September 5, 2009

Bentley’s story:

I am often inspired to write, but usually never follow through. However, I think Bentley’s story is important for us to understand the true meaning of what horses put up with for us.  My intention in writing this is for compassion and understanding, not to insinuate anything.

Bentley’s journey with me began around 5 years ago.  I received a phone call from his owner to see if he could be donated to me for the college program I was working with at the time.  My understanding of Bentley’s past is that he had been AHSA (now USEF) Jr Hunter National Champion at some point in his life.  This owner had bought him for her teenage daughter to compete, which she did successfully for several years.  The time came for them to sell Bentley, so they had a trainer show him extensively in order to help sell him.  He did not get sold and the owners just could not afford to keep him anymore, so they decided to donate him to the University of South Carolina equestrian team.  That also did not work out.

It came to light during this conversation that Bentley would sometimes stop at jumps and this problem was getting worse and worse.  The owner mentioned that when they bought Bentley, he actually had spur marks on his side.  Fortunately, the USC coach had the foresight to suggest getting his eyes checked.  He was taken to the UGA Veterinary Clinic and found to not only have Herpes virus in his eyes, but also a bacterial and fungal infection in his eyes. 

The bottom line was that there was no one willing to put drops in his eyes every 4-6 hours.  The owner had gotten my name from the Auburn equestrian coach and called me as a last resort.  Sucker that I am, I said bring him to me.  So the owner had him shipped to me the next day.

What a handsome thing he was!  He was big (17 + hands and bulky) and dark bay with that wondrous moose nose.  Linda Tellington-Jones describes a horse with a moose nose as having a strong character and often being a herd leader.  Bentley was like this, but in a quiet way.

When I received his medical records, I was quite shocked to learn that he had been to UGA a full month before he came to me.  And had been given prescriptions for the keratitis and pain which had not been filled.  I got the medicines and my assistant at the time and I managed to get the drops in his eyes quite frequently.  After a few months, the infections cleared up.  He still needed the drops for pain every so often for the next couple of years.  He was very sensitive to bright sunlight so he wore a UV mask when needed.

Bentley settled in very nicely to life here at Cricket Hollow Stables.  He was a great lesson horse, but I never took him to any shows or made him jump anything he wasn’t sure about.  He seemed to have a depth perception problem.  A couple of years ago he also developed a possible neurological problem; sometime he would fall down to his knees, but not typical symptoms of narcolepsy.

Bentley died yesterday at age 20.  In my book, that is too young.  I think Bentley was so stressed out from being used as a commodity instead of treated as a friend and companion.  A good friend (and well respected trainer) and I were talking yesterday about how people just want the end result (win, win, win, money, money, money) and don’t enjoy the journey.  We can learn so much from our animal companions if we just stop and listen.

Bentley’s story is so typical of show horses – used up at an early age.  I have quite a few horses in my barn that have the same story.  I am grateful to them for helping me teach young riders about life and although I am horse poor, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Each and every one of them is in my life for a reason.

I am not sure what Bentley’s soul contract was; maybe it was to inspire this story.  I can only hope that his story can change someone’s perspective on life.