Licking blood of field mate PTS

[NikKnock]

Hi there, sadly my horses field mate, an old boy of 27 sustained an injury whilst we were away at camp this weekend and had to be dispatched in the field- a bullet from a huntsman. I brought my lad back to his field last night and obviously he was puzzled and calling for his old mate ? and this morning still checking the view in case he could see him, however after a while he came across some spilt blood hidden in the wood chippings by their shelter and proceeded to lick at all the blood from where the old chap was shot. I wondered if it was a sort of “recognition“ of the loss of his field mate, a vitamin and mineral thing or if it is a natural instinct to hide the scent?? Wondered if anyone else had come across something similar?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Hi there, sadly my horses field mate, an old boy of 27 sustained an injury whilst we were away at camp this weekend and had to be dispatched in the field- a bullet from a huntsman. I brought my lad back to his field last night and obviously he was puzzled and calling for his old mate ? and this morning still checking the view in case he could see him, however after a while he came across some spilt blood hidden in the wood chippings by their shelter and proceeded to lick at all the blood from where the old chap was shot. I wondered if it was a sort of “recognition“ of the loss of his field mate, a vitamin and mineral thing or if it is a natural instinct to hide the scent?? Wondered if anyone else had come across something similar?

Eww that sounds gross , I definitely would not have let my horse lick another horses blood, I would have cleared the blood from the area and put some sawdust down to absorb it ?

 

[NikKnock]

Eww that sounds gross , I definitely would not have let my horse lick another horses blood, I would have cleared the blood from the area and put some sawdust down to absorb it ?

I didn’t know the blood was there, the poor lady who was tasked with looking after the old horse for the weekend had to cope alone and he had obviously been taken to a lovely soft area for the fall which was deep wood chippings. She had done her best to clear all trace but my horse found some buried. I think a horse knows what it’s doing when it does something like that and doesn’t think in human terms like “eww gross”.

 

[Cortez]

Probably a vit/min thing. It shouldn't do him harm, but is a bit gross.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I didn’t know the blood was there, the poor lady who was tasked with looking after the old horse for the weekend had to cope alone and he had obviously been taken to a lovely soft area for the fall which was deep wood chippings. She had done her best to clear all trace but my horse found some buried. I think a horse knows what it’s doing when it does something like that and doesn’t think in human terms like “eww gross”.

No i dont think they do either, thats why i said it sounds gross? Probably missing his friend

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I am very sorry for your loss NikKnock. I would imagine it might be fairly normal, never actually seen another lick up the left over blood as most of mine have been done via injection. But have seen them lick all around the anus and mouth of a field mate that has been euthanised, so it doesn't surprise or shock me. How distressing for the lady to have to deal with and how kind of her to at the very least find a nice 'soft' place for the old horse to be PTS.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I’m sorry for your loss, the lady looking after him sounds a very caring person.

It is a thing. Horse PTS adjacent to my field fell towards the fence and all the horses licked the spilt blood under the bottom rail. I thought it was gross but they all took turns and they didn’t even know the horse so it wasn’t as though they were closing a chapter on her life.

 

[NikKnock]

Probably a vit/min thing. It shouldn't do him harm, but is a bit gross.

fgs

 

[NikKnock]

I am very sorry for your loss NikKnock. I would imagine it might be fairly normal, never actually seen another lick up the left over blood as most of mine have been done via injection. But have seen them lick all around the anus and mouth of a field mate that has been euthanised, so it doesn't surprise or shock me. How distressing for the lady to have to deal with and how kind of her to at the very least find a nice 'soft' place for the old horse to be PTS.

Thank you very much for a kind and considered answer.

 

[NikKnock]

I’m sorry for your loss, the lady looking after him sounds a very caring person.

It is a thing. Horse PTS adjacent to my field fell towards the fence and all the horses licked the spilt blood under the bottom rail. I thought it was gross but they all took turns and they didn’t even know the horse so it wasn’t as though they were closing a chapter on her life.

Interesting

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

When my mare was pts in my field for about a week afterwards my gelding ran to the spot she laid and he would frantically paw the ground and then roll, he was quite upset in general for a while afterwards .

I wouldn't worry too much I would think its quite a normal response and I don't think the blood will do him harm not in such a small quantity.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

So very sorry to hear of the loss.

What an awful thing to have happened; my condolences to the owner, these things are never easy.

Here at my yard we've used this method of euthanasia and this is something that does happen after shooting. However your friend may rest assured that her old boy really would have known nothing whatsoever about it; it is totally instant and they're already gone by the time you hear the gunshot.

Just a word of advice, if I may do so at a difficult time. Presumably your horse is now lacking a companion - however all I would say is don't panic to try and replace what he/she has lost. I made this mistake many years ago when my then old-boy lost his fieldmate and was very morbid about it. I was offered two youngsters to go in with him - and frankly it was one of the worst decisions I have ever made. They were totally bonded with each other and were galloping and hooning around the field together, and my old boy just physically wasn't up to joining in even if he'd wanted to, and he was just soooh very miserable, bless him. In retrospect I certainly would take a great deal more care if finding another field companion for a horse in future. Hope you don't mind my saying this; wouldn't want anyone to make the same sort of mistake, I really felt awful - it was a bit like expecting an elderly vicar to share a house with a pair of Hells Angels tbh......... poor old lad.

 

[Ratface]

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite. What a kind and supportive response.
Niknock, I'm very sorry for your sad loss.

 

[alibali]

I'm sorry you and the horses connections have had such a distressing time.

For what it's worth I think it's best to be careful not to ascribe human feelings and values to this type of situation. Therefore I don't see your horses behaviour as yucky or gross in any way, he is simply performing a natural behaviour in response to a stimulus (blood). Why the stimulus triggers the licking behaviour I'm not sure however either curiosity (the same way babies put all kinds of things in their mouth to explore them) or a drive for minerals would not be unreasonable guesses.

 

[NikKnock]

So very sorry to hear of the loss.

What an awful thing to have happened; my condolences to the owner, these things are never easy.

Here at my yard we've used this method of euthanasia and this is something that does happen after shooting. However your friend may rest assured that her old boy really would have known nothing whatsoever about it; it is totally instant and they're already gone by the time you hear the gunshot.

Just a word of advice, if I may do so at a difficult time. Presumably your horse is now lacking a companion - however all I would say is don't panic to try and replace what he/she has lost. I made this mistake many years ago when my then old-boy lost his fieldmate and was very morbid about it. I was offered two youngsters to go in with him - and frankly it was one of the worst decisions I have ever made. They were totally bonded with each other and were galloping and hooning around the field together, and my old boy just physically wasn't up to joining in even if he'd wanted to, and he was just soooh very miserable, bless him. In retrospect I certainly would take a great deal more care if finding another field companion for a horse in future. Hope you don't mind my saying this; wouldn't want anyone to make the same sort of mistake, I really felt awful - it was a bit like expecting an elderly vicar to share a house with a pair of Hells Angels tbh......... poor old lad.

That’s so useful to know thank you, my gelding is young and likes to play but he is not dominant so I’m aware that he could get bullied if I put a younger horse with him; the old boy he was with was so gentle and a good influence.