bouie, Candace, CaryLou, Chloe, Dancer, Derek, Ebony, Frodo, Gabe, Jazzy, Jo, JoJo, Komanchee, Lady Sophia, Lily, Lennie, Lucy, Luiji, Magic, Mishka, Misti, Mo, Nadia, Oasis, Peaches, Peggy Sue, Ruby, Sassy, Simba, Valley Girl, Venus and Warrior
As we near the end of 2021, we have so much for which to be thankful.
We are thankful to our wonderful village of supporters as well as our amazing team of volunteers, who worked tirelessly to afford us the opportunity of granting a second chance at life to these 21 precious souls who have brought us such an inordinate amount of happiness and joy: Valley Girl, Buckshot, Remi, a precious newborn donkey; Allie, our mischievous Marmalade Tabby; Simba; Elvis and Ford; Miles, who without a doubt was sent to us through the intervention of our beloved Penny; Scooter; Kiah, the sweet little pup who was found scared and alone in the middle of the night with a badly injured paw; Ace, our beautiful Selle Francais; Belle Star; Lady Sophia and Candace; Piper, our sweet little dumpster kitten; three precious bunnies; our Christmas saves, Lennie and Michele; and lastly, Shai, our final rescue of 2021.
But as in the Circle of Life, our joy was tinged with sadness when our beloved Penny, Ace, Nash, Haley, Jasmin and Cleo, a precious newborn kitten, transitioned to Rainbow Bridge, where we know deep in our hearts, that they are all now happily romping about with the Heavenly Herd.
Beauty’s Haven unfortunately had a number of horses returned to the rescue this year, through no fault of their own. We are thankful that they are home with us and we have promised them that they will always be forever safe and loved.
We are so truly honored by your love and support which enables us to be the voice of those sweet and innocent souls who are unable to speak for themselves. And for that, we remain eternally grateful.
Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Theresa
