end of horse's life

Firehorse

Firehorse

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my friend's old boy was pts today which has really made me think. my boy is only 13, but its one of those things that all animal owners hve to face one day, even though we all push it to the backs of our minds. i've been through it with numerous dogs. just a quick and probably numpty question really. i've never been with a horse at the end. how does the vet do it? what are the choices? what happens after and what is the expense?
 
So sorry about the horse, that is very hard to deal with.

Horses are either put down by injection (into the neck), or they can be shot. The body is then taken away, in many cases, by the knackerman, or sometimes by the hunt.

Either method is instant, the injection method being far easier for the owner to cope with I think, much less violent.

Hope that helps ?
 
I stayed with my friends horse - very dignified end. One injection then horse went gently onto his knees (vet holding rope downwards to help this) and then he went onto his side. Second injection and he quietly passed away. No struggling or anything. Certainly made my mind up about what to do. As none of mine would ever go for meat then it would be injection as method of choice.

I think the cost was about £240 for the disposal of the body and then the vets fee for the injections.
 
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double choc lab what is the £240 for?
and also i you cant render/send to hounds after injection benpony.

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£240 was for the disposal of the body (I think vets injections were included in this)

Mum (double_choc_lab) will clarify
 
I've seen both injection and shot, after seening two of each I have chosen to have my boy shot (when the time comes)but its a very personal choice.
Its worth planning what you would do as when the time comes its not as easy.
 
I had to consider this desition with Lucy and put everything in place just after she was diagnosed a few months ago. Lucy is going to hounds when the time comes. She loved her hunting and i believe it is what she would want. It was so heartbreaking having to think about it although Lucy is atleast 20. But so far so good she is still here fighting on (she is not suffering, i love her to much and would not let that happen, hence why everything is inplace so the minuet she starts suffering she will be gone
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I'm not shore how much this would cost if i wasn't a hunt suscriber but i think it is cheaper than having the vet pts.
When a vet puts a horse to sleep. They give the horse 2 injections one to sadate the horse and the other to stop the heart. Then you need to arrange for the body to be taken away and you can have it cremated indevidualy and have the ashes returned if you wish (this is expensive) or it can go in a group creamation. I have known afew people bury there horse but i'm not shore on the rules on these things. As for cost i'm not shore on that either i'm afraid the hunt have delt with all the horses i have been involved with.
Hope my rambelings are of some help.
 
I had my old mare pts by lethal injection, the first injection is a muscle relaxant and the horse goes down, the second injection stops the horses heart. The vet listened to my mares heart and when it stopped she pronounced her dead.

It was all very dignified and quick, the vet arranged for the knackerman to collect her and she was cremated.

It all cost about £400 in total and the vets arranged everything.

I have never witnessed a horse shot by the hunt and would never want too, but i believe that too is very quick and the horse knows nothing.
 
I had my boy PTS last week. I decided to have him shot. I have never seen a horse put down but in my mind it seemed like this would be the quickest method.

My boy also hated the vet and would become anxious when the vet was around so I thought it would be better for him. I decided not to stay with him as I was very upset and didn't want him to know anything was up and I'm lucky that the YO that I trust was happy to hold him.

I had him cremated. This is the only option if you have the injection. There are various other options if you have a horse shot but this was the easiest for me in terms of logistics.

It cost me £180 including cremation. It would have been more if I wanted his ashes returned.

I didn't have to deal with anything since, as my boy was very old, i had discussed everything with my OH beforehand and had already made my wishes clear.
 
Remember as well if any drugs or meds have been administered it can't go to the hounds or for meat either, you'd have to be off them for at least a week before.

Our big lad Tommy was put downlast autumn, it was heart breaking. He had injection. It's not that pieceful though and probably one of the most horrible things I've had to witness. He had the first injection to make him drowsy and cause him to go down, then had the second once on the ground.
I stayed with him till the end, I had to let go when he did go down as they do stagger down with some force, but then kept his head in my lap the whole time till after too. I was shocked and in tears as he was still gasping for a while till he went for good. We had to lead him down to the outside yard, he was 18.3h so a big lad! We had him taken away to be cremated the next day as he was pumped full of meds and had the injection anyway.
I hate recalling that day.
 
thankyou guys for you answers. i didnt really know my friend's horse, other than she'd had him all his life and he had cushings.

there is no way i cud hve my horse shot, that seem so brutal. i will go for injection and group (horses are herd animals afterall, so why force them to be alone during their last moments on earth) cremation, whatever the cost. something i shall put money away for. horses serve us with their loyalty and trust throughout their lives, so i feel they deserve a peaceful end. altho, on a happier note, that'll be some 15 yrs away yet.
 
Having seen both pts by injection and one being shot I have opted for the hunt to come and shoot and take mine when the time is right. Not a nice thing to think about but something responsible owners should have in the back of their minds or so I believe.

The horse that was pts by injection seemed to fight it which was really upsetting to watch, although I am sure he didn't suffer. The mare that was shot (badly lamanitic) was given a bucket of feed - a real treat for her - and had no idea what was going to happen. She died in her little paddock doing what she loved most (eating!) again not nice to watch but the hunt are fantastic and know how hard it is to make that decision and were really caring.

It is a very personal decision but also knowing they are going to do another job (going to the hounds) felt right to me.
 
My 12 year old pony was PTS on Friday after a 10 month battle with cushings induced laminitis. We tried everything but she became so crippled she couldn't come off the bed even with imprints on. We had her PTS by injection. The first sedated her and the second to stop her heart. It was very peaceful and calm. The knacker men took her away and waited quietly in the background and she was cremated. All in all cost around £240. I agree it is one of those things you don't really want to think about but it is good to know because we had to ask around and find out the options and it would have been nice to have been more knowledgable. Hopefully won't have to face it again for a while!
 
I had one shot yesterday. It was efficient and dealt with by the man that came out. It was made harder for him as the body had to be removed from field,but it was all dealt with swiftly,with minimum of stress to all involved,most of all the horse. It was instant.

The total charge for this service was £65. The body was unable to go anywhere due to drugs administered so it was burnt. If I had a choice it would have gone to the hunt,as I believe in the whole 'circle of life',and once the deed is done,it doesn't really matter.

I buried the headcollar and lead rope used straight after,as I felt I would be unable to put it on another horse,and said a few words to him. Shortly after,whilst checking my other 2,the hunt rode accross my adjoining field,in what I can only describe as 'ironic' and a fitting end to a horrid day. The sun shone and I had a smile.

A horrible thing to go through,but it does have to be prepared. I would personally not choose injection where possible.

There are people that come out and deal with it very smoothly for you,and this is what I had done.

Sensitive subject,but I hope this has helped.

Thought I better add,I used the local knackerman. Not a bloke I'd like to meet on a dark night,but hey ho.....he made me laugh afterwards. In fact he never stopped talking! He really was excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to use him again. I spose he deals with it every day,unlike most horsey people. He was knd and caring in a proffessional manner to both myself and the horse.
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Remember as well if any drugs or meds have been administered it can't go to the hounds or for meat either, you'd have to be off them for at least a week before.

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My hunt has said Lucy can go to hounds even though she is on medication. I have told them exactly what she is on. It is always worth checking.

benpony this desition is a very personal choice and you have to make the right one for you and your horse. Everyone has a preferance as to how they want it done. I have seen horses fight the injection and it's not a pritty sight (although quite rare). Sedation doesn't touch Lucy so i would worry that she may fight the injection to. This is partly why i came to my desition. As i said it is a personal choice. Like you say though hopefully it is a long way off for you yet, but then again you never know what may happen so it's best to have an idea of your wishes incase the worst should happen.
 
It is probably just since it is all so raw at the moment, but I don't think that having a horse shot is 'brutal'. The horse doesn't know any different and all that I cared about was that it was as quick as possible.

It is a very personal thing and I understand that the thought of your horse being shot is gruesome, however you need to remember that it is only gruesome and brutal to you.......the horse is gone before they even hear a shot.

Sorry - a bit sensitive about it at the moment
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I have had mine pts by injection and think this is a pretty dignified way to go, not seen by shooting. I didn't want to go the fed to hounds route so both went for cremation, think the cost was about £500 all in for each horse.

I also researched who removed the body as first one was pretty brutal from all acconts and the horse was dragged up into an old lorry and the second one was lovely and it was done by a machine pulley thing into a specialist trailer so again, more dignified - seems silly when they've already gone but I think it was worth it.
 
I have had horses PTS by lethal injection and shot. To be honest the horse knows nothing about either.
If the horse is head shy it would need to be sedated to be shot the same as it is for lethal injection.
In my experiences the horse does seem to 'scrable' with its feet more when they are shot but its just the senses switching off.
 
The £240 was for the knackerman to collect and dispose of the body. And he asked for the money up front. This was done from a vet's practice and they were a bit embarrassed to ask for the money upfront to honest. Vets bill separate.
 
I've seen the injction twice and it was much more peaceful and dignified than I imagined beforehand. The first time was a two year old who had damaged her leg badly and would never have been able to walk properly again. I held her for a friend as she was too upset to deal with her. She was sedated and then given the final injection. The moment she fell was unpleasant but not violent like I had been told it could be.

My old boy was already lying down so it was even more peaceful. He had colic and was already on his way, all the vet could do was give him a helping hand. His head was on my lap and other than a bit of involuntary jerking he just closed his eyes and drifted off. His took a bit longer as his heart had slowed conisderably before the injection so it took a while for the drug to pump around his body but it clearly wasn't causing him any pain.

I had to have him cremated as he'd had the injection but always would have anyway. In our area the hunt offers this service as they have an incinerator to dipose of carcasses after the dogs have eaten the meat and so they use it for an extra stream of income by offering creamtion. Here, whether you opt for cremation or not you still have to pay them, it's just cheaper not to specify you want cremation. I was told by the vet that hunts very rarely feed horsemeat to dogs as it is quite rich and can upset their tummies, but if there's not a ready supply of cattle/sheep they will use horse. Therefore you can take a chance on them not being fed to the dogs if you want to save some money (or if it doesn't bother you) ut the only way you can guarantee this won't happen if you don't want it to is to pay extra for cremation. I had his ashes back which made it more expensive but I don't think I'd do it again as by the time I got them back I was starting to get over it and then had to go through it all again.

I still have my dog's ashes in a cupboard nearly 4 years later as I don't want to go through the whole thing again. I just ignore them. He died unexpectedly so OH and I hadn't discussed it. When he asked if I wanted the ashes back I said no between sobs and he thought I'd said yes so we now have a little urn in a cardboard box in our dining room cupboard
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I had Tenino pts by injection beginning of january due to a very bad virus. Then the local knackerman took her away for £90. Not sure how much the vet cost though as i only had a total cost and had had two call outs that night to try and save her.
 
We had an old pony PTS 18 months ago. Having seen 2 shot and 2 done by injection (inclusing my old pony) I chose to have this one shot, as I found the injection method distressing.

I got the knackerman out, as the pony was scared of the vet, and I thought that as he does the job all day every day he would be a better choice than the vet. He was brilliant - he made friends with the pony, gave him a handful of food and it was over in seconds.

He took the pony away for cremation. The total cost was £180.
 
When the time comes for my boys and girls i will have them PTS by injection. My old mare was put down by injection 3 years ago and i found it both peaceful and neither distressing for me or my horse. I like to be with mine when the time comes and i don't honestly think i could be with mine if they were to be shot. I also don't think i would be comfortable leaving my horse with someone else whilst it was shot, but thats just my feelings on the matter. Ive had mine cremated in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
 
My mare was put to sleep in the field after suffering a broken leg. She was then taken away and cremated. Total cost was £475 for everything but NFU paid me £250 towards disposal costs so its worth checking your insurance. Her ashes came back about 3 weeks later and most of her was scattered under the tree where she used to shelter from the rain with the others. This was done on Christmas Day and I always take her some flowers at that time. The rest of her is at home in our conservatory with her headcollar. Its nearly 5 years since Holly died and I still think of her just about every day. Spookily, my current mare is so like her in lots of ways....
 
I had my lad PTS by injection, but that was simply what I felt most comfortable with at the time. He was good 'friends' with my vet and so used to injections by this time that it wasn't anything traumatic for him. I have seen horses go quite stressfully with the injection and was prepared for it to be distressing - however Nicole (the vet) handled him beautifully and he didn't fight the injection for a second - it was very peaceful and dignified.

I had him cremeated and his ashes returned to me - we scattered him on his favourite ride (with landowners permission) and its nice to think of him there. This in total cost about £600 but was worth it for my peace of mind.

Its not a nice decision but Riv had been ill for so long I knew what I wanted.

T x
 
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