Have you ever PTS and regretted it?

scatty_mare

scatty_mare

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As title really, but I'm not asking if you have you ever had your horse put to sleep and wished you didn't have to (obviously that would be anyone unlucky enough to be in that situation) but have you ever had to make a decision where it wasn't cut and dried, and then regretted not giving the horse more of a chance?
 
Yes, well that is true.
I think I'm overthinking it. I have surprised myself by how hard I am finding this decision. Doesn't help that I am in the same situation with both of my horses (entirely different horses, entirely different reasons) but really, I thought I was cool, emotionally detached and unsentimental - obviously I am not!
 
I had my old boy PTS a couple of weeks ago and it took me ages to decide if I was doing the right thing. I still think it was the right decision as nothing in his circumstances would have changed except the arthritis would have got more painful and his mobility impeded even more.

I think you have to remind yourself why you made the decision in the first place and not to dwell on the ' if onlys'.
 
I had no choice, there was nothing we could have done to save Donks, we would honestly have paid whatever and done whatever and there is not a moment I do not miss her - so yes I regret but it had to be done in the circumstances.
 
Yes. A mare who had a skin condition and kept tying up. It had to be down to some kind of allergy but insurance time constraints meant that we never got to the bottom of it. She couldn't do a job as she was, and wasn't saleable as she looked like a marvelous healthy horse who just ended up in agony when worked. She'd never have stayed anywhere long.

I should have tried for longer to find out what was at the root of it, even though she wouldn't have been insured, but allergy problems are understood better now than they were at the time. It wasn't the worst decision - I didn't sell her, ignore it or not try to manage it - but had I been more patient and systematically gone through everything (and I did go through quite a lot) in her environment, especially diet, I now think I could have sorted it. It bothers my conscience a lot. :(
 
No me personally as its always been the right decision for my horses, but I was involved in a case quite a few years ago.
I was fence judging at a BE. It was the intermidiate class, and my fence was an upright gate. After numerous bad riders over rode the fence and tried to steeple chase it, many horses HAD to get them out of trouble, often 'clocking' the fence in doing so. One horse wasn't so lucky, and couldn't get his rider out of trouble. He hit the fence - hard, his stifle got the worst of it. The rider got catapulted off, the horse fell. The horse got up - on three legs and we called the vet to the fence. The vet said he was sore, but it was bruising and that the horse should walk it off. The groom had arrived and was just about to walk the hopping horse back to the lorries, a second vet came. , The second vet claimed it was much worse. The vets actually had an argument! By this time the horse was in shock and pain, and was down on his knees. (the course was open by this time, after being closed for 5 mins initially). So, the vet who said it was beyond repair got to make the call. The course was held again, and the horse shot. Both vets then examined the horse while waiting for the wagon. They moved his leg all around, poked and prodded it... then the vet who said it was bad, claimed it wasn't as bad as first thought, and possibly just a slipped bruised stifle. He walked away hanging his head, the first vet was saying sorry to us and the horse's connections (who were by this time with us). Tears were flowing, and Iam all sure we were as angry as everyone involved. It was a bad experience... I remember saying it was such a waste of a nice horse.
Within months, the vet that had got it so wrong, resigned from the practice. I think it went to court, but as I was under 18 at the time I wasn't needed as a witness.
 
Ruthnmeg said:
No me personally as its always been the right decision for my horses, but I was involved in a case quite a few years ago.
I was fence judging at a BE. It was the intermidiate class, and my fence was an upright gate. After numerous bad riders over rode the fence and tried to steeple chase it, many horses HAD to get them out of trouble, often 'clocking' the fence in doing so. One horse wasn't so lucky, and couldn't get his rider out of trouble. He hit the fence - hard, his stifle got the worst of it. The rider got catapulted off, the horse fell. The horse got up - on three legs and we called the vet to the fence. The vet said he was sore, but it was bruising and that the horse should walk it off. The groom had arrived and was just about to walk the hopping horse back to the lorries, a second vet came. , The second vet claimed it was much worse. The vets actually had an argument! By this time the horse was in shock and pain, and was down on his knees. (the course was open by this time, after being closed for 5 mins initially). So, the vet who said it was beyond repair got to make the call. The course was held again, and the horse shot. Both vets then examined the horse while waiting for the wagon. They moved his leg all around, poked and prodded it... then the vet who said it was bad, claimed it wasn't as bad as first thought, and possibly just a slipped bruised stifle. He walked away hanging his head, the first vet was saying sorry to us and the horse's connections (who were by this time with us). Tears were flowing, and Iam all sure we were as angry as everyone involved. It was a bad experience... I remember saying it was such a waste of a nice horse.
Within months, the vet that had got it so wrong, resigned from the practice. I think it went to court, but as I was under 18 at the time I wasn't needed as a witness.
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OMG that's awful, I would be so angry if I were the owners, poor horse :(
 
I've had 3 PTS over the years.

The first was my old mare who was ancient and the arthritis got so ba she couldn't bend her back leg, she was well into her 30's and winter was approaching...

My son's pony was PTS after complications following a colic operation, he was in his 20's....

And just a few weeks ago, we had our 35 year old pony PTS as his heart was failing.

Never regretted it as I know it was the best thing for all of them....
 
On both occasions sadly there was no other option but to PTS so the decision was out of my hands. I definitely describe to a day too soon rather than a day too late, no matter how hard it would be.
 
Ruthnmeg that is horrific! It is making me shudder.

Thanks for all the honest replies. The problem is that I don't KNOW for sure that it is the right thing to do for either horse and I am worried that my decision is being influenced by me being absolutely sick of being in this horrible situation and just wanting it to be finished.

Neither horse is old, but both have injuries which mean they are very unlikely to be ridden again or do more than hack, and probably only on bute.

They are both tbs, therefore high maintenance (although well-mannered and nice temps) and so would not be suitable as companions.

I will not pass them on to someone else as neither is sound so either I accept that there will be no more eventing for me (I am 28 and have the bug real bad) and resign myself to the occasional hack or I bite the bullet (no pun intended - oh dear that was very bad taste) and think of myself.

Really finances and time limit me to one horse (although two is possible at a stretch). And although I am very very attached to my two, I can't really justify the expense and commitment needed for two big pets.

Is that wrong?
 
I know the time is now and she is going PTS tomorrow at 9am I do not want to do it she has been with me for 24 years but at 26 her legs are bad and the time is right for her but not for me. Tonight will be full of should I shouldn't I. But head has to be right not heart.
 
dwteam said:
I know the time is now and she is going PTS tomorrow at 9am I do not want to do it she has been with me for 24 years but at 26 her legs are bad and the time is right for her but not for me. Tonight will be full of should I shouldn't I. But head has to be right not heart.
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So sorry to hear that.
Will be thinking of you. You are being very brave.
 
No but I have regretted not PTS.
I had a beautiful Highland mare who was very ill. Every time the vet came I would ask what the prognosis was and he always said it's not time yet.
She died in her stable when I wasn't there and I regret NOT having her pts earlier. Still feel a bit guilty about it 8 years later but I took vet's advice.
Definitely better a bit soon than too late.
 
I didn't have a choice with my first horse as the vet decided for us. I have no regret with pts but just wish I had pushed for him to have his MRI sooner and not tried to turn him away first.



dwteam- Will be thinking of you. Sometimes we have to do what's best for them however hard it is for us as owners.
 
Snoozinsusan said:
No but I have regretted not PTS.
I had a beautiful Highland mare who was very ill. Every time the vet came I would ask what the prognosis was and he always said it's not time yet.
She died in her stable when I wasn't there and I regret NOT having her pts earlier. Still feel a bit guilty about it 8 years later but I took vet's advice.
Definitely better a bit soon than too late.
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Must of been a terrible shock for you but maybe not so bad for the horse. More with dogs than horses but the phrase better a day early than too late is maybe not always right. Sometimes an animal is old, or ill and dies, there seems to be a rush to pts nowadays rather than what happens naturally.
Pity we can't ask them what they want .......
 
This is such a difficult one.
I had a horse years ago with bad Navicular, was a LOU claim, freezemarked and rather than have her pts as I couldnt face it, she went as a companion, signed over, no longer mine. A few months later I got a call from a potential buyer!!! I was gutted, had since bought another horse and couldnt have her back. I am ashamed of what I did and regret the day I let her go, poor mare should have been pts whilst I owned her and I would never ever do that again
Then I had a mare with advanced ringbone, she was my baby, we retired her, I came round to idea of years of no riding as she was only 8 yrs old and I can only afford one horse but shortly after I found her one morning with bad colic. Vet came and said she needed surgery but looking at her stable reckoned she'd been colicking most of the night and that she may not make it as part of her intestines may have died. We had a long chat and because of her history, it was reccomended she be pts. It was the hardest decision Ive made as I could have given her the chance, she may have recovered and would have then been a field ornament on bute for the next 20 yrs.
Part of me feels selfish for not giving her the chance. I know deep down it was the right thing to do but it doesnt make it any easier.
dwt, big hugs x
 
Scatty Mare - this is EXACTLY the situation I am in with my 9 year old TB who is being PTS tomorrow at 11 a.m. He has been broken for over a year and a half. He had a year off with a torn supraspinous ligament in his back and spavin. Had all the insurance money thrown at him and had stem cell in his back and this and that. Brought him back into work in April and he wasn't even right at walk.

He looks amazing in the field but he's clearly not able to be ridden anymore. The physio, who is a great friend as well, answered me straight away when I said what can I do with him? She said he isn't going to stand up to any work at all so would just be a field ornament.

I cannot afford to have him at home - we don't have enough space for a horse that doesn't do a job especially one that needs a stable. I have advertised him as a companion but who wants a 16.3hh TB for the winter?!! He is so kind natured that I refuse to sell him or loan him out because people may well ride him and take advantage of his good nature when he clearly cannot be ridden.

So i have made the decision for him to go to the kennels and its being dealt with tomorrow morning when I'm at work. I am going to be heartbroken because I love that horse more than life itself but it is the right thing to do by him and me.

Its awful having to make the decision and know you're responsible for a life but sometimes you've just go to do what is best for the horse.
 
First of all it absolutely has to be your own decision, not influenced by anyone else's opinion.

I made the very difficult decision 2 years ago next month to have one of my boys PTS and I still miss him every day, and in a selfish way wish I had not done so, but in my head I know it was for the best. He had severe joint problems which were getting worse so quickly he probably wouldn't have lasted more than another year anyway, and I decided to let him go whilst he still had some dignity, rather than leave it too late, as you can never turn back the clock. Yes I miss him terribly, and there's not a day that goes by when I don't think about him, he was such an amazing horse, but it was the right decision. He went to the kennels, as hunting was his absolute favourite thing and I honestly think from the look on his face when he got there that his last thoughts were happy ones about hunting.

Do what is best for your horses
 
Ruthnmeg said:
No me personally as its always been the right decision for my horses, but I was involved in a case quite a few years ago.
I was fence judging at a BE. It was the intermidiate class, and my fence was an upright gate. After numerous bad riders over rode the fence and tried to steeple chase it, many horses HAD to get them out of trouble, often 'clocking' the fence in doing so. One horse wasn't so lucky, and couldn't get his rider out of trouble. He hit the fence - hard, his stifle got the worst of it. The rider got catapulted off, the horse fell. The horse got up - on three legs and we called the vet to the fence. The vet said he was sore, but it was bruising and that the horse should walk it off. The groom had arrived and was just about to walk the hopping horse back to the lorries, a second vet came. , The second vet claimed it was much worse. The vets actually had an argument! By this time the horse was in shock and pain, and was down on his knees. (the course was open by this time, after being closed for 5 mins initially). So, the vet who said it was beyond repair got to make the call. The course was held again, and the horse shot. Both vets then examined the horse while waiting for the wagon. They moved his leg all around, poked and prodded it... then the vet who said it was bad, claimed it wasn't as bad as first thought, and possibly just a slipped bruised stifle. He walked away hanging his head, the first vet was saying sorry to us and the horse's connections (who were by this time with us). Tears were flowing, and Iam all sure we were as angry as everyone involved. It was a bad experience... I remember saying it was such a waste of a nice horse.
Within months, the vet that had got it so wrong, resigned from the practice. I think it went to court, but as I was under 18 at the time I wasn't needed as a witness.
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How absolutely terrible. So sad.
 
montysmum1 said:
First of all it absolutely has to be your own decision, not influenced by anyone else's opinion.
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This is true. To be honest it is a big step for me to be considering it. I don't know what I will do but all the time the horses are comfortable I will not rush into any decisions.

CarolineB, your horse is lucky to have you. It sounds as though you have given him every possible chance and I admire you for not taking the 'easy' option and passing him on as a companion. I will be thinking of you tomorrow x
 
Don't regret having him pts but regret that he wasn't eternal.
I loved that pony with every fibre of my body, it'll be 7 years this December :(.
 
My only regret is that my mare couldn't live forever, it was the right time for, but not for me, it's been six months since she went and I still cannot get my head around it
 
I was in this position two weeks ago - the vet was adamant that we should PTS - he kept telling me it was the worst case he had ever seen, and that the horse was in too much pain to survive. If it had been my vet I would have listened, but my vet was on holiday so I got a new vet from the practise instead. Anyway, I couldn't believe that there was nothing we could try, so asked the vet to make her comfortable for 24 hours so that I could speak to people, research, and make an informed decision. 24 hours later, she was starting to turn a corner, and looked perkier - I queried her illness with another vet, who bombarded me with drugs, infomation and support on the phone, at any time of the day or night. The last two weeks have been up and down, but now she seems to be coming on ok, and things are looking good. I will never, ever use that vet again - it was like he couldn't even be bothered to try and save her.
 
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