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The World of Ben Theyre
West to the Tetons '05 Report from the Road Canandaigua New York: June 29, 2005 We are finishing up the packing and prep for the trip. I thank the many people who have e-mailed me about the trip. Well, I've had a heck of a lot of e-mails on the subject of Beene's recovery from Upper Ringbone. So I thought I'd post his story. You long time readers of The Trail Rider might remember it ... Ben Theyre Beene and Ringbone Beene June 2005 In spring of 1989, two Spanish Arabian horses sired by the same stallion were brought into the world. Born just 5 weeks apart on a magnificent home overlooking Narragansett Bay in Middletown, Rhode Island, the two brothers, Gaspacho and Garbonzo, became known on the national competitive trail circuit in the mid 1990s as Gus and Beene, “The Bean Brothers”. Raised together since birth, the two gray geldings appeared to be destined for an easy life of luxury, running and playing together with their herd mates within the vast confines of Longview Farm. But as fate would have it, in 1990 their owners were forced by business to move cross-country to San Diego. They had too many horses and had to find the right home to place Gaspacho and Garbonzo. The owners sought a farm with ample acreage and a proven trainer with the right attitude. By chance Vanessa met the owner at the IAHA Regional 16 Competitive Trail Ride Championship in Massachusetts that year. After a weekend of riding together the owner told Vanessa about her predicament. She thought Vanessa was the right person with the right situation for her two gray weanlings. Vanessa thought so, too. The deal was consummated with a check for $1. Both geldings had not yet shed their blackish coats when they arrived at our farm. Being of Iberian lineage they both had a classic Arabian regal look about them. Gus was steel gray and Beene was rose gray Over the next two years Vanessa started to see the distance riding competition potential in both horses. She predicted that Gus could be good in distance competitions but her excitement was for Beene. She thought he could be great. By age 4, Beene grew to a tall 15 – 2 h. His standing heart rate was an astounding 28 bpm. He had a long reach and sweeping trot that made him stand out from other horses. Even though he was a bit unpredictable on the trail he learned to stand like a stone for vetting. When Vanessa washed him with Melaluka Shampoo, Beene’s white coat became silky smooth and soft to the touch. Many who saw him would often comment using the same phrase, “He’s a nice horse.” Vanessa and I started entering Beene and his brother Gus in competitive trail rides. From the start Beene consistently started placing in the top 5 and his career took off. These two gray geldings took Vanessa and I all over the U.S.A. and Canada for several exciting riding seasons. We entered competitive trail rides from the Mississippi River to the East Coast; from Georgian Bay to America’s Georgia. Over the next several years he took us on an emotional rollercoaster ride Beene won and won; not always first place but he was routinely in the money. His regal look, metabolic recoveries, and trot outs made him the “horse to beat” not only at regional competitions but at several National Competitive Trail Rides as well. Beene’s winningest year was 1995. After doing well in several regional competitions on the east coast and in Canada that spring and summer we decided to take the risk and embark on a 21-day fall road trip that would include two regional competitive trail riding competitions in the mid-west and the Nationals in St Louis. Making Beene the National Competitive Trail Ride Champion was the goal. In southern Ohio, Beene scored 98.5 points out of a possible 100, winning the first leg of our great adventure. At the Indiana Horseman’s Park Beene achieved a perfect score winning his second regional competition in as many weeks. The mood in our truck was understandingly ecstatic as we traveled across Illinois headed for the “Show-Me” state. Nationals would be a tough, 80 mile two-day event. Our emotional high transformed to disbelief when Beene stone-bruised on the first day of the competition, came up a bit lame and had to drop out. Emotionally drained, we packed up and headed for home in New York. We couldn’t believe it when we received a letter from the International Arabian Horse4 Assocaition Breeder’s Sweepstakes program the next spring. Despite our dissapiontment at Nationals, Beene’s total winnings in 1995 resulted in his being awarded the International Arabian Horse Association honor of having won more sweepstakes money in competitive trail riding than any other horse that year! We were on top of the world. Beene provided exciting times for us for three more years as he continued his winning ways. Then late in 1998, Beene developed articular ringbone, a condition caused by base wide confirmation. It affects of the joints in the pastern area. In the eyes of many trainers his career in competitive trail riding was finished. After the shock of learning about the condition wore off Vanessa started talking to many equine experts and trainers in the field of distance riding about what can be done for the condition. Some suggested that his pastern joints be fused by a medical procedure. But, the suggestion by a friend and long-time endurance horseman, John Crandall seemed to make the most sense to her. He suggested we put Beene out in our large pasture and let him be active as he can until the joints naturally fuse. It could take years but he thought if we had the time and the land why not give it a try? So, with hope in her heart, Vanessa took John’s advice and retired Beene to the pasture and monitored his progress. For two years, Beene showed no progress and remained lame. It was tough watching our championship horse hobble around. He would even graze sometimes while lying down, his front legs obviously bothering him. It seemed hopeless at times. We thought that maybe the humane thing to do was to put him to sleep. But, we kept hope alive and stayed the course. In 2001, we acquired four yearlings and introduced them into the pasture. Their playful presence had an impact on Beene and he responded in a positive way. He seemed to become the mentor for these young geldings and he began moving around and playing with the herd. The next spring Beene seemed to be a bit sounder particularly in the softer areas of the pasture. We were cautiously encouraged. Maybe John Crandall’s philosophy was correct; maybe he would heal. About the time the snow was melting in 2003, Vanessa spirits were lifted when she observed Beene trotting across the pasture with the younger horses and thought he looked pretty sound. She got excited and decided it was time to saddle the old-boy up and ride him around our land. It was the first time he had been under saddled and ridden in four years. He trotted sound. To assist in his recovery Vanessa bought Beene some special aluminum shoes that shortened his stride and made an easier break-over. It was just the trick. After years of emotional highs and lows Vanessa started taking Beene out on the trail hoping for the day that she could once again enter him in a competitive trail ride. Time will tell. Emotions are funny things. Unchecked they can lead you astray but understood they can help you to stay on track. Having a horse like Beene in our life taught us something valuable about raising horses. No matter how high the highs or how low the lows, belief that your equine related decisions are sound coupled with the hope that things always come out for the best will generate personally satisfying results. Things may not always come out as you wanted but the journey to that outcome will help you better accept life’s inevitable disappointments and generate greater self-confidence in your ability to care for your charges. Ben Theyre |