Can I rant?

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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Does anyone here remember the headshaking piebald mare who was pts before being given any chance of another home? (I was quite angry upset by it all).
Anyway, I ''think'' the owner has done it again. Another pony, who I also liked, and would have bent over backwards to have had him, has mysteriously disappeared. I knew he went to a hunting home on loan, and now I know he was returned by said loan home, yet the owner had been saying he's still there and being really good. Now of course she is not talking to me.
I know there is nothing anyone can do, and perhaps some will tell me off for being nosey, irritating, and whatever, but I just feel down about it all.
 
Its because you care, however, if the owner is upset by putting the horse down then maybe they don't want to talk about it.

I wasn't around when the first horse was discussed, but I don't think its fair to say that she wasn't given a chance because she was PTS. Sometimes that is the kindest option.
 
I can sympathise with your frustration - but perhaps the reason the owner doesn't want to talk to you atm is because of the fuss around the headshaker. The bottom line is - they are not your horses. You don't approve of her decisions - absolutely your right. But they are her horses and her decision is lawful. If she was neglecting them, or buting them up and selling them on or any of the other horrible things folk can get up to I would be more worried. Taking the responsible decision to PTS, even if you don't agree with the timing, is actually the responsible thing.
 
I'm sorry you are feeling down about this - it is really difficult when we see animals we like not being treated in the way we would do it:( It is however important to remember that a different decision to the one we would take does not necessarily make it a bad decision. You don't know the whole story, and it may well be that the owner (rightly or wrongly) feels that you would judge her for her decision, so does not want to discuss it with you. With all of the facts in hand you perhaps would have come to the same conclusion. Also remember that if a horse needs extensive medical intervention that is outside of the means of the owner, then being put to sleep is kinder than being passed on and suffering.

You sound like a really caring person who genuinely feels for these animals. Could you maybe channel some of this into helping other horses rather than getting down over horses belonging to others? Volunteer at an animal sanctuary or raise money for them? Or maybe just help someone who has horses but is struggling to care for them - I suppose there will be many people in the UK forced to change to DIY arrangements having lost income, and I am sure that if you ask around your horsey friends there will be someone who needs help and would be really grateful to you.

Do try not to think badly of this owner. Perhaps s/he is just very private. I can also say that I have on occasions gently asked other liveries to give us space for vet visits - we have a couple on our yard who like to come to watch and chip in, which I don't really like as they so often come back with other suggestions for treatment after the vet has left. Like you they are kind lovely people who only want to help, but I have used my vet for many years and trust him, so I don't find it very useful to have other ideas unless I ask for them. If I had to put one of mine to sleep I certainly would not be able to discuss with anyone for a long time as I would not be able to keep my composure.

Good luck and I hope that you are soon feeling more positive.
 
I've just caught up with your previous thread, and I have to say this place would really make my heart sink on a frequent basis.

I feel really frustrated for you, and the horses :confused:
 
Tiddlypom said:
The owner is a business that the OP used to work for, it is not a private home.
Click to expand...

Good to know - I didn't see the previous thread. Must be very tough indeed for OP, although I do believe that if the horse was put to sleep it is perhaps for the best - I hate seeing old and broken horses passed on to people who want to squeeze the last drop of work from them.
 
All of the above. I'm afraid you are being nosy yes. It seems this is none of your business and, although I don't know the details, there don't seem to be any welfare issues here. You need to distance yourself and focus on things which either make you happier or which you actually have some control over. As others have said, people do far worse things. Just because there is a willing home for a particular problem animal does not make it the right thing to do for the owner to pass it on. Being PTS before their time is much better than many alternatives.
 
(just want to clarify - I don't know if he has been pts, it's just that evidence and previous experience is leading me to think this).
Thank you all. The second pony is about 10 yrs, nothing medically wrong, just needed bringing on - something that is my favourite thing to do, so that is perhaps why it hurts a bit.
I will have to let this go, deep breaths and all, there is nothing I can do, I'm not stupid.
Thanks again everyone. Rant done. lol
 
Just to add a last word, and not sure if it is a direct result of this thread, but the owner has just texted me, saying he had a bout of colic and was pts due to vet advice. While I know that happens, and I hope he wasn't in pain, I somehow find it hard to believe given that I know parts of the story and it doesn't add up.
Whatever the outcome, the pony is gone. I had a gut feeling that was the case. Sad. Sigh.
 
So sorry OP, it's a horrible truth that animals are regarded as possessions and humans can dispose of their possessions more or less however they like. I don't even work directly with horses but if I stopped and though about how all the people I know keep their horses it would drive me round the bend so I can't imagine how much harder it is actually working in the industry.

I don't know what your work/life/money situation is like right now but you seem very kind with an awful lot of energy and I know a lot of the animal sanctuaries around here have taken a real kicking with the virus so is there any chance you could channel some of that great positive energy into caring for sick or abandoned animals in that way?
 
Sorry to hear that FM, but I hope at least it give you closure.

FWIW, I don’t think you are nosey, I think you have a big heart
 
Whilst I understand the need for a rant, I personally think this is too public an arena to diss an owner who had a horse PTS. I have had 2 PTS and one that dropped dead unexpectedly, oh and a 36 yo pony PTS back in 1986 (but I am over that one to a large extent).

With the first horse, 2 people wanted to 'give him a home' whereas I wanted him to be out of pain.

It would have killed me to have to explain myself in public. Too personal. I would also have been mortified if someone was bitching on social media about it. People think they are not identifiable, but I have identified a few people on here who I know in real life. Even if just through photos posted, or a similar incident cropping p to one I know.

Goodness me, the one that dropped dead, I still don't talk about.

I feel for the owner if she had to have a horse PTS with colic, especially if you think she may have read about it on here and felt it necessary to explain or defend herself.

I talk about many things on HHO, but criticising someone for PTS after the event is sacrosanct in being kept out of discussions, IMO.
 
Just to repeat, the pony was owned by a business, it did not have an individual ‘owner’ as such, but instead it had someone who was paid by this business to provide care for it.

No, I don’t know the finer details of this case, either, apart from what has been posted on here.
 
But I think the pony did have an owner, even if it was via a company. OP referred to an owner telling her that the pony was out on loan and that she was not speaking to her.
 
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