honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Nov 18, 2008 12:36:40 GMT -5
I will be moving Ben and Chevver back into boarding for the winter. As much as I hate to expose them to horse colds and other fun boarding things, I realize that I may never ride again if I don't move back to an arena. Ben has never picked up the weight I wanted him to, despite being on about 5 pounds of Equine senior/1 pound of rice bran/a quarter of a flake of alfalfa/five flakes of grass hay daily, and I have come to the conclusion (with the vet) that he probably just isn't really that happy outside of a nice warm safe box stall. He has gained back some of the weight he lost when I moved him out to pasture for the summer, but not as much as I'd like. Added to no exercise besides walking around a small turnout on nice days, he hasn't been able to build much of the muscle that would help him cope better with aging. He has been in a stall, but the stalls are just made out of Priefert panels...and he tends to get a bit stressed when he can see other horses at feeding time. I hope I'm making the right choice for him, because ultimately I just want him to be happy. Like most horse owners this means tightening my belt some more, since boarding is quite a bit more expensive than having them at my friend's house. But that's okay, I don't really like going to see movies or expensive dinners anyway. Still every time I look at my ponies, ESPECIALLY my Bin-hun...I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. What more can you ask than that? They'll both be moving back the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'm very excited because I've managed to procure a larger stall in the quiet back isle for Ben.
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Nov 18, 2008 12:39:32 GMT -5
I always enjoy reading your updates. You love Ben so much and it always shines through. He is so lucky to have you! (both your horses are!)
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Nov 18, 2008 12:53:23 GMT -5
This is one of my very most favorite pictures of him.
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Nov 18, 2008 13:11:26 GMT -5
Thank you, Jaime. It's so hard this time of year with horses--I know my financial limits and I'm there right now. There are so many good horses out there that need homes, and while individuals aren't always able to help, organizations like SAFE make it possible for so many more to be saved. I have so much respect for SAFE and all of it's members. I'm over the embarrassment of CBER, after all this time...it did take me a long time to find out the truth...although I know that at the time I bought Ben there were many good people still involved with CBER, and most of them are here now. Although truthfully, I would have paid considerably more money than I did, even as a poor college student, to get him to permanent safety. I am sorry that by proximity I haven't been able to help much, but I do take comfort in knowing I have given one very deserving horse the best I can afford--and I'm not about to let him fall into a bad situation again. The only way I can be sure is if I never let him leave me, and that piece of mind is worth a lot. The stable near my house (which is a bit run-down, as it was built in the '60's, but certainly functional) has the unfortunate luck of also being called PEC (Pacific Equestrian Center)...since I live down in the valley I have been far removed from the more infamous stable bearing that same name, but I would like to assure you, Springfield's PEC is just a regular boarding facility with regular teenage girl drama and well-cared for horses. I don't think the barn owner here is aware of the Washington facility, but I have to say if I was, I think I'd change the name. Anyway--I've always felt fortunate to have SAFE's support, and being around so many other devoted horse people gives me a lot of pride, and not least of all, a lot of hope.
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Dec 10, 2008 1:45:50 GMT -5
Ben and Chevelle made the move back to boarding like the couple of champs they are. ;D Ben was sad about not having Chev right next to him at first, but they have both settled in very well. Now he has a nice box stall, his blankie on and equine senior like clockwork day and night. I have begun to slowly start bringing him back into riding condition. We had a mostly walk 30 minute ride today, and he felt great. He has a lot of muscle to gain back, but he's still as sound as ever and doesn't appear stiff or sore at all, even in this cold weather. Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures of the two soon. They were so funny today, running, bucking, spooking and being silly in the arena together.
|
|
|
Post by dustyboots on Dec 25, 2008 23:30:33 GMT -5
All of your horses are beautiful!! Ben looks like he has a very smooth trot. ...by the look of some of your pictures...did you/do you go to University of Oregon?
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Dec 29, 2008 0:19:45 GMT -5
I most certainly did go to the U of O (graduated in '06). I rode on the IHSA team for 3 years too! I did not, however, volunteer Ben's services for the team shows...I didn't think he'd ever forgive me.
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Apr 12, 2009 15:37:18 GMT -5
Here are some recent pictures taken from the other day. He is shedding out all kinds of strange colors and in the last couple days I have been able to get some more of the old hair off...and he got his face clipped so he can feel like an Arabian again. It seems like every year he has a harder time shedding his old coat. It surprises me every year how light his summer coat is. In a few weeks he'll be looking back to his usual hansom self. A couple months shy of his 25th birthday: No ribs showing anymore (took a while to make up the weight he dropped over the summer) and I am responsible entirely for his lack of muscle. All of my energy lately has been focused on Chevelle's training. However I don't think he minds as long as the Equine Senior, rice bran and hay pellets keep coming at the usual breakfast and dinner intervals. When the weather gets nicer we'll start getting out on the trails again, which is really what he enjoys most at this point.
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Jun 19, 2009 23:38:01 GMT -5
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Jun 19, 2009 23:53:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Sara on Jun 19, 2009 23:55:54 GMT -5
How fun! I hope you print those and put them in a photo montage- even if western isn't your thing.
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Jun 19, 2009 23:57:53 GMT -5
Well...it WAS pretty fun pretending to be a cowgirl for a day! ;D
|
|
|
Post by winterlakesfarm on Jun 20, 2009 0:05:15 GMT -5
What beautiful photos and Ben is stunning as always! I love your horse and always look forward to updates!
|
|
honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
|
Post by honeyfish on Jun 20, 2009 0:14:30 GMT -5
Thank you...he is a really grand old guy. He has been worth every penny. I'll try to do better about photo updates now that the weather has turned (mostly) for the better!
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Jun 20, 2009 0:16:57 GMT -5
Love those beach photos! And Bennu looks amazing for 25...wow!
|
|