honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on Jun 20, 2009 0:35:19 GMT -5
He was only 24 in the beach photos, but the other ones were taken just a couple days ago. He doesn't do well with lots of changes in diet or location, and really likes hanging around his box stall (about an hour of turn out is all he's really interested in). I've been working with my vet for the last year to find a diet good for him...right now he gets about 5 pounds Equine Senior, 1 pound rice bran, and 1/4-1/2 pound alfalfa pellets along with about 4 flakes of hay a day (depending on the hay--all he'll eat without a lot of wastage). He's doing very well for his age and so far his teeth are holding up ok---although he did lose one at his dentistry last year.
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Post by coconut on Jun 20, 2009 11:14:58 GMT -5
Those photos on the beach are gorgeous !!! Someday I hope do that too...not sure I'll look THAT good....but you can bet there'll be a big ol grin on my face
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myhorsefaith
Junior BB Member
Run, baby, run... I miss you.
Posts: 71
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Post by myhorsefaith on Jun 20, 2009 11:36:12 GMT -5
those are awesome photos!! nice work, you both look great (and from one english rider to another...well played!)
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honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on Aug 9, 2009 2:31:24 GMT -5
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honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on Aug 23, 2009 2:47:08 GMT -5
Here are some pictures I took of Ben today. I thought from the last set that he was just looking too thin, so I have added rice bran back into his diet again. I had taken it out several months ago, but I think that was a bad idea. Anyway, here's my hansom guy today, covered in dust, just as he likes. Trailing his dust bath behind him: He saw me coming, and went for the gate...then noticed I had stopped w/ camera ready: At the gate: The same night, after a run around in the arena, which caused most of the silt to fall off his coat: Scratchin' an itch: He is still a hansom guy.
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honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on Aug 30, 2009 14:12:13 GMT -5
Here are some pictures before and after our trail ride yesterday. The rice bran seems to be putting some more fat over his ribs already. Sunbathing: After a hose-off: He needs his feet done...they don't grow very fast anymore but it's time. Despite his front shoes he seemed a little more tenderfooted on the rocks than usual. If anyone ever wants to make a trip down to the Eugene/Springfield area, we'd definitely be up for a trail ride. He loves to get outside on the trail.
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honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on Aug 30, 2009 14:35:13 GMT -5
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honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on Feb 24, 2010 19:31:51 GMT -5
It's been a long time since I updated--I'm back in school doing my pre-grad year in Painting and working part time also AND taking care of the ponies so there hasn't been a whole lot of extra time to stretch around. I also have misplaced my battery charger thus putting the camera out of commission. Ben is doing well--his joints do the snap crackle pop thing every once in a while but he moves well...he has been hanging out with another *Bask bred Arabian gelding (a few years his junior) lately named "Sterling". They have old man play dates. It's cute. I'll post more pictures of him when my battery charger turns up! Ben on the left, Sterling on the right.
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honeyfish
Full BB Member
Baskovia (Ben, CBER Stewart) 1984-2010
Posts: 130
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Post by honeyfish on May 14, 2010 13:53:34 GMT -5
It is with a heavy heart that I write to say I had to put my Ben down this morning. I got a call from the barn at 5:45 saying he was down and wouldn't get up...I went right down to find him out in the grass laying down. They were able to get him out of his stall but couldn't keep him up. He seemed to calm when I got there, but his gums were very pale and his heart rate up...I gave him banamine and called the vet, who got there fast...we were thinking initially he was a good surgical candidate, but he deteriorated so fast...he was loaded up on sedatives and banamine and his heart rate was still three times normal. His gums got more and more pale and he started bleeding, and we decided not to make him suffer any more. He was dignified and sweet to the very end, even though he must have been in terrible pain. I held him as he died. He was a month shy of his 26th birthday, and he looked better than he's ever looked. The vet felt he probably had a lipoma tumor growing on his small intestine that caused the torsion/blockage. He will be buried in Noti, outside the city...I can go and visit him later on. He was such a grand old horse...he taught me so much, and I loved him more than I can explain to anyone. Even though he was mostly retired (my choice, not his), we still had a blast riding and I was looking forward to some quiet trail rides with him this summer...I guess now only in dreams. I took this picture of him yesterday out enjoying some grass with Chevelle...he was so happy, chasing me around the pasture. This was after I was able to sneak away. Most of the pictures were of his nose in the camera. I'll miss him so much...he was a special horse, really special, and I wouldn't trade the five years we had together for anything. God speed, Ben. I love you.
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Post by wildwoman on May 14, 2010 16:38:17 GMT -5
SO SORRY for your loss. I never met the two of you-but I always followed your posts from back in the CBER days. shedding tears for you, glad you had rescued him. Lisa
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Post by trillium on May 14, 2010 22:56:15 GMT -5
I am so sorry to hear about Bennu, you gave him a very good life and can be proud of that. It is so hard when you loose a special animal because they have touched your heart in places that only other animal lovers can understand. I am certain all of us here do understand your grief. Take care. Laurie
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Post by Sara on May 14, 2010 22:57:28 GMT -5
I am so very sorry for your loss. Your love for Ben has always shined through so very clearly. How lucky you both were to find eachother and spend such wonderful years together. My heart goes out to you during this very sad time.
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Post by coconut on May 15, 2010 0:55:28 GMT -5
I'm sorry for your loss...it was always apparent you two were so good for eachother.
I took the time to go back and revisit his story and the story in pictures. What a sense of LOVE surrounding him...and you..
I hope that love continues to surround you...I get the feeling he'll always be with you.
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Post by zeesmom on May 15, 2010 9:45:40 GMT -5
Honeyfish,
I am so sorry! I have been following Ben's story from way back in the CBER days. Your updates were always so much fun to read. You were able to convey his personality through your posts and your deep affection for him always shone through.
I know how bad it hurts and just wanted to express my condolences and let you know that many more people were touched by Ben's story than you are even aware.
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Buena
SAFE Volunteer
No horse will ever teach you as much as your first horse.
Posts: 1,929
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Post by Buena on May 15, 2010 21:58:33 GMT -5
{hugs} to you. It's hard losing them. You did right by him and he was obviously very stoic until the end.
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