April 1st, 2018
Dr. Julia came out on Thursday to assess Starbuck’s lameness issue. He’s going to need a few weeks off to give his front right foot and shoulder time to heal. While trail riding, he opted to jump over a wet area and came down a bit hard on his front right directly on a tree root.
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We also had annual blood tests done on Magic.[clear]
Both boys are in need of sponsors to cover Thursday’s veterinary fees of $275. Thankfully, most of the bill has been covered with only $75 remaining. If anyone would like to help with this, it would be so greatly appreciated.
Donations are tax deductible and no amount is too small. Donations can be made via PayPal to bhfer@earthlink.net or via various means on our website at www.bhfer.org/donate. If you do make a contribution, please mark it for ‘Starbuck/Magic’ and if you use PayPal, please send it as funds to ‘Friends and Family’ and no fees will be assessed.
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Thank you for your continued Love and Support!Wishing everyone a Blessed Easter and Passover.
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Dr. Mangan came out a couple of days ago and checked Elyza Rose’s eyes. The injury to her right lower eye lid has healed. However, he believes the issue in her left eye is immune mediated keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). This is something that needs to be managed medically, for the rest of her life, to prevent blindness in that eye.
Dr. Bess Darrow (Tune Ups Equine Dentistry) did some much needed work on Elyza Rose’s teeth a couple of weeks ago. Some teeth had sharp points which caused painful ulcerations in Elyza’s tongue and cheeks. This can cause a horse to lose weight as was the case with Betsy Rose when she came to us. It wasn’t even possible for Betsy to chew – her teeth had been neglected for quite some time and the way they had grown literally prevented her from chewing – just trying was painful! If a horse can’t chew, food isn’t broken down properly. A horse may appear to be eating, but if the food is not broken down properly, weight loss and even stomach ulcers can occur.
Elyza can now comfortably chew and graze. However, because of Elyza’s compromised condition, Dr. Bess didn’t want to sedate her in order to do all of the work that needs to be done. Dr. Bess will be back in the next couple of weeks to finish up.
Elyza was a very good patient and she really enjoys grazing as you can see in the video below – it’s what a horse is supposed to do and it’s important that they are able to do so pain free. If you’re a horse owner, please make sure to get an equine dentist or veterinarian to take care of your horse’s teeth at least annually. Senior horses may need to be done every 6 months. It can actually be a matter of life or death!
When Elyza Rose came to the rescue, she got a physical, including blood work, by Dr. Julia Simonson.
Elyza Rose had more of a menace reflex in her left eye than she did in her right. Betsy Rose’s bad eye was her right one.
Elyza Rose tore the lower eyelid.
The right eye got cloudy and there appeared to be blood in it – I became VERY concerned, knowing that she had ingested something poisonous – sometimes effects aren’t seen until days or weeks after.
We’re happy to report that Elyza Rose is doing well!
Elyza has put on some weight and her coat is healthy looking. She’s bright and alert. She seems to be a very happy little mare.
We would like to offer our congratulations to the winners of the 
Dr. Cardona came out yesterday to examine Tinsel and Warrior. Both were not feeling well. Their heart and respiratory rates were elevated. Tinsel has also been running a slight temperature and hasn’t been finishing her meals.
Little Warrior was such a good boy for Dr. Cardona.
Dr. Cardona also examined Elyza Rose’s eyes. She recently tore her lower right eyelid, but thankfully, it’s healing nicely. The ulcer in her left eye is a bit worse. So, more meds, more often. In addition to running blood work on Tinsel and Warrior, Dr. Cardona also ran blood work on Elyza to compare to her blood test results from two weeks ago as there were some issues at the time. I need to send out a detailed update about what’s been going on with her. Hopefully, we will receive the blood test results today. I’m not sure how much yesterday’s vet bill is, but I know it’s a lot. Two exams, one eye exam, blood tests on all three, and medications. It’s going to be several hundred dollars so if anyone would like to help it would be very much appreciated.
One of our awesome farriers will be here on Monday to give hooficures to many horses. To support happy feet, we need to raise a total of $425. If anyone would like to help, our ‘Velvet Nosers’ would be forever grateful! Donations are tax deductible and can be forwarded via our PayPal address: 
Lastly, thanks to all of you, we have won the SunState Federal Credit Union Charity of the Month Contest for the month of February! The $1000 prize could not have come at a better time and will greatly assist with the purchase of hay and/or other needs for our beloved herd.
Elyza-Rose saw Dr. Julia last week. She somehow managed to injure the lower eyelid of her right eye. She didn’t need stitches, but we wanted to make certain that the eye itself wasn’t injured.
Freckles enjoys spending time with Elyza and introducing her to more friends. Today, I found Camel telling his story about how he got here and about some of his past adventures. It was amazing – Elyza-Rose seemed to like the little ones and grazed very intently, making sure not to step on any of them.
Elyza did, however, plant her foot in another feed tub again today. According to Freckles, one of the donkeys told her a couple of days ago, that if she stood in a feed tub, a human would feel badly that the tub was empty and then put food in it. Those boys!
We went for a few walks in a grassy paddock and Elyza absolutely loved it! I think she’s gained some weight already! I know her coat looks shaggy – I clipped her in a hurry but I wanted to get that thick and unhealthy Cushing’s coat off her. I wanted to inspect for lice, ticks, etc. I haven’t had any time to clean up the poor clip job, but at least she feels better.
Yes, Elyza-Rose, you’re “home”!
Elyza is about 16 years old and, like Betsy Rose, may have Cushing’s disease. We will have blood test results back tomorrow.
Elyza needs her eyes examined by Dr. Mangan – there’s something going on in her right eye which is the same eye that Betsy Rose had issue with.
Her teeth are a mess and I’m going to bet she puts on weight nicely once her teeth are taken care of by Dr. Bess.
She’s pretty thin (a 2 on the BCS) but she has a great appetite.
Elyza’s feet needed to be tended to and Stephanie trimmed them today.
When I hugged Elyza Rose for the first time, I felt an overwhelming and much needed sense of peace.
We also have a Match Game in progress to assist with this week’s purchase of hay and all donations up to $225 will be matched!
Lastly, please continue to keep our beloved Beauty in your thoughts and prayers.
It seems as if we are constantly asking for help and that isn’t easy for me. But we are a charity which operates solely from donations and grants and we must depend upon help from others in order to make a difference in the lives of our horses.
We are also in need of a pallet (50 bags) of Fibre-Beet from Emerald Valley. We are down to our last bag and are borrowing a bag from a friend until we can get our pallet. Buying it by the pallet, which usually lasts a year, is the most economical way in which to purchase Fibre-Beet (even with the cost of shipping). Betsy Rose, Little E and the other special needs horses that comprise our beloved little herd are fed this along with a ration balancer and needed supplements. Betsy Rose and E are fed five times a day (smaller portions) – they are hard keepers. Betsy Rose has Cushings and a history of choke so she has to be fed a soft diet. Little E has teeth, but they are so worn down, that he, too, must have a soft diet and when the weather is like it is now, he gets gas colic quite often unless he’s on Fibre-Beet. When we have colicky horses, this is a great way in which to keep them hydrated. Fibre-Beet is excellent for horses that have, or are at risk for, laminitis, ulcers, and Cushing’s. A bag retails for $41 but we get a good discount and while we do have some funds already set aside, we still need help as the estimated cost is $1100.
We were truly blessed to learn on Friday that two wonderful supporters have come forth to offer a most generous Match Game, whereby, all donations up to $1500 will be matched dollar for dollar to assist with the cost of the replacement batteries as well as a pallet of Fibre-Beet. If you would like to play the Match Game, you may do so via various means here on our website or via our PayPal address: bhfer@earthlink.net. If donating via PayPal, please designate your donation to, ‘Golf Cart/Feed Match Game.’ If you select the tab for ‘Friends or Family,’ no fees will be deducted from your contribution. Please be assured that all donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever considered as being too small.
This is how our day started on Friday. Peggy Sue was down on her bad side and couldn’t get up. When this happens, Peggy Sue doesn’t panic – she just lays there and waits for us to help her. We roll her over and she usually rests for a few minutes and then gets up on her own and runs off. She can’t bend her back leg – it’s stiff – much like a peg leg.
Before Peggy Sue came to us, she was giving birth and her humans tried to pull her baby out. Peggy Sue’s pelvis fractured in three places. She’s a happy little mare that rules the others and she reminds them of that often. We have to put her in a sling to have her feet done, but she doesn’t mind at all.
Peggy Sue is a prime example of why we insist that there is a human on the farm at all times.
Aaleyah Belle’s infamous tongue.
Jiminy and Cricket continue to improve each day. Dr. Mangan (DVM, DACVO) from AVS in Gainesville checked out their eyes and all is good! Cricket’s old eyelid injury is doing great! Dr. Mangan has been part of our awesome care team for years – even before he went to AVS – when he worked at UF. You can learn more about him by 
Dr. Specht was also at the farm last week to examine Waylon.
CaryLou and Lucy sporting their new fly masks!
Please remember to cast your daily vote in the Eagle Rare Life contest and please share amongst family and friends as well. Just click on this link or the photo of Beauty and cast your vote.