end of horse's life

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If the horse is head shy it would need to be sedated to be shot the same as it is for lethal injection.

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This may well be the case if you use the vet but a professional knackerman can very easily shoot head shy and wild horses without sedating them.

I've spent a lot of time at an abattoir recently watching horses being shot and then dissecting their brains afterwards. It's really interesting because I can see just how amazingly accurate the marksman is in hitting the brain region responsible for consciousness, respiration, cardiovascular system etc. Even the wild ones that are done loose are still spot on and the horses don't know a thing about it.

I wouldn't take my own pet horses to an abattoir but I would take horses that I am responsible for if that makes any sense. I would have my own shot at home by the knackerman or I'd take them to the hunt.
 
I had my old horse PTS by injection last June and it was the right choice for both of us, it was done in the field with all his friends, first injection done he was pushed back to the floor (didn't stumble) just lay down like the opposite way to a horse getting up from a roll but nicer, second injection and he was gone. No twitching, no sound and the sun was out so it was very peaceful. I wouldn't have any of ours shot though. This is only due to a very rare occasion when the shot missed (was head shy) and sprayed someone I know, so wasn't very pleasant. Not against it just having seen my horse go so nicely I would want that for all of ours now.
 
My experience with PTS has been a little different than most. I recieved so many contradictory opinions over gun/injection I eventually asked my vet. He said he used to say gun but now he preferred injection since they had a new one which was much simpler and quicker. He then arranged the knackers to come just after he would be finished. They arrived right on time. The organised everything for me so that I didn't have to make such upsetting arrangements, and I didn't have to ask them to do that. They were fantastic.

When the vet arrived he first of all explained step by step exactly how everything would happen. She was sedated in her stable and I quietly took her up to the arena and there she was given one big injection very slowly. I held her whilst this was happening. Once he had finished with that injection he took the rope from me and got me to step back. It was only a few seconds before she wobbled slightly at the knees then went down. At that point I turned and collapsed into my Dad.

Seeing her fall was the thing that terrified me most and even now I'm upset just thinking about it. I didn't look back round until all had gone quiet. Unfortunatly Annie had paddled a little and she didn't look at all peaceful, but as the vet explained by the time they're legs buckle they're gone. The paddling is just nerves impulses.

At that point the van drove into the yard. At the time it seemed far to quick but in hindsight it was probably perfect. I had time to cut some of her mane to keep, say a last goodbye and then I was ushered into the house by the yard owner. I didn't have time to cry over a dead body but I think that was best really. My memories are pretty much all of her alive.

I would advise, however, when the time comes that you have someone else there who can deal with the removal of the body. My dad talked to the YO and immediatly made the decision that neither me nor my mum would be there to see it. I later asked him how it was done and he said it was basically a winch dragging the body into the van. I'm glad I didn't have to witness that. They had her body in the van and where gone within 5 minutes. It was really professionally handled.

I don't know what happened to her body. I assume it was burnt since she had plenty of medication in her 11 years. I didn't want any ashes. I brought her headcollar home, rolled the rope up and hung it on the back of my bedroom door. It's still sitting there 6 months later. One day I guess I'll move it, but for now that's where it belongs.
 
In 30 years of horse ownership I have had to have 4 PTS. 2 were shot in the nead by the knackerman using a humane killer. The other two were PTS by injection by the vet. In all 4 cases, they were PTS at home and the knackerman took the bodies. Burying on my own land was not an option. The knackerman incinerates the bodies (you don't get the ashes back) and charges between approx £100-£500 depending on the size of the horse. The other options are using your local hunt - they will charge to come out, taking your horse to the hunt where it will be shot and then used for the hounds - they might not charge so much. The other option is taking your horse (alive) to an abbatoir - you will get a certain amount of money for this. I made the decision to use the knackerman because I know him through the vets I worked for and as this is his profession, he is very, very good. In future I will have my horses PTS by injection - it is calm, dignified and stress free.
 
We have had two PTS both by injection and, although sad it wasn't stessful. Both were very old and quite sick and went quickly and peacefully. Maybe as they were small (one a donkey and one a 12hh pony) the 'going down' bit wasn't quite as dramatic as I guess it could be with a larger horse but I would still opt for injection each time.

I have no connection with the hunt so wouldn't consider that option really and i certainly wouldn't want to ever box my horse up somewhere to have him PTS. We buried all 4 of our horses (2 died naturally - why can't they all do this eh?!) in out field. The vet said it was ok to do this due to changes in injections etc.

Whether that is right or not I don't know but they are all buried in our field as our our dogs. We have a friend with a JCB who comes and does that for us.

I too couldn't face the shooting I'm afraid although I appreciate sometimes this is necessary and the best option and also some people swear by it. I just wouldn't like it even though i know the horse doesn't know the difference!

I dread the day I have to make the decision for my horse, makes me teary just thinking about it - I feel very selfish as I really hope he just passes away naturally. It just never seems to go that way though does it. It's something that with owning animals never seems to get easier does it.
 
I would have prefered mine to have been shot, since I think it is so instant, rather than the injection, but in the end the choice was clear: Henry has been in horsepital and had already had 3 general anaesthetics when his time came, so he went by injection (not too sure if it was the usual one or not, since they told me he would have his general anaesthetic just like the other times. I have no idea if they overdosed him on that or used something else) in the operating theatre he had been in before. I wasn't there, partly through circumstances and partly because I didn't feel I could do it, and didn't feel bad about leaving him with them as, as a "long term" resident (1 month) he knew the staff and was much loved by them. They told us he went down quietly and peacefully, as if he thought "oh, this sleepy thing again".

They arranged for him to be cremated, and I have no idea of the cost, since the insurance paid it all - petplan, by the way, who were so lovely they even sent a sympathy card, and Rossdales were great throughout and afterwards too. They sent a letter saying how sad they were that they couldn't save such a lovely and obviously much loved chap.
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Frankie is owned by someone else, who much prefers the idea of injection to being shot, so that is what's on the cards for him when his time comes. Always good, by the way, to discuss it with your yard owner, staff, sharers etc... its a morbid subject but if the time comes that someone else has to make the decision for you, they'll know what you want.
 
Ive been with a few horses when they have been PTS all by injection and have never had a "bad" experience. I had my horse PTS by injection but tbh at the time id have anything done to end his life. He was in excruciating pain with severe colic, had got himself wedged in the door way of his stable and was banging his head on a concrete floor. Worst thing ive ever seen. Id had him 19 years and had him cremated individualy and buried at the pet cemetry. He has a headstone and this cost about £1000. I dont care about the money its what i wanted. Our dog when he died was also cremated and buried in the same hole, they now have a joint headstone.
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Personally I'll have mine PTS by injection and I'll have them buried in my field (don't care if this is illegal TBH, loads of people do it round me and there's no way in hell I'd send them off to the knackers yard or to a hunt yard!).
 
Its usually 1 injection (thats VERY quick) the vet usually has a contact for the body to be collected, but there are companies around that do independantly. You can also have the ashes back if you go for a creamtion but your looking at about £700 but be sure they cremate each horse seperatly, and reputable animal creamation place will talk you through what they do and how they do it. They usually understand the pain and upset you are going through and are very gentle with the horse/pony (even though its been PTS) i wouldn't recommend seeing them move it into the trailer or box though as this can be quite degarding (there is no dignified way of moving such a huge animal) but after its done they usually allow you to have one last look. We always cut a piece of mane or tail off fpr keeps too....
 
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