hadfos
Well-Known Member
I would wait for the vet!!!I would also like someone else to wait for the vet if it was mine also!!
If a horse on your yard broke it's leg...
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jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Speaking of shooting someone elses horse - I worked at a yard once where an owner was having their horse PTS. They didn't want to be present so the head girl was doing it, but she brought in the WRONG HORSE!!
Fortunately the vet scanned the microchip and realised it wasn't the right horse - I can't imagine what would have happened if it hadn't been chipped
Fortunately the vet scanned the microchip and realised it wasn't the right horse - I can't imagine what would have happened if it hadn't been chipped
Crazy_Caz
Well-Known Member
I too have been in this position - my beloved homebred hanoverian mare (whom I had had since the day she was born) was found byself with a badly broken/shattered rear leg - I rang the vet who was there in an instant.....
I spoke to her and asked the eternal question - no matter what it would cost - can u fix it?
Unfortunately the answer was no and she was PTS - my sister and husbad stayed with her as I could not bear to see her go down! I would never ever have been able to rest unless I was able to say goodbye to her... still breaks my heart today - I miss her soo much....
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I spoke to her and asked the eternal question - no matter what it would cost - can u fix it?
Unfortunately the answer was no and she was PTS - my sister and husbad stayed with her as I could not bear to see her go down! I would never ever have been able to rest unless I was able to say goodbye to her... still breaks my heart today - I miss her soo much....
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Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
[ QUOTE ]
Speaking of shooting someone elses horse - I worked at a yard once where an owner was having their horse PTS. They didn't want to be present so the head girl was doing it, but she brought in the WRONG HORSE!!
Fortunately the vet scanned the microchip and realised it wasn't the right horse - I can't imagine what would have happened if it hadn't been chipped
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That's old news! A boss who had a stammer where I worked a few years later, said to their groom, Bob (the old hunter) had to be shod today; groom thought they said shot so rang the kennels who came out to do the deed!
Only good thing about it was Bob was on borrowed time anyway because of age (he was 21) and had serious ringbone; boss had already decided that would have been his last season!
Speaking of shooting someone elses horse - I worked at a yard once where an owner was having their horse PTS. They didn't want to be present so the head girl was doing it, but she brought in the WRONG HORSE!!
Fortunately the vet scanned the microchip and realised it wasn't the right horse - I can't imagine what would have happened if it hadn't been chipped
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That's old news! A boss who had a stammer where I worked a few years later, said to their groom, Bob (the old hunter) had to be shod today; groom thought they said shot so rang the kennels who came out to do the deed!
Apalacia01
Well-Known Member
What a horrible question. It depends....how do you know that the person who discovered it 'knows' that it is life threatening, unless they are a vet (or something really really obvious which I don't want to think of) I think I wouldn't do it to someone elses, but my loaner has the right with the pony once she has gone through either my vet or a woman who I have know and trusted with the pony for years.
Cop-Pop
Well-Known Member
It would always wait for the vet for two mains reasons:
1 - There could be serious legal comebacks
2 - I have no equine medical training and do not consider myself qualified to make that decision.
1 - There could be serious legal comebacks
2 - I have no equine medical training and do not consider myself qualified to make that decision.
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
You have to wait for the vet. I came across a horse in a field with an obviously fractured hind cannon. It was in shock and very quiet, and though I don't want to vouch for its level of comfort, it wasn't writhing in agony. As quickly as possible a vet was called (the owner couldn't be found ) and he confirmed euthanasia was the only option.
I stood with the horse and was waiting for the owner to call me and say something, but they never did
I'd want to be re-assured my horse's last minutes were dealt with kindly and a friendly word said before it died....... I did my very best and waited calmly there with it the whole time. Very sad.
If you can't be there or might not be contactable, it's an excellent idea to leave instructions in case the worst happens.
* shivers *
If you can't be there or might not be contactable, it's an excellent idea to leave instructions in case the worst happens.
* shivers *
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
Ahrena - as mum said it was heart breaking at the time and so hard to do, but it realy was her only option, She said she can live with what she had to do to that horse (a gorgerous rose grey arab stallion called silver knight) because it was the kindest thing by far, she couldnt have lived with herself if she had left the horse there in pain for the 3 days it would have taken to get the vet there to have it PTS. The horses leg was mangled apparently and there was no way a vet would have been able to put it back together even now. She was 18 at the time she had to make that call but as she said, what else could she do? she sat with the horse untill it died and then made her way home, it wasnt the nicest way to go for the horse but it was alot nicer then the rest of the options. She has absolutely no idea how the other pony survived the fall or for that matter how they suvived it.
piebaldsparkle
Well-Known Member
My friend was horrified when I having agreed to look after her pony while she was on holiday, asked if I had her permission to allow a vet to humanely destroy him if there was no other option and she couldn't be contacted.
susannita
Well-Known Member
I have now had 3 accidents/injuries falling into your catagory. 2 were put down, one made it. (RTA, Field injury, cattle grid accident)
What you must remember is that your insurance company requires notification of your horse being put down - in case of emergency this must be done under the instruction of a vet - otherwise they may not payout. That would make the "killer" liable to whatever value the horse is insured for, at the very minimum. Regardless of that fact, the decsion had not been taken by a medical professional! I would be also be incandescent if someone did that to one of my horses and would drag them to every court in the land over it.
What you must remember is that your insurance company requires notification of your horse being put down - in case of emergency this must be done under the instruction of a vet - otherwise they may not payout. That would make the "killer" liable to whatever value the horse is insured for, at the very minimum. Regardless of that fact, the decsion had not been taken by a medical professional! I would be also be incandescent if someone did that to one of my horses and would drag them to every court in the land over it.
WelshRareBit
Well-Known Member
If it was someone I knew was competant with the gun I would do that to my own horse.
Someone elses horse, well Id wait for the vet - I couldnt be making my mind up without consulting a vet first.
Someone elses horse, well Id wait for the vet - I couldnt be making my mind up without consulting a vet first.
the watcher
Well-Known Member
I should add, although I said i would do it (and stand by that if it was my own horse) it would only be in very extreme circumstances - lots of blood and mess wouldn't be enough to convince me because that always looks scarey and may not be as bad as it appears. Somebody else's horse would require extra considerations, starting with my knowledge of the owner - I've no desire to be sued by anybody - although the concept of wanting a horse in severe pain kept alive just so that the owner can selfishly 'say goodbye' to it completely baffles me - the horse won't care.
Darkly_Dreaming_Dex
Well-Known Member
QR * WARNING *GORY DETAILS*
Found our old boy in the field, collapsed on the ground, trying to get up but he couldnt as his front leg was shattered above the knee. It was about 6.30am, very cold, just enough light to see. At first i thought " looks like a lot of blood but the limb looks ok" then i put my hand on the injury and could feel how little there was holding the leg on
and then i noticed the blood trail where he had continued trying to walk. Called the vet and OH(his owner) to say i had called the vet and was 100% certain F would be PTS . The vet got caught in rush hour traffic and took 90 minutes to reach me , by then my OH had got back (having set a new land speed record round M25)to the field to be there
all the time i was sat on his head as every time he tried to get up the leg was tearing more, yet he didnt seem at all distressed (unlike me). The vet gave a lethal injection, checked his heart and said "Im sorry he has gone" we cried and started to head back to the yard to do paperwork when he scared the sh*t out of us by snorting and sitting up.
We ran back and the vet gave 2 more injections and yet he continued to rally.
The vet was really upset as he had used all his lethal stuff up and they are no longer allowed guns- we were starting to ring around to find a gun when he finally passed away but we sat with him until the crematorium came 3 hours later just to be sure.
Found our old boy in the field, collapsed on the ground, trying to get up but he couldnt as his front leg was shattered above the knee. It was about 6.30am, very cold, just enough light to see. At first i thought " looks like a lot of blood but the limb looks ok" then i put my hand on the injury and could feel how little there was holding the leg on
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Oh god, how horrific. Nothing much else to say about that story TBH. The owners must have been distraught.
Solstar
Well-Known Member
If it was one of my horses, i wouldn't want anyone, apart from the vet, to put them to sleep. and i don't think i'd agree with anyone else shooting somebody elses horse.
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
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No way in hell would shoot someone else's horse or ask the YO to do it either; you could end up in a whole heap of trouble.
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Yep, that's my understanding. I would wait for the vet although my gut reaction would be to put the animal out of its misery
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I lost my first horse with a broken leg and one thing i always remember being told by the vet was that they arent in the enormous amount of pain that people assume. She said that with limb pain, horses could almost block it off and the pain related to colic was much more severe.
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Funny you should say that. In one of the most disgusting acts of neglect I've seen at my ex yard, a horse (one of the yard horses) was left hopping around on a broken leg (above the hock) for more than TWO WEEKS until the committee could decide whether to gift her to vet college where she would be treated for free. HOWEVER, horse was surprisingly ok. Her leg was horrible to look at but she hopped around, ate normally etc.
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What exactly would happen if the YO failed to kill the horse instantly? Can you imagine if any of that got back to the owner? Assuming the YO had permission to act on behalf of the owner and have the horse PTS, then it should be done by a professional.
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That would worry me too.
No way in hell would shoot someone else's horse or ask the YO to do it either; you could end up in a whole heap of trouble.
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Yep, that's my understanding. I would wait for the vet although my gut reaction would be to put the animal out of its misery
[ QUOTE ]
I lost my first horse with a broken leg and one thing i always remember being told by the vet was that they arent in the enormous amount of pain that people assume. She said that with limb pain, horses could almost block it off and the pain related to colic was much more severe.
[/ QUOTE ]
Funny you should say that. In one of the most disgusting acts of neglect I've seen at my ex yard, a horse (one of the yard horses) was left hopping around on a broken leg (above the hock) for more than TWO WEEKS until the committee could decide whether to gift her to vet college where she would be treated for free. HOWEVER, horse was surprisingly ok. Her leg was horrible to look at but she hopped around, ate normally etc.
[ QUOTE ]
What exactly would happen if the YO failed to kill the horse instantly? Can you imagine if any of that got back to the owner? Assuming the YO had permission to act on behalf of the owner and have the horse PTS, then it should be done by a professional.
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That would worry me too.
Tierra
Well-Known Member
I think its one of the things that makes broken legs so heartbreaking because they dont LOOK that bad.
My horse was eating and attentive and seemed ok. He was sweating slightly and his leg was a mess (his was a fracture that hadnt been picked up by the vet the night before so when he got up in the night, the hock shattered)
I knew they couldnt do anything the moment i saw it, but you always end up asking if they can because the horses look ok
Apparently the pain that comes with colic is the one thats really unbearable for horses.
My horse was eating and attentive and seemed ok. He was sweating slightly and his leg was a mess (his was a fracture that hadnt been picked up by the vet the night before so when he got up in the night, the hock shattered)
I knew they couldnt do anything the moment i saw it, but you always end up asking if they can because the horses look ok
Apparently the pain that comes with colic is the one thats really unbearable for horses.
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
OMG, I'd want to lynch my vet if they missed something like that!
I've seen horses with colic as well as broken legs and they definitely look FAR more miserable with the colic.
I've seen horses with colic as well as broken legs and they definitely look FAR more miserable with the colic.
spaniel
Well-Known Member
Having been in the situation of finding a liverys horse with a hind leg hanging on by one small piece of skin and bleeding to death I know I could NOT have handled a gun safely to put it out of its misery.
Tierra
Well-Known Member
Yea it was awful
he came in very very lame. Looking back, i should have pushed for xrays immediatly but i was only 16 and he was my first horse. Ive never seen a horse that lame since, he literally did not want to move
The vet diagnosed very bad bone bruising and left him with bute and box rest.
He obviously laid down in the night and when he got up, the fracture shattered his hock. It was sickening to see it, because the whole of the lower leg just hung.
I had the same problem with another vet from the yard when i lost my second horse a few months later. I called them around lunch time to a mare that clearly had colic. I had him out FOUR times during the day before he finally admitted that perhaps she needed a referral elsewhere... about 12 hours after he was originally called. By the time we got her to Leahurst, they couldn't do anything for her and they were asking me why id not brought her in sooner (again, i was too young to know different tbh) but it turned out the vet was a small animal vet and didnt generally deal with horses at all but was covering for a sick colleague.
I know people are human and mistakes are made but i'll only deal with specialist equine vets now :/ I also thankfully know enough these days to know when to demand a referral
The vet diagnosed very bad bone bruising and left him with bute and box rest.
He obviously laid down in the night and when he got up, the fracture shattered his hock. It was sickening to see it, because the whole of the lower leg just hung.
I had the same problem with another vet from the yard when i lost my second horse a few months later. I called them around lunch time to a mare that clearly had colic. I had him out FOUR times during the day before he finally admitted that perhaps she needed a referral elsewhere... about 12 hours after he was originally called. By the time we got her to Leahurst, they couldn't do anything for her and they were asking me why id not brought her in sooner (again, i was too young to know different tbh) but it turned out the vet was a small animal vet and didnt generally deal with horses at all but was covering for a sick colleague.
I know people are human and mistakes are made but i'll only deal with specialist equine vets now :/ I also thankfully know enough these days to know when to demand a referral
Santa_Claus
Well-Known Member
I have said wait for the vet on both because for the given circumstances the YO does not regulary PTS horses with said gun. Although the horse will blatently need to be PTS I would not want that messed up (especially for someone else's horse) due to a poor misaimed shot or by a gun not suitable for the purpose.
We are lucky although normal vet is 25-30mins away in an emergency there is a vet 5mins away who I would be happy to have a horse PTS if so required, and they would be willing to come out to the yard to do so (I am on their books as previously used them before I moved to specialised equine vet practice)
We are lucky although normal vet is 25-30mins away in an emergency there is a vet 5mins away who I would be happy to have a horse PTS if so required, and they would be willing to come out to the yard to do so (I am on their books as previously used them before I moved to specialised equine vet practice)
custard
Well-Known Member
If it was my own and an obviously fatal injury would do it myself given the means, trouble is I don't think a shotgun would do a tidy job.