Euthanasia help

[Noddingdonkey]

[QUOTE="Backtoblack,
I would look for a good retirement livery and send her there.

If you read the other thread the horse likes one to one, needs to build trust, doesn't get on with a lot of horses - so retirement livery was not suggested.
[/QUOTE]


I have also stated this in this thread.

 

[Fire sign]

EXTRA INFORMATION:

She isn’t severely arthritic, in her hocks but has tension all the way down her left side. However, with previous owners she has bolted multiple times with them, unable to be ridden in open fields due to the bolting. She doesn’t mix well with other horses, unless she knows them. A lively yard is not the best for her. When ridden, she doesn’t hack alone whatsoever and will try everything to get the rider off and nap. She has severe separation anxiety in all aspects.

There isn’t all bad to her, she is foot perfect for the farrier and loves a pamper/groom and will stand all day being fussed. However, on the ground she is very 1-1 and can be spooky and strong.
This is why I’m in two minds because once she trusts you, she is the most lovable mare and she will do anything. However, I know I’m not guaranteed to her going to a good loan home and I just want the best for this mare because I owe her everything and she owes me nothing

If you owe her everything then is there no way you could keep her and give her a happy retirement with you ?

 

[Noddingdonkey]

If you owe her everything then is there no way you could keep her and give her a happy retirement with you ?

Unfortunately not, I’ve got a newborn baby and I’m going back to university with placements next year. As hard as this is, I won’t have much time and as self centred as this will sound, I need to think about the practicality of maintaining all 3- which is not at all. I’m wearing myself out physically and mentally enough with two of those things

 

[Red-1]

You say you wish to loan her out. What would she do for the new owner? Sounds like she isn't an ideal saddle horse or companion horse. She doesn't even sound good to handle on the ground. So, what about her would make someone want her?

I think that is what you need to ask.

If you don't want her, you don't think retirement livery is the correct answer and you can't think why someone else would want to take her on, I guess the answer is PTS.

 

[Noddingdonkey]

You say you wish to loan her out. What would she do for the new owner? Sounds like she isn't an ideal saddle horse or companion horse. She doesn't even sound good to handle on the ground. So, what about her would make someone want her?

I think that is what you need to ask.

If you don't want her, you don't think retirement livery is the correct answer and you can't think why someone else would want to take her on, I guess the answer is PTS.

You say you wish to loan her out. What would she do for the new owner? Sounds like she isn't an ideal saddle horse or companion horse. She doesn't even sound good to handle on the ground. So, what about her would make someone want her?

I think that is what you need to ask.

If you don't want her, you don't think retirement livery is the correct answer and you can't think why someone else would want to take her on, I guess the answer is PTS.

It’s not that I don’t want the horse, unfortunately for her I have had life changing circumstances, which at some point everyone goes through in different ways .I never said that or retirement livery isn’t correct either

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Repeated post here.

OP, you have already had good advice on your earlier thread.

Edited to remove link as TFC has merged both threads.

 

[Sossigpoker]

The best thing for her would be to be PTS if you can't keep her retired at home.
She sounds like an unhappy horse in pain.
As she is dangerous, what would a loaner want to do with her ?
You've got to think of her welfare and wellbeing and the fact that she's got severe arthritis (so will be in a lot of pain ) , is dangerous to handle and doesn't mix with other horses all says to me that this horse is miserable.
Please let her go. There are fates far worse than a peaceful death for problem or broken horses.

 

[Forum Admin Team]

Identical threads merged, there may be some repetition.

 

[Noddingdonkey]

The best thing for her would be to be PTS if you can't keep her retired at home.
She sounds like an unhappy horse in pain.
As she is dangerous, what would a loaner want to do with her ?
You've got to think of her welfare and wellbeing and the fact that she's got severe arthritis (so will be in a lot of pain ) , is dangerous to handle and doesn't mix with other horses all says to me that this horse is miserable.
Please let her go. There are fates far worse than a peaceful death for problem or broken horses.

I can’t guarantee the horse is not unhappy whatsoever and her pain is manageable by myself and the vet. This is how she has always been, I’ve had her checked for underlying issues and there is none. She can be dangerous, however like I have explained once the mare gets to trust and respects you.. she is completely different

 

[Noddingdonkey]

I can’t guarantee the horse is not unhappy whatsoever and her pain is manageable by myself and the vet. This is how she has always been, I’ve had her checked for underlying issues and there is none. She can be dangerous, however like I have explained once the mare gets to trust and respects you.. she is completely different

**can guarantee

 

[Fjord]

I think if you put it in bullet points, it becomes a bit clearer as to what the options are.
You can't keep her due to big change in circumstances
She's not going to be able to be loaned to a hacking home
She can't be a competition horse due to arthritis
She's not easy to handle unless she trusts someone
She won't suit many livery yards
She probably won't suit retirement livery
She's not going to improve

She won't know any pain or trauma if you decide to gently let her go. Your friends who are saying to not PTS aren't exactly jumping in to take her on are they?

I'm sorry you are having to think of this but please don't pass her on to anyone else.

 

[Equi]

The problem you’ll face is there always will be someone to take on a horse like this. They will be the “one to change them” the one “the horse trusts more than anyone” and “treats the horse better than anyone else did” and also the one that ends up breaking their spine and blaming you. Not every horse is saveable.

 

[AmyMay]

I can’t guarantee the horse is not unhappy whatsoever and her pain is manageable by myself and the vet. This is how she has always been, I’ve had her checked for underlying issues and there is none. She can be dangerous, however like I have explained once the mare gets to trust and respects you.. she is completely different

I’m sure that collectively we all feel for you.

I’m not sure what additional advice you’re after, given the information you’ve given. Regardless of her medical issues, she’s a bolter. That type of horse kills.

Essentially people are saying don’t sell or loan. Either keep her or put her down.

 

[Burnttoast]

I have a similar pony. He's fine with me now he knows me well and he's retired at home with a friend. He's dangerous only if you push him into an uncomfortable situation and then fail to get out of his way when he leaves it, but in that scenario he can be very dangerous. He was also passed around a lot. He's 19 now and will never leave his friend or his field. If I can't keep him for any reason he will be pts. If his friend needs to be pts before him, they will go together.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I got the same flack from people at the yard when I PTS my 25 year old with Cushing's and who had dropped a lot of weight over the winter when I could no longer afford to keep him due to the cost of living. He was funny about new people so I didn't feel it fair to pass him on

I completely understand how your circumstances have changed

If she's PTS quietly with you, you're doing the responsible thing now you can no longer keep her. You're securing her future. If you pass her on she may end up in unscrupulous hands being buted up, someone trying to ride her not knowing of her behaviour and a nasty accident occurring

I hate seeing adverts for old horses

 

[BSL2]

There is so much worse than a quiet end with a head in a bucket of food with a loving owner near by. Its not about how we feel as owners, its our responsibility to "suck it up" and do ŕight by our animals.

 

[Nasicus]

You have to ask yourself why someone would want to loan her, what benefits does she have to make the cost of loaning worth it that any other horse couldn't bring.
She's difficult, can be dangerous, arthritic (hello vets bills/medication costs), spooky, strong, doesn't mix well with others, tension all down one side of her body, all your words.
What benefit would there be to any potential loan home? And then you have to to think, what kind of person wants to loan a horse like that when there's so many others available that don't come with those downsides? Someone overestimating their skills? Complete novices looking for the first 'free' pony they can get their hands on? Someone with ulterior motives?

And I say this as someone who loaned out (and then gifted too said loanee) a permanently non-ridden 5yo as a companion, because she is the absolute perfect companion. The value she provides in being easy to handle for everyone, a gentle, sensible soul, fit as a fiddle despite her handicap (No pain nor medication required), gels with every horse she meets, happy to be left on her own etc makes up for the time and monetary cost of keeping her.

 

[ycbm]

I can’t guarantee the horse is not unhappy whatsoever and her pain is manageable by myself and the vet. This is how she has always been, I’ve had her checked for underlying issues and there is none. She can be dangerous, however like I have explained once the mare gets to trust and respects you.. she is completely different

It isn't possible to say that any horse is not in pain, all you can say os that you haven't yet found any source.

This mare is giving every sign of being in either mental or physical pain, or both, and combined with your own situation it would be very far from the worst option for everyone concerned for this mare to be PTS.

Absolutely the last thing i would do in your shoes is to sell, and second last would be to loan her unless i was prepared to visit frequently to ensure she is happy, something which sounds unlikely anyway.
.

 

[Red-1]

It’s not that I don’t want the horse, unfortunately for her I have had life changing circumstances, which at some point everyone goes through in different ways .I never said that or retirement livery isn’t correct either

I wasn't meaning not want in a bad way, whatever the life changing circumstances, they seem to mean that you no longer want her, so are looking to rehome?

She isn’t severely arthritic, in her hocks but has tension all the way down her left side. However, with previous owners she has bolted multiple times with them, unable to be ridden in open fields due to the bolting. She doesn’t mix well with other horses, unless she knows them. A lively yard is not the best for her. When ridden, she doesn’t hack alone whatsoever and will try everything to get the rider off and nap. She has severe separation anxiety in all aspects.

I would have thought this paragraph would mean a retirement livery would not suit?

It all got a bit confusing when the 2 similar threads were merged by admin, as the OP I originally replied to has disappeared. But, the horse has separation anxiety, does not mix well, is a bolter, is nappy and tries to throw the rider, is difficult to handle (can't find where you detailed this from the OP of the other thread, but it read that she was bolshy).

Again, I would ask, what would she offer a loaner?

I know I’m not guaranteed to her going to a good home and I just want the best for this mare because I owe her everything and more.

Which is why I would say PTS. Unless you think that a retirement livery would be successful, in which case I would fund her retirement somewhere that she will be cared for, if you don't have time to do it yourself.

 

[Ratface]

Having read the whole thread, I think that the only way forward for this mare's safety and welfare is to have her quietly pts. She will be out of pain and at peace. You will have the reassurance that you gave her that last kind gift.

 

[J&S]

I can see you are between a rock and a hard place. But.... your responsibility is towards your( human) baby and your education. You may have taken on this horse for all the best reasons but the truth is that she is just one too many responsibilities in your life. If you loan her you will still be responsible, if you sell her (if you could find a willing buyer) you send her to an unkown future, which you are well aware might not end well due to her tricky nature.

 

[FlyingCircus]

I haven't read all the responses - but I feel like the title of this thread shows the OP knows what is the mostly logical conclusion, given the circumstances.

 

[Fransurrey]

If she’s genuinely as described, you obviously can’t sell or loan.

Completely agree with this. I have a similar mare and should I find myself unable to keep her then she will be pts. I won't even be asking for opinions on it. I know her inside out - nobody else does. Hope you find a solution, OP, but I think passing her on in any capacity would lead to a disaster.