Greetings and Happy Holidays to all our Horses' Haven Friends,

Well, it's that time of year again where we can't walk into the barn or pastures without subtle, or not-so-subtle hints of Christmas wishes.  Wish lists are tacked on the fences, stall doors, and anywhere the horses, ponies, donkeys and goats think they will be noticed.

We've gathered the lists and compiled the wishes into the list below.  Please don't mention you received this list if you happen to be around the barn as they think we sent their wishes to Santa Claus only.

• Several of the horses would like new halters.  Personally I think there may be a behind the scenes competition going on around the barn for horse, pony, donkey with the most sponsors, so looking smart is an important part in presenting a good image to win those sponsors.  Halter sizes needed are as follows (Please be sure to get the halters that have a snap on the side so they can come off over the head):
  -A couple of weanling or small pony
  -A couple of yearling or large pony
  -LOTS of average horse size (800 - 1100 lbs.)
• Some of the volunteers have decided to purchase brass halter nameplates for their favorite horses, and of course, we can't have some horses with them and some without (that could get ugly), so we need to get one for everyone. They are only $ 7.00 each. They are all on order, but there are still a number of horses that need to have theirs paid for.  The horses like this idea as potential sponsors can more easily identify them for the contest.
• Each mini donkey has his or her "signature color" and each will settle for nothing less than their color (for the volunteers, this means we can figure out who is who, but the donkeys don't need to know that).  So, with that in mind, we need small pony size halters in the following colors: red (Mabel), blue (Mac Daddy), green (Teddi) and purple (Oliver).
• Lucky would like donations toward paying for the expensive tennis shoes that she and Pokey wear. They have Vet Tech and they cost $ 100 a reset every six weeks; $ 140 for new shoes when they need them.  Without these shoes with the spongy Vet Tech inside, both ponies would be very lame and hurting all the time. Pokey and Lucky are very grateful to be feeling good and to be able to run and play without pain.
• All horses would like SOFT horse treats such as Stud Muffins (just a word of warning…do not do a Google search for "Stud Muffins"…and yes, we did this innocently ONCE, and won't be doing it again). Since this type of treat can be crumbled up in little bits means that every horse, including the old ones without good teeth, can have a very special treat for Christmas.  Even the insulin resistant horses like Cancun and Pokey can have a few.   You can find Stud Muffins at some of the local tack shops and also at several on-line tack shops.
• Dorothy, of course, prefers her Vanilla Creme Sandwich Cookies. Mik seconds that!  And don't forget Mik's jelly donuts. He can have an extra one for Christmas.
• Several horses love pears and would like some of those for their Christmas treat!
• Of course, unsweetened apple juice and apple sauce are always welcome too.
• Hansel and Slots need baby aspirin for their arthritis. They preferred Bayer flavored cherry or orange..
• While most of the ponies have thick warm coats, they are a bit worried that if they got wet or cold and were shivering, we might not have a blanket for them as we are short on pony blankets.  So, they would like some blankets of their very own (pony sizes) in case they get cold.
• Everybody could use some Nolvasan ointment for their little booboos.
• Cash is always very much appreciated and is used to keep our residents well fed, happy and healthy (something they all appreciate very much).  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have caused our donations to fall off drastically.
• Sponsorships are wonderful Christmas gifts, and will help the horses with their unofficial contest (do they really think they can keep it a secret?).

Please remember to let us know if you'd like to make an appointment to deliver your Christmas presents in person, or if you would like to contribute monetarily, you can either send a check to Horses' Haven, P.O. Box 166, Howell, MI 48844, call the office to put your gift on your credit card 517-548-4880, or if you would like to pay via Paypal, just use the "Donate Today" link on our web page (www.horseshaven.org) and follow the prompts.  If you want your gift to be for something specific, please indicate on your check or in the comments section of the Paypal form and we will see it is used according to your wishes.

Also on the web page (www.horseshaven.org) under "How You Can Help", there is a "Donate Food" option that will take you to a menu page where you can select specific food items for your favorite horse or for all the horses if you like, and pay conveniently with Paypal.

We would like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks for the support you've shown that have made our first 10 years very meaningful for a lot of horses, and for your continued support.  If you come to visit over Christmas time, Frosty will be glad to give you a big hug!

With Warm Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season,

Horses' Haven
P.O. Box 166,
Howell, MI 48844
517-548-4880
www.horseshaven.org