For those who have had a horse put to sleep...

How often do you clean your tack?

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A horse that i rode and looked after full time for many years died of colic!
He was burried at the owners farm!
The horse was the last gelding from the farmers mare so he was very cherished.
 
its such a personal thing, all the horses around me have been shot when the time came.
I stayed with all three all the way.I will say it is the most awful thing to stay and "watch" but I felt I had a duty to them to be there all the way.I would use either option but have a very good (hate the word) knackerman. He is very understanding- always gave me time to say goodbye.Even tells me where I can stand and be safe.I have stood by their sides all the way.
It upsets me deeply as in human eyes being shot is a vicious thing with very negative social conatations, however in my experience they knew nothing other than that I was there with a carrot in their mouths.
I am proud to say i have done this for my horses- even though it always takes me a while to come to terms with the actual sight.
I beleive whatever your choice doesnt mean you love your horse more/less than anyone else.I stay because mentally I can cope and i feel its right for me.
I wish anyone going through it the strenght to remember what a tloyal friend they are saying goodbye too.
Sorry for the long post! x
 
There has only been the vet and owner/friends when any on our yard have been injected so the horse has always been held by someone they know. When they're given the sedation (before the lethal injection) you do have to be ready for them going down and this can be traumatic for some people but I haven't ever found it to be too terrible.

Echo that the "last carrot" isn't always possible and I personally don't think that matters to the horse (more for us), the best thing for them whatever the procedure is for the people around them to remain calm and act efficiently.
 
IMO having your horse PTS by injection goes as smoothly as the vet performing the task. Personaly my old boy was PTS by injection by a vet who I worked for when I was younger so trusted completely. I wasn't there but was told that it was quiet and peaceful and just as though he was going to sleep. I have heard of less experienced vets not having such a good outcome but I would definalty have the inkection again providing the vet was experienced.
 
My Barnaby (2nd bay in sig) was PTS on the operating table 2 years ago today following colic caused by inoperable lipoma & lymphoma. He then went for individual cremation at Peaceful pets and arrived back at the vets a few days later.

I lost one of my other horses Misty (dun pony in sig) over christmas due to kidney failure (she had suffered with Cushings disease for a number of years also) and our vet put her to sleep via injection. It was very peaceful and i was glad i spent her last few moments with her. She also went to peaceful pets and had an individual cremation. Their 2 caskets are in our house, as i haven't the heart to bury them yet... but i feel the service they both received was very fitting as they both meant the world to me..
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My special special horses (because all horses are special) have been injected and cremated indivdiually and returned to me, this includes my pony, a foal I fought valiantly for and my stallion that was recently pts. The cost was £705, he was a big boy! I am prepared to do the same for my old gelding and 2 of my other stallions.
Other horses I have lost have been pts with the injection and cremated in a group.
Everyone has their differnet opionions on what to do,and I think its that persons choice, personally this is the only way I would do it but I can see everyone elses point for the way they do it.
My friends have theirs shot then have them buried on their land.
 
This thread has made me cry. I am in the fortunate position to have not lost a horse yet, and hope i can be as brave about it as the rest of you that have had to make very difficult decisions.
 
I work at an equine retirement home so horses being PTS has become a very regular thing
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the majority of ours are all shot by a very experienced knacker man, I personally have never held whilst this is being done but they always have someone they know with them and he always feeds them something before he does it as long as its not an emergency. A few have been injected by our on site vet if the knacker man is too far away. We tend not to inject as so many of the oldies have poor blood suply it takes ages and also with over 100 it would be too expensive.
All of the bodies go to the RVC for them to post mortem and use for research although some of the owners do ask for them to be cremated and have them back.
When the time comes for my boy I would rather him be injected and cremated but if he was in pain defiantly shot by the knacker man we use at work. Never anyone else, we've had very bad experinces from using other ones, has put me off. X
 
My baby (not horse in pic) was put down by injection just over a year ago. His ceacum (don't know how to spell it - it's a little bit on front of their small intestine) had blown and he was in agony (like severe colic) the vet said that injection was the best way and asked me if I wanted to hold him. I said yes (while sobbing and putting a blanket on him so he wasn't cold in his last moments) but was then scared when she explained that they can fight the anesthetic and thrash about. I was so worried that he would and my last memories of him would be him scared out of his mind. Thankfully he went peacefully (with his tongue stuck out) the next problem was that the digger couldn't come until the next day to bury him so we had to cover him with sheets to keep foxes away. As soon as he died my dog decided that he would be tasty and I have never shouted at an animal so loud in my life and am ashamed to say that if he had been within reach I may have kicked him away. It took me ages to leave his side and when I did I cried my eyes out. Saying goodbye to my dear friend was the hardest thing ever. I wanted to send him to the hunt as he loved hunting but he had had too many pain killers by then.
We went back the next day to put some rossettes on his headcollar to be buried with him (out first rosette, our first 1st, and a pretty one etc) and I found it quite hard to go up to him at first as I knew I wouldn't be able to leave him again. He looked so sad and I couldn't help thinking if I had done everything to save him or make him comfy in his last hours. I slept in his stable with him on his last night before he died and will never forget the way he wickered at me when I walked up to his stable after being made to go home to get something to eat. He is buried at the old stables (where my mum still keeps her horse) and we planted a tree near his body so that he is still alive in a sense. I still cry about losing him (am crying now) and have photos of us competing up on my wall and make myself laugh and remember the funny times when I look at him.
I think you can only do what is best for you both and try not to regret. Your horse knows you love it and that will be it's last memory, no matter what. I just wish I could have him back for one day and give him some polos (he couldn't eat much on his last day as he was in so much pain) and say thank you for teaching me so much and for being such a great boy.
 
We unfortunately have had three to PTS in the last 12 months. The first was our wonderful 8 year old stallion. Went though a colic operation last January and had to be PTS at the Hospital 10 hrs later due to complications. I presume this was by injection although I dont know and I did not ask. He was then cremated and his ashes returned to us at a cost of £800.
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The second was a foal, PTS by injection while I held her. She was lying down at the time anyway so there was nothing else for her. She was then buried.
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The third was a mare in foal, severe colic and ended up with a twisted gut, she was also PTS by injection while with my husband, again lying down at the time.
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I am not sure if I could have a horse shot or not, have never had to make that decision, so only know the injection way of doing it.

However whichever way it is done it has to be quick and painless for the animal involved. Have also sat with two of my old dogs while they have been given the injection, they have then just slipped peacefully away.
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We dont have hunt kennels up our neck of the woods, so dont have that option.
 
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I would say to everyone that even if your not expecting to loose them make sure you know what you want to do with them if the unfortunate happens as its the last thing you want to be deciding on the spot like i was.

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I couldn't agree more with this, deciding how to do it when you are half-sick with worry is not a good thing.

However, as others have said, circumstances may force your hand a bit - if I had one with a dangling leg I'd want the quickest method whether it was my preference or not.
 
My only regret was not being with our stallion at the time he needed us. He was away at a competition yard (had been for two months) when he took colic and it was late on a Thursday night. He was operated on during the night and not out the theatre until after 9am the following morning.

Because we had not slept all night we were advised not to travel down on the Friday to see him, so we decided to go on the Saturday instead. However we never got that chance....................as he was PTS later on the Friday night............
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.......................even a year on it still hurts that we never got to see him before we lost him.
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I'm sat here in tears. I don't know why I do it to myself!

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I quite understand. I still feel very emotional about the horse that I had to have pts. I'm not sure you ever quite get over it - especially when they have been with you for such a long time.
 
I agree. I don't think I will ever get over it. I will always worry about whether I did enough for him. I wish I was psychic and could have told the vet what was wrong with him. She could have had him operated on and he would have been fine. By the time it was diagnosed it was too late. I would have paid anything for him to be fixed! I can't go back and I can't change what happened but that doesn't stop me wishing I could!

Bloody animals!! If only we didn't love them so much, this wouldn't be a problem. We could just send them away and forget and move on. If only.
 
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I'm sat here in tears. I don't know why I do it to myself!

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I quite understand. I still feel very emotional about the horse that I had to have pts. I'm not sure you ever quite get over it - especially when they have been with you for such a long time.

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It's amazing how much we bond with horses. I've had animals all my life (pretty much every domesticated animal u could imagine), but horses are so different. I have 3 mares now, but my life revolved around murph. He shattered a splint bone in a fight with a new horse in 2000. We nearly lost him due to complications (colic, skin died, fragments pressing on tendons / ligaments, etc.), but he pulled through (after a £7000 vet bill, surgery and 7 months of box rest).

In 2004 he was diagnosed with cushings, but the only symptom he had was the laminitis. 5 months box rest, 4 weeks hydrotherapy, remdial shoeing every 4 weeks, £5000 vet bill, an unbelievable amount of drugs, but he pulled through again. He was back in work over winter, but once spring came, so did the laminitis. It recurred continously and he was put to sleep on the 15th May 2006. It wasn't fair to keep him going on box rest all his life, but i always wonder "what if....".

I'm just so glad he went quietly and peacefully, with a full belly. He's in our living room now - he used to love coming to our house for a jam sandwich!

It affected me so badly, i'm actually in councilling now.
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I'd do it all again though - he was an amazing horse.
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Lou. x
 
I can only say that I feel for people who couldn't be with their horse at the end. The one thing I am thankful for is that I had the courage and the opportunity to be by my boy's side at the end and the last thing he saw was me, heard was me saying I loved him and he was a good boy and smelled me. THe only way I could have improved it would be if I could have touched him, but the vet said it was too dangerous if he started thrashing about.
I'm going to have to leave this forum now. I'm sat here crying and my husband is going to come back from work and think something dreadful happened!!
 
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can only say that I feel for people who couldn't be with their horse at the end.

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To be fair - not everyone can. I said a last goodbye to Freddy and walked away. YO held him whilst he was shot. I simply couldn't have coped, and think I may well have panicked if I'm honest.
 
I understand that totally, and if my Smurfy had been shot I may not have been able to cope either. I think there are pros and cons to every single was of having them put down and if horses had any sense they would make sure they never got sick and died peacefully in their sleep at a ripe old age.
 
Yes everyone is different and to be honest if you think you are going to fall apart then it is probably best that you aren't there with them at the end.

I've been with all of mine at the end - for me this is something that is very important.
 
Personally for me it was awful not being with Geneve at the end. All I can think of is the fact his last memory was the inside of a vet hospital with strangers. A friend told me that perhaps it was better that way because I would remember him how he was, rather than him connected up to machines and tubes........but at the end of the day I wanted Geneve to know he had been loved and that through everything we so much wanted to be there with him, to give him one last hug and let him know we were there to the end...............I hope he forgives us for not making it in time.......
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Gosh this is such a heartbreaking thread........
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Yes everyone is different and to be honest if you think you are going to fall apart then it is probably best that you aren't there with them at the end.

I've been with all of mine at the end - for me this is something that is very important.

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Which is why the next time it happens it will be done by injection (circumstances allowing). Very selfish in one way - but at least I will feel able to be there in that situation.
 
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Gosh this is such a heartbreaking thread........
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I'm so sorry - i didn't mean to upset everyone (including myself!). I was just thinking, so thought i would post my thoughts. Makes a change that i get to speak to people in the same boat as me though - nice to know i'm not the only one. I think some people think i'm stupid for being upset over a horse.

Sorry though!
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Lou. x
 
I don't know if I would say it is selfish - more practical. The last thing a dying animal, not to mention the vet, needs is someone falling apart on them.

I'm not saying that I don't fall apart on the death of one of my animals, I do.....but only after the event.
 
He knew you loved him. No doubt he died dreaming of galloping through a field with you, or you holding a huge bucket of feed for him. He probably made sure you didn't make it so you didn't see him like that.

(I said earlier that I was going to leave this thread alone as it is so upsetting, yet I don't seem to be able to!! I'm obviously a glutten for punishment!!)
 
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I would have paid anything for him to be fixed! I can't go back and I can't change what happened but that doesn't stop me wishing I could!

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That is exactly how I am feeling right now
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The vets would not allow me to stay with Sirrius, but I think that was more to do with Amber getting stressed out. They waited until about 8pm so it was very quiet for them.

I half wish I could have been there, but just seeing him happy in the stable was hard enough.
 
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I'm not saying that I don't fall apart on the death of one of my animals, I do.....but only after the event.

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Absolutely - it's just about keeping it together at the time.
 
Don't worry about it. I had 2 weeks off work (and had to postpone my driving test) after Smurf was put down. Work thought I was mad and one of the ladys I worked with looked at me like I was a silly little girl. I'm 21 now and I would be exactly the same no matter what my age.
Horses become part of the family, if not part of you. That's why we put up with so much - they deserve greiving over just like any human being. That's why I make sure I have nice pics up of my baby, so I make sure I remember the fantastic times we had. He deserves at least that.

I would recommend planting something like a tree in rememberence. You are doing a good deed for the environment, plus it will last for ages and can be somewhere you can go to reflect on anything. I'm glad I did it and look forward to my next visit to the yard to see it.
 
Lou you dont need to apologise on my behalf........I guess for most on here it just brings back those memories.

Thanks Mrs Trushell.........I hope he does remember the good times with us. We had him since he was a baby, so lots of memories to cherish. We just thought we would have him into his old age........but that was not to be.
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I agree that you have to try and keep it together, but golly its hard. That is why my hubby could not be there when we had to put our foal to sleep. I sat on the straw with her head on my lap and just talked to her until she fell asleep. I then struggled to be by Mo's side in November when we lost her, but hubby stayed with her to the end.

As somebody else said earlier, its the bond we have with them............ my horses are my children..........
 
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