euthanasia

[annaellie]

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I had Simon cremated and then his ashes were buried at Leyland Pet cemetry. He has a proper grave that i can visit whenever i want.

[/ QUOTE ] I had my big lad go to leyland they were very respectful and its nice to know were he is resting now although i dont go there now as i now live to far, but it was worth the extra money and i got a lovlely poem which i always read when i am having days were i really miss by boy.

 

[emmajanerushton]

yeah but not good to pilth horses, not a nice thing, cows a litle different i suspect, i wouldnt opt for captive bolt on a horse

 

[Happy Horse]

I wouldn't like a captive bolt. Don't they have to carry one on a plane if horses are travelling in case one has to be PTS in a hurry as they can't use a free bullet??

 

[Nailed]

Will only have horses shot now.. seen too many horses getting the shivers and thrashing from the injection.
Seen the bolt used as well, not too horrific.c as having a Well as unhorrific horse put to sleep can be

Lou x

 

[GTs]

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Don't they have to carry one on a plane if horses are travelling in case one has to be PTS in a hurry as they can't use a free bullet??

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Not true - there are a lot of tall tales about horses travelling by air. When Barbaro flew from FL to KY he was only accompanied by his hot walker - now Shiekh Mohammed might have an inflight vet, but most horses travel by air like they do via road.

 

[emmajanerushton]

you cant use a free bullet on a plane but thats extreme circumstances really, like on International Velvet where horse goes mad

 

[GTs]

You missed the point - there are no previsions on the majority of flights to destroy a horse; most flights do not even have vets onboard. The horses are loaded into secure crates, settled before the flight even takes off - from that point on to the horse it is no different than travelling by car. Horses seem to do it very well!

 

[Happy Horse]

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you cant use a free bullet on a plane but thats extreme circumstances really, like on International Velvet where horse goes mad



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I think that may be where I got it from

 

[emmajanerushton]

GT`s, there wuld have to be some sort of provision or a pilot willing to destroy a horse on a flight would be to dangerous not to, can you imagine if one went beserk ???? not so bad for smaller ones which you could lock in and leave and pray, but a big horse could trash its way outof anything, there would have to be some sort of emergency plan if you were on a plane would simply not be safe enough to take a plane up into the air without.

 

[Tia]

There is a provision for putting horses to sleep on aeroplanes. I was informed of this when I flew my pony here from England. All trans-atlantic flights have a gun onboard when a horse is part of the cargo and there is a licensed groom on-board who has full authority to euthanise the horse if it goes beserk.

When you transport a horse by air, certainly from England anyway - as owner, you have to give Power of Attorney to the head groom who travels with the horse. I was made very aware of this when I transported my pony via air - it was mentioned on several occasions.

I'm not sure this thread is the place to discuss this though - it seems a bit heartless to me......

 

[Patches]

When the times for my horses, I'd like to think I can have them cremated and scatter their ashes in some corner of the field.

What a lovely thing for them to do, sending you the poem.

 

[summertoots]

I had my horse PTS 18 months ago. It was the hardest thing I had to do as he was only 14 and had such a lust for life. I knew though that the last thing he should see and the last thing he should hear was me. My vet was fantastic, he gave me as much tim eas I needed with my lad, I groomed him and brushed out his tail till he was looking perfect, we then walked out in the afternoon sun while he had a bite of grass and then while looking out over the fields he was injected. I know it was instant, I could feel he was gone. I was then allowed to stay with him till I was ready to allow him to go and be cremated. I still sometimes think he is with me, when I feel a little worried on my new horse, and somehow that makes me feel a little better because when I was with him I was never scared.

 

[WelshRareBit]

Toots thats really touching. Ive never had to have a horse PTS, but dread the day coming.

 

[GTs]

[ QUOTE ]
GT`s, there wuld have to be some sort of provision or a pilot willing to destroy a horse on a flight would be to dangerous not to, can you imagine if one went beserk ???? not so bad for smaller ones which you could lock in and leave and pray, but a big horse could trash its way outof anything, there would have to be some sort of emergency plan if you were on a plane would simply not be safe enough to take a plane up into the air without.

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I am not sure the details, especially with what Tia has said. What the horses are transported in is very safe, and keeps them secure - they are also not loaded last (they hate the crago door closing) so they do not have direct access to the cockpit . As a horse owner you think it would be prudent to have such precautions, but pilots really do not want weapons on their plane - look at the case of Auburn Calloway. As far as they are concerned if it can kill a horse it can kill a person.

And you think flying horses is funky - my friend flew 150 pregnant cows last week, They had, 1 handler per 50 cows, which is different than the standard 1 per 3 horses.

 

[SpruceRI]

I think my Shettie will not be seeing another year. I've no idea how I will have him PTS but can't bear the thought of watching, whatever the method.

Will my lasting memory of him being him lying inert?

Horrible questions I know, but if the vet euthanases by injection, do I have to have him cremated? Likewise if he is PTS by bullet what arrangements do I have to make?

Will my other horse - his best friend - know where he died? Will she be able to smell it? I will have her taken away for the day, but will she know?

They've lived together for 12yrs, will she be inconsolable? Should I get in another companion a few months before so she bonds with something else or bring her back from her day out to a new friend and her old one gone?

 

[Tia]

Sorry to hear this; it's always a sad topic but you are right to try to sort out the arrangements ahead of time - it always helps.

In answer to your questions, well everyone is different, but I'll answer from my perspective of seeing many of my lovely horses having to be put to sleep over the years. I have been with all my horses right till the end, so can't give a perspective from one who hasn't been there.

My lasting memories of my horses are how they were in life. I remember everything about them, how they were, what they were and how much I loved each one. Although I can recall them dying, no it does not play a vivid role in my memories of them.....it helps actually; gives a finality.

If the injection is used, I believe they have to be incinerated/cremated.

If the bullet is used then there are many options for collection.....local hunt, knackersyard

Best thing to do is keep your other horse at home that day. Take your little Sheltie somewhere out of sight and then allow your mare to go and see his body afterwards. Horses get a lot of comfort from "knowing" what has happened to their friends. If you take her away, then she could develop anxieties.

If she sees her friend dead, then no she will not be inconsolable, she will be completely understanding of what has happened. If she doesn't see her friends body then she may be fine, but she may not.

I personally wouldn't get another companion before the death, however if she lives out of earshot of other horses then perhaps after the event may be a good time to introduce a new companion.

Always sad whichever decision anyone takes and I wish you a tonne of strength.

 

[SpruceRI]

Thank you so much for your reply Tia.

My mare will be on her own once the Shettie goes, though I've had offers from 2 friends of companion horses until I decide what to do.

I'm worried that my mare will be devastated because she loves her little friend and when I tell him off (always a naughty boy!) she gets quite upset and neighs a lot.

Although he's a cheek naughty little sod who destroys everything in his path, he's still my boy. Have had him 16yrs and he's riddled with melanomas.