Bit of a weird one... horses and your will!

[Chianti]

I doubt a vet would PTS a healthy dog or horse just because the deceased owner willed it.
They are more than likely to call in a rescue society.

My vet knows that my pony is to be PTS if I go under a bus and don't come out. He was quite happy with this and I gathered from him that it's not that unusual. I had to write a letter to that effect and it's kept on file at the vets. In this case pony has so many health issues that I doubt anyone would want him and I'd never trust anyone to look after him properly. I've left an amount in my will to the yard owner as she would have to deal with the practicalities of it all.

My cat is more difficult. I registered him with the Cat's Protection rehoming scheme but was never really happy at the thought of him being rehomed as he's a bit quirky. He's now counting down to be PTS, and the vets know this, so I really ought to have a conversation with my brother to make sure he wouldn't be whisked off to Cats Protection.

 

[Pedantic]

My 30 year old lad is to be PTS

 

[suestowford]

My horses are left to world horse welfare with a sizeable donation.

Mine was also registered with them to go there after my death. I fully expected them to pts right away, as he was elderly, but I thought it would be one less thing for my executors to worry about. I will leave the donation in my will anyway, even though he's dead now.

Whatever you decide, it would be a good idea to put up your instructions in the feed shed/stable/whatever, so that in an emergency, anyone coming in to see to the horses will know what you wanted to happen to them. I have one here on loan from a rescue, and in my stable it says he is to be returned to them.

 

[Andie02]

I have shown my OH, who as many of you know is a Qualified Estate Planning Practitioner, the above posts on this thread..........

A Will can be worded in a way that can cover what horses, and any other animals and pets you may have so that should any of them not be alive or you have sold them prior to your death, would not require your Will to be re-written. You may not even be in a position to write another Will at that time.

Also it is not advised that you gift a cash sum of money to an individual on the assumption that they will look after any animals. It is far better to complete a 'Discretionary Trust' within your Will. A 'Discretionary Trust' in your Will together with a side letter / letter of wishes is advised and is the safest way to leave a cash gift to look after your animals. Although this side letter is not a legal document, the same as your Will (this is not a codicil to a Will). With a 'Discretionary Trust' in your Will, you would appoint 2 trustees, these can be separate to your other estate trustees, and would help ensure that your wishes in respect of your animals are adhered to. A side letter / letter of wishes , can be changed at anytime to take account of any changes with what animals you own. These changes do not affect your Will in any way at all and does not require any Solicitor / Estate Planner intervention. If you no longer own any animals at the time of your death, the Will would still 'work' as the 'Discretionary Trust' would then default to your nominated beneficiaries of the trust or even a charity. The letter of wishes should be kept with your copy of the Will and other associated papers and your executors / trustees advised of its existence.

A DIY Will or FREE Will would not cater for this requirement of a 'Discretionary Trust'.

Leaving a cash lump sum to a named individual can be unsafe, as the individual receives the gift no matter what. If that person is on benefits or is going through a divorce, or even dies that gift becomes 'theirs', whereas in a 'Discretionary Trust' it is never their money. You would also specify what happens to any remaining funds within the Trust after there are no animals left to care for. There are many things to consider when you wish for any animal to be looked after following your death. Seeking the correct advice is paramount to ensure that your wishes are carried out.

I hope that this information helps to clarify any concerns that some of you may have.