Tag Archive for: Thoroughbred

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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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:



Recent Rescue Settles In

We have named our precious new arrival “MacGyver,” an 18-20 year old Warmblood cross who is such a love. Dr. Templeton came out on Thursday to examine Mac and perform bloodwork, and on Saturday we gave him a much needed bath. Mac is quite thin under his shaggy coat and he has horrible dander from head to tail, but I am most certain that he is feeling so much better following his bath! The farrier was here on Sunday to assess his feet.

Mac has settled in really well and he reminds me so much of Doc, another of our wise old souls, who sadly went to Rainbow Bridge many years ago. 

Mac does need sponsors to help with his initial and ongoing needs. If you would like to sign up to become a monthly sponsor for this precious boy, you may do so for as little as five dollars a month, simply click here. If you prefer, you may also make a one time donation. Please remember that all donations are always so greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small.



Aries & Raz Adopted!

While Dr. Templeton was here, she also checked on Raz and Aries and was beyond thrilled to see their improvements. They both have gained a substantial amount of weight and their rain rot is much better. They have spunk and the light in their eyes is much brighter.

The year started out in a great way for them – they were adopted to a wonderful forever home where they will want for nothing and will be so very loved.

We’re so grateful, it was truly a blessing. We wouldn’t have separated them, they are full sisters and are very bonded to one another. Thank you all, for helping these very special mares!

Sincerely,
Theresa

Nicky is another senior Thoroughbred mare we recently rescued, from the same farm where Aries and Raz formerly resided. Nicky hadn’t been doing well but the owner would not release her – she would not eat the hay that had recently been brought to the farm and she refused to walk to the waterer, so food and water had to be taken to her in her paddock. This went on for several days and she still showed no signs of improvement. On Sunday, we finally received the call – Nicky was no better and was being released. She needed a place to go where she could get the help she so desperately needed, so Nicky is now a member of our beloved little Sanctuary herd.

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The day Nicky arrived, we looked forward to reuniting her with her friends, Aries and Raz. We brought her to their paddock but she showed no interest. She was weak and unstable and her back legs were swollen, especially the left. I opted to put her in a paddock by herself, next to them, for a few days, so she could settle in, get a bit more stable, and get to know her new surroundings.

Once in that paddock, we led her to the waterer and she drank a good amount. Then we let her go. Ears forward, she didn’t walk off, but rather, put her head down and nibbled on a little grass and then unsteadily walked in a circle and stopped. She stood there, ears forward. After awhile, I walked her out into the paddock and told her that she would be okay as I gently removed her halter.

Ears forward, she walked in a circle a couple of times, still unsteady on her legs. She then stopped and stood. I brushed her and told her she was very much loved and would never be hungry again. Then I let her be.

I checked on her often and she was still standing there, ears forward. Twice, I saw her weakly walk in a circle and then stop and stand, ears forward. After awhile, I took her some water and a mash. She drank and slurped up about one half of the mash. I was relieved that she did drink. I was worried about colic which can be an issue with a starved horse that has a lot of sand in their gut and is fed coastal hay (before she came to us). A horse that Nicky had lived with prior to her arrival, suffered an impaction colic the day before. Dr. Rullian tubed and oiled the mare, fluids were run, but sadly, she didn’t make it.

The rest of the day, the volunteers and I checked on Nicky often and took her more water, forage, and mash. She still had no interest in hay. She continued to stand there all day, ears forward.

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When I tucked her in that night, I walked her to the waterer and left her with a tub of forage and a bag of hay. She refused the hay but did nibble on a little forage. The next morning, I discovered her ten feet away from where I’d left her the night before. The tub of forage had been knocked over. I put a halter on her and walked her around the perimeter of her paddock, in and out of the shelter, and then to the middle of the paddock.

I took her halter off and she stood there, ears forward, and then I knew – she couldn’t see. I thought to myself how humble and trusting this precious mare is. I realized then, why, out of so many horses, this particular mare came to us – it’s because she is very special and needs a little extra special care!

I thought about how scary it must be to be a blind horse in an unfamiliar place, separated from a herd that you had lived with your entire life, surrounded by new humans. I told her how brave and beautiful she is and then walked her around the perimeter of the paddock again and in and out of the shelter.

We took her water every couple of hours. She still refused hay but would slurp up a little mash. That night, I put a halter on her and walked her into the shelter. She put her nose down and found the tub of forage, a bag of hay, a bucket of water, and a salt block. She planted herself at the salt block. When I left her, I said a little prayer that she’d be okay there and as I walked away, she was still licking that salt block, ears forward.

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The next morning, she was still there, under the shelter, ears forward, looking content. She didn’t put her head up or respond when I approached her. She had eaten some of the forage. The water tub was only half full, so at least she was drinking.

I talked to her and when I reached out and touched her neck, her eyes opened wider, but then she relaxed. I clapped my hands next to her ears and that’s when I realized that she couldn’t hear. What a very special mare she really is!

Nicky was examined by Dr. Julia Simonson yesterday. I’ll continue Nicky’s story later today after we get her lab results back. I’ll also post an update about Aries and Raz.

Please keep Nicky, Aries and Raz in your prayers. They all have some challenges to overcome, especially Nicky, but I believe they will!

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Thank you to all who have donated toward the three mares thus far. Your donation is so very much appreciated. If you have not yet done so, you may simply click the button below. Please note that your donation is for “Year-End Campaign or ‘YEC.'”

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Thank you all, and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

Here’s a quick update about Aries and Raz, the two Thoroughbred mares that we recently took in at the rescue. They had a spa day yesterday. Their physicals were done. They both scored a 1.5 (barely) on the Henneke scale. Their teeth need help badly and Dr. Bess will hopefully be out this coming week. Raz appears to have had a couple of her top front teeth knocked out at some point. There is a large gap which has caused her bottom teeth to grow up and out, which, in turn, have irritated her upper lip.

We will better know what is going on once we get the blood tests back, but both Aries and Raz appear to have jaundice, are likely anemic (they were loaded with ticks), have uterine infections, heart murmurs, horrible rain rot, very loose stool, lots of sand in the gut, etc. I’ll post an update about their blood work once we receive the results and consult with Dr. Julia.

After their physicals, Aries and Raz each got a much needed warm bath thanks to Jenny. She managed to get the knots out of their tails and their sores/rain rot were treated. The mares already look much better and I truly believe they feel much better as well.

Many thanks to Equiderma – they recently made a very nice donation of products which are truly making a difference to many members of our beloved little herd.

Then it was time for the farrier. Aries’ and Raz’s feet were absolutely horrible. The impact of their long feet upon their tendons, ligaments and whole body was quite significant. Raz had gone down in the trailer on the way to the farm and was a bit sore, so it took Stephanie quite some time and work to get her feet as good as possible on this visit, but she did a great job.

Raz went first and after her trim, she stood there for a bit like she knew something was different and had to adjust. Then she took a couple of steps towards Stephanie and put her head down in front of her as if to say ‘thank you.’ Then she looked at me and yawned and yawned which is a very good thing. Aries was a very good girl as well, and you could also see relief in her face as she walked away with her ‘new’ feet.

Raz and Aries have a ways to go in their rehab, but they have strong wills and the light in their eyes gets brighter each day. We appreciate the love and support for Raz and Aries – they are truly deserving.

We have promised them that all of their tomorrows will be what all of their yesterdays should have been – their needs will never be neglected again.

Thank you all so very much & God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day. Ours was very busy. We weren’t planning to take in more horses for awhile as COVID has taken a toll on donations, but we simply couldn’t walk away from these two Thoroughbred sisters.

Very cold temperatures are headed our way in the coming days and they have no body fat to help them stay warm. We went on faith and a prayer that help would come. I’m sure they will be grateful to have a warm blanket and hay before them.

The mares require everything – physicals, blood work, dental, etc. Monthly sponsors for their ongoing care are desperately needed. They are in their late 20s.

If you are in a position to help, you can sign up to make an automatic monthly recurring donation via our secure donation form, which you may cancel at any time. There, you also have the option of making a one time donation which may be in honor or memory of someone.

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Or, you can donate via Network for Good or JustGiving – these links can be found on our “Donate” page along with our snail mail address. You may also contribute via PayPal.me. Please note that your contribution is to be applied towards “TB Mares.” All donations are greatly appreciated and no amount is ever too small. If you’re not in a position to donate, we completely understand, but you can still help by sharing this post with friends and family.

Thank you and God bless.

Sincerely,
Theresa


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Zahara

Zahara is a stunnning Thoroughbred mare that was born in 2007. We were told that her original owners gave her to someone years ago. While at that home, in 2012, she sustained a neck injury. Dr. Michael Porter took x-rays which indicated a fracture at C-4/5. In 2014, her original owners took her back. Not long after, the owners called Dr. Porter because Zahara was looking poorly. Dr. Porter found her quite thin and depressed. He called us and asked the question – could we take her? Of course we would!

Zahara was transported to the rescue where she settled in nicely. She was vetted, her teeth were done, and her feet were trimmed. Her rehabilitation program went well. Dr. Porter x-rayed her neck to compare it to the original injury and he was truly amazed at how well it had healed!

Zahara is a very pleasant and honest mare. While she will never race, jump, or pull a cart or buggy, she will make a nice trail horse or wonderful companion, and now, thanks to the generosity of a dear friend and supporter, Zahara has departed for school to begin her training.
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Dr. Cardona (El Sol) was at the farm last week to check on Penny and Frodo. While he was here, he did a new Coggins on Zahara as well as microchipped her.
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Zahara left for ‘school’ on August 1st. We’re so excited that she will be learning new things! She normally doesn’t like to load, but, as usual, Pam of Double B Equine Transport, was very patient with her.
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It didn’t take long for Zahara to walk right onto the trailer and then, off to school they went!
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Zahara, is yet another Beauty’s Haven Miracle thanks to our wonderful and dedicated village of supporters. Through your generosity, love and support, you have helped us grant this beautiful mare a second chance at life, a life without pain and worry, a life with dignity and respect.

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc., a place where ‘Life Begins, Again!’
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Zahara

Thoroughbred • Black • Mare • 15 Hh • DOB 2007

Zahara is a stunning black Thoroughbred mare that was born in 2007. We were told that her original owners gave her to someone years ago. In 2012, while at that home, she sustained a neck injury. Dr. Michael Porter took x-rays which indicated a fracture at C-4/5. In 2014, her original owners took her back. Not long thereafter, the owners called Dr. Porter because Zahara was looking poorly. Dr. Porter found her to be very thin and depressed. He called us and asked the question – could we take her?  Of course we would!

Zahara was transported to the rescue where she settled in nicely.  She was vetted, her teeth were done, and her feet were trimmed.  Her rehabilitation program went well. She just needed a proper diet – there was no medical condition that led to her being skin on bones.  Dr. Porter x-rayed her neck to compare it to the original injury and he was amazed at how well it had healed!  She’s a very pleasant and honest mare.  While Zahara will never race, jump, or pull a cart or buggy, she will make a nice trail or companion horse.

Zahara has not as yet been started under saddle. She will require an experienced horse person with a background of training horses using natural horsemanship techniques.  A training plan will be included in the adoption contract. If interested, please take time to read our adoption procedures/requirements information, that can be found on our Adoption Page.

Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue, Inc., reserves the right to approve or deny a potential adoptive home at BHFER’s sole discretion.


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‘Life is about determination. Don’t give up just because of the obstacles. Regardless of what obstacles face you, just keep going! Go through, go around, or go over – but never give up!’
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Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue Inc. is a 501(c)(3) grassroots Non-Profit Organization registered in the state of Florida (EIN: 20-4783950).  We are not funded by Local, State, or Federal funds. We operate totally from donations from the public. Please consider making a one time or recurring donation to help the horses. No amount is too small and all donations are very much appreciated. Donations are tax deductible.

Beauty’s Haven was awarded Verified status by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) in 2012. GFAS is the only globally recognized organization that provides standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries.  Awarded November 2014 Equine Hero and 2017 Eagle Rare Life Award for Heroism.  A Guidestar Exchange Silver Participant and a GreatNonprofits Top Rated Non-Profit in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

A trip down memory lane… Some of you may remember Itsuko. She was a TB mare we helped in 2011. Itsuko was born in 1991, had 99 starts in her racing career and earned almost $100K. She had multiple babies. We found her starving and living in an unsafe makeshift backyard pen.

Itsuko the day she came to Beauty’s Haven – June 14th, 2011. She clearly needed help ASAP.

She was skin on bones.

But we saw a lot of light (and gratitude) in her eyes.

This is Itsuko 2 ½ months after rehabilitation – taken August 28th, 2011. What a beautiful mare!

During the first week of September 2011 Itsuko went to Black Beauty Ranch (HSUS) in Texas where she will live a lifetime of carefree living. I think these recent pictures speak for themselves…

It’s really good to share happy updates!

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

Tag Archive for: Thoroughbred