Feel Better Farm - Equine and Farm Animal Rescue

11/08/2024

How it started.....how it's going.

Mystical Marlin, 2001 OTTB mare.

This is the work of her intake foster home and her current foster home.

She's happy, healthy and safe.

.addicts_

28/07/2024

🙄

 

12/07/2024

Chewy is super psyched about the break in the heat!

  .addicts_

07/07/2024

We said farewell to our dear old Neo today.

Neo came to us 4 years ago, literally pulled off the back of a truck headed to Mexico.

On arrival, he was diagnosed with a high cervical injury that made him neurological in all 4 legs. Basically, his legs had a mind of their own sometimes. But he did fine. He grazed and played, and every now and then, he even kicked up his heels and got frisky. But we knew that one day those old legs, driven hard on the roads pulling a buggy for so long, were going to wear out. Unfortunately, today was that day.

He was down in his walk-in. No struggling, not uncomfortable, just down with no ability to rise.
He gave me one try to rise, as if to let me know 'Mum, look, it's the legs. We knew it would always be my legs, and it is'. We looked at each other, and I think we both knew what the other was thinking.

I called the vet and sat with him while we waited. I held his head while passed and laid him down quietly so his friends could say goodbye.

Resolute and dignified, Neo left us like the gentleman he was.

Good journey, sweet boy.

04/07/2024

Happy 4th of July!

Our float in the Scottsville parade was a success!

We couldn't bring the horses, so we had the next best thing with our amazing farrier, Blair, and Arch in costume.

Cashmere and Vinnie, the goats, stole the show. I believe Cashmere sees a future for herself in showbiz.

The kids had a blast handing out candy and stickers, and nobody got dehydrated or sunburned!

Huge thanks to our amazing volunteers who made this happen.

Next year, double the candy and double the stickers!

29/06/2024

It was Farrier Day yesterday, for half of our herd anyway, and look who came to help his mama, our amazing farrier, Blair!

This is Vinnie. He's come a long way from a baby abandoned at auction, all thanks to Blair's exceptional love and care.

She gives the same love and attention to our horse's hoof care.

 

22/06/2024

🫒Oliver's Story

Welcome to the family Oliver! Oliver is a young pony gelding who comes to us in partnership with Feel Better Farm - Equine and Farm Animal Rescue. Keep following his story to get to know him.

21/06/2024

Timber is the funniest little donkey. She LOVES water.

For the record, that isn't normal for a donkey. Unlike horses, a donkey's coat doesn't wick away water, but rather, it absorbs it straight down to their skin. If you think about where they originated from, it makes perfect sense. There isn't a whole lot of concern for cold, wet winters in the Middle East. But here, it means we have to be extra sure that they have dry shelter to retreat to. So water isn't something that donkeys, and often mules too, enjoy.

Timber begs to be the exception to the rule.

We have a leak in one of our hoses that I would fix, but Lovey and the dogs like to play in it. Well, Timber found it, too. And she loves it!

She maneuvers herself so that it sprays all the good spots. She likes to spray into her mouth and then curls her lip and brays like a toddler having a big belly laugh.

It's such a simple thing, but it gives her such joy. And after what I can only assume has been an unfairly hard life, we want to give her every bit of joy that we can.


🐴 🐴

A 501c3 equine & farm animal rescue in Central VA. We rehab, retrain, rehome & provide sanctuary.

10/06/2024

Here's a quick update on Callum, the pigeon, and the pretty little peahen.

As you can see, Callum is struggling in his transition to a house pigeon. Obviously, his life will be a constant struggle from here on out (🙄) Yes, that's a goat he's sharing a lap with.

The little peahen has settled into her new flock. She has friends to hang with, lots of good food and shelter, and she's safe forever.

So, our little adventure into bird rescue turned out great for all involved!

06/06/2024

Oliver went off for his big boy training at today. His world has changed so much in such a short time, but this is important for him. A well trained horse is a well homed horse, and this little boy will make the right person a lifelong friend.

Endless thanks to Erica, Chanda and the whole crew at EWS for easing my worries for our boy. I know he is in the best hands and a bright future awaits him.

  .addicts_

04/06/2024

This is Callum.

Callum was found in a residential neighborhood. He is not a homer, but he is very much a domesticated pigeon. He has no band, so the person who found him couldn't look up an owner. They posted everywhere and searched for an owner, but nobody claimed this poor boy, so they reached out to us.

We are very fortunate to have a wonderful bird expert in our volunteer crew, and she is going to give him a forever home.

This handsome fellow will be safe forever!

02/06/2024

Does anyone remember Patrick?

His intake picture is the second one, after this glorious picture I took at my visit today.

It's been 3 years since we pulled him from a PA killpen (the one that actually ships) due to his precarious health (extreme emaciation and physical injuries)
Patrick was so scared of human touch when we got him that he shook when we approached.
He was adopted by some of our amazing local supporters, and to say this boy had a glow up is an understatement.

Patrick is, without a doubt, living his absolute best life. Gone is the skinny, scared beat-up boy who arrived here. Patrick is strong, healthy, and confident, spending his days with his best buddy and his adoptive pare ts, who dote on him.

This is why we do this.
This is why we ask for your financial support
This is why I have the body of an 80 year old, and I'm ok with it. The animals we take in deserve to be loved and safe and happy.
This is why we rescue.

.addicts_

30/05/2024

This sweet girl was found wandering in a busy neighborhood north of Charlottesville. Unable to find her home, her rescuers didn't know where to take her, so she's come to stay with us for a while. She'll want to be with other peafowl, so we'll be on the lookout for a good placement for her. For now, she's happily and safely installed in a stall with soft a bed and lots to eat and drink.

27/05/2024

We picked up 50 bales of lovely mixed grass hay yesterday. We'd love to get some more, and have been offered a price of $4 a bale, which is an insanely generous offer. We would like to get 100 bales if we can, which would keep us going through most of the summer, but we need some help to pay for it.

If you're able to help, donations are tax deductible and always humbly appreciated.

Paypal.me/feelbetterfarm ([email protected])
Venmo $feelbetterfarm
Cashapp $feelbetterfarm

25/05/2024

Our sweet Tibbin went off to her new home and her new friend, Mason!

Tibs came to us about 18 months ago and was a neurotic mess. But she's turned into a sweet, calm, laid-back girl who will have a wonderful retirement being a full-time friend.

.addicts_

19/05/2024

Molly has been in a foster home for the last year, but her companion passed away and she was lonely so, as we promise all of our animals, she came right back home to the farm.

12/05/2024

Oliver reluctantly had his coggins pulled on Friday so that he can head off to in Keswick. They have generously offered to take Oliver into their training program. He has had some minimal training here on the farm, working with his volunteer, Maia, and his trainer, Lucy. But as a small rescue with very limited resources, we haven't been able to give him the consistency and formal training that he needs. Fortunately we are located in the same area as Equine Welfare Society Equine Welfare Society, and they have kindly offered this little bundle of attitude and potential into their program.
Oliver is so clever and has so much to offer! We are so excited to see what he can do.

10/05/2024

It's with such great sadness that I let you all know that our wonderful Grace crossed the bridge today.

I know many of you have followed her, invested in her, since we brought her to Feel Better Farm 2 years ago.

Grace never received the care she should have before she came here. Her hoof care was nonexistent, and her front hooves were riddled with canker. We tried so hard to get control of it. 2 surgeries and daily treatment until she just wouldn't tolerate it anymore. I understood. I get it. She was done. She was tired and sick of being poked and prodded.

So we changed focus and concentrated on keeping her comfortable for as long as we could.
I knew that meant that as Summer crept closer, the ground got harder and flies ramped up, our time was running out.

It's important to me to pick a good day. Today is a beautiful day. The sky is clear, there is a light breeze and her friends graze quietly nearby. It's the perfect day for a last day.

Thank you,everyone, for loving her, supporting her, and helping us give her the time she had with us.

Good journey, my sweet, gentle, beautiful big girl.

08/05/2024

This Baby. I first introduced her when she came to us last fall as an owner surrender. The ligaments in Baby's front left leg never set and she wasn't treated for this as an infant, so she came to us with what could best be described as a flipper instead of a leg. She was dragging herself around on 3 legs, hiding from anyone and everyone. Our vet, Dr Lincoln, thought casting it and seeing if the ligaments set was worth a try, but unfortunately, we didn't see any progress. What we did see though, was a stronger, more confident little goat emerge once she had her cast to bear weight on.

As you can see from her conformation, Baby has some congenital issues to deal with. Her back should be level, not high in the rear as you see in her picture. Our wonderful farrier is working on blocks for her front hooves to help level her out a bit in an effort to stave off arthritic issues in her back and good leg.

She has some challenges, for sure, but she is doing really well. She gets around on her little crutch/cast, she's become more friendly and so, so brave.

None of us are perfect, but her little imperfections are what makes Baby so deserving of a little extra effort from us.




#🐐

A 501c3 equine & farm animal rescue in Central VA. We rehab, retrain, rehome & provide sanctuary.

03/05/2024

It was a big day for little Timber the donkey. Our wonderful farrier, Blair, came out to address her disastrous hooves. I've put some before and after pics to show the progress.

It will take some time to get this girl walking properly and to get correct angles back, but Blair is very hopeful that she can make great strides (ba dump dum 🤣) over time and she is already so much more comfortable.
FYI, her hoof is wrapped in a preemie diaper. It's so tiny!

She's a sweet, sad old girl, and I don't think I'm ever going to let her out of my sight again. This old love will be staying in the sanctuary herd here, along with Ginger, the blind appy, Jilly and Poppy with their bad knees, Neo the neurological Saddlebred, and several others whose safe retirement is guaranteed here with us on Feel Better Farm.

If you are interested in sponsoring any of these horses, or the smaller animals, please reach out to us via messenger, email or our website Www.feelbetterfarm.org

If you would like to help with Timber's care please donate at the link below.

Paypal.me/feelbetterfarm

01/05/2024

Pepsi has fully embraced his role as Porch Pig. On a hot spring afternoon, what better place is there than passed out on your orthopedic dog bed in the shade of the porch, enjoying the breeze.

    

26/04/2024

I don't know what Sam, Oliver and Sunny have been discussing, but Blackberry has been sent to give me the news...... 😬

Update: they were discussing the frequency of meal delivery, and Blackberry informed me that they have decided that meals are to be delivered 4 times a day. He was unimpressed with my response of hysterical laughter.

  .addicts_

26/04/2024

Pepsi Pig's approach to the day seems perfectly reasonable to me......

 

25/04/2024

Flicka's idea of helping to unload hay. It's a hard life for a little goat.

 

24/04/2024

Timber says, 'Good Morning!'

24/04/2024

We successfully picked up the sweet old mule today. He's been christened Banjo and despite his emaciated condition he is nothing but a big ball of love. As you can see he is very underweight. We have the vet scheduled to do teeth and take a look at his R hip, which he favors.

Of course it wouldn't be a day if I didn't come home with a bonus critter. Today it's this sweet little Jerusalem donkey who we've named Timber. Again, she is severely underweight. Her hooves are in horrible shape and her L front is clubbed. The farrier will be out to make a plan for this on Monday, but for now she's in a soft paddock and on pain meds. I don't have a prognosis for her as the farrier hasn't seen her in person, but based on pictures she is hopeful. We do still owe $575 for bail on both of these babies, so if you are able to help, any amount is much appreciated.

Stay tuned as these guys settle in and get healthy.

Paypal.me/feelbetterfarm
Venmo -

23/04/2024

Heading home with this sweet, skinny old boy.

22/04/2024

From Whiskey's foster mum.

It has been such a hard year already, and the losses keep coming. It gets harder each day to keep this up, but you just can't look at this face and give up.

Good journey our sweet, sweet boy.