Luke

bit · Luke

I was checking out the sc horses for sale topic when I made the aquaintence of Ben, an ottb. I fell in love, and he was free. What got me was his stoic demeaner, standing in a dirt lot. It seemed he was waiting for something. I realized it was me. I called the woman who owned him and asked why she was giving him away. Ben was the second half of Jerry, her lovely tb that had been kicked by another horse while trail riding, and had to be put down in her arms about two hours later. She couldn't stand to be around Ben, he just reminded her of Jerry, and she wanted to give him to someone that would love him. I called my shipper, Paul and asked if he might happen to be in the area. I knew it was meant to be when he said if the woman would drive Ben two hours east, he'd meet her, and if I'd drive the 2 1/2 hours west, he'd meet me. That made shipping very affordable and Ben was on his way to Kansas. Now keep in mind, I had Bit, almost 13 hands and Hawk, who was still a colt, and Bunny, who was almost 15 hands. I thought Bunny was huge. Paul met me in a parking lot, and as he pulled in I caught my first sight of a very large, black, beautiful race horse. Ben had raced for 6 years, and had once sold for over 150,000.00, and once for 100,000.00. He was 16 hands of muscle, and brown eyes I almost drowned in. Paul unloaded him, I took the lead rope and without hesitating, loaded him up. I drove home, unloaded him, walked him into the pasture, the horses gave him a sniff, and all heads went back down, and everyone got back to the business of eating. I named him Bennen, and we fell in love. He went from dull brown, to glossy black, thanks to apf and some good pasture with lots of room. The mares were horrible to him, so in about 30 seconds, hoofs and teeth flew, and he became herd leader. He was as gentle and kind to me as a horse could be, but he continued to rule the horses with an iron hoof. Bit and Hawk were scarred, from being kicked and I was afraid for my horses. Not for myself, but for Bit and Hawk. He loved Bunny.
My friend Jess had a quarter horse mare I dearly loved, and she was looking for a new home for her. I asked if she might be willing to trade Bennen for Lou, and one day, we met 1/2 way between Colo and Ks.
Bennen didn't do well when he arrived. He went from 40 acres of plush grass, to 40 acres of dirt, rock, and cold temps. I think my pasture just masked the many physical issues that Bennen had. Once he hit Jess's pasture, we began to see how many problems Bennen had. Jess spent more money than I want to think about, body work, trimming, finally shoes. Bennen was in for body work almost once a week. Last Sat she took a lesson on, now named Luke, for the first time, after having him in her pasture for 2 years of rehab. He was exuberant, bucked, ran around like a colt, and she had an amazing lesson on him. I think that was his gift to her.
This morning, he could barely stand. It looked nuerological, he couldn't move his neck, he was totally lame on two feet. She took him to the vet, had exrays taken, and Luke's joint in his fetlock was totally degenerated. His neck had been broken, old injury. This horse must have gone through hell on the track. Jess sent him home, after determining he was in terrible pain, and would not recover.
I was talking to her on the phone, she was crying, I was crying, when I heard, "Don't be sorry. I am so grateful. So grateful. Thank you. I was loved. I was ready to go. Thank you."
I told Jess, and we cried some more. She felt so guilty, and again, "I am so grateful. Thank you."
Bennen is home now, he isn't hurting, he is VERY happy. He feels so much love for us both, but especially Jess. He wanted her to know.

whudson

Oh my sad ending...Glad he felt loved in his last days though. It must be sooo hard to lose a horse.

4theloveofjake

Bless you Deb for giving him and then finding him a loving home.

RIP Luke

Pyrgirl

Hugs to you and Luke.
I love the name Luke. I bet he liked his new name, too.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Deb, what a sweet and sad story. I'm so sorry it turned out as it did, but glad you got to give this horse some part of a decent life.

ElaineW

Bless his heart,, and yours Bit and Jess's!
To beable to spend the last of his live with such love is
so good,,
RIP Luke,,
and hugs to you Bit and Jess..

jokersmama

Deb your story beaks my heart but makes me so happy at the same time.

I can just picture him racing around in the fields happy and pain free.

It's a funny feeling to smile with tears running down your cheeks