We just arrived home from our family vacation!
Actually, only I arrived home from our family vacation… Hubby brought me home so I could care for MamaTess and he is going to return tomorrow morning (Sunday) to hang out for two more days with his family.
Why? Well, my regular horse feeder was not going to be available to care for MT this weekend due to the Tevis. (Do you know of the Tevis? It is a huge endurance race run every year right in my area. Most of the horse feeder types are crewing or working at some level for the Tevis. My vets are both at the Tevis. Everyone is at the Tevis…)
Anyway, I didn’t have anyone qualified to care for MT this weekend so Hubby was kind enough to drive me home. He knew not to ask me to ‘wing it’ on a new feeder. Smart man.
Upon arrival tonight, the pups were beyond happy to see us. This was the first time we left Little Scoutypants and Mayla longer than one night. Hubby felt like a King among Puppies! While I ran to the barn to wake up Tess and make sure she was fine (she was), he received the full Full Court Puppy Press of Enthusiasm filled with wiggly butts and rapid fire kisses.
Bliss.
BETSY ROSE UPDATE!
Today, I am going to bring you a few recent photos of Betsy Rose, our July Bucket Fund Welsh Pony Mare!
You can read her story here. In a nutshell, this lovely Welsh mare was left to starve on her own property with her owners. They just left her to starve – looking at her every day. When BHFER arrived, she was too weak to hold up her head and no one thought she would make it.

This is how BHFER found Betsy Rose – at her own home with her owners inside, letting her starve.
But now, a month later, there is hope. A long road… but hope.
Theresa sent these photos of Betsy. As with any recovering horse, she has her good days and her not so good days. But, I hear there are more good than bad.

Betsy looks so much stronger!! And so eager and interested!

… probably because the Cookie Lady was near! ;) BHFER takes such good care of Betsy!
Betsy is a fighter! She still spends most of her time in her sling… but she is walking for longer distances every day.
Here is the most recent update from Theresa at BHFER:

Betsy Rose!

She looks so much better – which is hard to believe that she could have looked worse – but she was much, much worse upon intake. Click image to read her story.
THIS IS MY FAV PHOTO OF THE WEEK!
Theresa and Betsy Rose…
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

I once had a miniature mare that could not get her weight up. I tried everything someone said worked, but to no results . I heard about a feed that is to be free feed and it worked. it is called One-N-Only, made in Texas. It is easy for them to digest and nutritional. I don’t know where you are located but it is worth the effort to help sick horses.
I think you did a great job with Betsy Rose. I had to make a support sling once to help a horse walk. That is quite a job not knowing if it will work, but the rewards are great when it does.
I can’t believe somebody would do that to this poor little pony! I only hope they are made to pay dearly for this. They should be glad I’m not in charge of how they pay for this-I would have absolutely NO MERCY!
Marie: There is never a lack of people willing to help. All one has to do is ask with conviction and follow through – as you would with any family member in need.
The first step is to find Rescue facilities in your area and beyond. Humane Society, animal welfare, breed specific rescues… There is never a reason to
let an animal starve before asking for help. Just ask yourself how you would handle this situation if the animal was a family member? That is all you
need to feel to start the process…
why was the horse being starved were the owners out of money, where can destitute animal, horse, farmers, take their animals when they can not longer care for them. can that be posted, maybe they are not trying to be cruel they might be out of sorts and do not know what to do, in crisis, having a break down and not functioning them selves, find ways for people to help their animals, help them find new homes for them, so they can avoid a crisis like this, find a solution.
what can we do, I am not good with this kind of crisis, I did not grow up with horses, or chickens or pigs or lots of dogs, and cats, so I am uninformed to handle this kind of thing. post information on how to handle these situations and maybe there will be less of them, go to the schools teach us.
God bless Betsy Rose and all the good people helping her recover! You are all fantastic.
She looks so sweet – good luck – I wish I was there to help her.