Have you seen a horse die?

Dying, PTS & dead - mainly at the vet school, but also at races (Hereford) and privately. Imo, a peaceful death is reason to be thankful rather than sorrowful - unless one has a personal connection with a horse or its owners, and then it can be very emotional. On the positive side, I have seen more horses being born than dying.
 
The first was the very public death of Wideawake during his lap of honour at Badminton. Being sat in the stands unable to do anything or get out was awful. Also at Badminton when the horse "spiked" himself with the flag pole. Saw him loaded onto trailer (still alive just) but knew the end was inevitable. Also held horses for friends when they have been PTS and this was so dignified and unfrightening for the horse - "glad" (not the right word) that I've done this for others so that if I ever have to do it for mine I won't be afraid of the unknown.
 
Yes, I saw one collapse during some SJ, also seen a dead one waiting to be collected and the fatality at Badminton.

I've watched the youtube footage of Hickstead and although I'm usually easily upset, it was more upsetting to see the people's reaction in the crowd, seeing how upset they were, must of been very shocking for them as it will of been the last thing people will of expected, but looking on youtube you know what your going to view, you have a choice.

However there is other things I can't watch (clips of cruelty for example) I've even see more distressing things on wildlife documentarys of things being killed, again all natural but hard to watch an animal suffer, where as a death of a well kept horse having a heart attack, something that can't be helped, doesn't upset me the same way, sad yes, but I think it's something people should be more aware off and not sheltered from.
 
Yes - sadly witnessed a horse drop down dead of a heart attack on the hunting field. The most ditressing bit was that after it went down and convulsed, it then tried to get up again and we thought it might be ok, but then went down again and passed away.

I will never forget the screams of it's owner, thankfully she got thrown clear when it went down, but was beside herself with shock and grief.

Not a good day....
 
Been there till the very last minute, my boss simply wont let us go through it, think she feels its up to her as its her yard. ive seen a dead horse, felt we had to say goodbye.
 
Some owners want to be present when their horse is PTS; others feel they can't face it. I think the wishes of both should be respected equally.
 
Sadly, I have seen three.

Pooh Bear, a little 11.2 was hit by a motorcycle after getting out of the field. We got him back to the yard, but he collapsed a couple of hours later - I was sat in the box with him waiting for the vet, when he died.

Goliath had a heart attack mid-canter on a hack. It was just like he laid down in slow motion, luckily the girl riding him managed to get off safely. The worst thing was leaving him in the field overnight as we couldn't get the horse ambulance out to get him until the next day.

Then just over a year ago, we had a load of "travellers" and their dogs invade our fields - they let the dogs run loose with the mares, and unfortunately Heidi, who was the sweetest mare you could imagine, had a heart attack and died. She was almost blind and in her late 20's, and the terror of being chased by dogs killed her. Everyone was very shocked - the policeman that came just stood and looked at her in disbelief, I think it was the first time he had had to deal with something like that. Particularly as the whole yard was full of furious women who just wanted to go and lay into the travellers with anything they could get their hands on - they were lucky to get away from us - god knows what would of happened if we'd got hold of them!!!
 
My first horse died in front of my eyes :(. He spooked at someting and reared up fell over and collapsed, with think he had a brain hemoridge (sp). I tried everything i could to keep him awake he didn't even try and get up, after 5 minutes he was motionless. It was one of the worst experiences of my life :(.
 
Luckily, I've never seen a horse die.

It came close with a little old Section A with lami, but he must have heard us discussing pts as he recovered surprisingly quickly from that day :p

My boy will be with me for the rest of his days, but I can't bear the thought of ever letting him go :(
 
never seen one die 'in real life' but have in video.

the only experience i've had is where the YO had her twenty something year old shot because she wanted to free up the stable. she went up to that field absolutely buzzing and full of life and never came back.

also one where the owners tb was about 16, she wanted rid for some reason but didn't think anyone could look after her as well as she did so she had her shot. but she couldn't face being with the horse at the end, so she let said YO's husband be the one to hold her, who the horse absolutely hated. I think you owe the horse that much to be there for it at the end ..
 
i've seen 2 die of heart attacks, one being ridden and one who got too excited about the prospect of her breakfast bless her!
i've also seen 3 shot - all broken legs - all polo injuries
 
Shilasdair said:
I would.
There's nothing wrong with not wanting to see a horse die, but equally, there's nothing wrong with watching a video of the end of a horse's life.
Like foaling, death is part of life, and the more we know, the better we understand it.
Perhaps it will also help prepare people for the day when their horse may die...it is easier I think, if you know what is coming, and understand the physiology of death.
S :D
Click to expand...

very true ,if i'd seen the video before standing with one of mine to be shot i would have been much better prepared as i didnt know there was quite as much "movement" when they went down ,i thought he'd missed :eek:
the few seconds it took me to realise what was happening were horrific :(

i was also interested to watch "the" video clip because i found the horse i grew up with dead in the field ,i could tell it was quick by the way she was lying but its kind of interesting to see what probibly happened to her

ive also stayed with an old mare resting on me while she died before the vet could get there ,it was nice in a funny sort of way to be able to comfort her on her way out (she wasn't mine) as it was quite peaceful

its funny in a way how life prepares you for things because i held both my grandparents hands as they died and because i'd been with that little mare i knew what was going to happen
 
I've seen a horse die in very similar circumstances to those of poor Hickstead. The only difference was that he was in his stable; I'd just hung up his water bucket, and got trapped behind him momentarily as he started to flail. Mum dragged me out of the stable before he went down. She let me back in when he fell quiet, but he was already gone. I still have a lasting - futile - memory of Mum giving him mouth-to-nose in an attempt to keep him with us until the vet came :(
 
yeah i have. i was on a work experience week for uni and i had to accompany one of the vets for a pts of a laminitic pony. i guess i was lucky in the sense that i didnt know the pony, but even then it was difficult as the pony looked fine, and as it was scared of needles it put up a fair fight against the vet. but the moment it hit the ground i felt like id been punched, i think regardless wither you know the horse or not, its always difficult to see such a magestic animal just drop down dead..
 
Up until this Sunday, no, but I was with my friend as her elderly pony was PTS by injection due to colic and stayed until she was safely on her way in the wagon. It was very quiet and peaceful, mainly because she was already down and we were able to leave her in her stable.
 
No I haven't, However I used to ride a lovely Horse at my old RS. Horse was out in the field when a storm started. The workers started bringing the Horses in, but as they went back for him, they saw him get struck by lightning. My friend was one of the workers. The vet said that Horse probably died before he hit the ground. One of the reasons I will never turn out in a storm!

I watched the youtube clip, I was curious as I havn't seen anything like it before. I did find it educational and I think I will be less shocked if I ever do see a Horse die. It's a personal choice if we watch it or not.

RIP Hickstead
 
I was there when my loan horse was PTS about 2 years ago and also when my gorgeous youngster was PTS earlier this the year (both by injection). There was no-way I couldnt have been there as I wanted them to know they were not alone and not to be scared if that makes sense. I miss them so much especially my lil boy. It was very peaceful and very quick with both of them.

But I havent seen one die competing etc.
 
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several now, sadly. By injection and bullet both. But its to be expected when youve had horses for years isnt it, they cant go on for ever on perfect health unfortunatley.
As someone said above, my worst thing was finding my horse dead in his field, that moment when you approach and you get the feeling in your stomach is awful.

I havent watched the youtube clip as Ive never heard of Hickstead before this thread, so it would just be me watching an anonymous horse drop dead which would probably be a bit goulish.
 
Yes, several and the worst was one from Tetanus PLEASE vaccinate, you really do not want to see that!
My old lad was PTS by injection, rare in those days, it was so sad but he was ready and was so very tired.
FDC
 
Yes, several over the years, PTS by both injection and by bullet and my precious mare collapsing in front of me with a ruptured aneurysm ( 6 weeks away from foaling) - that was so hard to take, and also as already said, someone else's from tetanus many years ago.
I'd absolutely second that about vaccinating against Tetanus, it's an awful, awful death.
 
Yes two.

My Shetland being shot by the vet. I fed her a carrot. bang. dead while standing up. She knew nothing.

Other was a lovely old mare at a riding stables in Devon. Ten of us were cantering across Exmoor on a day's ride in December. It was cold, raining and blowing a gale and the old girl just dropped suddenly in canter and was dead. The rider was pinged off and unhurt (soft muddy ground). Two riders went back to the yard to call for the hunt to take the body away and to send a car out to pick the horseless and shocked rider up. The rest of us dismounted and stayed with the body in the rain and mist until the car arrived. I removed her tack and put the numnah over her face so we didn't keep looking at her eyes.
We rode onto the pub and yes if you were an old horse (she was) and had led a full life (she had, bred by the stables, sold to the hunt, whipperin's mount for many years, then back to the stables), then it was a quick death which she'd have known little about, better than lingering on with old-age conditions maybe, but even being told this, our mood was muted.
 
I've held one's head in my lap after it was given injection to pts after breaking its leg in the field, this was a friends gelding. Heard the shot when another was pts on the RS yard when i was young. Never seen one drop dead, although was at Ascot in the summer when Rewilding fell and broke his leg, and I'd have to say that was traumatic enough, even though I could see he didn't suffer I was gutted and cried a fair amount, he was such a beautiful horse :(
 
went xc schooling march the 6h this year and my sisters horse broke his leg, the vet come to put him down and i sat with him until the hunt arrived to pick him up, i think my sister has made the hard decision to have her old mare put down next week aged 27, she looks healthy as in shiny coat but she is struggling to get up and move and just generally stands about in the field looking sad, i have seen 1 dead horse broke his neck on the yard and 3 others put down, Another one of ours due to strangles, i wouldnt have it done by gun only injection. i too watch videos for educational purposes and to know what to expect. The best thing i ever did is to watch videos and in person.
 
Some may find this offensive and I understand that some people simply couldn't, but If a horse has given all it's trust and life to you, surely it would appreciate in the last image of life to see someone they trust. Just an opinion of course!
 
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