Grief is the price we pay for love

Early last evening our beloved Ruby went down, and sadly did not attempt to get up. She was very peaceful and did not appear to be in pain. As we were awaiting the arrival of the veterinarian, we placed a pillow beneath her head and took the canopy out of the storage shed to shield her from the falling rain. I sat and softly talked with her about many things. Even though she appeared to be fine all day, I feared that this could be her time to leave us.

Then at 8:33 pm, while cradled in my arms, our beloved Ruby peacefully transitioned to Rainbow Bridge.

What a joyous reunion it must have been as Cookie and all of her other old friends greeted Ruby at Rainbow Bridge, but it sure leaves a big hole in the hearts of everyone in our Beauty’s Haven family. Ruby was such a very special mare, at approximately 30 years of age she was a very wise old soul. She had been with us for many years, and knew that we all loved her beyond measure.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers during this most devastating time.

Grief is truly the price we pay for love.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Our Precious Peggy Sue

It’s been a tough couple of days. Actually, a tough couple of weeks. I hate to share more sad news, but on November 15th, our precious Peggy Sue went to Rainbow Bridge.

Peggy Sue came to us in April 2012, unable to stand or bend her back legs with elf slippers for back feet. Some years before, her pelvis had been fractured in multiple places when humans tried to help her deliver her foal. Because her humans couldn’t pick up her back legs, they did not trim her back feet. We had no issue putting her in the sling for trims – she was always a very good girl.

Peggy Sue didn’t let her physical limitations stop her from getting around – she could really move out when she wanted to!

However, if she laid down and rolled over onto her left side, she couldn’t get up and we had to help her. We would roll her back onto her right side and she’d usually pop right up. Over the last few months though, it had been getting harder for her.

Arthritis and years of overworking her good leg/hip had taken a toll. We knew there would come a day when we’d have to make the heartbreaking decision to let Peggy Sue go, and that time had come. We loved her too much to allow her to suffer. The thought of her going down in the middle of the night, in the cold or rain, and not being able to get up, was a horrible image.

Peggy Sue had the darkest yet most beautiful bright and loving eyes that touched the soul. She left this world knowing she was loved, very much.

We were very blessed to have been given the years that we had with Peggy Sue. They all take a piece of my heart when they go, and Peggy Sue took a pretty huge piece. In my mind, I can picture her with her friends, Little E and Bria, under a Friendship Tree on this side of Rainbow Bridge where they await with the rest of herd. I find comfort in knowing we will see our loved ones again someday.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Our Beloved Venus

I’m sorry that I don’t have a good update. Venus took a turn for the worse on Wednesday evening, and yesterday, it was time to let her go. It wasn’t the outcome that we had prayed for, but it was the most loving thing that we could do for her. We couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate and kind care team – Dr. Adams, Dr. Cuadros, and all of the staff at Ocala Equine Medical Center were amazing and we appreciate them all, very much.

We were concerned about how Nadia would handle losing her best friend. We gave Nadia some time with Venus and I believe they both understood what was happening. At that point, I think we all (humans and horses) had reached a place called ‘acceptance.’ Acceptance is key to moving forward and with it, comes change.

Life at the rescue will be different, but we will cherish memories of Venus and do what she would want us to do – continue to help others in need.

Nadia has settled into a paddock with Peaches. Peaches is pretty much a loner – she always has been. But this afternoon, she sensed that Nadia needed a friend and when I left them, they were sharing a bag of hay hanging in their shelter. It gave me great peace.

Venus left this world with dignity, knowing that she was very much loved. She was a regal mare with a lion’s heart, fire in her soul and an iron will. She was the personification of beauty and grace. Her presence is still near and dear – we will carry her in our hearts, always.

Thank you for your good wishes and prayers for Venus.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Mindi Update, Presley’s Passing and Oreo’s Surgery

Mindi on the Mend

Mindi is becoming a bit more animated each day. Mentally, she’s still processing and adjusting. It may take her days, weeks, or even longer to come around. But she will. She’s approaching me now instead of walking off when I go into her paddock. That’s a very positive step in healing, in my opinion. Her coat is looking much better and her eyes are brighter. She needs to gain quite a bit of weight and muscle.

Regarding Mindi’s physical health, her blood test results were what we typically find in malnourished horses. She needs a few supplements; Liver Kleen, Ferrofood from Standard Process, Transfer Factor Stress Pak, a Panacur Powerpac, and Succeed. If anyone would like to gift her any of these supplements it would be greatly appreciated. I’ll try to post links to them tomorrow. Dr. Julia will be back tomorrow to do an Infratonic treatment on Mindi. Hopefully we will be able to get on the dentist’s schedule soon. The farrier comes on Sunday.

If anyone would like to gift any of those products to Mindi, please contact us. Thank you.

Presley

Our beloved Presley transitioned to Rainbow Bridge yesterday afternoon. Presley was truly precious and we will miss him so very much. Grief is truly the price we pay for love.

Oreo

Oreo’s ear canal ablation surgery has been scheduled for July 7th! Thank you to our wonderful little village of supporters who have made this possible.

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‘Til We Meet Again

It is with a heavy heart to inform you, that Mila, the blind cat that Shadow found in one of our paddocks just a few weeks ago, went to Rainbow Bridge on May 27th. At first we believed Mila to be one of the two feral cats that live under the storage building who we feed nightly, but she was not. We have no idea where she came from or how she found her way to one of our paddocks which is farthest from the road. We do know that she was very lucky to have survived. I can’t imagine being a blind little cat, all alone, not knowing where her next meal would come from, where to find water, or if her next few steps would put her in danger of becoming a predator’s meal.

She was such a brave little girl and it is truly remarkable that she survived on her own despite her condition when we found her.

Mila’s initial visit to the vet revealed that she was approximately five years old and weighed just five pounds. She was visually impaired (only able to see shadows) likely due to some sort of trauma. Mila’s fecal and blood tests for other potential issues were done, her little ears were cleaned and she was treated for fleas and other parasites. She had a good size hernia, but, thankfully, it was not painful. As per our vet’s recommendation, she was not microchipped at this time, as he wanted to wait until she was a bit stronger. She did, however, get her vaccinations.

Mila’s blood test results came back the following day with elevated numbers. Since her kidneys and liver were of concern, additional tests were performed. After Mila was started on an antibiotic, she became a bit more active, she ate and drank well, and she became quite talkative. She would follow me wherever I went, but I had to be careful not to stop abruptly as she would run into me. She was a real trooper though – she’d run into walls many times but she soon learned to navigate her way around.

She was such a sweet little girl who loved curling up next to me whenever I sat with her which truly melted my heart.

When we took Mila back to the vet for additional tests, we learned that her kidney and liver values had remained elevated and her cognitive impairment was getting worse. In her final days, when she tried to navigate her room she would walk into a wall and stop and drop and that’s where she’d stay for quite a while. During her first few days with us, she’d respond to our voices or a noise, but in her last days, she would not. Her quality of life was not getting better – it was getting worse.

I’m very sorry for whatever happened to Mila before we found her, but at least, she went to Rainbow Bridge, knowing she was so very loved.

Until we meet again, Mila. You will forever remain in our hearts.

Theresa

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Faith is the light that guides the way

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

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Fly with the angels, sweet Nash

The last few days have been tough for us here at the rescue. One of the senior members of our beloved herd, Nash, had recently been having issues. Despite all the love and care he received, we had to make the decision to help Nash transition to Rainbow Bridge yesterday. It was the same exact day a year ago that we had to make this very same decision for Little E. For those of you who have a Beauty’s Haven 2021 Calendar, Nash was our September horse of the month. Nash had been with us since 2004, he was a horse with a huge heart and a great mind. Born in 1992, he was a grandson of Dash for Cash.

I don’t like to say or even type the word “cancer.” I just call it the “C” word. Knowing we often can’t fix a “C” issue, we do everything possible to help make the horse comfortable and cherish every moment we are given with them.

But at a point, when there is nothing new to try and we have no doubt that their quality of life is impacted and is not going to improve, we love them enough to let them go.

Nash had twice been adopted out, but each time, he ended up back here at the rescue, his home. Not all adopters are able (or willing) to keep their commitment to provide a ‘forever’ home even if it had been their intention at the time. Our adoption contract requires a horse to be returned, if, for any reason, the adopter can no longer adequately provide care for the horse or no longer wants the horse. It also provides a means for us to reclaim a horse should the adopter choose not to do what is necessary to provide adequate care when given the opportunity. Sadly, the first time Nash was adopted out, he was returned due to the adopter’s priorities changing. The last time Nash was adopted out, we had to reclaim him after the adopter chose not to address care issues following a veterinary exam.

We were very blessed to have had this magnificent horse in our lives. And now, he runs pain free at Rainbow Bridge alongside Little E, together with another of his best friends, Jake, and the remainder of our beloved horses who have joined the heavenly herd. Someday, we will all be joyously reunited.

Nash knew love and he will forever remain in each of our hearts.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Godspeed, Sweet Penny

I’ve been putting off this post all evening – my heart is heavy. Penny was down this morning. I gave her pain meds and usually, after they kick in, she gets up with little assistance. This time, she needed more assistance and in the process of getting up, she twisted and you could see discomfort and uneasiness come over her. She wasn’t herself – she was uncomfortable and agitated. Penny is never agitated.

Before noon, Penny was down again. We were able to get her up again but she walked off and wanted to be left alone. She seemed more uncomfortable – her hips were sore and she was tense all over. She was weak in her hind end. She shifted her weight from one side to the other in her backend. We gave her some time but it didn’t help – she refused her meal, hay, and water. Penny made it clear that acceptance had set in and that she was tired.

We spoke with the vet and we both agreed that Penny’s quality of life had reached the line – we loved Penny enough to let her go.

Karen stayed with Nicky during the time that Dr. Templeton helped Penny transition to Rainbow Bridge and I never left Penny’s side. She got to hear many “I love you’s” as she left this world. It’s never, ever easy and each one takes a part of my heart with them when they go, yet a part of them always stays with me. We gave Nicky time with Penny this evening to help her understand what had happened, although I think she knew before we did that Penny needed release.

Penny was born blind 35 years ago and now she sees all of the colors in the rainbow. She was precious – a brave and gentle giant with the most loving, trusting soul. She will be in our hearts, always.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Gratitude

Every year, in celebration of the birthday of Barbaro, our dear friend, Jamie Gillispie, lovingly lays red and white roses at the foot of his statue at the Kentucky Derby Museum located at Churchill Downs. Each rose is dedicated to the memory of a loved one, whether they be a person or a beloved pet.

This year our wonderful friend and supporter, Kathy Breakall, donated a rose in memory of a former Beauty’s Haven horse, Point to Ponder aka My Girl, who was injured while racing at Calder Race Track in 2008. She was transported to Ocala Equine Hospital where she underwent surgery to repair a slab fracture of the knee. My Girl was doing well and recovering nicely at Beauty’s Haven until the day the hardware in her knee failed. Tragically, there was nothing more we could do and we had no other choice than to let her go.

My Girl was beautiful, appreciative, brave and so full of life. She will forever remain in our hearts.

Thank you Kathy Breakall and Jamie Gillispie for honoring our beautiful girl.

*Please click on the image above to view a video of our breathtakingly gorgeous My Girl.*

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Kami & Haley

Many of you may remember Kami and her mom, Haley, who had been adopted to good friends of the rescue several years ago. Sadly, Haley passed away during the night a few evenings ago which left a hole in many human hearts. It also left Kami with no other horsey friend.

Kami’s adoptive parents talked to us about the situation, and, as much as they care about her, we agreed that it would be in Kami’s best interest if she returned to Beauty’s Haven.

We are so grateful to Sherry and Kenny for giving the girls a great home and for loving Kami enough to do what is best for her. Sherry and Kenny will be moving closer to the rescue and Sherry will be back to volunteer and see Kami.

Kami Meets Sassy

We all figured Kami and Sassy would either get along great or not at all. They had a good meeting and walked off together after they met. I thought it would take just a little time for the girls to figure out who is the sassiest and, by the end of the day, I think it was decided by Kami that she is the lead princess.

Haley will never be forgotten and she will forever remain in each of our hearts.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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