Domino says “Good evening everyone – have a great night!”

We are trying to call it a day early tonight. Lots will be happening tomorrow – visitors and new volunteers for a day!

Hopefully the barn will be rid of all cobwebs by tomorrow evening! Chloe is leaving for school, Montana and Asiya are leaving for their new home, areas washed away by heavy rains are being filled in and some sod is being laid, horses are getting bathed, and much more! I don’t think I’ll be in the office much (yeah!).

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

Just a short recap of the last few days. Dr. Bess came out and did some of the mini’s teeth. We had a horrible thunderstorm with torrential rains while she was here – lots of erosion. We’ll have to order a truckload of sand this week and a couple of pallets of sod. Due to the storm, Dr. Bess didn’t get to do all of the mini’s that needed to be done but she’ll be back soon to finish them up.

Several of the horses had pedicures and we’ve had visitors and some much needed extra help now then.

Penelope likes to serenade us each morning – she really loves her breakfast, and lunch, and dinner, and in-between snacks.

Little Penny is much smaller than she looks in her pictures! She’s tiny and seems so fragile – she’s only about 45 lbs. It’s hard to believe she’s the same age as Domino. Hopefully someday in the not too distant future they can play together.

Like momma, like daughter – both cute as a button!

Penny wasn’t very thrilled about getting a bath yesterday by Melissa and Jenny. We had lots going on here at the time but when I looked over at them during the bath time I wasn’t sure who was bathing who.

Melissa wanted me to look at the freshly bathed Penny and that is when we found them – lice! So then we had to ask poor little Penny to stand for over another hour or so in order to be clipped. But she was a very – she stood for us better than most horses her would have. She is thin – I’m sure having lice has something to do with her being anemic. We checked out her momma but I didn’t see any lice but she’ll get treated too. Penelope walked a little tender footed on her front feet after the rains. The farrier will be out soon to work on both of them. Penny’s feet are so long and her soles are very soft. I can’t wait until both her and her mom are feeling good.

Starbuck and Bella are doing very well. Bella is putting on weight but her topline is going to take some time. She’s about 20 years young and we suspect she’s had a few babies in her lifetime. She’s getting medication for being anemic and it seems to be helping. She’s more active and vocal.

And at the end of the yesterday I stopped and gave thanks for all of our many blessings when I saw a beautiful rainbow after the rain.

LadyBug looks great. She does, and likely always will, have a prominent top line. She’s had quite a few babies and muscling up in that area always seems to be the hardest on an older horse, IMO. She had been seen by a vet this past Thursday and was given vaccines – she was doing great. I took this picture of LadyBug this past Friday when I visited with her – she really looked good. Seeing her on Saturday morning was a different story – she looked to be very uncomfortable, even after giving her meds as instructed by Dr. Adam. Once he arrived and examined her treated her with fluids and more meds but the meds didn’t last long – he sent us to the hospital. There, she was given more fluids and observed for the rest of the day.

Late yesterday evening it was really good to get the phone call we’d been waiting for – Dr. Hughes called and said we could come pickup LadyBug! Today she passed oil, quite a bit of it, and this evening she went home (which is only about 5 minutes from the rescue). Thank all of you for your prayers.

On Saturday we had a cake for Kylie – one of our volunteers – she turned sweet 16 today!

It’s actually a little cool here this evening. Hopefully the temperatures this week won’t be as hot and humid as they have been. We’ve had quite a bit of rain – the grass is so beautiful. I wish it were like this all year around. But it won’t be and soon we’ll be starting fundraisers to help with winter hay. It’s going to be quite expensive.

We hope everyone has a wonderful week and I’ll try to update again in a couple of days. I’m off to bed early – I feel like I got run over by a truck and ache from head to toe. A good night’s sleep will likely do me good. I hope all of you have a good night too. And thank all of you for your prayers, good thoughts, and continued support!

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

A thirteen year old very sweet donkey that is skin on bones except for her hanging low belly – I am told she has had 10 babies. I don’t know if they all survived or not.

And she came with her very own tiny 2+ month old that is also underweight. If I can easily pick her up you know she’s a light weight – maybe 40 lbs. at the most!

The baby’s poor little long ears are missing much of their fur – rain rot is horrible all over. Some on momma too.

They arrived at the rescue last evening. I’ve promised momma – no more babies! Dr. Ryan will be out this morning to examine them and to do some blood work.

They are in the QT paddock and when I went to check on them this am there was a rainbow behind them and they were standing under their shelter – it was beautiful. They looked so content and at peace. If anyone would like to help sponsor their vetting, or help with their monthly costs, it be very much appreciated – no amount is too small. This was unexpected and we couldn’t walk away.

We need their vetting done and coggins also pulled on some of the mini’s here. Tomorrow Dr. Bess will be here for mini dental day – there will be several getting their teeth done. Any help with that would be greatly appreciated too.

Have to run – Dr. Ryan will be here soon.

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

Spirit was excited yesterday morning – we’d explained to her that Dr. Porter was coming to ultrasound her eyes! She has got to be one of the most sweetest and personable horse I’ve ever met. She will literally greet you with hugs each morning! Look at her – her personality just shines through!

Spirit was a good girl for the ultrasound. Dr. Porter forwarded the images to UF – we’ll see what they say and what is recommended. We were happy to learn that Spirit can see at least a speck of light from her right eye and at least a sliver of light from her left eye. The retinas are intact in both eyes. There appears to be some mineralization of the lens in the right eye. The lens in the left eye looks clear bit the iris may have some scar tissue keeping the pupil closed possibly due to untreated inflammation. So, now we wait and pray for good news. I really have no idea what will come of this but Spirit is young and doing so well – if there is any way we can at least maintain what little she can see it would be a blessing. She trusts those handling her and once she learns what her home is she maneuvers very well. For example – when she steps onto the row of mats in the center aisle of the barn she knows exactly how many steps to her stall.

Dr. Porter wanted to visit with Baby Girl yesterday while he was here. I truly believe that she remembered him! He can’t get over how well she has recovered and how great she looks. Dr. Porter was the one that recommended a CT scan for Baby Girl after her initial surgery and he also recommended the surgeon – Dr. Ali Morton. Another article: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20111218/ARTICLES/111219630. Yes, our Baby Girl made the news around the world.

The picture on the left was taken yesterday. The one on the right was taken on August 17th, 2011 – the day after she arrived here at the rescue. For those that don’t know her story please visit our Daily Blog Archives and read about her. Her injury was incredible and her odds were very grim. But her love for life and the positive energy from within her radiates – she’s truly a miracle!

Dora and Domino at breakfast. Both are getting milk replacer pellets now. They are so funny!

Well, here is the tooth that Starbuck lost in the wee hours of Sunday night/Monday morning. It doesn’t seem to be bothering him at all.

Starbuck had a great time during his first play time outside! He’s standing taller and getting stronger by the day! If you look at his side you can see a few brown hearts (if you use your imagination)! His mom is doing well – she really enjoys their time outside too. I don’t think she’s lifted her head from grazing on the grass since she’s first been out!

Domino, Dora, and Starbuck have become friends over the fence. Domino really likes him. But Domino likes everyone she meets!

One of our wonderful and generous supporters has offered a $1000 match game in memory of our dear sweet Nicky. Funds will be used to purchase and install a much needed fly mister system for the barn! Once donations for the match game in the amount of $1000 have been received the Match Game Donor will donate another $1000! Starting now!! If you make a donation for the match game please mark it as such and send an email to bhfer@earthlink to let us know with “Match Game” in the subject line.

Yesterday we got a call about some horses that were out of food. The owner is in a bad spot right now and needed a little worth of help. We provided grain and salt blocks to get them through a few days. If anyone would like to help us with this it would be appreciated – $55 is still needed to cover these expense. Sometimes animal owners just need a bit of help to get them through a tough time. They love their horses and don’t want to give them up and I can understand that. I respect them for reaching out for help instead of letting the horses go hungry.

Dr. Bess will be coming to do some teeth soon – when we get a date set up we’ll be looking for sponsors to help with this. On Friday, Cindy will be coming to do hooficures on Nikole and Peaches – if anyone would like to help with these it would be appreciated. Peaches is having a tough time with her old shoulder injury – just when we think she is better, she’s worse. The black TB mare, Mia, went home today! Thanks everyone that helped with this and thank you Pam (Double B Equine Transport) for taking the time it took to get her loaded and to her new home.

I have more to update on but I’ve got to get some other things done but I didn’t want to finish the day without getting this update out – I’ll try to do another tomorrow. This weekend is going to be very busy – starting on Friday.

We are in need of a few things – I’m putting together a list but right off the top of my head I know we need Endure flyspray and flymasks – the flies are absolutely horrible this year. Several of the masks we had were old and frayed and were beyond repair. We always need help with vet and hooficure expenses and with feed/hay. As always, we appreciate any and all help – we receive no government assistance. We operate totally from donations and adoption fees (which are very low). No donation amount is too small and any amount is greatly appreciated. Donations are tax deductible. If anyone would like to call a donation in directly to the vet’s office the number is 352-237-6151. Donations for hay can be called into Larson’s at 352-867-8333. If you send funds via PayPal our PayPal address is theresa. Other ways to donate can be found on our “Donate” page. Please make sure to make note on your donation what the funds are to be used for – all donations go 100% to care of the horses. We are all volunteers here – no paid staff! And I have to say we have really awesome volunteers – onsite and from locations as far away as Ireland!

As always – we truly appreciate all of you. God bless and I thank you all for your continued support.

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