The lump on Gentleman’s neck is a mass that you can somewhat manipulate. It is by the esophagus and jugular vein and surgical removal is not an option. We are not sure if it had anything to do with the choke or not but it likely did. He has been getting mushy meals and he’s drinking. His attitude is better today but he’s pretty much just stayed in the aisleway of the barn. We measured the mass and will be keeping an eye on it. Please keep our Gentleman in your prayers.

Lacey is getting antsy. Lots of rolling today and scratching on the hay bales. She’s still dripping milk. I was surprised she was able to get up from her rolls!

I’m not sure she is going to wait for May to get here to have her baby! Please don’t forget about her fundraiser: https://www.bhfer.org/events.html

Our beautiful Aaleyah Belle. She’s doing great.

And look at little Peggy Sue! I don’t know why she was running but she had a great time. She is doing ok and the stifle surgery helped. But the doctor was amazed at how she endured the pain of the original fractures and that she is managing as well as she is. Some days she isn’t as active as others. But she is always there to greet you and to ask for a hug. She really is a sweetheart the big beautiful eyes.

Morning Star, Baby Girl, and Indy got out yesterday morning and loved their little adventure.

Buttercup is doing great and is as beautiful as ever! Gary is doing a great job with her and she is ready for a forever home.

Archer, one of the 3 Amigos, had his first hooficure and he needed it! Archer is a 7 year old Standardbred that is as sweet as they come. He is going to make someone a very nice horse. We don’t know anything about his past but he does not have a tattoo. He came in pretty thin a couple of weeks ago and needs to put on at least another 200 lbs but he’s looking better each day. He’s a tall boy – at least 16.1 hh – we’ll stick him to see. Dr. Bess did his teeth yesterday. All of the volunteers love him – he has a puppy dog disposition. The other 2 Amigos went to their new home, together, a couple of days ago.

Dr. Bess checked out Lady’s teeth and opted to wait to see if she is pregnant before working on them. We won’t have the results back from Lady’s pregnancy test until tomorrow. Dr. Bess says she thinks Lady’s odds of being pregnant are 60/40.

We still have 4 Paso mares that need homes ASAP. Please check out the latest on our Anthony Herd Page on FB. https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/172714409506468/

Gentleman’s vet bill is about $250 including a new bottle of Banamine – donations totaling $135 have been received to help with it. If anyone would like to help with the balance it would be greatly appreciated. We had buy hay today – total bill of $1077. Yesterday a load of shavings for here at the rescue was $240. Yesterday a load of shavings for the Paso mares – $200. Dr. Bess was here yesterday to do Archer’s teeth, coggins, and a pregnancy test on Lady – $170. The podiatrists will be here on Saturday and at least 6 hooficures will be done. It all adds up quickly and we need continued support. Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small.

Don’t forget that Lacey is up on MareStare – we appreciated eyes on her so we can get some sleep at night!  http://www.marestare.com/fcam.php?alias=beautyshaven

We truly appreciate everyone’s support and continued prayers for Gentleman. God bless and have a wonderful evening!

I do want to take a minute to share that Dr. Bess was here today to work on Archer and Lady Jane. Lady Jane really does have a big belly despite being able to count most of her bones. A pregnancy test was suggested – we should have the results back tomorrow.

Is she – or isn’t she?

I did call Dr. Ryan to come out this afternoon. Some of the obstruction had resolved itself before I called him but there was enough still there to be concerned. So, Gentleman got sedated and tubed. The rest of the obstruction that could be cleared was – that is the good news – the nasogastric tube passed through the entire length of the esophagus. The bad news is that there is a lump – a cyst or tumor still there that may have helped cause the obstruction by pushing on the esophagus. He is having a tough time swallowing water and is on a liquid diet for now. I’ve got a call into Dr. Ryan to see if an ultrasound would help to determine what the lump is.

I’m so thankful that Marie got me as soon as she knew that Gentleman refused his feed this am. I was out rounding up the 3 kids (Morning Star, Baby Girl, Indy) that were supposed to be in the arena that escaped somehow. As soon as I got to Gentleman he led me to the gate that goes into the paddock where his shelter is. Nikole had been locked in there for feeding time. We let Nikole out and GMan in. I watched as he walked to his shelter and he stood for a minute – I could see discomfort in his eyes. He walked to an area in the sand and wanted to lay down but he didn’t – I went over to check him out and could see a lump on his neck. Then he started to cough and I called Dr. Ryan. I massaged GMan’s neck while Bob got some meds. After administering Gentleman the meds we took him to a stall. The rest of today has already been told but I’m afraid this isn’t over yet. And if Gentleman isn’t swallowing any better by morning and if he needs fluids he will get them.

Someone asked me today how much today’s vetting cost is and I don’t know – I never thought to ask at the time but I can find out tomorrow. If anyone would like to help it would be greatly appreciated. Donations can be called into the vet’s office at 352-237-6151 and should be noted for Gentleman. We do need to buy another bottle of Banamine. I’ll have to cost that tomorrow – we get that someplace else as it’s less expensive.

I wanted to get an update out about all here today but didn’t have a chance. I’ll try tomorrow. We love Gentleman so very much – please keep him in prayers.

Prayers please! We had a huge change in weather overnight – down to about 40 degrees. I got up worrying about Little E because when we have a drastic change in the weather he tends to colic. Went to check on him and he was fine. However, Gentleman didn’t eat breakfast. I watched him for a bit and he appeared to be trying to colic but then I saw a lump in his neck. He coughed a little and started to drool – choke came to mind. Sure enough, we found a lump on the left side of his neck. I called Dr. Ryan while massaging GMan’s neck and then gave him meds to help as per Dr. Ryan. GMan is now in a stall for observation.

Choke is a horrible thing. If he is no better this afternoon Dr. Ryan will come out. I really don’t want GMan to have to be tubed but if the lump is still there we will need to have it done. The lump is smaller now then it was this morning but it is still there.

Sincerely,
Theresa

Dear Narissa,

You and Twilight have been on my mind – I think of you and the others in our heavenly herd daily. I miss your smell, your eyes, your trust in us when trying to help your foot feel better. We did our best to keep you comfortable so you could stay with us for a long time. But still, even with meds, your pain became too much and you let me know it was time. I’m so thankful for you helping me to make the right decision. A life here with constant unbearable pain is something I would not wish on anyone. I know your foot hurt very much and walking on 3 legs is hard and it makes other parts of the body ache. I’m very thankful that God put you in our path so that we had some time with you.

As I sat with you all morning the day you crossed I told you about our heavenly herd – from the first we helped here at the rescue to cross the Rainbow Bridge, Frosty, to Twilight and all of the horses in between. We’ve lost many but I know that you are all together now and someday we’ll see each other again. And we talked about Barbaro and how laminitis robbed him of life on this earth too. I don’t know if there will ever be a cure but I pray for it every day. Please tell our heavenly herd how much I love and miss all of you.

You were tired, I know. I’m glad you rested before Dr. Ryan arrived.

Once Dr. Ryan arrived I was very proud of your willingness to walk up Frosty’s Knoll. It’s one of the hardest walks there is for me. Linda, Jenny, Bob, Brie, and even Dr. Ryan walked with us. You were surrounded by love.

You held your head high and trusted what we said – that the pain would go away as you cross Rainbow Bridge and only good would be before you.

The last few minutes filled my heart with so much sadness. But we knew that soon you would be without pain and running with the heavenly herd. You left this world knowing love and with your dignity restored. We were all so blessed that you had been part of our life.

And as you left us to cross the Bridge images of you came into my head and heart – a transition to a youthful and whole and happy Narissa. I found comfort in that.

We loved you enough to let you go and loving tucked you in our blanket of gold to say our last “we love you’s.” And now you fly with the angels.

I love you Narissa, always.

Theresa

VERY SAD NEWS…..

Our beloved Narissa will be crossing Rainbow Bridge at one o’clock pm.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Jeanne

PLEASE PRAY FOR NARISSA

Narissa is experiencing much discomfort in her right front hoof despite medication to help.

This is the foot that x-rays showed the coffin bone had rotated and sunken.
We’ve given her weeks of TLC and she knows she is loved.

Dr. Ryan will be out around noon. We will do what is in her best interest.

Please keep our beautiful girl in your prayers.

We love you Narissa.

And we pray for a miracle against this horrible disease that devastates horses – and the humans that love them.

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

Just a quick update – the day is almost over and still lots to do!

Lady is doing very well adjusting to her new surroundings. Like Gentleman, she is another gentle giant. While she is very thin and her bones are very prominent – she has a big belly. We’re hoping it’s just a hay/grass belly or perhaps parasites.

Dr. Ryan will be out tomorrow to examine her. She got a bath today which she really needed.

Peggy Sue is doing ok – her back right stifle no longer gets locked up but she still stands with her back right leg parked behind her at times. During the last couple of days Narissa’s front right foot has been more ouchy but she’s been more active around the barn. She could use some angels to help with shavings for her stall. We try to keep them thick and deep. They are $4 a bag and she uses at least a bag a day. Look how beautiful Narissa’s eyes are. She is a very proud mare. I would have loved to have known her in her youth. I bet she has a lot of lifetime stories she could tell us. And Peggy Sue – her eyes are big and soft and beautiful. She is a mare that makes you feel good – she just has that effect on you without doing anything but just being there.

Morning Star clearly let us know today that he still doesn’t like the taste of wormer – even if it’s supposed to taste like apple. He’s still looking for a home!

Lacey is still huge and looks bigger each day. She also could use angels to help with bedding in her stall. She is a messy girl and uses over a bag each night. They are $4 a bag.

We hope everyone had a great weekend and that the upcoming week brings many blessings!

Just a quick update to let everyone know that the Percheron mare arrived late this evening. We’re calling her Lady Jane. She is a doll – a pure sweetheart! She is very, very thin under an unhealthy coat. She has a bit of a belly – hopefully it’s just a grass belly. She is a smaller Percheron – maybe just a bit shorter than Gentleman. You can see wisdom in her eyes – I bet she could tell us lots of stories about her life. She had her last baby in 2005 and had been out to pasture for the last 4+ years with no human intervention – no vetting, farrier, nothing. We truly thank the ladies that brought her to our attention – Aunties Jan and Lisa!

Welcome home Lady Jane!

Finally, home…

She has an appointment with Dr. Ryan on Monday unless something comes up and she needs to be seen sooner.

If anyone would like to help sponsor Lady Jane please let us know. I know she would appreciate any and all assistance with her care. God bless and have a good night!

Peggy Sue is doing well. I’ll update in more detail tomorrow – I’ve got a ton of things to do and little time to get them done tonight but I wanted to share pictures from today and to thank those that made it possible for Peggy Sue to have her x-rays’s and surgery today. She is currently and contently resting in her stall.

Happy to be back…

I’ll share what we learned about her past today based on the x-rays. It wasn’t good. All I can say right now is that she is one tough gal and I’m glad she is here.

God bless and have a good night!