Emotions Run High

This has been a very emotional week for me let alone this entire journey. Ben has officially been off all medications starting this past Monday. His last day of medications was on Sunday. While I am very happy I'm also extremely nervous. He has relied on these medications to make it through for the past 6 months. That isn't something to take lightly. Some people might say hey he's cured no need to worry anymore right? Wrong! I never officially found the original cause for the ulcers in the first place. I have my speculations in thinking he has always had some degree of ulcers, but I don't know why it spiraled so out of control. We hit rock bottom at that point. We had everything to loose including each other at his worst. I am so very grateful for the vet that didn't give in on us & urged me to take him to the hospital & not just pushing things aside just because he was older. She knew how much he meant to me & that I would do everything I possibly could to try to fix him. I am hoping with all the changes I put in place he won't have a reoccurrence of ulcers. I changed his diet completely after recommendations & rave reviews from close friend, changed his entire way of living to him having 24/7 turnout which he has surprisingly taken to extremely well & thriving with it, & changing every single supplement he was taking from his joint support to his gastric support. His attitude towards life has a brand new outlook again & his eyes smile every time I look into them. As said before in previous post I retired him completely to any & all riding activities so he can enjoy a well earned sound retirement full of being pampered & doing as he pleases. Can he be ridden? Sure he is fully sound & able but why should he? He has been fighting an internal battle for 6 long months & that's just treatment time this started way before that. Horses especially stoic ones such as Ben will hide things as much as they can until it consumes them to the point of great despair. Not only that but he has given humans roughly 25 full yrs of service (assuming he started at age 2 ) from racing on the track to strutting his stuff in the Hunter ring (& a few other rings) to dominating the trails & what obstacles may lay ahead. Sounds to me like a horse who should enjoy his golden years to how he wants to spend them.

Too many times people focus on young horses & how great they will be. Which is fine really but you always hear people wanting to trade in for a younger better model. How quickly they forget that those older especially senior horses people so often push aside or overlook have the most to share. They have experienced more than some people will in a lifetime. Not enough credit is given to them. That young horse you love so much now will become a senior some day & everything you do now will affect how comfortable he or she is in the future so keep that in mind. You love & care deeply for that younger horse but will you cherish them as they enter their senior years. Probably not because they aren't up to your standards any longer. That horse that's now a senior deserves respect & the same care & attention as its younger counterparts. Whether that be with you or a very good home otherwise. Just because they are older & some retired just think they once were the ribbon winners in that ring or the shinning star of the stable. The one everyone wanted to ride or show or own. Don't you ever look at them any less. They deserve respect. They could teach you life lessons you never thought possible. Older souls have the most to share & teach but only those with an open heart & mind are able to experience this incredible gift they can bestow upon you. When you look at them just think of all the things they have experienced & done not what they can no longer physically do.

Ben has been doing well "knocking furiously on wood" so far. He has only been off medciations for a total of 5 days. I want to keep things very routine for him & not change anything in hopes of warding off any possibilities of the ulcers returning. I find myself questioning why & what if on decisions I have made even to this day. I suppose we all end up doing that in such events that plague us. I am going to be adding a new supplement to his regmen as soon as its available. It's an Oat oil that is supposed to be very good for overall health, joints, & digestion! It has gotten rave reviews & great for keeping condition & putting weight & muscle on which is the last key to the puzzle for us (muscle part). I'm still looking to put back his hind end muscles better & get his weight up just enough to keep him good for winter months ahead. His weight is perfect currently though which was a battle in itself. Again his supplements include Assure Guard for gastric & colonic support, Steadfast for joint support (which has been amazing!) , & Assure Plus once a month for 7 days or sand removal (every vet recommended it). Hay is 1-2 flakes of western alfalfa & free choice grass hay in nibblenets. Feed is Cavalor Fiber Force given 3 times a day (3 quarts per serving). This has been his routine for months now. Here's to keep looking up.