Blood Bank

[Hunter84]

I have a well mannered horse that unfortunately can no longer be ridden, I am reluctant offer him as a loan/ companion therefore I would be keen to hear if anyone has ever sent their horse to a blood bank and what the requirements are for horses taken in, can they have been medicated prior to arrival? is there a wait list etc thanks

 

[Birker2020]

I have a well mannered horse that unfortunately can no longer be ridden, I am reluctant offer him as a loan/ companion therefore I would be keen to hear if anyone has ever sent their horse to a blood bank and what the requirements are for horses taken in, can they have been medicated prior to arrival? is there a wait list etc thanks

Hi Hunter. I know of many that have ended up there and my best mate took her horse (kissing spine). She spoke to the bloke on the phone David, and arranged to take him. She said all the horses were out in the field and you could hear a pin drop, it was very peaceful.

Horses have to be roughed off prior to going. Shoes off, rugs off, reduce feed until none.

Horses that require medication to live a pain free life cannot be considered. They usually have something over 15hh that is medium built and under 15 years of age, to give a good volume of blood and are signed over so the blood bank are the legal owners. The horses come in from the fields/barn once a month or so and give blood in return for a token field. They are keen to do so, and although it is very clinical they are not hooked up giving blood all day long like some people have been saying.. Nor is there any blood letting, although some people on this forum like to exaggerate!!!

They all live out in a big herd and are housed in barns Oct - April with adlib hay and freedom to move and out from April - Oct in fields.

Owners are discouraged from visiting. I believe they will tell you if anything happens to the horse. Its up to you if you have the horse back I think. I heard they went to an abattoir at the end of their useful life but I have never really had confirmation that this is so, just a rumour. If it were me I would sign the horse over, give them £200 and say "this is to let me know my horse has to be PTS" and then you can make the decision of how it is euthanized. But in reality I'm not sure you can do this.
Its definetly worth doing this, particularly for young horses.

There is one in Buckinghamshire and another blood bank in Scotland. The blood is used for research purposes. From memory they do intakes in the spring and autumn but I do think there is a waiting list.

Your other option would be to retire the horse and pay for his/her retirement at a retirement facility.

 

[Hunter84]

Thanks for this its very useful, he is a good doer so doesn't get any hard feed just grass.
Had sacroiliac and suspensories medicated however it hasn't worked so with no medication he would just be the same, he looks fine in the field just not under saddle. I would sign the horse over to be honest, hes 16hh and only 9 previously hunted and an absolute gentleman.
I think I will speak to them once insurance etc is all sorted. Thanks for all the info

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks for this its very useful, he is a good doer so doesn't get any hard feed just grass.
Had sacroiliac and suspensories medicated however it hasn't worked so with no medication he would just be the same, he looks fine in the field just not under saddle. I would sign the horse over to be honest, hes 16hh and only 9 previously hunted and an absolute gentleman.
I think I will speak to them once insurance etc is all sorted. Thanks for all the info

No problems, I hope it works out for your boy. At the age of nine its too young IMHO to pts any horse without giving them a chance at the blood bank. x

 

[Hunter84]

yes id like to give him a chance if i can, but with a hard face i only purchased him 2 months before he broke down. So not keen to pay for him to sit in a field for the rest of his life..clearly bought someone elses problem!

 

[superpony]

My boy was on the waiting list for the one in Scotland.. when they rang in the spring a couple of years ago to say there was a place he was at the vets with colic so obviously couldn't go! On the phone they sounded really nice and they were happy to take him, he is a 16hh TB who has navicular. If I remember rightly he was on the waiting list for 6 months or so.