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Solace – He Has Found It Here

December 16th, 2012

This horse was found wandering down a road in south Florida, very close to death.  He reportedly walked away from an illegal backyard slaughter operation.  He obviously has no meat on his bones that would bring money.  When starved, a body feeds off its fat, then muscle, then its organs which is where this horse is.  By the grace of God, and the help of a few, he found his way to us in the wee hours this morning.  Here, he has found solace just as Hollie and the Christmas Trio (Nevada, Sachet, and Noelle) have.  I don’t know why the name “Solace” came to me the first time that I touched him, but it did, and so it is.  Maybe the events of this past week – I’m sure many of us are seeking solace – I hope we all find it too.  

There are pictures below that some may consider graphic.  If you don’t want to see them then please don’t scroll down.  But I choose to share what these horses go through and what we do to help them – the good, the bad, the ugly.  It’s a roller coaster ride and you are all invited to ride with us.  You can follow his progress and see how your donations are used.  He looks like he just walked out of a concentration camp.  

Dr. Tanya scored Solace a 0.5 on the Henneke Body Condition Score scale.  Horses that get down to a 1 don’t usually survive.  This says something about his will to survive.  His stool is full of sand and he has little energy.  He was very cooperative with when he was oiled.  Dr. Tanya thinks he is still a stud but he is so thin she really couldn’t say for sure.  His rehab will take some time – it must go slow and steady.  Too much, too soon, could kill him.  He needs a miracle and hopefully, it will come.

At some point in his life Solace sustained blunt trauma to his mouth – his top front teeth are on a pretty bad angle and there is a scar in the gum line.  Dr. Tanya couldn’t tell how old he is but he is aged.  His teeth are just so messed up – we will have the dentist out soon.

His temperature was low normal.  Blood tests are being done and a stool sample was taken.

When Solace poops, it flows in the hollow under his anus which is chaffed and irritated (this can cause infection) and then it runs down his legs.  We hope to give him a warm bath very soon.

He got fluids (including vitamins) via IV.  He was a perfect patient and seems content being here.  I think he knows we care.  🙂

As much as I don’t like asking for it – we need help.  Today’s vetting was $490 and the transport cost from to get him here (he was 4 hours away) was a very good price but it wasn’t inexpensive.  

I know Christmas is upon us and pockets are empty but please know that any amount of a donation helps.  One of our volunteers told me a few minutes ago that she collected all of her lose change and it came to almost $40 – she is donating it to help Solace.  If many people do this it will all add up.  If you’d like to call a credit into the vet’s office the number is 352-237-6151 and, again, no amount is too small.

We are still nursing Hollie, Nevada, Sachet (she is better), and Noelle back to health. They were all in bad shape too but they are slowly recovering.  I don’t know why these 5 horses came to us but I’m glad they did.  But again, we need your help.  Tax deductible donations can be made via PayPal to bhfer@earthlink.net or via our “Donate” page at https://bhfer.org/donate.

His body has withered away to bones and I hate to think of his past and the stories he could tell of what he has lived through.  His love for life, and will to live, must be strong for him to have survived and find his way to us.  Most others would euthanize him.  But I see a flicker of light in his beautiful eyes.  Somehow, I think he realizes that his life is beginning again, with people that will love him unconditionally and properly care for him.  Will he recover?  We choose to believe he will.  Please keep Solace in your prayers.  

Today is our Christmas gathering with our wonderful volunteers.  They will get to meet Solace as well as Hollie, Noelle, Nevada, and Sachet.  God bless and I’ll update more when I can.  Thank you all for your support.

Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Website: https://bhfer.org   Facebook: www.facebook.com/bhfer.tb

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New Star in the Sky Tonight and Orphan Baby Donkey – 05/22/12

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

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Paso Case Update

01/29/12

Below are a few pictures from today. Carla went out to feed this afternoon and Jacky and Tres helped – it was a pleasure to meet more people that are willing to help. I went out with hubby to take more hay and I wanted to spend a little time with the horses while hubby did a few minor repairs.

The structures in the back of the horses are not on the property.

The group with the gray mare was much calmer this afternoon.

These two mares stick together much of the time. They are both starting to enjoy touch – at least on their noses and sides of their face. I really enjoy just sitting with them and getting to know them – the time goes by too quickly!

Here are some of the horses a few days ago – the hay they were eating looked like cow hay.

Yesterday they got some very nice hay which they love!

And today we took more hay. The temps are going into the 30’s tonight – I think they will appreciate the hay very much.

Carla has graciously accepted the task of compiling a list of people that would like one or more of the horses – as well as to coordinate volunteers to cover morning and afternoon feed shifts.  Our priority over the weekend was to get hay/grain to the horses, get the studs out of their stalls for awhile so they could get some fresh air and graze while their stalls could be cleaned, to clean waterers, and to make minor repairs to fencing, gates, to put together a core team of volunteers to help to manage the many tasks, etc. Horses will be catalogued over the next few days – please be patient because it won’t be an easy task. These mares out in the paddocks have not been handled in a long, long time.

It’s really a wonderful thing – people coming together to help those that can’t help themselves. These horses appreciate everything done for them and we appreciate everyone helping us to help them – we couldn’t do it without help from others. Where there was little light in many of their eyes only a few days ago – the light is getting brighter each day and it’s such a great feeling and rewarding thing to experience! They will come around and enjoy human touch again. They will find wonderful forever homes. It may take time, patience, and resources – but with help from others we’ll do our best to make it happen. Thank you all!

God bless and we hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead!

Sincerely,
Theresa

Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue

A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

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Paso Case – Almost 40 Horses

The day was very productive and I think much was accomplished. Yesterday we made a trip out to look at a herd of 30+ Paso Fino’s that need homes – their owner was murdered several months ago. Today we focused on getting the horses hay for the next few days as well as providing them with grain and salt/mineral blocks. Feed tubs, waterers, and stalls were cleaned. The studs were all locked up in stalls at the barn – they have been there for a long, long time. While the mares are thinner than most of the studs – the feet on the studs were worse than the mares – the mares constantly move – they are out on several acres with no protection from the elements. The studs had been getting some grain while the mares got none.

Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

And today…. It was really nice to meet new people – working together we got a lot done! I’m going to post some pictures tonight – will have to post more info tomorrow. It’s been a very long day. But I want to thank everyone for caring and for helping! These horses need homes but at least for the next few days – they have food. And the studs got out of their stalls today for the first time in ages – if only for 10 minutes or so – and it was great watching them. And when they went back into their stalls they were clean.

Sincerely,

Theresa

Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization

www.bhfer.org

Click here to make a tax deductible donation.

Click here to help BHFER via Life’s Abundance Pet Food

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Update on Pony – He’s Here!

Well, the darling little pony is here. We picked him up this evening and he has settled in – I wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight had we not picked him up!

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Welcome home – let’s get rid of that halter! He got a bath before I first met him this morning – he does have a nice winter coat.

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It will take some time for him to put on needed weight and grow stronger but he will. He’s now on his road to recovery – thanks to many. And what a sweet boy he is!

He’s got much kindness, gratitude, and light in his eyes – his name is Ghost.

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Thank you to everyone that made it possible for this sweet pony to come to the rescue! Please forgive me if I haven’t responded to your emails or posts on FaceBook (which I’m still learning how to use) today – once the wheels were put in motion to help Ghost the day was non-stop! I’ll try to get caught up tomorrow. But please know that we appreciate every one of you and your support. It’s only because of others helping us that we can help those in need like little Ghost. Donations are greatly appreciated – no amount is too small and all donations are tax deductible.

Update on Harley: Dr. Ryan stained his eye yesterday and changed his eye medication to include Dex. If we don’t see an improvement in a week it may not be a good thing. Please pray for Harley.

Update on Haley: Today was the first day we’ve seen her feel even a little bit better. She got a good medicated bath for a skin condition and she was started on medication to treat EPM and is also getting some homeopathic remedies. The day Dr. Jackson worked her Haley we were told that we should see an improvement in her by Monday so we’re 2 days ahead of schedule! Please pray that we continue to see Haley improve.

Update on humans: Tired!

I’ll update more tomorrow – it’s been a really busy day.  Have a blessed day tomorrow!

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