Beni
Rescued: February 18, 2014

Beni was found wandering the streets of Benidorm and had been temporarily taken to a local dog shelter for protection while a longer term home was found. Pretty soon, Benidorm police called and asked us to come and collect the abandoned horse.

We found Beni malnourished and skeletal. He also had scarring around the front of his legs, which we can only assume was caused by rope friction – his previous owners must have hobbled his legs to stop him moving.

Beni also had serious problems with his pasterns. After a veterinary examination, we learned his flexor tendons are too long, which causes his pasterns to collapse down. We are unsure of the cause of this problem.

With help from our wonderful vet Dorothea, we have stabilised Beni to a point where he is as comfortable as possible with quality of life. He receives vitamins and supplements to boost his health and ensure that his muscles and ligaments all function as well as possible. Unfortunately, we know there will come a time when the pasterns will give way and Beni will have to be put to sleep.

For now, Beni enjoys a beautiful life with Maverick, Chance, Rocky and Levi. He loves his life as part of a herd, and plays with the other horses daily within his own physical limitations. His psychological wounds have improved dramatically, and Beni is now happy among people as well as horses.

– Story written by Nicole Lutz.