May 10th brought clouds that cleared into a fun sunny day. Thank you to the volunteers from VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment in Roanoke. We had a very successful day out sprucing up jumps at Green Hill Park Equestrian Center. The park is maintained mostly by volunteers and we appreciate the hours this great team gave. The supplies were donated by us – profits made from the concession stand at last fall’s GHPEC Open Halloween Show. Our funds were stretched by discounts from Rockingham Co-op/Ace and donations from other BREA and BRES members and friends.

Beautiful day at Green Hill Park Equestrian Center today.

We pulled out the old nasty cabinets. Moved the short counter over and installed a new one. The space feels so much bigger now. It will be so much easier to keep clean, too.

Thank you Jim Dahlgren for all your hours and knowledge!!!

Thanks to the Habitat ReStore, Roanoke Valley for working with us on the counter top.

Thanks to all last year’s Halloween Show concession stand volunteers and patrons… funds from the profits paid for the materials today. Thanks also to Absolute Veterinary Services for your donation to help buy concession stand supplies, you helped us stretch our profits!

The first Saturday in December meant time for our BRES holiday social. We got together at Angelle’s Diner in Salem. Their great team took such good care of us. The food came out super fast and was really good. We talked, played a guess how many horse treats are in the jar game, ate FABULOUS cake and helped RVHR board member and BRES member Brandon load cans and cans of carrots and corn, bottles of corn oil, jars of apple sauce, bags of donated feed, creme pies to hide pills and more into his truck to take back to the rescue.

We so appreciate the support of our members. Their support and generosity is so wonderful. Hope to see you next year.

Thank you Amber Brooks and the VFW Post 1841 Daleville for helping us help others. On Nov. 9th, 2023 we gathered to build natural wreaths. Amber brought great materials mostly from her Botetourt farm and led us through assembly. Lots of BBQ was eaten and there was greenery everywhere, fun was had for sure. The best part was after all the mess was cleaned up, profits were donated locally in the form of dog and cat food for pantries including RVSPCA – pet food for Meals on Wheels/LoAA, Wheatland Evangelical Lutheran Church Food Pantry, and Friends of RCACP Food Pantry.

Thank you to Dr. Hannah Varnell and her team from Wellfarm for joining us today.  Deworming has certainly changed in the last 30 years!  Herd care is important, but caring for the individual has become more important and the bigger focus for equine.

Wellfarm Veterinary Consultants provides mobile wellness and herd health services for cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, camelids, and backyard poultry across Virginia and West Virginia.  While not an equine specific vet, Dr. V does offer basic care for equines including vaccines and coggins testing as well as emergency care for colic or choke and euthanasia. Oh, they also offer basic barn cat care!

For more info visit their website at www.wellfarmvets.com or email Dr. V at info@wellfarm.org.

Dr. V offered us a discount for fecal tests today and we charged a bit extra – still a good deal on a fecal test and with the extra and a couple donations, we have $41 to spend on dewormers for an equine rescue!  I’ll speak to the board and we will pick one and get a few tubes ordered and sent out.