Fiona
Well-Known Member
OH and I have just had the most horrendous 24 hours, and it all happened so quickly, as on Monday evening all was fine. By Tuesday lunchtime poor little Ben my 26yo welshie was gone...
OH went out at about midnight to do the last feeds, and came in to tell me Ben was v colicky, getting up and down, pacing round box etc (though it hadn't been going on for long as his bed was still tidy). I got up and walked him for a little, then phoned the vet on call who was there in 20 minutes (and most fortunately it was an equine one - one of the two best in Ireland IMO). He treated Ben for a spasmodic type colic, and his symptoms eased a bit though still wasn't back to normal. OH and I sat with him most of the night, but in the morning a return vet visit was obviously needed, and this time when he did a rectal exam we got the news that every owner dreads - it was a twisted gut, and at his age there was no question of surgery being carried out. My vet wouldn't even start to consider it, so it would have meant a referral to the vets in Troytown 150 miles away who he reckoned would not be able to help either.
He had a massive dose of painkiller and we stayed with him all morning, the vet came back at lunchtime and he was put down in his favourite field eating polo mints in the sunshine..
From a stroppy 6yo who was so strong I couldn't hold him at any pace faster than a trot, we have had quite a journey over the last 20 years, but here are some of the highlights.......
Ben - a couple of weeks ago
Ben showjumping at our first EI event..
Before the hunt - can't stand still..
Hunt Derby last summer...
I owned him since 1988 so there are a lot of memories to examine, but the best that I can come up with are..
Being placed in his first ever aff EI event in 2006 (the oldest horse ever at the age of 24)..
Jumping double clear in the BHS 2 phase a couple of years earlier in the 1m class even though I was physically sick beforehand and we had to jump a treble in the SJ..
Travelling all the way to Perth for the scottish RC eventing champs and nearly getting a rosette (we were 7th)..
Acting as the perfect schoolmaster for Keisha's daughter just last summer, and enjoying life as a pony club pony..
Season after season of impeccable hunting, giving the fieldmaster a lead when he was on a young horse, literally squeezing past refusing horses on both sides to jump up to the front when hounds were running...
The funny way he rolled in the field where he coated one side in wet mud, before sitting up like a dog, walking his front legs round, and going down on the other side...
In 20 years he never ever ejected me from the saddle, we went down together on a couple of occasions out hunting, but he was the safest jumper in the business and never touched a fence.
He was rarely sick or sorry, and lived for his jumping, and for his best friend Sophie whom he loved. He was only objectionable when she went away to competitions without him.
Rest in peace little man - there will never be another one quite like you!!!
Fiona
(not sure if CR is the best place for what is really an obituary, but I always posted about him in here and never in RL)
OH went out at about midnight to do the last feeds, and came in to tell me Ben was v colicky, getting up and down, pacing round box etc (though it hadn't been going on for long as his bed was still tidy). I got up and walked him for a little, then phoned the vet on call who was there in 20 minutes (and most fortunately it was an equine one - one of the two best in Ireland IMO). He treated Ben for a spasmodic type colic, and his symptoms eased a bit though still wasn't back to normal. OH and I sat with him most of the night, but in the morning a return vet visit was obviously needed, and this time when he did a rectal exam we got the news that every owner dreads - it was a twisted gut, and at his age there was no question of surgery being carried out. My vet wouldn't even start to consider it, so it would have meant a referral to the vets in Troytown 150 miles away who he reckoned would not be able to help either.
He had a massive dose of painkiller and we stayed with him all morning, the vet came back at lunchtime and he was put down in his favourite field eating polo mints in the sunshine..
From a stroppy 6yo who was so strong I couldn't hold him at any pace faster than a trot, we have had quite a journey over the last 20 years, but here are some of the highlights.......
Ben - a couple of weeks ago
Ben showjumping at our first EI event..
Before the hunt - can't stand still..
Hunt Derby last summer...
I owned him since 1988 so there are a lot of memories to examine, but the best that I can come up with are..
Being placed in his first ever aff EI event in 2006 (the oldest horse ever at the age of 24)..
Jumping double clear in the BHS 2 phase a couple of years earlier in the 1m class even though I was physically sick beforehand and we had to jump a treble in the SJ..
Travelling all the way to Perth for the scottish RC eventing champs and nearly getting a rosette (we were 7th)..
Acting as the perfect schoolmaster for Keisha's daughter just last summer, and enjoying life as a pony club pony..
Season after season of impeccable hunting, giving the fieldmaster a lead when he was on a young horse, literally squeezing past refusing horses on both sides to jump up to the front when hounds were running...
The funny way he rolled in the field where he coated one side in wet mud, before sitting up like a dog, walking his front legs round, and going down on the other side...
In 20 years he never ever ejected me from the saddle, we went down together on a couple of occasions out hunting, but he was the safest jumper in the business and never touched a fence.
He was rarely sick or sorry, and lived for his jumping, and for his best friend Sophie whom he loved. He was only objectionable when she went away to competitions without him.
Rest in peace little man - there will never be another one quite like you!!!
Fiona
(not sure if CR is the best place for what is really an obituary, but I always posted about him in here and never in RL)
