Page 6 September 2015

Beauty’s Haven Rescues andRehabilitates Abused Horses

By Celeste RubanickDr. Michael Porter, a veteri-

narian in Alachua, doesn't hes-itate when he's asked his opin-ion about the best non-profithorse rescue in this area.

"I cover a big part of thestate and part of Georgia," hesaid, "from southern Georgiadown to Melbourne andVenice, and Beauty's Haven isthe only rescue I associatemyself with both publicly andprivately. They do the best jobin the state."

Although Beauty's HavenFarm and Equine Rescue islocated in Morriston, aboutfive miles south of Williston,many of its residents, volun-teers and veterinary personnelcome from western AlachuaCounty. Opened in 2006 byTheresa and Robert Batchelor,it has become the "go to" facil-ity for Alachua County whenfarm animals are found neg-lected or abused.

But Beauty's Haven storystarts before that.

Back surgery in 1997 hadleft Theresa partially disabled,and she retired from her gov-ernment job in 2000. Soonafterward, her two childrenstarted horseback riding les-sons and Theresa discoveredthat riding helped her pain. AnArabian horse named Beautywas seized by Pasco County ashort time later. She had beenbeaten and neglected and theBatchelors leased five acresoutside Tampa (where theylived) to care for her. WhenTheresa spent time withBeauty, both of them felt bet-ter. The family relocated toLevy County.

In 2013, a man called therescue from Alachua and saidhe had a pony who was downand he couldn't afford to havea vet euthanize her. The ponywas the subject of an activeAlachua County neglect casebut nothing had been done.

"I first examined Betsy Rose inJune 2013," remembered Dr.Natalie Lambeck of High

Springs. "She was being sur-rendered to Beauty's Havenand she was emaciated andweak. They did an excellentjob providing her the propernutrition and nursing care,even slinging her during theearly stages of her rehabilita-tion, in order to allow her togain her muscle strength backso she could eventually standon her own."

Theresa appealed to her"village," as she calls the thou-sands of Facebook followerswho support the rescue, andenough money was pledged totry to save the pony. BetsyRose couldn't even eat grainbecause her back teeth weregrowing into her gums. Oneby one, her problems wereaddressed, she spent less andless time in the sling, and nowBetsy Rose, a happy pony, isthe rescue's "poster child."People all over the world havemet her through Facebook,and send gifts.

"When you surround your-self with good people,"

Theresa commented, "goodthings happen."

Elizabeth Fried of Archer isthe treasurer of the non-profitand also a volunteer. "WhenBetsy Rose got there," shesaid, "I thought it would be amiracle if she lived. But that'swhat happens at Beauty'sHaven – miracles."

Fried and her daughter,Brianna, both volunteer at therescue and know first handhow much work is involvedwith caring for 30 or morehorses, mules and donkeys.

"It's really hard work," shesaid. "I'm constantly amazedat the dedication of Theresaand Bob. They do it all if thereare no volunteers that day, andthat happens more than welike."

"I have a lot of trust inTheresa and her husband,"Porter continued. "They doexactly what they say they'regoing to do with theirresources. A few bad rescueshave put a bad taste in people's

Photos provided to The Observer

Betsy Rose arrives at Beauty's Haven in June 2013, so neglect-ed by her owner that she couldn't stand.

See Beauty’s Haven, next page

September 2015 Page 7

Beauty’s Haven, Continued from previous page

mouths, but Beauty's Havendelivers."

Porter went on to mentionthat he was recently contactedby a Tampa Bay horse ownerwho needed help with a starv-ing mare. He called Theresa,she appealed to her Facebookfollowers, and the mare,recently renamed "Zahara," isnow getting better at the res-cue.

"People see free horses onCraigslist all the time,"Theresa explained, "and these

people take a free horse andhave no idea what to do orhow much work it is. I get lotsof calls from people like that.And too often those horses endup going into the slaughterpipeline."

Volunteering at Beauty'sHaven is actually a great wayto learn what horse ownershipentails. Veterinary studentsfrom UF, kids who want to bevets, and people who simplylove animals perform volun-teer work at the rescue, feed-

ing cleaning and loving theanimals, who thrive on all theattention. Theresa urges othersto come learn what it takes tocare for a horse properly byvolunteering. She also tries toeducate the public to call theright agency when neglect orcruelty is witnessed.

"There are so many morethings we'd like to do if wejust had the time," she said."For example, I would like tohave a gelding clinic so that

After weeks of being assisted by the sling, Betsy Rose and a friend are able to enjoy pasture time.

Dr. Michael Porter and Theresa Batchelor examine Betsy Rose a few weeks after her arrival.

See Beauty’s Haven, next page

Page 8 September 2015

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people with stallions whocan't afford to have them geld-ed could take advantage of acheaper price during a clinic."

Beauty's Haven has rehabil-itated and placed nearly 300horses, donkeys, and mules inits nine year existence and haswon several non-profitawards. Locally, they've wonSun State Credit Union's Non-Profit of the Month awardthree times. And they're cur-rently in the running for anational award called theShelter Challenge. The res-cue's Facebook page is "liked"by 4,975.

Lamneck added, "All theanimal rescues, includingBeauty's Haven, serve a won-derful and compassionate needin our community by helpingthese animals, like Betsy Rose,come back from death's doorand enjoy a second chance atlife."

To learn more aboutBeauty's Haven, apply to vol-unteer or adopt, or donatemoney, visit their Facebookpage or website,www.bhfer.org. If you wouldlike to visit the facility, call352-258-9309.

(There is some confusionabout the difference betweenMill Creek Farm in Alachuaand Beauty's Haven Rescue inMorriston. Mill Creek is aretirement home for horses.According to their website,Mill Creek's mission is to pro-vide lifetime care to horsesseized by law enforcementagencies, rescued by the SPCAor humane societies, horsesretired from government serv-ice, and unwanted horses thatare destined for slaughter.They do not accept horsesfrom private owners, and thehorses are never ridden again.On the other hand, Beauty'sHaven rescues farm animalsthat have been abused and/orneglected, and adopt them outwhen they have been rehabili-tated. They are as young as twoweeks old, often from privateowners, and most of the horses

can be ridden. It is always the goalof Beauty's Haven to adopt out

healthy animals so more can besaved and rehabilitated.)

This was Dr. Porter's first look at Zahara in the Tampa Bayarea. Within hours, enough money was donated to bring herto Beauty's Haven for rehabilitation.

Everyone associated with Beauty's Haven is looking forwardto the beautiful Zahara gaining several hundred pounds.