Horse being put down in field...

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melissa7793

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My friend has unfortunately been informed that she has to have her horse put to sleep and has decided to put her down next week in the field. She has asked me if i would like my mare out in the field whilst she is put down, i am in two minds and just wandered what others would do?
 
I'm so sorry to for your friend.

I would not have your mare in the field at the time of PTS but would allow her to say goodbye afterwards. I did this before and they do say goodbye in their own way. I do the same with my dogs aswell. They usually have a good sniff, then stand guard for a little while and then just wander of as if to know there friend has gone.

Again, I'm terribly sorry and hope it will be peacefull for youRIP
 
If you don't want her there while the deed is done (depends on the method) I'd take her out but I would always let their friend see them before the dead horse is removed....it does seem to stop them searching for them, if that makes sense?
 
I would let her see what happens. Hard as it is for us, it is the natural way of things and really helps them to settle after. Very sad, your poor friend.
 
i did think that, i was also thinking that she had a very close field mate who moved yards and she wasnt that bothered, so wandered if its best for her to think that, and not actually know where she has gone so shes not depressed or sad ...although i suppose its the natural way .
 
I agree with all the above. At one yard i kept my pony at her best friend was put down and she spent several days running around the field whinneing looking for him. Then afew years later she lived with a very old pony who had a hart attack in the night. When i descovered him she was standing next to him grazing. When the local hunt came to take him away she watched him go into the truck gave one whinnie then walked off grazing.
I'm so sorry for your friends loss.
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when my ponys aged girlfriend was put to sleep last year, Banjo was put in another part of our fields then was the deed was done he came and sniffed her body and stood guard over her for a good hour till the man came to remove her body. It was very touching the way he looked after her. He was looking for her for several days calling for her and it was almost as if her spirit was running with him
I am so sorry for your friend
 
So sorry for your friend ((hugs))) as it's an awful situation x

When ours was PTS we held the big mare (his field companion) in another part of the field, then let her off, and let her say her goodbyes. We also let the others into the field to see him for about an hour.

All of them went up and sniffed and pawed him, then quietly walked away and grazed.

I think that it's better they do see them, then they know, in their own way, that they have gone.
 
awww im sorry for your friend!!

My horse was not very well and we were up at the field and the vet had been and said if he hadn't improved by the morning then i would have to have him pts,but lucky for me i didnt have to make that horrible decision as my pony had roll in field when we were all there and took heart failure.

I had my other horses sectioned off with electric fencing but also there were horses in the next field. oh and cows across the road.

the weird thing that happened is that when he passed away all the other animals came over as far as they could to the fence.(sixth sense i suppose).

But it was nice. well if you know what i mean.

could you not section a bit of field off how i did it?
 
Very sad
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When I had my Rambo put down, I let Billy sniff him afterwards. Billy would always call when Rambo was out, but after the carcass was removed, Billy never called. So he knew & understood what was going on I think. for the vet's safety, however, it can be best to hang onto the other horse as I've seen some violent reactions before!
 
I agree that if you and your friends horses were friends take your's out whlst the other is being PTS. Then take your mare back to see her after.

When my daughters horse lost his buddy, he stood over the dead body and licked it for a while and then walked away. Very sad but they know when a life has come to an end.
 
I agree with what others have said! I had my boy pts 3 weeks ago
He lived with his best mate for 14 years and i was worried on how my pony would take it!
I bought all my horses in and Cherry the pony did call while Joe was walked up to the field. after it was done we took Cherry up to him, he was a bit scared at first but he knew! He called for him that night but was not stressed with it, he would always call or should i say scream non stop for Joe if he went out . It was the best thing for him to have a look rather than not knowing , other wise he would still be calling for him to get back from his 3 week hack.
 
if all the horses are used to living in a herd, then keep everything out as normal. It is what would happen in the wild. But if your horse is overly sensitive, then bring in when being done and take out to see after. I think that is the best thing.
To be honest, horses are like cows and soon forget. They do not have the capacity for emotions like ppl and are fickle when it comes to company. It is more about hierachy and as hard as it may sound, by losing one, it puts their status up in the pecking order
I would also remove your horse if it was PTS by gun if you have an overly sesitive horse, but probably leave if by injection, as they will not startle!
How harsh do i sonud!! Sorry peeps
 
no you dont sound harsh lol...other friend had it PTS by gun and they couldnt catch the other horses for a long time so...my mare is quite indapendent as isnt really bothered when other horses leave, even the ones she looks to be close with she never calls or anything so she should be fine, thankyou for all opinions and advice x
 
If your horse is a friend of this horse, i would highly recommend leaving your horse out in the field. Horses accept death, they know what it is. If the other horse just disappears, he will wonder and worry where he has gone.
I am very sorry for your friend, but highly respect her for making this decision.
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it is a very natural part of life after all. The only part that may seem alien to the horse is the vet........
I must admit i've only ever had to PTS by gun and all the others startle for a minute, come and have a quick sniff and then off they go, its heartbreaking really for us, but not for them!
 
Leave yours out if they are friends and let her sniff the body after the horse has 'gone'. That way, they sort it out in their heads - usually within minutes, that there is nothing there and they deal with it so heartbreakingly matter-of-factly you know for sure they understand death. Do allow closure at her own rate and there should be no calling.

It's a horrid time
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having gone through this last week, depends how horse is "going". Personally take horse out but then when neddy has gone to rainbow bridge, let him see, smell and touch body, they need to know, they are more accepting than we are.

All the rest of the herd was in field nextdoor when my boy was shot, they didnt bat an eyelid. However his best mate was allowed back out to sniff him etc when deed was done.

Why I say depends on method, I think if you get horse shot ,having its mate there isnt going to inspire it to like the sound of gunshot.....

NOt nice but kinder and quicker for the horse, but do let friend see it afterwards, saves a lot of stress if they know their friend has gone xxx good luck, its harrowing but as many people said to be, its horrible BUT its right xx
 
so sorry to hear about your friends horse :-( when i had my big man put to sleep we did it in the field and brought my pony afterwards to see him,he nudged him a few times with his nose then stood over him for a while.im glad we did this so he knew and wasnt searching for him as they were inseparable.he seemed to cope quite well afterwards so it is probs a good idea.
 
So sad for your friend, it is so hard for us to say good bye to a treasured friend, but I agree with the others. My wonderful old horse was PTS in March this year. It was a lovely sunny spring day and he left me very peacfully surrounded by his " friends" in the neighbouring fields. It did not distress them at all to see their friend go.
My dog was with me throughout, which helped him to realise what had happened to his pal.
 
Breeze was shot in the field, horses were left in field next door and those that shared were put into the small paddock next to it and then let back in to say goodbye. I didn't see what happened that time as I was too upset to stay once the shot went off.

Cairo was pts in the indoor school by injection. Afterwards, Chancer was bought into say goodbye. It was heart breaking for us to see him pushing at him and licking and sniffing but after a few minutes, he gave him a final nudge and sniff, stood back and then walked away. He had worked out that Cairo was gone.

He did still behave very oddly and was lonely, spooky and sad, even with the other horses next door, until his new clydesdale arrived when he dragged me to get to her the second he saw her. Ten minutes later they were firmly attached grooming away which again had me in tears to see him finally happy again.

I do believe that horses in their own way grieve for their long terms field/stable mates and it is good for them to see the body afterwards.
 
hey- am sorry to here that. Sadly i am experienced in this horrid theme
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We had our ID PTS and we lead him away and did it in a quiet corner. My cob was a bit noisy for an hr but got used to it after. Tragically he then died 6 weeks later of natural causes and the nags round him saw, accepted and left. Its a horrid choice and this si going to make me sound awful but do you have good access to have them removed?? we had to get a neighbours tractor in as my cob - bless him had passed away in his fav spot on the top of a a hill!!!

i am v sorry to here it and its up to you what you think is right xxx
 
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