Abbyfield equine crematorium

lucymay9701

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Hello everyone,

Sorry this is a sad post but I am really hoping that someone may be able to tell me if they have used Abbyfield equine crematorium and whether everything ran smoothly and the experience with them was as positive as it can be at such a sad time. I had made arrangements with a local cemetry for my horse to be individually cremated when the time came but recently I don't feel fully comfortable with the arrangements, I won't go into any details but am now looking for somewhere else to cremate her when the time comes.

I'd like her cremated individually and all her ashes returned to me. On the Abbyfields site it says they will be returned by courier but I'm hoping if I use them that I'll be able to go and pick them up myself. My girl is fine at the moment but I've had her for nearly 20 years and I want to make sure that I'm prepared when the time comes. I'm feeling a bit worried at the moment as I had everything planned and am now having to change plans. I'm hoping that I'll be able to go across to Abbyfields to have a chat with them but just thought I'd post on here first. I'm really worried that it is her ashes that are returned to me but I don't know how you can ever be 100% sure.

Also when she dies I feel that I would like to follow her part of the way (the idea being just to follow a little of the way not all the way) and then go across to where she is being cremated to know she has arrived 'safely'. I don't know if this is a 'strange' thing to ask but I feel upset at the thought of not going with her at all. I feel like companies may think this is due to lack of trust but it isn't really this its just I feel its something I want to do. Has anyone else done this and were the companies OK about it? I wouldn't want to see her again once she was in the trailer, its just a case of going with her (but not following all the way, we would eventually just make our own way across) and then knowing shes at the crematorium before we leave. I don't want to be there whilst she's cremated or anything but would just like to take a few things across with me to be cremated with her and spend a little time at the crematorium when she arrives.

Also does anyone know how many people that Abbyfields equine crematorium bring with them to move your horse? If she died in the stable the access is not particulary easy so I am worried about how many people come so she can be moved in a 'dignified' way. I'm probably about a 4 hour drive from them but it does say nationwide on the website so I'm assuming this won't be a problem.

Thank you for any help and experiences.

Lucy x
 

ILuvCowparsely

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HI

What a sad thing to do but honorable too. All my horses will be cremated when their time comes.


I have had two cremated the last one was 2007. I used Grafton they were lovely truck was spotless (I always check first). They were helpful and really kind during this time and after. I had Both individual done tho the first went to cheltenham.

I chose individual as I want my ashes with them eventually.

Their ashes returned by courier
http://www.equinebereavementservices.co.uk/

One thing I learnt the first time is choose what to have on the casket. I did the second time. The first time they phoned me once she had died and was being cremated and it was hard to think during this time. So choose first.

They came with a small white truck with winch and chains . I refused to watch her getting pulled in but watched the truck go slowly up the drive like a hearse does in respect of the dead.

I can't recommend them highly enough.:)

Sorry I never went with the truck
You can't be 100% sure but I see no reason why they would not honour their job.
 
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shellonabeach

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OP not horsey but I wanted to say I know where you are coming from. My pets when cremated I actually placed them in the oven myself, it was a small crematorium in Leeds. The owner was very kind and understanding of why I wished to do this.

My old boy is old... I intend to have him cremated when his time comes but never thought about the planning of it. I would want to see him laid in the oven before cremation if possible...

I'd better start planning!
 

lucymay9701

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Hi leviathan, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately the one you recommended doesn't cover my area - I live a bit out in the sticks in Wales and where I am limited in choice. The abbyfields one says nationwide so I'm hoping they cover me. I will contact them with my queries but am hoping someone may have had some experience with them. I'm getting a bit worried as had it all planned and now it isn't. My lovely girl is OK at the moment but you just never know when the time will come :-(
Thanks again. Lucy x
 

lucymay9701

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Hi 'Shellonabeach' Thanks for your reply. I was all fully planned and now I feel in a panic if anything were to happen suddenly as I'm no longer planned but hopefully will be again soon. If I lived more centrally I wouldn't worry so much but am a bit limited in choice :-(. I'm hoping whoever I use will be understanding of me wanting to follow her across and be there when she arrives. Thanks again. Lucy x
 
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kat706

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Hi,
I have no experience of Abbyfield but I have plans in place for my 2 ready for when the time comes.
I plan to use Equine and Pet Services. They are based in Cheltenham and cover a 150 mile area so depending where you are exactly in Wales they may cover you.
Giles, the owner of the crematorium is very helpful and understanding if you contact him to discuss your wishes.
I chose a crematorium from the association of private pet cemeteries and crematoriums. They are an organisation who set standards for their members to follow and adhere to. Like you it was very important to me to feel I could trust them to do a proper individual cremation and return all of and only my boys ashes. As someone has already posted you cant be 100% sure but I feel better knowing they are a member of an organisation and have rules to follow. Maybe this would help you as well?
website is www.appcc.org.uk.
crematorium website is www.equineandpetservices.co.uk
Sorry its long, hope it helps a little.
 

lucymay9701

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Hi Emsley and Kat706

Thank you for your replies. Unfortunately those 2 places weren't near enough to me but I looked at the APPCC webite - that was really helpful - I have e-mailed one place on their list to see if they cover my area and I have also found out that Leyland pet cemetry cover my area which I didn't realise as they are not very near me. They've got a few good reports on here aswell. I'll feel so much happier when I'm fully sorted again!

Thanks again
Lucy x
 
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Angelbones

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Its obvious that the details really matter to you, and rightly so, so quite honestly I think you need to call them up and arrange to go down to see them and their facilities. This way you'd get the answers you want and get a feel for the place. If they aren't happy to have you / help you then that's your answer. Its never a nice thing to have to think about or arrange, but I think if you did this now you'd have peace of mind come the actual day.

Let's hope you don't need them for a long time yet - having lost one at 30 and still caring for one at 27 you hopefully will have a good few years of enjoying each other in the meantime. x
 

KSR

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OP can you please PM me about Abbyfield to discuss it.. Or let me PM my number to talk about it..

I had horrendous experiences with them recently and want to take it further..
 

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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when she dies I feel that I would like to follow her part of the way (the idea being just to follow a little of the way not all the way) and then go across to where she is being cremated to know she has arrived 'safely'. I don't know if this is a 'strange' thing to ask but I feel upset at the thought of not going with her at all. I feel like companies may think this is due to lack of trust but it isn't really this its just I feel its something I want to do. Has anyone else done this and were the companies OK about it? I wouldn't want to see her again once she was in the trailer,

If she died in the stable the access is not particulary easy so I am worried about how many people come so she can be moved in a 'dignified' way. I'm probably about a 4 hour drive from them but it does say nationwide on the website so I'm assuming this won't be a problem.

Lucy x

So sorry that you've having to think about all this, BUT good to sit down and think about what you want to happen to your horse when the time comes.

When I had my old boy PTS, the thing I was advised by both the vet and the people who came to pick him up afterwards, was to NOT be around when all the business of loading up etc was going on. Yes if you feel you need to be with yours when she's taken away (not to see the body) then that is a decision for you to take, but normally they will try to steer owners away from being there when the body is actually loaded up.

You are concerned that yours may die inside the stable and will be difficult to move; IF that were to happen then they would probably advise you to stay well away until she's loaded up as it will be very hard to get her out of there in anything resembling a "dignified" way. Even tho' she wouldn't be around to be upset by it (obviously), there's still every chance that YOU would be upset.

Sorry can't help with the crematorium you mention as have no knowledge. But normally if having a horse PTS at home or at the yard then the vets would arrange all this; mine did, and it was done very well, I had time to be "with" my boy for an hour or two before he was taken away.

Personally I think you'd be well advised to say goodbye to yours when whatever happens happens, PTS or whatever, and not go up to the crematorium after her. I think you would find that very difficult to deal with indeed.

For what its worth: enjoy your mare, love her to bits now while she's here, but when the time comes have your action plan in place, and stick to it insofar as it is possible, but when she's gone then say goodbye and don't go following the van up to the crem or anything. You'll get her ashes/shoes or whatever back - and then you can decide what you'll do with the remains. We planted a pear tree over my old boy.
 

lucymay9701

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Thank you very much for everyones replies. I'm just waiting to hear back from one place and when I do I plan to make an appointment to go and have a chat with them to make sure everything is in place and I feel as happy as I can with it all. Lucyx
 

cuddles83

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I contacted Abbeyfields Equine Crematorium recently and what I find extremely disturbing is there’s no address for their crematorium anywhere. When I emailed them and said this there was no reply. I have a horrible feeling they are having the deceased equine collected by a rendering plant and giving out fake ashes. It’s very easy to do and there’s no governing body for animal cremations so this more than likely is what they’re doing and there’s no one to report it to. Every other pet/equine crematorium have their address on their website but not Abbeyfields. Which leaves the begging question, what are they actually doing with your horse. Personally I would not use Abbeyfields under no circumstances, they aren’t APPCC registered which again rings alarm bells for me.
 
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