Dear Santa, 

Hope the elves, Mrs. Santa Claus and, of course, you are well.  We here at Horses' Haven know how busy you are, so wanted to make things easier for you by providing you with our Christmas list.

 For the most part, we have been pretty good this year, as I'm sure you know.  However, since we know you have a very thorough list, we'd just like to say a few words about those who might be on your naughty, or not-quite-as-nice-as-they-could-be list:

 ...Adieu would like to apologize for constantly flirting with and teasing the boys over the fence, and promises she will try to curtail that activity next year.

...Hootie is sorry he chases any new horse in his pasture and will try to be a better boy in the future.

...JLo and Mabel promise to improve their gluttonous habit of eating every scrap of food they can grab.

...Gabby the Goat promises to stop eating the Christmas wreath...be back in a second...need to go remind her of her promise.

...Rose will try not to sleep with her big butt (sorry Rose, fact is fact) leaning up against the door until she breaks it.  Naughty, naughty Rose.  Boy, you're just like your dad.

...George will try and curtail his any-time-of-the-night harmonious vocalizations (his term, not ours...to us it's an annoying loud bray) that wake all the neighbors (you're probably heard from them about this asking he be put on your naughty list) if a volunteer comes in the barn to check on a sick horse.  He will, of course, rescind this promise if a burglar breaks in, then he will "vocalize" at the top of his lungs.

...And last, but certainly not least, Jeff apologizes for swiping some of Lightning's pretzels and promises to bring his own in the future.

 Now for the list...

• Lightning would like some Pretzels.  He is asking if you could please bring several bags as he is not confident that Jeff will be able to keep his promise (please see last item on aforementioned naughty list).  Santa, really Lightning doesn't mind sharing his pretzels with Jeff, so if you could just put an extra bag or two in your sleigh, that would be fantastic.
• For those little aches and pains, the goats swear by Baby Aspirin – and they wanted to be sure to mention that their favorite flavors are Cherry or Orange Flavor...yum yum
• The blind horses are requesting we get some new 3” diameter bells to put on their leader horse's halters.  It makes them feel so secure to know their sighted friend is near.
• Oh, and Santa, could we also add 1” diameter key rings to attach above bells to halters.
• We would all really like new Halters – prefer ones with chin adjustments plus a snap at the throat .  Need sizes – small horse (500 to 800 lbs.); regular horse (800 to 1100 lbs.), a couple of large horse (1100 +) as well as small pony and large pony – all in nice colors both masculine and feminine.  The boys are very picky about not wearing "girl" colors.
• Once again this year, Myk would like his favorite treat, Jelly Donuts (Not too many Santa, we love him and don't want to jeopardize his health...although the volunteers work hard around here and can always use a sugar buzz if we get too many).
• Unsweetened Apple Sauce and Juice, when mixed with food, sure makes it taste better for those who are fussy, and makes it soft and mushy for those with bad teeth, so please Santa bring some unsweetened Apple Sauce and Unsweetened Apple Juice in large bottles.
• McDonald’s salt in the small packages are used around here for those of us who sometimes get thrush in our little footsies (We won't name names, but the stinky foot smell should lead you to them).  Always need lots so load up your pockets!
• Desitin works really great for soothing sunburned muzzles.  It is also used for...let's see, how can I say this delicately...I can't think of a way, so I'm just going to have to be blunt...Sarge’s butt.  We'll leave Sarge with some dignity and explain no more, and hope you will take this request very seriously.
• 8 quart plastic buckets with handles that we use to prepare grains – any color (We really like our food)
• And while we're on the subject of food, Santa, please let people know that they can send food to their favorite horse or animal at Horses' Haven by going to the web page at www.horseshaven.org, navigate to the "How You Can Help" menu item, then select Food Fundraiser. Did I mention how popular food is around here?
• Clothespins are always needed for the food preparer to mark our food container to be sure nothing gets mixed up.  Food is one of our favorite things, right up there with a good roll in the mud, so these are very important to us.
• The volunteers use small coffee cans to measure out our food, Santa, so we could use more Small size (around 1 lb. or less) coffee cans – empty (I did remember to mention how much we enjoy our food here, right?)
• The blind horses really appreciate the chimes that are put up by their hay racks and water troughs.  They don't know how they would find their way to the food and water without them.   So, we could use some new ones.  Must be metal and not plastic or glass and large enough and loud enough so the horses can hear from the other end of the pasture.
• 4’ x 6’ heavy duty rubber mats for some of the run-ins. We love having these in our run-ins as they are so nice and cushy on which to lay down.
• Now we get to one of the most important things on this list...Horse Treats – Soft treats such as Horse Lady Muffins or Stud Muffins are preferred by the old horses with bad or no teeth as these treats can easily be crumbled up...and gobbled up  Any hard treats particularly in peppermint and apple flavors are popular here as well.  Apples and carrots (small bags please, since they spoil quickly) for the horses that can eat them are right up there on the treat list as well.  We also love pears – bosc are the preferred pear of choice.
• Now Santa, I don't mean to be greedy and ask for something just for me, but if you could find your way clear to put some Vanilla Crème Sandwich Cookies in the sleigh, you would just make my holiday. And while we're on this subject, Santa, please don't put any of the volunteers who steal my cookies on the naughty list.  I know who they are (I can see them through the club room window) and I forgive them as they work so hard to take care of us.
• And now, Santa, for the most important thing on our list.  Please give every human and animal in the world a full stomach, warm place to sleep and someone to love and be loved by this Christmas and in the year to come!

Thank you Santa!!!

 Dorothy

Christmas List Spokesdonkey for all of the animals at Horses' Haven

 As you do your holiday shopping, may we suggest that if you order from Country Supply, that you use the link on our webpage.  If you do, and follow the instructions on our webpage (down towards the bottom of our home page) Country Supply will donate some of the proceeds of your purchase to Horses' Haven. 

Also, we have signed up with Goodsearch.com, which if used as your search engine, will donate a penny for every web search you make to Horses' Haven if you select Horses Haven as your charity of choice.  Don't think a penny will make much difference?...please take a look at the "Amount Raised" button on their webpage to see how much has already been raised by people like you doing searches at Goodsearch for Horses' Haven in just a little over a month.  The link and instructions are down toward the bottom of our home page.

 Thanks to all of you for your generous support of Horses' Haven! 

 Happy Holidays!!! 

Horses' Haven

P.O. Box 166

Howell, MI 48844

517-548-4880

mailto: horseshaven@earthlink.net

www.horseshaven.org