Name: Tiny Tim

    Type: Miniature Horse

    Color: White & Palomino

    Markings: Spotted

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 12/31/2007

Tiny Tim is special in many ways! Surrendered to Red Bell Run when his owner’s circumstances changed and she could no longer care for him, he is one of our longest-term residents, moving from the Florida facility to North Carolina. He is a beautiful cream and white pinto with two blue eyes and the sacred Medicine Hat marking. His cute little ears are brown as is his poll area. This type of marking looks like a little hat or bonnet perched atop his head and horses with this marking were highly thought of by Native Americans.

Tim is one of those horses that simply gets along with everyone. We have a mini come in who needs a friend? Tiny Tim is there. Recently, little Willow lost her best friend, Twinkle. Who did our staff choose to move next to her and comfort her? Tiny Tim! He’s doing a great job, and Willow is recovering from her loss well. Someone has to be kept in a dry paddock for medical reasons and needs company? Why, Tim is the one chosen since he truly gets along with everyone. Need a participant in our Reading with Rescues program for children? Tim is happy to step up, listening to stories, and having little hands petting and grooming him, standing patiently. He is a gentleman through and through.

Although Tiny Tim is getting older now and occasionally loses his appetite, we tempt him with special feeds and so far, his appetite has always picked back up and he quickly goes back to being his happy, sweet self. We monitor his weight and body condition and make sure he gets the nutrients that he needs. He’s pleasant and easy to have around! Tiny Tim is one of those minis who never puts a foot wrong. We’re so happy to have him here and he’s a valued member of our little herd at Mini Heaven. 

    Name: Hannah

    Type: Miniature Horse

    Color: Palomino

    Markings: None

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2017

Our friend Celine Myers of the Ark Watch Foundation was notified of some minis in need, Clara and her 5-day old foal Justin. At the same time this pair was spotted it became clear that there was a small palomino mini horse foal and her dam, a black mini mare, who were in similar jeopardy. As herd animals, the two mares would fare better if they had each other for company. The two foals would also have a better chance of surviving if they each had another little friend to play with. So the rescue plan was expanded to include Hannah and her dam Daphne.

A vet came to examine the two pairs within hours of their transport to a foster home. Blood was drawn and lungs were scanned. The lung scans revealed that all the animals had pneumonia and a series of antibiotics were given to combat the respiratory issues. It took six months before this group of four minis were strong enough to travel to Red Bell Run. After a 2 day trip including an overnight in Alabama they arrived at the Sanctuary. All four minis have flourished at Red Bell Run after many months of recovery from various illnesses, ailments and prior neglect. Hannah has an insatiable curiosity about everything, tons of energy and an adorable personality! She is one of our Red Bell Run ambassadors and you can often see her at various community events that we attend. 

    Name: Clara 

    Type: Miniature Horse

    Color: Buckskin

    Markings: None

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2009

When our friend Celine Myers of the Ark Watch Foundation was notified of some minis in need, Clara was at an auction house in Mississippi with her 5 day old foal, Justin. Justin was curled up like a puppy in the dirt; a virtual petri dish of filth and disease. It was obvious that if someone didn’t get Clara and Justin out of there immediately that Justin wouldn’t make it. A vet came to examine the pair within hours of their transport to a foster home. Blood was drawn and lungs were scanned. The lung scans revealed that Clara and Justin had pneumonia and a series of antibiotics was given to combat the respiratory issues. Clara had been extremely stressed at the auction house and Justin was not nursing as much as he needed to. He was dehydrated and weak and would not have survived there much longer.

It took six months before they were strong enough to travel to Red Bell Run. Justin and Clara both had liver issues probably due to eating toxic weeds on pasture the winter before she was discovered. The toxins had likely crossed through the placenta and had affected little Justin’s liver while he was still in the womb. After a 2-day trip including an overnight in Alabama, they arrived at the Sanctuary.Clara has flourished at Red Bell Run after many months of recovery from various illnesses, ailments, and prior neglect. She is enjoying her life in the NC foothills!  

Justin and Clara

    Name: Desi

    Type: Miniature Horse

    Color: Pinto

    Markings: Star

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 12/29/1999

Desi is part of a mini due named “Desi and Luci” of course! Desi was destined to be “big cat food” and had been purchased for that purpose in Kentucky along with a group of other minis destined for the same fate (all of whom are happily living at Red Bell Run). He and the others were awaiting pick up by the cat man when a Kentucky rescue saw them, purchased the whole group and asked if Red Bell Run would give them Sanctuary. There were several in the group with health issues, including little Desi. The entire group was put into quarantine in Oklahoma for an extended period before coming to Red Bell Run. Meanwhile, in Louisiana a small herd of minis including a black miniature mare named “Luci” were languished in a field, covered in rain rot and close to starving. The Humane Society of North Texas became involved and brought the entire group to their facility in Texas for rehabilitation.

Desi and his friends finished quarantine and were sent to the HSNT facility in Texas to await transport to Red Bell Run. There, the stars aligned and Desi met Luci. It was love at first sight. The HSNT director called and asked if Desi’s girlfriend Luci could accompany him to Red Bell Run. How could we possibly say no? Desi’s health issues are under control, Luci is the love of his life (she’s an older woman) and both live happily in adjoining stalls at our Mini Heaven Barn.  

    Name: Justin Bieber 

    Type: Miniature Horse

    Color: Flaxen Chestnut

    Markings: Snowflake spotting on rump 

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 1/1/2017

Justin was a 5-day-old tiny miniature horse curled up like a puppy in the dirt at an auction house in Mississippi. He was lying in a virtual petri dish of filth and disease. It was obvious that if someone didn’t get him and his dam out of there immediately he would die within a few hours. The Ark Watch Foundation immediately sprang into action arranging for his and mom Clara’s purchase and vet care. Justin wasn’t nursing as much as he needed to and had pneumonia. Dehydrated and weak; he also had liver issues and an E-coli infection. It would be four months before he would be strong enough to travel to Red Bell Run. Unfortunately, on the 2-day trip he developed pneumonia again as often happens in these extremely compromised babies. After several more months of recovery, Justin flourished at Red Bell Run. He and his mother Clara are now healthy and enjoying life at our Mini Heaven Barn. Sweet Justin loves to run and play with his best friend Hannah and has now become our “social butterfly”.