Another bad day- Getting a horse PTS

dominobrown

dominobrown

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My friend gave me her ex-racehorse TB to re-school. He is a 11 yr old 16hh, who has done nothing since he came out of racing a 5 year old. Unfortunately someone bought him as a first horse straight out racing, having no experience with horses whatsoever. This I believe where his loading issues came from, been loaded into a cattle trailer by 7 people.
He then went to someone to 'sort him out' who was a loud mouth, but had no experience of re-breaking/ schooling (or any sort of training) and ex-racehorses. Her answer was draw reins and a gag, which then made him paranoid about the contact. Then novice owner decided to calm him down by starving him, not rugging him and keeping him out 24/7 in that bad winter. My friend bought him in an awful state and has done nothing with him really for the last 2 years, to let him calm down, put weight on and chill. He however still could be difficult. I had to work him everyday and he came on leaps and bounds, apart from having the odd freak out.
This morning when I got on him he ran backwards into a wall, an did this several times, he was then very tense and rushing off. He was then spooked by a farmer driving his tractor in the field next to the arena. I fell off, and he panicked. He was running blind into the arena fencing, when I got him he was rearing up and just generally lost the plot. If he is put a new/different situation he often does this. He tends to rear and flip over, or run backwards, or bolt.
He was apparently was bad to load in racing stalls as 2 year old, and the trainer who had him as 5 year old said he was a no hoper.
Me and my friend don't know what to do any more, I am not going to sell this horse as he can be dangerous, and takes ages to settle in anywhere and finds it very hard to trust people.
I had him going really well, but anything new and he freaks out, loses all self-preservation and can be quite dangerous. He is so frustrating as he moves and jumps nicely but panics if there is a new situation, i.e schooling away from, with another horse etc. :( :(
His teeth and back have been done, which where previously in an awful state so is probably has memory pain issues as well, if not a more seroius under lying issue.
He has until tuesday, though I don't know what to do any more.We have tried everything, but we think he is too far gone. He throws himself on the ground and runs through things, or runs backwards. We have organised for him to PTS. Tried all charities and blood bank, but would rather see him PTS than passed from pillar to post. He is not worth anything, friend is moving away, and I don't have the time or space, and am also moving away probably. He would not make a good companion. I feel really guilty like I have let him down :(
 
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Please don't feel guilty! You are 100% doing the right thing by not selling him on. If he is a danger he could hurt someone! If you don't think he could be happy being turned away either as a companion or blood bank I would PTS personally. I wish there are more honest people like you and your friend!
 
Don't feel guilty, you are definately doing the right thing for him in the long run!

Just a thought, is there a possibilty he might have a brain tumour? That can sometimes cause that sort of behaviour I believe...
 
Blood bank doesn't want him, phoned all the charities especially those specialising in ex-racehorses. Heros said that when a horse is that dangerous they PTS as the likelihood of finding him a loan home is impossible. He can be so kind and gentle, put when is panic mode he stops thinking, tramples people and just loses it. If any one, god forbid, took a whip to him, he literally would try and kill himself :(

ElphabaFae- I used to know a pony with a brain tumour, fine one minute, crazy the next. He could have, his behavoiur sometimes replicates that of extreme pain :(
 
I think you're doing the right thing for him, don't feel guilty.
You would feel worse if he killed someone by his behaviour and that could easily be you; a horse, any horse, is not worth a life.
One of those times when you have to take it on the chin, get the job done and move on; don't surround yourselves with any 'what-ifs'.
 
oh sorry to hear this you have given him a chance and unfortunately he is too dangerous. This happened to my relative who is very experienced she offered her horse to the huntmaster to see if it was her, he was given back with the message its not you the horse is nuts. She couldnt sell on and wouldnt have as the horse was dangerous so she got it PTS. She tried everything to sort it out but to no avail.

But sorry you most certainly didnt let him down.
 
You haven't let him down! You have gone above and beyond to try to help him, and it sounds as though you've put yourself at risk in doing so.

Poor, poor boy was let down long before he met you. You and your friend probably represent the only consistent kindness he ever knew and he's been as near to content as he can be with you.

Letting him go now is your last brave act of kindness for the poor lad. He won't know anything about it. It's you who are feeling the pain and loss. :(

It would be terrible to let him be passed on and risk him being traumatised more and possibly injuring or killing someone. You know you're doing the right thing and have nothing to reproach yourself for.

((((hugs))))
 
No you haven't let him down! You've done all you can and are refusing to let him be passed on to any-one else who could well let him down as many people in his past seem to have done.
He does remind me of a mare I had (although she wasn't quite so bad). She was close to PTS when we removed all cereals and sugar from her diet and she changed within a few days. She had been kept very short of food and then fed-up too quickly, imho, with a variety of very starchy feedstuffs. If you are feeding him anything at all which contains cereal/sugar/alfalfa, it might be worth trying to give him nothing but grass/hay until Tuesday to see if it does make a difference. If it doesn't I don't think you have any alternative except to pts before someone is killed.
 
No you haven't let him down! You've done all you can and are refusing to let him be passed on to any-one else who could well let him down as many people in his past seem to have done.
He does remind me of a mare I had (although she wasn't quite so bad). She was close to PTS when we removed all cereals and sugar from her diet and she changed within a few days. She had been kept very short of food and then fed-up too quickly, imho, with a variety of very starchy feedstuffs. If you are feeding him anything at all which contains cereal/sugar/alfalfa, it might be worth trying to give him nothing but grass/hay until Tuesday to see if it does make a difference. If it doesn't I don't think you have any alternative except to pts before someone is killed.
 
Without your efforts he wouldnt have had this extra chance. It is sad for him he wasnt in a state to be able to take on the chance.

I think you are doing the right thing for him, and the fact it is also right for you is just good too. Be proud that you tried and be happy for him that the stress / fear /pain issues will be over with a timeless sleep.

will be thinking of you.
 
If he didn't rear and flip over I would maybe persevere, but he when he runs backwards if you touch him with your and hand or leg he goes up. He reared up and fell over a wall with my friend. He has never done a proper rear with me on him, but does rear if you try and load him, he did once tied in the yard when someone walked out of the tack room across the other side of the yard. I am scared he will flip over on concrete and kill himself, and worse on the roads with someone on him. When he is good he is a lovely horse.

He is not fed cereals/ molasses and is on a high dose of calmer. He is fed molasses free chaff, some blue chip and speedi beet.
 
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As young David said, you can't win them all.

I know your decision is the best outcome for all. I'd do the same in your shoes too.
Let him go, he will appreciate it and thankyou for it. He will worry nor panic anymore.
 
If he were mine, I would remove everything except hay/grass from his diet until Tuesday because I've had experience of several horses reacting badly to a variety of feedstuffs. However I would be prepared to give him a huge bucketful of his favourite feeds and then let him go. You can't go on putting yourself and others, including the horse in danger.
 
From what you are saying you are doing the right thing, dont feel guilty! You've given him so much hope and love.

Make his last days free of stress and full of yummy food. Keep him calm and let him go. At least he is secure then and if he is in some sort of pain at least he will be free of it.

Well done for making a very brave descion.
 
You haven't let him down in any way, whatever the reason this is a horse that can't tolerate the pressures of normal life. Be calm and happy round him until Tuesday and then be glad for him that he was given so many chances and will finally be at peace.
 
I wish all horse-owners were as conscientious and responsible as you. He is in good hands and a very lucky horse.

Oh, that there was a million acre field with nothing but fresh water and good grass in, that all these broken horses could be turned out in to just be what they are best at - being a horse.

There isn't, and we have to do what's the next best thing in their interest. I wish you all the best for Tuesday - I can't think of an alternative x
 
Thank you for all your support. I feel that deep down his a nice person, but has been through too much, and has been let down by his previous owners. If I had got him when he 5 and straight out of racing he would of probably been great, but from what I can gather he has been here there and everywhere and has lost his trust in people. When his is panicking I have given him a pat and he flinches away from you like you are going to hit him. I also think he has been battered for being a stress before, its hard to describe, but when he thinks he has done something wrong he becomes very frightened, like when I fell off, his literally running into the arena fencing and sweated up in fear. It took about 20 minutes for him to calm down enough to be able to untack him.
 
You are doing the right thing, at least you know the end of it. It is very sad but you can't win them all. I must admit reading through it, there could well be something else going on like a tumour.
 
Poor horse. Poor you. He is better off asleep than being randomly terrified, which is in no way your fault. If he kills you, you won't be able to be there for another horse, like you have for him. I think pts is best for him. I'm sorry you are faced with this sad descision.
Love and hugs for you and your horse.
 
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