Easter Happenings Around the Rescue

It’s been another busy week with picture perfect weather as we prepared for Easter!

Please enjoy a little journey encompassing the daily happenings at the rescue whilst witnessing firsthand, our precious little herd experiencing the ‘Joy of just being a horse!’

Pictured from Left to Right Top Row

  • Chris taking care of Peaches, cleaning her trachea and grooming her.
  • Mishka loves his tree – the shade makes a huge difference. It’s hard to believe that we planted these trees almost twenty years ago and every tree we planted, miraculously, survived.
  • Pam giving out hay. Hopefully, the grass will start to grow soon and we will not have to make as many hay runs.

Pictured from Left to Right Center Row

  • Cindy clipping Luiji. Warrior was also clipped.
  • Me having a discussion with Beau about his fly mask.
  • Dancer was thrilled to get extra tummy scratches when Carol visited.
  • The horses all behaved and enjoyed the extra attention.

Pictured from Left to Right Bottom Row

  • CaryLou, as always, loves to be the center of attention.
  • We have had some cool nights and Frodo needed his sheet. He’s styling!
  • Magic is such a good boy. He sported his fly mask proudly today. He loves to give kisses so I just had to give him one back!

We truly hope you enjoyed this Easter week tour of Beauty’s Haven, a place where ‘Life begins, again!’

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Easter and Passover.

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Happy Feet for Easter!

Several members of our beloved herd are awaiting their turn to have “Happy Feet for Easter!”

Pictured Left to Right, Top Row

  • Addi always wants to be the center of everything. She’s beautiful both inside and out.
  • Breakfast seems to have given Willow a bit of extra energy this morning.Please click on the image above to view Willow as she experiences the joy of “just being a horse.”
  • Our golden years girls ~ Jo, Dancer and Valley Girl.

Pictured from Left to Right Center Row

  • Poor Amira has the annoying ‘itchies’ this time of the year.
  • Beau and Tobias wanted to play ‘me first’ this morning. Tobias is one to never shy away from the camera. Or anything else for that matter!
  • Beau and Tobias both ended up getting their fair share of attention.

Pictured from Left to Right Bottom Row

  • Kalista and Flint are doing great. They both had hooficures on Thursday.
  • Ford, Elka, Willow, and Mo enjoying the sunshine.

If anyone would like to help our beloved little herd have “Happy Feet for Easter,” it would be so greatly appreciated. There are at least a dozen horses scheduled for the farrier within the next few days so please click on the ‘Donate’ button below if you would like to assist with this need.

Thank you!

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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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Arabian Mare Update

I apologize for the delay in providing a more timely update; things have been incredibly busy here. I’ve received a surge of calls over the past few days from people wanting to surrender their horses. This has been quite overwhelming for me – I hate having to turn any horse away.

Yesterday, the vet came out to examine and perform bloodwork on the new Arabian mare. The results indicate typical issues for horses that haven’t been getting adequate nutrition. She also has a large knot on the right side of her head which most likely, is the result of a previous injury, possibly a kick.

The melanomas around her anus are quite pronounced. We plan to place her on the same protocol as Magic in hope of preventing any further progression. Magic has had significant melanomas in the past, but thankfully, they have remained stable for many years.

Her mane and tail were brushed and it took her quite some time to adjust to having a usable tail again, but she’s very sweet and she seems genuinely appreciative of the care she is receiving. She was scheduled for a much needed hooficure today.

We accomplished much today, thanks to our volunteers, Jenny, Pam, Tara, Melissa, Rachel, Jan and her daughter, Amethyst. They all do such a great job and we truly appreciate them very much.

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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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Update on Flint

Dr. Valle came out last week to do a follow-up examination on Flint as well as perform another round of blood tests. He was very pleased with Flint’s progress. Flint seems to have a renewed sense of purpose and is carrying himself with greater confidence. His eyes are brighter and he’s holding his head higher. He is, truly, a precious and kind soul.

We are deeply grateful for the support he has received. He still has a ways to go, but his future is looking more promising!

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Shai is Forever Home!

Shai is a mare who came to us from a Citrus County seizure a few years ago and was adopted out to a really nice family. In early 2024, her adoptive family had some life changes and Shai came back to us. She lived in a paddock with Amira and they got along fine. Once the grass became dormant, however, and we had to put out hay, we sadly, had to separate Shai from Amira. Amira cannot have hay due to chronic choke – she has to have many smaller soft meals a day. We tried placing Shai with different horses but nothing seemed to work – she just wasn’t happy and we want all of our horses to be happy!

We reached out to Paul of Retirement Home for Horses Inc in Alachua and explained the situation. He was happy to welcome Shai into their program. What a blessing! Shai was transported to RHH yesterday and received a warm welcome from everyone. The door is always open, however, for Shai to return to Beauty’s Haven, but we think she will be much happier in her new environment.

Much gratitude to RHH! We hope and pray that Shai will be happy and content in her new home. And we truly appreciate Chris for taking such good care of Shai during her transport.

Pictured Clockwise from Top Right:

  • RHH Team Member, Dakota Bell, takes Shai’s official portrait!
  • RHH Volunteers Ann Carey (L) and Amy Sweeney welcome Shai
  • Chris who safely transported Shai to her “Forever Home”
  • Shai’s new best friends come out to greet her!
  • Ann, along with RHH Team Member, Brad, walk Shai over the creek to the Arrival Paddock
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Critical weeks ahead for severely malnourished rescue Flint

While we were encouraged by new rescue Flint’s excellent demeanor for his vet exam on Monday, being much more alert and vocal, Flint’s body condition was scored just below a 1 on the Body Condition Scoring Scale by the veterinarian. In this scoring system, which ranges from 1 to 9, a lower score indicates a more difficult rehabilitation process. Sadly, beneath Flint’s fluffy coat, there are only bones.

The majority of horses with a BCS of 1 and below usually don’t make it, as starvation takes a toll. We have had several cases of this nature, and while the majority have pulled through, there have been a few that we have sadly lost. The next couple of weeks are critical. We use the UC Davis protocol in our rehabilitation/refeeding process.

Although the vet assessed him to be 25-plus years of age, I truly believe that he wants to be around for many more years. He has a great mental attitude, which is very important in the healing process and his eyes are bright with hope.

During the process of starvation, the body depletes fat and muscle, causing a slowdown in metabolism and resulting in weakness. The horse struggles to regulate its temperature, and the immune system becomes compromised. The body first utilizes fat for energy, and once that is exhausted, it turns to muscle tissue, including the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and heart. This depletion of muscle leads to a loss of electrolytes and proteins, causing a deterioration of the digestive system and reduced nutrient absorption. Flint’s gastrointestinal function has been significantly affected, and restoring his ability to digest and absorb feed will take time.

We are committed to supporting him through this, with patience, a proper refeeding plan, and plenty of tender loving care. He truly deserves it.

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On Tuesday, we received Flint’s bloodwork results, which reflected those commonly seen in a starved horse. While there are some highs and lows, it’s encouraging that there are no signs of infection, but his fecal exam did reveal that he was positive for parasites. Flint’s stool has become more formed, his appetite remains strong as you can see by clicking on the image above, and he is drinking well.

He was slightly less active on Tuesday, and that is okay – we don’t want him burning much needed calories. He remains very vocal and engaged with everything happening around him. We will repeat the blood tests in about a week.

While I can’t guarantee Flint’s recovery, his determination to overcome is apparent. We will do everything we can to improve his chances.

Last night, with the cold temperatures rolling in, we had Flint all tucked in with a cozy blanket which I’m sure he truly appreciated. It’s a bit large on him but we ordered a new one that should be a better fit. Hopefully, it will be here within the next few days.

Lastly, the farrier came out today to take care of Flint’s neglected feet which made him quite happy.

We will schedule our equine dentist once he is stable and gains a bit more weight.

Please keep Flint in your thoughts and prayers. Your positive support is greatly appreciated. Here, we firmly believe in the power of prayer and in miracles.

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