Has anyone PTS a healthy horse and if so, why?

[Cinnamontoast]

Sitting on the horns of a dilemma currently and would appreciate some stories.

 

[maxine1985]

I have, although he was healthy in body but not mind!! He looked a million dollars the day he was to PTS but something was not right, he started bolting for what appeared to be no reason, full work up at vets, scans, bloods etc you name it he had it done but couldnt find anything physically wrong. I couldnt afford to keep him as a field ornament so had him PTS. Didnt have a post mortem but vets thought he may have had a tumour or something on his brain, poor boy, will never know though :-(

 

[Enfys]

14 year old.
Rather quirky Arabian.
Healthy and full of 'p*** and vinegar' apart from cataracts.

I was emigrating, couldn't warrant the expense of taking a lawn ornament, couldn't guarantee his future if I left him behind. No option. I wasn't happy, but I do not, for one moment, regret my decision.

He boinged up on the lorry thinking he was going hunting, went to the kennels and left with his mouth full of oats and hounds singing around him. Happy boy.

 

[Polos Mum]

I PTS a 16 y/o who was field sound but not quite 100% when in ridden work (so not sure if he fits your definition of healthy). Almost purely on economic grounds, he had a lovely 18 months off in field but could easily have lived another 10/ 15 years and I couldn't justify the cost for that length of time for a horse that had absolutely no purpose.

I probably could have found him some kind of companion home (but 16.2hh who needed stable/ rugs - so not classic companion material) but I'm happier without worrying about his long term future.

 

[RunToEarth]

I had our old pony PTS. He was an 8yo 13.2, thoroughly lovely to look at, jumped for fun, very healthy pony with plenty of spirit. He just started bucking and bolting, even in hand, had numerous vets out and just couldn't find the reason why. He was technically my sister's pony, she had stopped riding him after he had dropped her a few times, once on the road for apparently no reason - a few instances I would call him evil, he really seemed to go out of his way to "get" me sometimes. I had my own horses, was too big for him and disliked riding him, I wouldn't sell him for fear of him being sold on as a jumping pony for a lot of money and really injuring some child. Even a companion was out of the question as I just didn't want to risk him being sold to some child to ride.

I absolutely don't regret it, to me it was the only way I could be sure he wouldn't injure anyone, he had so much talent it was a shame.

 

[noodle_]

i pts a lawnmower a few years ago, he had an op on his tendon (nail through it and was in leahurst for 8 weeks...) he was sound for 2 years...

a week before he was pts i couldnt do it anymore - physically/financially - he was a pet nothing more (could ride in walk and that was it...) he was 12

so he was pts. fwiw he pulled his shoe and we think (or i like to believe) his tendon again - so that gave me a little comfort but either way he wouldhave been pts

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes a three year old homebred who was aggressive , although now I think it's likely she was one of those foals who are born with ulcers that was not a known condition at that point.
I lost count of the times she bit and kicked if I had not know her from birth I would have said she had had a bad time at some point.
I was so careful so consistent with her .
At three I started pre backing work bringing in grooming Daily indroducing to the tack one day I was gently grooming her when she attacked me with no warning with her forelegs I came round outside the stable I had got myself out as I had bolted the door but have no memory of this .
My hat was broken ( i was wearing a crash cap ) I went and sat in the school and cried I could not face working with her I thought it through for about an hour then rang the hunt kennels she went the next day I did feel awful but I also felt relieved .

 

[Greylegs]

Not personally, but have a friend who had one similar to Run to Earth. Lovely pony, sound and healthy but a total nutcase with murderous tendencies!. Tried to kill her several times, a total danger to her and everyone around her and absolutely not suitable to be passed on to anyone. Would be lovely for days then go totally nuts without warning. Had every test, examination, specialist you can name but in spite of 4 years of trying, never got it right. So was PTS for everyone's sake.

 

[burtie]

A horse at our yard was PTS when the owner sadly passed away. The husband (totally non horses) was keen for anyone at the yard to take her on as a project, but no-one could or wanted to. She was 16 and although quite healthy physically could be very quirky to handle/ride and was about 16.3hh.

I know the vet found it hard, but they knew the history and knew a trip to the sales would have been a worse option in this case.

Unfortunate but there are many worse fates. My husband (and family )know that if anything happened to me and my horse wasn't healthy and easy to do, I'd rather see him PTS than passed around at low value as I've seem what more often than not happens to these horses.

 

[Antw23uk]

I watch this thread with interest as its something I've been talking to a lady about recently.

 

[touchstone]

I haven't myself, but know of someone who had a healthy 19 year old stallion euthanised. They were moving house to one with no land and so the decision was taken to pts rather than to have to keep the stallion in a stable all the time or geld at such a late age.
I don't think it was a wrong decision.

Eta:- I've also told my family that if anything happens to me or I can't care for her any more my mare is to be pts, at 19 I'd hate her to end up in the wrong hands.

 

[gallopyfish]

Yes. I had an 11yo mare. real jekyl and hyde. she would charge at people in her field forcing them to bail out over the fence, she had a nasty kick when she wasnt in the mood and was a quirky ride who would often rear. i couldnt keep her and i didnt see her as suitable to sell on. the only people that were interested were the sorts you would never sell a horse to. she was better off dead than in the hands of the types of people that wanted her. plus she had numerous health issues, none that stopped her being ridden, but plenty of issues all the same.

 

[ridefast]

Not myself but I know of a few, one had been thoroughly spoilt and didn't really know how to behave like a horse, he was unpredictably agressive, blowing up for no reason and knew how big he was, there was no flight in him at all. Know a couple of ex racers who were physically healthy but very very quirky, owners couldn't afford to re-school them and wouldn't send them to sales as didn't want them having an uncertain future

 

[FairyLights]

I had a 14 yr old arab mare PTS. She tripped quite a lot and was hysterical if without her companion. Got ripped to pieces on here for it though. But what was I supposed to do? Couldn't guarantee a home for life if I had found a buyer and didn't want to sell her on because of the tripping. Didn't want to keep as a field ornament either. Not a nice position to be in TBH.

 

[Louise_88]

I have PTS a 23 yr old that had been a field ornament since it was 10 due to huge issues when ridden, probably because she was badly treated when younger (we bought her from an auction for £100 as she was pretty and we felt sorry for her). She was very marish and we wanted to get into buying young horses/colts and new it wouldn't work. We did attempt to find her a companion loan/free to good home but it soon became apparent that only dealers were calling up and so we made the decision to PTS. We are very soft with our horses and they are very much our pets but I don't feel guilty at all.

 

[MyBoyChe]

I havent, but I would if I had too. Im in the process of trying to find a suitable home for a TB who has no real value but I do not have a use for and cant afford the luxury of keeping as a pet. I think I may have found someone so hopefully will be spared this final decision. But like one of the previous posters I would take this decision rather than see a horse with limited value and of no particular talent passed around a succession of owners who think they are getting a cheap horse so can do what they want with it. Far worse fates imho and I dont think people should be so quick to jump on the "how could you" bandwagon!

 

[BigYellowHorse]

Also reading this thread with great interest. . I have a mare very similar as others have described been told to have her PTS by a few people. But still on the fence - more just gently leaning on it as and have pretty much resided to keeping her as we have our own land and she doesnt cost the earth and with me who is the only one to handle her really is generally ok.. in fact she has taught me so much woth regards to handling unpredictable and viscious beasties I almost feel I owe her now! Lol

 

[lauraandharvey]

Sitting on the horns of a dilemma currently and would appreciate some stories.

?!!?!?!!??!! p m me!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

?!!?!?!!??!! p m me!

Will Facebook you.

 

[Foxhunter49]

I have had two put down by the local hunt.
One, 22 an ex international polo pony turned hunter that was not at all sound. Could not be a pasture ornament as she suffered bad laminitis.
The other a brood mare.
The hunt have been shooting 7-10 horses a week and not all of them oldies or unsound by any means.

 

[_GG_]

If you have time, you can read right through what was a very thorough decision making process regarding two perfectly healthy TB geldings in the threads below. Basically, It was the only way to guarantee that they would not face an uncertain future. My best friend also had a field sound horse PTS last week, extremely difficult for her, but again, she did not want him to end up in the wrong hands and not getting the right treatment. He wasn't perfectly healthy, but it was still a decision that meant that he would never suffer a bad fate.

The rescue centres are advising PTS. Many of the horses that end up being rescued in emaciated states were once much loved family members, passed on for one reason or another and ending up in the wrong hands. I would never let that happen to any animal.

It takes a brave act of selflessness to put the animal welfare (current and future) ahead of our own emotional needs, but it is extremely important that we do.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=571956

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=577401


Good luck to your friend and you in dicussing this and with whatever decision you make. I am always happy to be a sounding board for anyone thinking about this decision, so please feel free to PM me if you want to. I know how difficult it is not only to do it, but also to support someone else in coming to the decision.

xxx

 

[Sprout]

I am reading this thread with interest - I have such a difficult dilemma and am really struggling to know what to do for the best.

I hope you can find the right answer for your situation. x

 

[ivandenisovich10]

Am currently in this situation,having got my tb back from loan in poor condition, he's so much better and feel a lot of achevement with the progress he's made in a few weeks, but with feeling good brings the nasty streak back, he's a diamond to ride but on the ground he bites, kicks and charges humans, I know I could sell him for peanuts but again most likely to someone unsuitable and he will be passed from pillar to post and I think that would upset me more than PTS at least I would know his ending. I love him and hate him at the same time and its so upsetting

 

[Archiepoo]

ive had to pts a healthy young horse, in my case he was unsafe to ride and was becoming unsafe to handle on the ground ,and even tho he had put several people into hospital i had owned him since a foal -it was still very hard to actually make that decision. but in a strange way a really big relief once its done.

 

[LittleGinger]

I'm not in this situation at the moment (my heart goes out to those of you who are - I can imagine it must be horrific) but have thought ahead to the 'what ifs' etc. with mine & I know that if my circumstances were to change so that I could not haveany horses, LG would be PTS rather than sold on. I have had him 15 years, & he is too old/high maintenance for me to sell him on safely to a 'forever' home as I think, sadly, he is the sort of boy that would end up being passed around. He has been a wonderful horse

 

[Happytohack]

I haven't had to be faced with that dilemma. A friend had a horse PTS recently. The knackerman told her he had PTS 30 healthy horses that week. They were all sound, but either old or with behavioural issues or just wouldn't sell. Much better to be PTS humanely - there are worse fates for a horse.

 

[LittleGinger]

Pants, pressed 'send' instead of space!!

He's been a great lad for me and I'd like to think PTS in that circumstance would be the right thing. In the past I have given up two cracking horses to be able to keep him as I promised him a forever home - I thought about PTS then but couldn't do it because he was still in work & I still had the means to keep him if I let another horse go. Not sure the grumpy ginger thing appreciates my soppiness, though!!

Basically, I don't think anyone can say it's never the right thing to do, although I can appreciate it's a topic where emotions are involved and people's feelings one way or the other are likely to be very strong. Each case is very different. Best of luck with your tough decision, OP xx

 

[DJ]

Yes, healthy in body but radged in the head cob a few years ago .... was the only fair option.


If anything happened to me then mine would be PTS too.

 

[Fools Motto]

Yep, been there, done it sadly too. TB mare, only 10. Very green, and to be honest, didn't have 'brains' to progress like ''ordinary schooled horses''. Teach her to do trotting poles one day, lovely, next day didn't have a clue about them, this sort of thing went on weeks. She could jump some days, others she would completely forget her hind legs, and on several occasions become 'straddled' across a fence. She was a sweety to do, almost too quiet. She got cast one day, and went to sleep while we were getting the lines on! She was never scared. While I was away for a few months, a friend had her as a companion. Came back to me as usual, put the saddle on and she flipped. Got that checked, and while checking, she flipped, broke everything in sight/range including fitters hand, the saddle, head collar, gatepost, lead rope, buckets and wheel barrow. She didn't have a clue what she had done after, just stood and went to sleep again! I made the decision after seeing her do that, to get the kennels - she wasn't safe. The kennels did report back later to say they found 'a mass', can only assume tumour. I'm glad I did it, for everyones sake. Bless her.

 

[Irishcobs]

I knew a lady who pts her daughters pony aged 7. They had had her from a 3 yr old and backed her themselves. Pony was fab on the lead rein but not off, she used to bolt and buck. She would bite and kick on the ground as well.
The final straw was the other liveries telling her to pts as the pony was dangerous, she listened to them and it was pts. I don't know any more to the story so not sure if it could of been re-schooled but it was the mothers choice at the end of the day.