lame and difficult horse? is PTS a cruel option to make?

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skybabe

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Hello,
I've had my 17.2 big warmblood mare for nearly 6 years and she has never been easy. she is very beautiful and sensitive, but has always been naughty to turn out in field even a chifney won't hold her.
in the 6 years I've had her, she has been diagnosed with kissing spine, which was treated and she has been lame which after months of investigating MRI, xray, ultra sound, etc we never had a diagnosis. eventually after 10 months box rest, followed by a year in the field she came through.
a year later after not a lot of work she is lame again so decided to turn her away, and her behaviour has got worse where she refuses to come in at all, whilst at the same time cries to come in and then runs off from anyone.

I've tried so hard for this horse, and can't do anymore. Her behavior is unbearable and I feel like giving up.

I'm considering the safest and most humane thing to do is to PTS. This is not the horse I know and I feel she needs to be put at peace.

if anyone has an opinion on this please be nice its a very hard time for me.
 
Been there, done that - I know exactly where you are coming from.

It's a hard decision to make but sometimes it's the right one. From what you say, she's not happy, mentally or physically, and it wouldn't be a cruel option.

You know yourself, in your heart of hearts, what is the right thing, and only you can make the decision - it sounds like you already have, and no one can criticise you for it.
 
I would pts, too. You've clearly tried very hard with her. It's heartbreaking, but sounds like it's the only humane option left.

Best to just go ahead and do it, though. Be aware that on most 'to pts or not' threads people pop up recommending retirement livery/blood bank/companion home, and suggesting that you haven't really tried hard enough with her...
 
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So sorry for your situation OP; we've all been there unfortunately, and it sounds like you've given this horse everything you can, plus some.

It will still be a difficult choice that's for sure, it never gets any easier: but at least you have the knowledge that she won't be passed on from shady dealer to market to goodness-knows-what-end in an onwards downward spiral.
 
You must do what is right for you and the horse. At the end of the day you have to handle/deal with her and if you have explored as many options as you can and reached this one then only you can make that call. I think that in your situation I too would PTS.
 
Thank you all so much.

She wouldnt be suitable as a companion because of her behavior. If I put her on retirement livery, what good is a horse you can't catch to change rugs, pick feet out, can't catch for farrier or vet!? Its hard because in the stable she is such a sweet mare and she isn't nasty. But I can't keep her cooped up there either.

I feel bad aswell because I'm at the point where I am so frustrated because its one thing after another with her behavior & injuries. I feel I've wrapped on her because of her behavior being so naughty. very disheartening when you travel 30 miles every night, just to see your horse run away from you in the field, where as I'd love to get her in, groom her etc. I've even had horse whisperers out in the past too to help with the turning out issue of pulling away.

blood bank isn't an option either, she's 13 years old and only keep them til they 15. brood made with bad back & stiff legs not suitable either.

thank you all for your support xx
 
It sounds as if she is very unhappy. You have done more than a lot of people would be able to do, to try to sort out her problems. Pts sounds like the best way forward for her, IMO. It is always a difficult decision even when it is the right one.
 
Please also bear in mind that if she is behaving out of character even when turned out that could well be pain related. Horses are very stoic and put up with a lot! Mine is a lovely boy but if hes ever sore his whole personalitly changes, he bites me, not hard, but clearly designed to let me know hes not happy. I clipped him the other day and he was a total arse to clip his off hind. When I looked properly he had a sore which was probably incredibly painful to be clipped, but would have been easy to dismiss as him being and arse. And these are just minor things. He doesnt have any other means of communication so I dont blame him :)

You have gone above and beyond and you are doing the right thing for a horse who is unhappy for whatever reason. Horses dont stand about dreaming of the future, they live in the now, and if that now is painful or making them unhappy then what you are doing is a kindness. Try to hang on to that thought :)
 
thank you all again for your answers.

I'm just driving myself crazy because she has always been difficult and not an easy made. but after 5 years you would think she be better x
 
hairycob said:
It's tough on you not the horse. Have a hug.
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Exactly , it's never cruel to put a horse to sleep and in your position OP I would do so without hesitation .
I know it's a horrible place to be but this is the hardest time when your thinking the unthinkable afterwards you recover quicker than you think you will.
You canot win the battle with all of them and I have seen people making them selves ill because of these situations not to mentain running up debt .
Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough .
 
she has been lame now for 4 weeks. she was trotting round the field like a dressage horse on Monday but I know that's adrenalin.

I think I'm going to get the vet out, have him read her medical history and have a serious discussion what is the best for her x
 
Horses don't fear death - but they do fear pain. Hugs xxx Never an easy decision but you'd have my support.

BTW - have you ever tested for PSSM? Now my horse is on the correct diet and exercise programme she has had a personality change. When she's vile now I know something is wrong, but she was heading for euthanasia when I first took her on due to her behaviours.
 
hello guys thank you for your support. I've decided to let her graze for another month & let her enjoy the summer then going to get the vet out & decide what's best.
its so difficult because she is nsughty anyway & very difficult, one change of her routine all hell let's loose buts it proving to be too much now. surely after 5 years of owning a horse they should eventually settle?
 
well....it's been 7 weeks now and no improvement. she is also foot sore as advised by the farrier, her shoes have been removed due to her pulling them out at the front & ripping hoof. she has been turned away in field as box rest would stiffen her back.

it horrible playing god decision time, but truth is she is in no fit state to retire with her bring uncomfortable and with a difficult temperament.
 
skybabe said:
well....it's been 7 weeks now and no improvement. she is also foot sore as advised by the farrier, her shoes have been removed due to her pulling them out at the front & ripping hoof. she has been turned away in field as box rest would stiffen her back.

it horrible playing god decision time, but truth is she is in no fit state to retire with her bring uncomfortable and with a difficult temperament.
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I think OP you are very aware of what you feel you should do in this situation; and whilst the actual decision will be a tough choice, I believe that once its all over, you will feel a sense of lightness and relief, as this has obviously been a very difficult mare and you've obviously been at your wits end concerning her.

Meantime, you have to just stand and look out on her in the field. I feel for you, its horrible, and having the power of life -v- death, if you like, isn't easy at all. You have my sympathies in this situation. Anyone that's had to make a PTS decision will be standing with you on this one.
 
My mare is now at peace. She was PTS today as the vet advised it. Turns out she was suffering more than I realized. I'm absolutely devastated, but I know I have done the right thing. Thank you all for your support xxx
 
Well done for doing the right thing for your horse. I had mine PTS yesterday too as he was chronically ill & in pain, it was no life for him. Lots of sympathy & hugs to you for being so strong & brave.
 
At the moment I'm saying I'm not having another horse, the pain of making that decision and the heart break is just unbearable!!! :-( it is only day 2 but so hard & horrible.
 
No, there was never any diagnosis in the lameness and he just said that over the last 5 years, I've done everything I possibly can. She had kissing spine, and he thinks it was related to that and said she will never be sound again .

Since I posted my very first post, she got worse over the weeks. She refused to be caught in the field and sometimes it took days for her to agree to come in while at the same time, she look fed up out there. I'm devastated she's gone, in the end I really had no choice :-(
 
You knew the answer. Don't ever feel guilty for trying and coming to the conclusion it does no longer work or seem feasible. Neither of you seemed happy and the best thing we can do for them is end their unhappiness. In the wild this would be quickly decided for them, so we must be there to make that choice instead.

Hugs to you.
 
She was turned away in the field when she was lame again, box rest made her unhappy and with kissing spine it made her stiff. She just got worse out there, her fly rug was hanging off her and it took the girls 4 days to catch her to put it right, she wouldn't allow people to help her. No quality of life for her.

I loved her so much and it is only day 3, but the grieving is just unbearably painful. She didn't feel like my horse put in that field for the last few weeks, she was someone different but knowing she isn't there anymore is just sad.

I went in to see her after she had gone, and even after everything I couldn't help beat myself up asking myself "what have I done, I've given up on her & let her down". But I kniw now its not the case. This is every horse owners worst nightmare.

Thank you all so very much for your support, although I don't know you , you have been a great help and I really appreciate the time you have took to get in touch xxxx
 
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