Logistics and costs of horse being pts

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Since Merry has been diagnosed with her tumour there is light at the end of the tunnel but there has been the odd day when I have thought she might have to be pts which has made me realise that I dont really know a great deal about the costs and how to go about it and really should just in case.

I understand my options are hunt or vet, I think I would prefer vet but I dont know how it would work from there. Assuming it was a non emergency, would it be at home? how would I then dispose of the body? what sort of costs are involved?

Sorry I know its a grim subject but I realised its something I ought to think about it case she did something stupid in the field one day!!
 
This question has been asked alot so i'm sure a search would find the answers your after but I had my lad shot by the hunt a yr ago it cost £150 he came to my house did the deed and took him away, I left a friend up at the house with the money and she signed the paperwork on my behalf, he met me in the field where I had the horse I stayed with him and the huntsman gave me my headcollar when it was over, I left before he moved the body. It was quick and the huntsman was very good, I personally would choose this route again if I ever had to. Horrible decision to ever have to make x
 
OP, in our neck of the woods (NW Surrey) the cost for knackerman is around £150 to £250.
This is for despatch and collection, or just collection if vet has PTS.

If you have vet to PTS via IV, then you will have their additional costs for vet & drugs.

Some vets work closely with collection services, so worth chatting to your vets to see if they do, and if so, what the costs are.

Sorry you have to make a decision x
 
Speak with your vet, they will be able to advise who can help. Best procedure for you and your horse, disposal of body, costs etc. It all depends on individual circumstances. I'm very sorry you are in this position, but it's the last thing we can do for our special friends. X
 
I decided on the hunt as my boy really hated injections and I didn't want him to have to have another one. So I have no idea what the vet charges

hunt cost around £200 for everything
 
Thanks guys, I did try a search but it said pts was too short a term!! Luckily I havent got to hve Meerry PTS at the moment sorry if that wasnt clear I was just planning. Thinking about it hunt might be better in that she doesnt 'do' needles
 
I'm in the north west too, and last year it was approx £275 for the vet, and £600 for the removal and individual cremation.

Mine was a planned PTS, and the vet arranged everything, and the removal people waited in a layby until I was ready.

Hope you don't need to make the decision for a long time x
 
Think it was roughly £200 for the vet to put our pony down a few months ago. We then had our local farmer (who is very good at this sort of thing) to come down, dig a hole in the top corner of their field and bury her there. Whilst I was there for the PTS, I couldn't bare to be there while the farmer moved the body so my mum dealt with that bit, believe she just gave him a tenner for his time as otherwise he was happy to do it for free. I would always have mine PTS by vet, at home, and I will always bury on my land. Although of course, I understand you probably can't do that if you keep your horse on livery.
 
Just going with the practical details here ... so forgive me if it's a bit ... cold. This is fees for the injection and disposal:

I don't have Bert's vet bill to hand, but in my case I had both euthanised this year by injection then taken away by a service run by the Grafton Hunt so it's fairly up-to-date for this region (Oxfordshire).

Merlin's vet bill was about £120 for pts. If injected, they will have to be cremated and (without ashes collection) the costs was £288, so around here it's £400 total (inc Vat).

Yes, it's at home and yes, the vet should be able to arrange for collection to coincide with their visit. The only thing you need to factor in is that they are injected somewhere the lorry can back up with room to load the body. Of course, this is a factor however you do it.

It's a personal thing whether you're there as the injection takes effect. There will be a heavy sedation first before the final dose. My choice is always to be there, but that IS my choice. I (personally) don't stay for the removal of the body of mine, but I will supervise for others'. I don't have a theoretical problem as by that time it is just a body, but still don't want that last image in my brain of my horses. After all, there's nothing more I can do for them at that point and I (finally) need to concentrate on me.

I hope this answers some of your questions and I hope that it is a long time before you have to put any plan into action. x
 
I think you are very wise to do the research now before you need the service. IMO every-one should have a plan in place so that if an emergency of the worst kind happens, you have already made the decisions and just have to make the appropriate phone calls.
We had our 31 yr old cob pts by the local equine crem about a year ago. She charged us £150 for the disposal and removal, we did not want the ashes back. I'm sorry I can't remember how much the vet charged when we had to have that done as part of an emergency about 3 yrs ago but I do know that the whole episode, including removal of the body on a Sunday evening cost about £1000, with 3 vet visits (2 out of hours) in a week.
 
I have had a bad experiance with one of the companies named here and would not rec them.


You need to decide what you would want

1st what can you afford

2nd what type of service

3rd gun or injection


4th a reputable companies

5 th do you want his ashes back

hard decision what ever you chose, hopefully not for a long time.

I am always there till the end and a little time after while I cuddle them for the last time.... then I turn away and walk away while they are dragged in.

Due to past experiences, I am always there and WILL ALWAYS check the truck before they go it. if messy or dirty (wont say with what), then they will NOT be allowed in there till cleaned out, that is MY CHOICE. I feel they are due respect like a hearse it should be clean.

You might find this helpful>>http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/in-memoriam--cremation-of-your-horse-or-pony.html
 
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Pearlsasinger said:
I think you are very wise to do the research now before you need the service. IMO every-one should have a plan in place so that if an emergency of the worst kind happens, you have already made the decisions and just have to make the appropriate phone calls.
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I completely agree . . . I've already worked out how to despatch my lovely silver boy . . . and I have a PTS buddy too, just in case I bottle it at the end and can't hold him/be with him for the final act . . . I hope I can, but if I can't I want him to be with someone he trusts and likes.

P
 
Good idea to think it through and have a plan.
Don't forget that if your horse has been medicated then the hunt may not do as they can not "use" the body.
I had my mare pts at 32 over a year ago, she was shot by a local company and taken away for body to be used.....cost £250
When I need to have Ffin done he is on danilon and will need to be cremated, that will cost £500 plus vets fees.
A friend held Red for me, as shooting is quite dramatic, when it comes to Ffin I will have hin injected and stay with him the whole time.
 
I would always prefer the hunt or the knackerman as it's almost instant and less traumatic for the horse as opposed to waiting for injections to kick in.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I think you are very wise to do the research now before you need the service. IMO every-one should have a plan in place so that if an emergency of the worst kind happens, you have already made the decisions and just have to make the appropriate phone calls.
We had our 31 yr old cob pts by the local equine crem about a year ago. She charged us £150 for the disposal and removal, we did not want the ashes back. I'm sorry I can't remember how much the vet charged when we had to have that done as part of an emergency about 3 yrs ago but I do know that the whole episode, including removal of the body on a Sunday evening cost about £1000, with 3 vet visits (2 out of hours) in a week.
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Hi Pearlsasinger, I know you're fairly close to me. Would you mind sending me a pm with the numbers for the hunt kennels near you and also the equine crem, it would be good to have those numbers at hand.

Has anyone ever buried their horse? That's my plan if possible. All our dead pets are still here in the field.
 
My boy wasn't PTS so only have removal costs which were £390

Don't forget to get some tail hair to make a bracelet with x
 
I've posted this before. I've shot all my life and am comfortable with guns. I have stalked and shot countless red deer which are not that much different to a horse. So, I go down to the field and sit quietly with my stalking rifle, carefully choosing a comfortable position that I can safely shoot from. Sometimes it is a long wait but when the horse is grazing peacefully and facing me, I put a bullet through it's forehead. Death is instantaneous, it cannot know anything about it, and it falls without moving. I'll then get a neighbour to bury the horse on my own land.

It is legal to bury a pet (but not commercial stock) on your own land but you should get the approval of the authorities for the site which should be well away from water courses, etc. It is also legal for an owner to shoot their own horse provided the firearm is adequate, but you'd need a licence or veterinary supervision to put one down belonging to another person.

I've never liked the idea of taking any animal off to the vet as they will generally be apprehensive. I've had one pts by injection and that would not be my method of choice.

This is not a nice subject but one that needs careful thought by anyone buying a horse or choosing to breed one BEFORE they acquire stock. I always try to point out to breeders of any animal that they should realise that not everything is born perfect and a responsible breeder will put down any that are not. Horses also get old and have accidents. With horses, this part can be expensive as they are large animals. I suspect a lot shirk this responsibility which partly accounts for the large number of unwanted ponies and horses in the country. Do any of the welfare organisations offer a free pts and disposal service? If so, that is the one I would donate to.
 
PTS for 11hh pony was £150 - two lots of sedation were required! Collection £250 - there are two reputable companies local to me, I picked the cheaper one, as at that point it was just a body to me. I didn't want any ashes back for the same reason. I stayed with the pony until the last possible minute, after it had had all injections. The vet took the leadrope off me for the final drop - pony did go straight over sideways. Pony wasn't in any way distressed and I am happy with the choice I made.
 
Our local huntsman is professional, kind and sensitive - to horses and owners. I wouldn't consider any other way. It has been between £120 £150 for dispatch and removal. A little more if the horse cannot be 'used'. I would suggest that you make some enquiries locally with other horse owners/livestock farmers as to who they recommend. Sadly, not all hunts are equally skilled :( If I were in the SW, I would not hesitate to use Andrew Goatman.

If you take tail hair (a lovely way to remember), take about a finger's width, and full length.

Well done for making your practical decisions in advance of having to make the heartbreaking, emotional one x
 
I always have ours pts at home, shot by my very experienced vet. The horses know and trust him and if there's any concern they're given a sedative before he arrives. I try to arrange the knackers to arrive shortly after to take them away. The knackerman would dispatch them but I don't like the thought of someone who doesn't know them doing the deed and always suspect that they would be able to smell or sense other dead animals off him. Roughly speaking vet charges around £80 and knacker depends on size of horse, somewhere between £150 - £300.
 
Honey08 said:
Hi Pearlsasinger, I know you're fairly close to me. Would you mind sending me a pm with the numbers for the hunt kennels near you and also the equine crem, it would be good to have those numbers at hand.

Has anyone ever buried their horse? That's my plan if possible. All our dead pets are still here in the field.
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Pearlsasinger/Honey08 if you could also PM me pls with the equine crem as well. This thread has galvanised me into taking some action rather than hoping my oldies are going to live forever x
 
Houndman said:
I would always prefer the hunt or the knackerman as it's almost instant and less traumatic for the horse as opposed to waiting for injections to kick in.
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I was hoping this thread wouldn't turn into yet another shooting vs injection debate. If injection was consistently and necessarily (more) traumatic for the horse, it wouldn't be offered as a alternative; to do so would be unethical. I respect your or anyone else's opinion that shooting is better. Which method to use is a matter of personal choice; to say one is superior to the other in all cases would just be wrong.
 
I'm in the North West and funnily enough I was having this conversation with my vet last week because the old mare isn't doing too brilliantly, she can't be used by the hunt as she is on bute.

PTS costs are £200 from the vet and he will arrange with someone that they work with for collection and disposal (mass cremation), that's £150. They will also do individual cremation if needed for approx £600
 
madlady said:
I'm in the North West and funnily enough I was having this conversation with my vet last week because the old mare isn't doing too brilliantly, she can't be used by the hunt as she is on bute.

PTS costs are £200 from the vet and he will arrange with someone that they work with for collection and disposal (mass cremation), that's £150. They will also do individual cremation if needed for approx £600
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Thats not bad at all, its the sort of figures I was thinking. If you dont mind me asking who did they suggest forthe cremation?

I'm sorry it's something you are having to start thinking about
 
In our area we have East Anglian Fallen Stock. My friend had her 13h pony put down by them and removed for about £160 I think. No vet involved.
 
webble said:
Thats not bad at all, its the sort of figures I was thinking. If you dont mind me asking who did they suggest forthe cremation?

I'm sorry it's something you are having to start thinking about
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To be honest I don't know - I use Gillivervet at Chorley and John just said they would arrange everything and they had someone that they used for the 'end of life' service.
 
madlady said:
I'm in the North West and funnily enough I was having this conversation with my vet last week because the old mare isn't doing too brilliantly, she can't be used by the hunt as she is on bute.

PTS costs are £200 from the vet and he will arrange with someone that they work with for collection and disposal (mass cremation), that's £150. They will also do individual cremation if needed for approx £600
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Hi Madlady,

Sorry to hear your old girl isn't so well. As you are in the NW I thoroughly recommend Leyland Crematorium. Several of my friends used their services so when it was my turn :( I rang them to make the arrangements. They were very kind but businesslike and the man who came to take my mare's body away was on time and very pleasant. Overall I found them excellent and actually cheaper than the company that the vet recommended (and I didn't like their set up when I phoned, I just got the chap who did the collections and he was rather gruff). I'm surprised your vet can find someone to do it for only £150 TBH though.
 
soulfull said:
I decided on the hunt as my boy really hated injections and I didn't want him to have to have another one. So I have no idea what the vet charges

hunt cost around £200 for everything
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Which hunt was this soulfull? I too am in Staffs and have a vet/needle phobic horse (the other 2 are quite happy to have needles stuck in them, so no problem either way with them).
 
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