Additional update soon but for now – she is here and has been seen by Dr. Ryan.
In short – she has been through hell and survived – all of us, including Dr. Ryan – feels she deserves, and has, a chance. I’ve named her Spirit.
Thank you to everyone that has been praying for this special girl.
Thank you Greg for the beautiful artwork!
The blind mare has been caught and is in a stall for the night. I’m told she sustained a couple of more injuries since we saw her this past weekend. There were really bad rains and flooding where she is – some high winds too. I was worried about her getting through the storm ok and was sorry to hear she has more injuries.
I’m going to map my trip now. I will get more pictures and data on others that also need help while I am there tomorrow. We need to help find safe places for all of them.
I am not sure at this point how to handle pledges because I don’t know how/if she will be ok being handled/loaded/trailered to get here. I think I prefer that everyone hold onto your pledges until I get back tomorrow and we get her settled in and examined. I added up what I received via emails today and we’re still short on the total amount needed for her initial vetting plus 6 months care but we’ll address that tomorrow evening. If she is badly injured and if loading seems too much for her and it puts her at risk for more injury then perhaps helping her cross may be best.
In the mean time please let’s all pray for a smooth loading and trailer ride to the rescue tomorrow and that examination determines that her injuries can be treated and that she will be able to lead a comfortable life. After we get here and settled in tomorrow then I will update on her status and the funds pledged/still needed.
Think positive everyone – God bless and thank you for caring! I’m off to bed early in order to get a good night’s sleep – I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a long day.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
A trip down memory lane… Some of you may remember Itsuko. She was a TB mare we helped in 2011. Itsuko was born in 1991, had 99 starts in her racing career and earned almost $100K. She had multiple babies. We found her starving and living in an unsafe makeshift backyard pen.
Itsuko the day she came to Beauty’s Haven – June 14th, 2011. She clearly needed help ASAP.
She was skin on bones.
But we saw a lot of light (and gratitude) in her eyes.
This is Itsuko 2 ½ months after rehabilitation – taken August 28th, 2011. What a beautiful mare!
During the first week of September 2011 Itsuko went to Black Beauty Ranch (HSUS) in Texas where she will live a lifetime of carefree living. I think these recent pictures speak for themselves…
It’s really good to share happy updates!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
05/22/12
It is with a very, very heavy heart that I post this update. Smarty Pants crossed Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. She had been improving, or so we thought. We knew she could take a turn for the worse at any given time. Infection and damage to internal organs had been a concern since day one. While edema in her front legs today had decreased it became significantly worse elsewhere. Dr. Ryan examined her, gave us his prognosis, and ran more blood work to confirm what he suspected and it wasn’t good. Verbatim from Dr. Ryan. “Her body was shutting down – resulting in poor tissue perfusion (blood supply to the muscles). All of this caused tissue necrosis – basically like gangrene. She may have lasted another day or two but it would have been pure hell. No doubt you made the right decision.”
While she surprised us with a short walk on her own in the sling today (with us humans by her) we didn’t know it would be her last. You can see in her eyes she wasn’t feeling well. We would not allow her to suffer – we promised her this from the start.
This little filly that captured so many hearts would have been one year old tomorrow. It just isn’t fair – I don’t know why things like this happen. I don’t understand it. I could go on and on with my thoughts about this but I won’t – at least not at this time. Today has been hell and mentally and emotionally overwhelming. And I’m not feeling the loss alone. My family, including our volunteers, feel it too – we all loved her terribly. We took turns sitting with her and caring for her – even through the nights. We love you Smarty Pants – you mattered to so many but we loved you enough to let you go. We will always love you. Now you fly with angel wings – until we meet again on the other side of The Bridge – know you are in our hearts, always.
And with tears still fresh we welcomed baby donkey. She was very hungry when she arrived and didn’t hesitate taking a bottle. Lacey has been providing some milk and we have milk replacer – the baby will isn’t picky and will drink either source.
Dr. Ryan had a very hard time getting the catheter into her vein in order to run the plasma.
She is currently sleeping – something she needed badly.
She’s had a tough start in life but like Smarty Pants she arrived with light in her eyes that we pray will shine brighter with each passing day. When Pam went to pick her up she found her standing between two pine trees, shaking – we were having a really bad storm. Her mom was off elsewhere. I wonder what this little one thought? But she is here now and she will have a full tummy all night long and she won’t be alone.
And tomorrow is another day. I don’t know what it has in store for us but there is already a void – Smarty Pants had become a part of all of us. We did everything we could to help her and she knows she was loved. She didn’t die in the sand and sun – alone or afraid. She was surrounded by love. While I will never stop believing in miracles and had prayed hard for one with Smarty – I have to think God had other plans for her and we are not to question that but rather accept it. Yes, she would have been one year old tomorrow – a day that won’t come for her on this earth. Each day we had with her was a gift – a blessing. And when I look up to the sky tonight and see a bright shining star I will think of her – I know she knows she is loved. And even though she runs with the heavenly herd she is still with us. She will always be with us. God bless all of you for caring about this little girl – our little Smarty Pants.
Run with the angels sweet girl – we are so very proud of you and how hard you fought for life. You are, and always be, an inspiration to me and your eyes are etched into my heart forever.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
05/19/12
Dr. Das worked on Smarty Pants yesterday. She was amazed at how bright her eyes and attitude are despite her condition. Smarty will need additional treatments.
Yesterday we found Peggy Sue with what we thought were ant bites and she was given some Banamine. Late yesterday evening we found her down and looking like she was colicing – the lumps from the bites had multiplied and looked a lot worse. Checking her over, we found a very piece of wood lodged deep in her neck. It appears that she’d rubbed against the shelter to scratch the bites and that is where the sliver of wood came from. She was so swollen – even her face. I called Dr. Ryan and he advised me what to do. I got the wood out in a quick pull and gave her some medications. She got a good bath and spent the night in a stall keeping everyone awake with her whinnies. She doesn’t like to be stalled. She is better this am.
The piece of wood.
Have a great day everyone. Smarty’s hoist is being modified today and once done it will allow her to move about freely in her sling. We did get her out yesterday for a short walk in the grass and she enjoyed that but tired quickly.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
May 1st, 2012…
First I want to share some pictures of others here at the rescue.
Gentleman chasing Peaches. It’s the first time I’ve seen him move out this fast in months! Peaches was just moved to this paddock – she swapped paddocks with Nikole.
Gentleman looks like a brindle color since he got clipped – and yes, that is a heart on his butt! He is much more comfortable since he was clipped.
Lady Jane is doing very well. She is a social butterfly and a very sweet mare. She carries herself very proudly.
Legacy – as handsome as ever. Princess is behind him.
Classy is doing well. Her front feet have been holding up good.
And Peggy Sue – she is such a doll! She absolutely adores attention and will wrap herself around you for hugs! The stifle surgery definitely helped.
Magic taking a rest.
And Lacey – she is still rolling and waiting for her baby to decide to join the outside world.
Today was a pretty good one for MoonShadow. We have learned that his registered name is “Salty Verdict.” I think the GastroGard is helping. He did better through last night and actually drank about 2 gallons of water which made me very happy. And he was hungry this am. His body temp stayed within normal range today.
This is truly a tragic case but hopefully it will have a good ending – or new start – depending on how you look at it. This is MoonShadow – the picture on the left taken February 7th just a couple of days before he went to the people we got him from. In just a matter of 2 ½ months this is what happened to him – see picture on the right.
I did some backtracking with information I did have on him and had some luck. One phone call actually led to a couple of families from his past. Both families came today to visit with him and were very upset to see him in this condition. It’s heartbreaking too see a horse in this condition – especially a horse that you loved and thought was going to a good home. I’m glad he was feeling somewhat better today – he was a tiny bit more active and alert.
This family owned him for many years after he retired from the track after his first and only race. They brought him gifts today and spent some time with him.
I don’t know if MoonShadow is out of the woods yet. I think I can more comfortably answer that question by the end of the week. I know that today he was a little vocal and his eyes were brighter – he held his head up a little higher. I know it sounds silly but his eyes actually spoke to me and it was comforting.
Please continue to keep MoonShadow in your prayers. Once he is feeling better we need to have his left stifle x-rayed and he’ll need chiropractic/acupuncture. He needs his teeth done and his feet worked on a bit more. God bless – have a wonderful day tomorrow! Thank you all for your continued support!
PEGGY SUE UPDATE
Good Morning, Everyone,
Peggy Sue is doing fine and will be arriving home later this afternoon. Peggy Sue’s right rear stifle was sliced and an x-ray revealed a broken pelvis which, according to the previous owner, occurred six years ago when Peggy Sue was giving birth. It appears that the foal had to be pulled out and by doing so, Peggy Sue’s pelvis was fractured. This misalignment created a shortened leg which was quite painful to walk on, thereby causing the muscles to atrophy over the years. The vet confirms that this most undoubtedly is the reason for Peggy Sue’s present condition.
Peggy Sue will be placed on Previcox and Milk Thistle and will wear a pad on her shortened leg to assist her in getting about. The cost of Previcox for Dogs is $75 for sixty tablets which will last two months and the cost of Milk Thistle from the Healing Barn is $171 for a sixth month supply.
http://thehealingbarn.com/newthb/hilton-herbs-milk-thistle-plus/
Peggy Sue and Narissa are in need of sponsors.
Theresa will be picking up the Percheron Mare tomorrow.
Thank you all for your continued generosity, love and support.
Jeanne
04/07/12
“Hi! I’m Peggy Sue! They used to call me Patty but we decided Peggy Sue suits me more and I like it. I have an injury in my left hip/pelvic area and my right stifle gets stuck. Dr. Ryan says if I go to the hospital they can do x-rays to see what is wrong with my back left that is locked up straight – I can’t bend it. And that leg is a couple of inches shorter than the left. It’s likely an old injury that can’t be fixed but they want to figure out if putting a pad or boot on that foot would help. But we need to get my right locking stifle fixed first. I get stuck sometimes and it takes me awhile to move my body to an angle that allows me to get unstuck. Mommy Theresa asked if the stifle surgery would give me a better quality of life and the vets said yes. So, we want to go for it! Would you please consider helping with the cost of the x-rays and surgery? I’m supposed to go to the hospital this coming Wednesday and have surgery on Thursday. I’m a little afraid, but much more excited!”
“Mommy Theresa says we need another $375 so I can go to the hospital for the x-rays and surgery. Would anyone like to help? I’m only 16 years old – I’d love to spend the rest of my life a little more balanced and without locking up. Thank you wonderful people!”
All donations are tax deductible. No amount is too small. Donations can be called directly into the hospital at 352-237-6151. God bless and have a wonderful weekend!
Lacey’s breeding date was on June 11, 2011. Contributions may be forwarded via Just Give or Network for Good.
Good Luck, Everyone!
Lacey
February 26th, 2012
It was a very productive day at the Paso farm yesterday. We got a couple mares into the barn and got them settled in. I called Dr. Joan Gariboldi out to treat one of the mare’s (Maraca) that has been in for a few days that appeared to be trying to colic and she had a slight temperature. Maraca was oiled but as of this morning she still had not passed any manure. Pam is on her way to transport Maraca here to the rescue where we can monitor her and have Dr. Joan out again if needed. Pam is a wonderful transporter and we recommend her without any reservations!
Dr. Joan also vaccinated some of the horses and pulled coggins and did a health certificate. One of the mares left to go to her new home. Slowly but surely we are making progress. I was supposed to go back today for pictures but it’s horrible weather and my bronchitis is worse again. Here are a few pictures from yesterday.
Red got to play in the round pen yesterday and he loved it! And we enjoyed watching him!
One of the available mares – #10. Not sure of her age yet. A coggins needs to be pulled on her. She is an alpha mare.
This is Scarlet. She’s a very sweet mare estimated to be 6 years old. Coggins is done.
Maraca is now here for monitoring. She has passed some poop and seems less stressed. The weather is still horrible.
Hope to feel better tomorrow. Calling it a day now. Two of the studs are being picked up in the morning. Hopefully the rains will subside long enough for them to load without any problems. Seeing them go is bittersweet but we are very happy that they will have their own human family. It’s hard for us not to get attached to each one of them – and we do.