RIP Ben (1982-2008) my horse of a lifetime!!

Very sorry, they are the best ones. My pony went much the same way, but I was glad to have been spared the agony of watching him slowly going down hill with arthritis or some such nasty. He looks absolutely stunning in that picture of you at a meet. What a fantastic horse to have had.
 
Thank you all. Too many replies to respond individually, but really really appreciate your comments.

Thistle - I am thankful that there was no decision to make, becaue that would have been even harder to bear. I had the advice of one of the best vets I know, and he was ready to go.

Only_me - yes it was that vet (how lucky was I that it was his night on call in what is really a mixed horse/large animal practice)!!

It was very hard to write this tonight, but in a way I was looking forward to it and planning what I would say all the way home in the car.

He wasn't an olympic star, or the handsomest show horse, but anyone could ride him, from my friend's 3yo, my v novice brother, to my 6ft OH who loved to take him XC schooling with the baby horses and then show off by jumping all the novice skinnies and combinations. He didn't have a nasty bone in his body and even out hunting would let anyone use him as an 'emergency stop'!! He loved showjumping and XC, but in his later days only the sound of the huntsman's horn as the hounds streamed out of their trailer really stirred his blood. In the hunting field he would go all day, and performed like a horse half his age (in fact many people refused to believe what age he actually was).

It was my pleasure and privilege to 'own' him for so long, and he will never be replaced.

I hope he is cavorting around with 'pocket's' welshie as we speak.

(oh bum - have started crying again this is not supposed to happen. I am a hopeless sniveller)

Fiona
 
That is so sad Fiona, poor you. What a wonderful little horse he was, and he certainly looked fit as a fiddle & happy to the end.
 
How sad, I'm so sorry for your loss.
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He was gorgeous and it looks like he had a wonderful life.
 
at least you know he recieved the best possible care from the vet and you
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hes gone to a place where he can eat all the polos he wants
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more ((((((hugs))))))
 
My thoughts are with you, he sounded a real gent and a great friend for many years, it's such a sad day when it comes and one we all dread as horse/pony owners, thankfully they don't take the memories with them, they leave those for us.
 
Feeling so much for you... What an amazing and lovely horse your little Ben was and how lucky he was to have you and you to have him.
Big hugs to you and OH. RIP gorgeous boy...
 
Oh Fiona that made me cry..But what an epitaph.
From his side he's had a loving home and one hell of a lot of fun through his life, and a relatively quick end.
There are some Welsh D's that are superlative at everything they tackle, and he was obviously one of them.
Tonight think how privileged you where to have owned him, not how much you will miss that big personality.. Hugs..
 
Thank you all again!

TOG - that is a really lovely sentiment. I wil try and remember that when I am missing him.

Tigers_eye - at least we were spared any sense of him going downhill, and not knowing what to do for the best.

Star - welshies worm their way into your heart and set up camp there don't they. My OH says it is their cheeky little faces, and tiny little ears!

My OH is terribly upset as well, though thankfully he managed to keep it all together slightly better than me when the vet was here. It is v hard to see a grown man cry!

I still haven't told my mum and dad, they live a distance away at present so will be able to telephone rather than face to face. My dad loves Ben, he helped me look after him for many years when I lived at home, and shared his chip butties with Ben at shows before I could drive myself.

FIona
 
I feel for you, its hard losing your best friend but just remember that he will be with you looking down on you and probably looking at the next horse you ride and saying..your not mummys favourite ..and you aren't as good as me..it does get easier when you know that you were there for your old friend and did not let him go on his own..a partnership until the end..
 
Its so moving to read your post. I'm so sorry for your loss
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but its wonderful that you had all of those years of good times together
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Thanks HH.

I know we were lucky to have him for so long, and for him to be in such good health for all of that time, but its human nature to always want more isn't it. I really wish I had video'ed him doing his funny roll in the field ( I always said I would, and send it in to you've been framed) but I never did. His only bad fault was that he would roll in water if you let him stand still, so had to be v careful if giving young horses leads, as his knees would start to sag v quickly if he thought I wasn't paying him enough attention.
In all that time I looked after him every day, and left him for a week at the most on holiday. Even when he stayed with Keisha last summer I had weekly if not daily reports and pics of him. I could have picked him out of a lineup even blindfolded. He even smelled like 'Ben'.

Fiona
 
I'm so sorry for your sudden loss. He looks a fantastic little horse with an appetite for fun. You were lucky to meet each other and share a lifetime of memories.

Big hugs to you.
 
Fiona, I know you are heartbroken, how could you not be, in a small way we are feeling part of your pain as Ben was very much part of our lives last year. Katie is devastated, I burst into tears in work and Alex just kept saying 'oh poor Ben'. That is the impact this magnificent horse had in such a short time in our lives, I can only imagine the terrible loss you are feeling now.

Before I say how amazing Ben was, and he absolutely was, everyone should know just what fantastic owners he had. If ever a horse would wish for a family, he got the best family in the world. You are both are devoted to your horses, and not forgetting Poppy, Katie & Sox, and give them all the best lives they could ever ask for. Ben simply couldn't have had a better home..

Ben was just oozing character, the roll in the field that we loved; he would sit as you say like a dog, pause and do his turn, all at his own leisure. His tummy nuzzle he gave Katie every day, and just how quickly he fell into our daily routine in a new yard. He took Katie to two camps, Pony Club and a private camp, he had a ball, XC, jumping, PC games (which he adored) and dressage, now to say he enjoyed dressage would be a bit of an exaggeration as you know Fiona, but the look on his face as he came up the centre line made me laugh out loud.. the look said 'just get me outta here' but he was an angel. At Home Championships they got 3rd in the dressage arena out of about 30 riders. Pony Club ODE they got first.. He gave his best the whole time he was with us.

Fiona, it was an absolute privilege and pleasure to have known Ben, we can't thank you enough for letting us share a small and unforgettable time in his life..

RIP Ben, always the clown, always the gentleman, always in our heart..
 
I'm so so sorry to hear your very sad news.

I can relate to how your feeling as I too have lost a horse of 16 years, it's very very sad.

I'm so glad that you have such wonderful memories of your beautiful stunning boy that you will treasure forever x
 

What a lovely horse, so sorry to hear that. I know from experience that the sorrow does fade and you will be left with happy memories.
 
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