How would you transport?

[Dizzydancer]

My situation, i posted a couple of days ago about having 1 horse being PTS next week and needing to either get companion or move him. Basically the only option we have decided on is to move young horse to be on livery with my old boy, I will then have better oppotunity to ride as have floodlit menage.

Problem!! How do we transport a upset horse as his friend will be PTS before we move him as obviously dont want him being upset while the deed is done. I am thinking of using a magic calmer we have got trailer to move him although not sure if he maybe better in a box if we can hire one as if he throws a wobbly he will be safer. The journey is only 10mins but would also like him calm when he arrives at livery yard as has taken me lots of persuasion for YO to allow him to come as not going to pay livery she is just having all there200 bales of hay that is left (thank god she is an angel!!)

Any suggestions of how you would transport or what to use as a calmer? We do have ACP but im not keen to do that as he will still be able to kick out etc think calmer is better option

 

[MissCandy]

First of all sorry to hear that your horse is being put to sleep

With regards to your youngster and how upset he will be - how soon are you moving him after the deed i.e. immediately, a couple of hours, a day...? and how is the deed being done?

I don't have much experience of horses being pts but from what I have seen it doesn't take the ones left that long to get over it. My mare was shot and her 'friend' that was with her at the time went a bit mad at the gun shot but soon calmed down before going into somewhat of a depression for a few hours. The next day she was over it

have you travelled him before? If yes and he is usually good and you are going to give him a bit of time to get over it then I wouldn't worry to much.

If you've never travelled him or you have and he is a bad traveller could you not walk him to the new yard?

It may seem mean to the horse being pts but will it be really upset if the youngster is taken away a few hours before the deed is done?

 

[iconique]

Hi, I haven't read your other post, but am sorry that you have to put a horse to sleep, its difficult for both horses and humans, however I've personally found its the humans that generally deal with it worse than the horses.

I'll give you an example, our 45 year old was put to sleep on the 8th November, she shared a box with her 27 year old son and they were totally inseperable, (I had him at 2 years old and she joined him a year later, so after the best part of 25 years together we'd learnt how to deal with it). Anyway Mistletoe was also our foal's companion (another story as the foal was orphaned at 3 months old and is only 8 months now) and we had 3 others on the yard including another youngster (3 1/2) who had been taught some manners by her. When she was put down in her box, we showed the others her body, her son was much disinterested and seemed to understand, the youngster was agressive and upset and the others where restless but ok. Anyway my point is, they dealt with it while we weren't! Not everyone agrees with showing the body, but my question is will the youngster you have understand and accept that he has been snatched away from his friend or that his friend has died and he has had to move on??

My plan would be to put the horse to sleep with the youngster out of sight, show the youngster the body, load the youngster while the vet is still there and get them to sedate him if necessary. if something does go wrong you then have a professional on site and my personal feeling (and I'm sure others will disagree) is then the youngster can possibly move on to his new life understanding why rather than pining, he's going to be unsettled anyway so a nice safe reception at the yard is also important.

 

[Dizzydancer]

Yes he has travelled before lots of times so that should be ok. The one being pts is being shot, i plan on showing him the body but he will be moved at same time as the deed is done as he won't be good on his own we have tried in last few days. We can't take the young one away first as oldie is a nut on his own always has been and don't think he should be stressed in last few moments. Hopefully all will be smooth and yes new yard is small and quiet he will be allowed time to settle and grieve. Thanks for your advice.