Simanda Park Benito - progress log

Thanks to the wonderful people who donated toward Ben's transportation and care, the young man himself arrived safe and sound this afternoon. For those unfamiliar with Ben's story, here is a brief overview:

Ben’s story is one of tragedy and woe. A promising young horse with a world of potential, ruined by the time he was 5 years old.

This Andalusian x Arabian gelding was bred to perform. He is registered and has the looks and conformation to excel as a jumper or dressage horse, he could have done anything.

This is his story as told to us by his current carer…Sadly for Ben, after being sold from his breeder, he was owned by 2 inexperienced young riders. At one point, early on in his life, he was brutally beaten with a riding whip and since then has become very nervous around people, difficult to handle and terrified of whips, sticks or anything long and thin that reminds him of his punishment.

His most recent young owner was frightened of him and when Ben badly cut his leg, she ignored the injury and never had it treated or looked at. The injury became badly infected and the suspensory ligaments separated and the tendon was badly affected. Because of this, Ben has a very high chance of never being ridable – and a small chance he could be ridable for light work only. He will never jump.

Finally, Ben’s young owner at age 16 was kicked out of home. He was dumped on his current carer’s property, infected injury and all – used, abused and then dumped like a piece of garbage, no longer wanted.

As Ben's current carer is in no position to continue caring for him, Second Chance is taking Ben on for his lifetime, to guarantee this horse some peace of mind. We will be treating him, rehabilitating him and ensuring that this is the end of his bad luck and irresponsible owners.

Ben was abused, neglected and then abandoned - fitting not just one, but all three of the criteria of horses taken in by Second Chance Horse Rescue.

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He stepped off the truck and followed me cautiously down the drive but obediently non the less.

Viento and Levi came galloping to see who the newcomer was but Ben didn't make a fuss. I took him to his yard and he settled very quickly.

He found his hay immediately and tucked in, ignoring the others for the time being.

Meeting the neighbors

And having a good roll to get rid of the 'travel' feel

He accepted his dinner as a matter of course, this evening and was very pushy. I demanded he step back and give me space to mix it, and had to repeat just twice for him to get the message. Then I waited for him to come to me when I invited him, and gave him a pat on the nose and allowed him to tuck in.

Ben is wary of everyone at first, but if you stand quietly for a couple of minutes he's perfectly happy to come up for a pat and a cuddle. So far he seems to be getting along very well with Viento, which I was surprised because normally Vi is VERY narky and dominating with new horses for the first 24 hours and can get quite territorial. But with Ben he hasn't been and they even began to play a little. Ben seems to know the limitations of his injury and doesn't push it or run around like an idiot even if the others do.

I feel he will do well and come around with good handling quite quickly.

He's growing on me already!

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There is never a music so sweet as a soft whinney at dawn

Last edited by SecondChance on Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

Hehe, just noticed his name, its "Simanda Park!"

Will be following thanks Jess!

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Horses are our up when we are down!

Ben's been with us for a couple of days now and seems right at home. He's proven himself to be a nice horse who loves cuddles and has lovely manners. Despite warnings that he had previously been difficult to change his bandages and had been sedated weekly to have it done, Ben allowed us to mess about with the injury, clean and re-bandage it with no fuss this afternoon.

He's what I call a 'quiet' horse. He seems to radiate a quiet contented feel from him, he also likes people to be quiet around him, handle him calmly and quietly and just enjoy the silent communication together.

Tomorrow the Vet is coming for her first good look at the injury. The wound itself looks just about completely healed however the tendon is a mess, very swollen right up the leg and his fetlock drops like anything when he walks. He's been wearing his magnet boot since he's come and we're hoping that will help.

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There is never a music so sweet as a soft whinney at dawn

The other day I took Ben's bandage off to see the damage for myself for the first time. The wound itself is almost completely healed but the tendon is very swollen and inflamed. I rebandaged and waited for the Vet.

Maike came today to have a good look at the injury. She says it is mostly time, now providing he doesn't get another infection in the leg. He'll never jump although he's got an excellent chance of being perfectly paddock sound with only a mechanical lameness. He may possibly be ridden again as the main tendon isn't damaged, however if he is ridable it won't be for months and only for very light work.

Ben will need to be hand-walked for 10 minutes a day to help get the leg working properly but not over-worked, so that the whole lot doesn't fuse causing a worse mechanical lameness later on.

Viento has really taken to Ben. He has 3 acres of paddock to run in and spends most of the day standing vigil by Ben's yard, keeping him company. Unsual for Vee, he normally doesn't like anyone. This morning, Vee, Levi and Romeo were all snoozing along the fenceline separating Ben from the others. Ben was lying down too, on his side of the fence having a nice snooze in the sunshine.

Today Ben had a little visitor. Her father came to collect some manure for his garden and this little one had no fear whatsoever of the big boy. She said she felt sorry for him and said he needed feeding up so he could get better!

Ben agreed, evidently.

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There is never a music so sweet as a soft whinney at dawn