Tag Archive for: starving horses

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Momma Sophia & Baby Candace safe with us now


On Friday morning, when the mare and baby loaded up to come to the rescue, Momma knew – they always do – she walked right onto the trailer. Upon arrival, they both settled in nicely. Sadly, Baby is very weak.

Dr. Pulliam arrived shortly thereafter and examined Momma and her baby. Blood and other tests were performed. Both received fluids and the baby received a vitamin cocktail – she was such a good girl. We did a glove sand test on the Momma and discovered that there is quite a bit of sand in her manure which was not at all surprising. There is a concern about the sweet feed which they were fed the past few days prior to their arrival at Beauty’s Haven which could have a negative impact. Both are receiving supplements to help with ulcers, their GI tract and immune system.

The baby is in very poor condition, scoring less than a 1 on the Body Condition Scoring Scale, but we choose to be cautiously optimistic that she will pull through. We’re not sure how she has managed to survive.

She does have a good size hernia that will need to be addressed once she is considerably more healthy. Momma has little to no milk to offer and is also in poor condition. We’ll see what the blood work and other test results reveal today and provide an update as soon as possible. Momma and Baby have, and will continue to be, watched around the clock. The baby had not been handled before we met her on Thursday, but she has been a very brave little girl.

This baby needs a miracle, but here, at Beauty’s Haven, we believe in miracles and have experienced many in past years. She also has to have a strong will to live – it’s amazing that she is still standing.

We have named the mare Sophia, and the baby’s name is Candace.

If anyone would like to help it would be so greatly appreciated. Contributions can be made via the ‘Donate’ button below. Please designate your donation to ‘Sophia & Candace.’ Please also note that another wonderful friend and supporter has offered a second $500 Match Game, whereby, all donations up to $500 will be matched dollar for dollar. If you are not in a position to donate at this time, we truly understand, but you can still help by sharing this email amongst family and friends.

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Donation Total: $50 One Time

We truly appreciate your love, support, prayers and well wishes.

Please keep Sophia and Candace in your prayers.

Sincerely,
Theresa

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Mare with baby barely hanging on

It’s been a very long and exhausting day. We have an urgent need at hand – a foal who is in a very bad way. Her mama is also in bad shape and gets irritated if the baby tries to nurse as she has little to no milk to offer. The baby has bite marks on her little body and a hernia that needs to be surgically repaired. When I visited yesterday, I about lost it when I saw her stagger over and attempt to eat weeds as well as leaves off a tree.

With ribs protruding, these horses’ obvious lack of nutrition, especially protein, is evident by their low, big bellies. Ulcers and parasites are likely, contributing factors to their poor condition as well.

The baby’s dull coat, glassy eyes, slow movements, loss of hair, dullness, diarrhea, and large abdomen say it all – she’s starving to death.

Starvation causes the body to use up its body stores of fat, muscle, and then organs. It causes weakness, impairs gut function, wound healing, and affects the overall immune system. Internal organs atrophy. Bone growth can also be impacted in young horses. It’s a horrible thing.

Thankfully, someone cared enough to do something when they saw these two precious horses and made a call to county authorities. It’s an open case but we were given the okay to pick up the mare and baby this morning. We did make certain that they had enough hay to last through the night. Please – we need your help to help them. They deserve a chance.

The baby, about three months old, hasn’t known a good day in her short life, but you can help us change that.

Vetting is going to be costly. They need everything – blood tests, fecal exams, the mare will need dental work. They both need to see the farrier. And just as important, they need financial support for as long as they are here. They are Thoroughbreds.

I’m deeply concerned about the financial assistance we need for these horses. Donations continue to be down since the arrival of COVID and we still haven’t raised enough funds to pay the farrier bill. We need a ton of orchard hay for the herd ($600+) today and we will need alfalfa as well. The utility vehicle broke down yesterday with a cost of $376 to repair. There are so many things that need to be addressed, but we just cannot walk away from this mare and baby – time is simply not on their side.

If anyone would like to help Baby & Mama, it would be so greatly appreciated. Contributions can be made via the ‘Donate’ button below. Please designate your donation to ‘Baby & Mare.’ Please also note that there is currently a $500 Match Game in progress, whereby all donations up to $500 will be matched dollar for dollar.

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Dedicate this Donation

Honoree Details

Select Payment Method
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.
Billing Details

Donation Total: $50 One Time

If you are not in a position to donate at this time we truly understand, but you can still help by sharing this amongst family and friends. Thank you, all, so very much!

Please keep Baby & her Mama in your prayers.

Sincerely,
Theresa

P.S. Some of you may remember baby Tonka. He was in about the same condition when we brought him and his mom to the rescue many years ago. Sadly, it was too late for Tonka. We pray we’re not too late for this little girl. If you don’t know about Tonka, here is a video in his memory:

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