Horse put to sleep - companion

Leam_Carrie

Leam_Carrie

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I have a horse and pony kept at home, with two elderly sheep (who belong to someone else). There are no other equines nearby.

Trying to be practical my horse is ill and older, so I might have to make a difficult decision. If I do I can’t work out how to manage the other pony. I’ve read old posts and they say let them see the body, which makes sense.

But after that I have a pony with no companion. And am sure i’ll be a sobbing mess. I don’t have any nearby to borrow a temp companion off. So how would you approach this? I think I want to keep the pony and at some point get another horse.

Hopefully my horse will recover and this will be planning for the future.

Thanks for any advice.
 
I’d look at getting a companion lined up now so your remaining pony isn’t left alone. A stressed animal because it’s suddenly on its own is not something you’ll want to be dealing with on the day you have your elderly horse PTS.
I’ve always had 3 when we’ve lost one and the 2 remaining just seem to get on with it, even if they’ve been strongly bonded with the one we’ve lost. I never show them the body, but on each occasion, the horses seem to just know and get on with it with minimal fuss or calling.

Big hugs though, its a horrible time xx
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

I can’t add a third now as it will stress out my horse and the most important thing is she has the best time possible at the moment. The pony is her companion.

I can probably borrow a pony from someone... but don’t have transport. So it would mean having someone deliver a borrowed pony just after my horse was put to sleep.
 
Leam_Carrie said:
Thanks for the suggestions.

I can’t add a third now as it will stress out my horse and the most important thing is she has the best time possible at the moment. The pony is her companion.

I can probably borrow a pony from someone... but don’t have transport. So it would mean having someone deliver a borrowed pony just after my horse was put to sleep.
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Could new companion be separated away or stabled etc for a day or so before your other horse is pts so it’s on hand immediately but not so close that it’s stressing out your horse?
When I lost my companion (relocation not pts) I had my new companion all lined up and delivered the next day. So my horse and his old companion came in one night as normal then companion left that evening and new company was delivered the next morning and they went out together as normal. Neither batted an eye!
 
I had two horses and had one PTS in August. How attached are they? I thought my younger horse would stress on his own. I had the older one PTS, brought the other one out of the field on a lunge line, let him sniff around, he started pulling at his ear, then kind of lost interest. I put him back in the field, routine resumed, he shouted a few times and then that was it. I haven’t actually got him another companion. He seems fine on his own but he has a busy social life with lots of riding, schooling, competitions etc.
This is my story but of course, they are all individuals.
 
Pc2003 said:
Could new companion be separated away or stabled etc for a day or so before your other horse is pts so it’s on hand immediately but not so close that it’s stressing out your horse?
When I lost my companion (relocation not pts) I had my new companion all lined up and delivered the next day. So my horse and his old companion came in one night as normal then companion left that evening and new company was delivered the next morning and they went out together as normal. Neither batted an eye!
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This is the downside of them being at home. They’re out 24/7 so no chance of changeover. But the pony is ok on his own when we’re out riding so I might have a bit of leeway. :)
 
kathantoinette said:
I had two horses and had one PTS in August. How attached are they? I thought my younger horse would stress on his own. I had the older one PTS, brought the other one out of the field on a lunge line, let him sniff around, he started pulling at his ear, then kind of lost interest. I put him back in the field, routine resumed, he shouted a few times and then that was it. I haven’t actually got him another companion. He seems fine on his own but he has a busy social life with lots of riding, schooling, competitions etc.
This is my story but of course, they are all individuals.
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Tricky to say how attached, they only have each other for company so there always together. That said I’ve only had the pony since July. He might be ok with the sheep short-term.
 
You may find the pony is fine, I had one of a pair pts some years ago, the one left behind did have other company but they had always been joined at the hip and not mixed with others, I think the one left knew his pal was very unwell and totally accepted him being brought in to be pts, the one left whinnied once then got on with life as if nothing had happened.
I think they are aware of what is going on more than we may expect, know when a horse is ailing and coming to the end and are accepting of it, I always have company when I lose one but have rarely seen much interest even with ones that have been together for years.
A friend lost one of hers a few years ago and had asked if I could take one of mine along for company if required but again her gelding saw the body and was fine alone until she recently took on another one.
 
I'm so sorry to hear of your situation, I have recently been through this myself. We lost my elderly gelding at the end of Jan, leaving my 10 year old boy on his own. In my devastated state, I was trying to work out what to do & was considering moving him to a livery yard until I could sort a companion. The vet said that it was worth waiting to see what he was like - & sure enough he was ok on his own in the short term. We let him see his buddy & he did seem to understand. He was on his own for 3 weeks before we got a temporary foster pony from a charity. This pony will go back when he's old enough to be backed, so this buys me some thinking time - I didn't feel in the right place to choose a permanent pony after losing my boy. I do hope your horse recovers from this episode of illness.
 
I had a similar situation last autumn when I was worried about my little youngster stressing after her two (veteran) fieldmates were PTS. (We did the two oldies together, same day, they were both failing to prosper and it wouldn't have been fair any other way).

So after "the deed" had been done, I was concerned that little'un would be on her own.

I did look at rehoming for a rescue, AND kept an eye out for something to buy as a ridden horse as well - as unfortunately a lot of rescues are little ponies who are "companion only".

I came home from work one day, switched on my computer, and there was this gorgeous horse - for sale! - who had done a bit of RDA but was for sale as she basically wasn't suitable for them. To cut a long story short, I bought her and brought her home!! The way I managed the situation was to put her out the other side of the leccy fence but still in the same pasture as the other three, until we had PTS the two oldies, and then bring her and youngster together.

My main concern was how my old gal would cope with a newbie: her being a very dominant mare and I also didn't want to hurt her feelings. It worked out fine; as I say, I kept her and her little herd away from the newbie with leccy fencing, they could "talk" over the fence, and everyone was happy.

When the "deed" was done, we let the other two horses look at the bodies; vet said this was the best thing to do.

Wonder whether OP if you were to separate any newcomer with leccy fencing, this might enable you to get something from say a rescue?? If you decide on a rescue, then (don't know how imminent the PTS decision is) then you really need to get wheels in motion right now as they'll need to homecheck you/follow up references etc.

Or perhaps there are people locally to you with say a little pony that can't be ridden anymore, I'd ask around e.g. local pony club, hunt, riding clubs, FB groups. There must be someone who'd be only too glad to have a good home for their retired horse/pony and would happily transport it to you. But (word to the wise) even though you're in a desperate fix, be aware that you could end up having something problematic dumped on you!! So be chary.

Thinking of you, its an awful situation to be in, and you feel so damned guilty about even the very thought of getting another one for "after" the deed has been done.............
 
My senior mare was on her own for a few days after the maxicob was pts. She seemed to cope ok-ish, though she was subdued. I'd let her see his body after the deed was done.

The RSPCA, who I'd fostered from before, let me fast track a new foster and little Salsa, a yearling filly, arrived. My mare was ecstatic to meet her and immediately adopted her as honorary daughter. Salsa found a lovely 'forever' home within a year, but I had got another proper horse by then, so my senior mare still has company.

Good luck.

ETA Salsa in the foreground, proud adoptive mum in the background.

image.jpeg
 
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Would the BHS 'Friends at the End' initiative be able to help? it could help to talk through the options and what needs to be done.

We've said goodbye to a number of horses over the years and each situation has had to be handled slightly differently because of circumstances and the personalities of the horses involved.
If you can bear it plan everything down to the last detail (I found it helped greatly to be organising stuff and focussing on practicalities but other people may find it difficult). If you have the luxury of time to sort things then use it - get a companion lined up, work out the timing and places - there are three ponies and how to best manage them to think of at such a time.

Also, if you can, try to take some time off work/other commitments for a few days afterwards.

PM if you want to chat some ideas through
lots of cyber hugs
Catkin
 
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A friend of mine recently had her older boy PTS (she took him to the vets rather than do it at home) and was worried about her kids pony left behind. We had a couple of contingency plans to borrow but to be honest he was absolutely fine.
She did get another a couple of weeks later on loan but more for her than for the pony - he really wasn't bothered.

I've had horses who definitely wouldn't cope, and horses who wouldn't be too worried at least in the short - medium term. You know your pony best. The only thing I would say is try to avoid making a quick decision, when things are already tough, to saddle yourself with long term care of an unsuitable equine which could mean that when you are ready to get another proper one for yourself, you can't (due to land or finances or unexpected vets bills or whatever!)
 
OP do you even want to carry on with horses? Now would be an ideal time to pts the old horse and rehome/ sell/ pts the companion and have a clean slate. That way you can grieve for the horse you have lost and come back to the hobby as and when you want.
There is no right or wrong answer really but i think if i was staying in the hobby i would have a companion for the companion (or whatever you want) lined up waiting in the wings and let this current companion see the body and then have the sheep as company for a few days whilst the newbie was delivered. You say you have no transport but everyone knows someone with transport in some form or another (friend/ hired/ friend of a friend)
 
Personally I think that the sheep will provide the companion bridging solution in the short term and allow you to assess how the pony is coping after the event and make your decision then.
 
I think it depends on the ponies temperament. I have two at home and either of mine would be fine on their own in the short term if one had to be PTS. Both have had periods of illness in the last 2 years requiring box rest, so they've been seperated for up to 3 weeks anyway (with one out on his own).

I think you're right to plan ahead though if you are unfortunately aware you are likely to be facing this issue, so you can get a companion (or new home) arranged or at least a plan of what you want to do. If you might want to foster a companion you could go through the homecheck etc in advance. That way the pony won't need to be alone more than a few weeks.
 
How about investigating options to send your companion pony on livery for a while, on short notice? That would give you a breather from yard duties, and would give you as much time as you need to decide if/when you want another horse without worrying about the companion pony.
I sent my pony on a six month holiday last year when I struggled with some health problems. He was happy as can be grazing the common, and I got a much-needed break.
 
Thanks everyone.

Sadly my horse is being put to sleep on Monday. We’re going to give her a lovely weekend of spring grass and sunshine (with the help of a few drugs) - and then say goodbye.

I’ll try the pony (a mini Shetland) with the sheep and see how he is. If he doesn’t settle i’ll borrow one or see if someone can have him for a while.

I do want plan to keep riding and have been looking out for a third. Will see what happens.

They live opposite my house so it will be very sad having a much emptier field and no horse to look at me through the kitchen window.
 
Leam_Carrie said:
I have a horse and pony kept at home, with two elderly sheep (who belong to someone else). There are no other equines nearby.

Trying to be practical my horse is ill and older, so I might have to make a difficult decision. If I do I can’t work out how to manage the other pony. I’ve read old posts and they say let them see the body, which makes sense.

But after that I have a pony with no companion. And am sure i’ll be a sobbing mess. I don’t have any nearby to borrow a temp companion off. So how would you approach this? I think I want to keep the pony and at some point get another horse.

Hopefully my horse will recover and this will be planning for the future.

Thanks for any advice.
Click to expand...
I went through similar situation.Had my old pony pts. and the companion pony was left on her own but not owned by me. She was very upset and broke away to run after the lorry that was taking my pony away after he was pts. She was heartbroken and the grief showed in her face.It was a few weeks before she perked up and got on with life again. Her owners did not find a companion pony for her but when I visited them a month or so later they said she seemed happy enough and she was back to her old self. Its best to have a friend with you when the time comes.Stay strong while comforting your horse,he will be sedated first but will still hear your voice.After its all over and at home you will sob your heart out. I would try and find a companion as horses are herd animals, but again if there is no other option ..Meantime hope your horse is recovering well.
 
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