Making the decision to PTS when objectively a situation could be improved

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Oldernewbie

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I guess I’m just seeking the insight and perspective of other horse people in this as its not a situation I have fabed previously, my last horse sustained a non recoverable injury and there was no choice but to pts.

My horse is 20 and I have owned her for 6 years. Very soon after I bought her she sustained a serious ligament injury and despite treatment and rehab never came sound enough (imo) to ride ‘properly’ again. She came to me with some behavioral issues too which I found challenging and needed livery yard support with.

Once it was clear she would not be ridden again I moved her to another yard which had very specific horse centric management and she lived there for 4 years. Behavior wise she was challenging to begin with but she was able to settle and I could then handle her and enjoy some non ridden activities which was very important for my mental and physical health.

Very sadly the yard closed about 5 months ago. I considered euthanasia then as I knew moving would be very hard on both of us, but in the end I did move her to a new yard where she could live out 24/7 in paired turn out.

Well this was ok but sadly a week ago her friend suddenly died. She has become agitated and the professionals on the yard feel unsafe to handle her. They tried pairing her with another pony but my mare was aggressive so they had to remove her.

My mare has some health issues which need monitoring and treatment which I rely on the yard to do as I am disabled, this now wont be possible.

In addition the conditions at the yard have deteriorated massively due to the constant rain, other liveries have said its the worst its ever been. Lots of really miserable horses.

The last few days I have been up and my poor girl looks scared and so miserable.

I considered moving yards again but feel more and more like we have reached the end of the road. Financially things have been a strain due to my health but I have been willing to keep going feeling she was happy and enjoying life but now thats not the case I am re- evaluating.

I guess I must be seeking permission to let her go, I am finding this decision very hard to make.
 
Oldernewbie said:
I guess I’m just seeking the insight and perspective of other horse people in this as its not a situation I have fabed previously, my last horse sustained a non recoverable injury and there was no choice but to pts.

My horse is 20 and I have owned her for 6 years. Very soon after I bought her she sustained a serious ligament injury and despite treatment and rehab never came sound enough (imo) to ride ‘properly’ again. She came to me with some behavioral issues too which I found challenging and needed livery yard support with.

Once it was clear she would not be ridden again I moved her to another yard which had very specific horse centric management and she lived there for 4 years. Behavior wise she was challenging to begin with but she was able to settle and I could then handle her and enjoy some non ridden activities which was very important for my mental and physical health.

Very sadly the yard closed about 5 months ago. I considered euthanasia then as I knew moving would be very hard on both of us, but in the end I did move her to a new yard where she could live out 24/7 in paired turn out.

Well this was ok but sadly a week ago her friend suddenly died. She has become agitated and the professionals on the yard feel unsafe to handle her. They tried pairing her with another pony but my mare was aggressive so they had to remove her.

My mare has some health issues which need monitoring and treatment which I rely on the yard to do as I am disabled, this now wont be possible.

In addition the conditions at the yard have deteriorated massively due to the constant rain, other liveries have said its the worst its ever been. Lots of really miserable horses.

The last few days I have been up and my poor girl looks scared and so miserable.

I considered moving yards again but feel more and more like we have reached the end of the road. Financially things have been a strain due to my health but I have been willing to keep going feeling she was happy and enjoying life but now thats not the case I am re- evaluating.

I guess I must be seeking permission to let her go, I am finding this decision very hard to make.
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You have done well by her.This may be the final act of kindness.
 
You don’t need it but if you do you 100% have my permission also. I also have a coblet who we retired 12 months ago after also not coming sound after bilateral annular ligament surgery. Last summer he lived out semi- happily on 8 acres with my friends 3 geldings, kept field sound on 1 Danilon/day but this rubbish winter has necessitated them all spending the last 3 months in a barn/hardstanding area and he gets very territorial and food aggressive in small spaces so he’s had to be stabled alone and turned out on a small trash paddock. We’ve coped but it’s been miserable tbh and hard graft for everyone. I’ve already decided as we’ve made it through 75% of the winter he is going to have 1 last summer out (unless he deteriorates beforehand) but he won’t be having another winter stabled in solitary confinement. He’ll go in late summer with the sun on his back and a belly full of grass and apples.
 
Another who would advocate for PTS but I know it is not always that easy to actually do. I hope the yard would be supportive but if you don't think they would be (nought so strange as horse folk) don't discuss it just arrange it for a quiet time and do it when you're ready.
You have done more than most would have for this mare but you've run out of options and the bravest and kindest thing would be to PTS. I am so sorry you find yourself in this position x
 
I agree with all the above, and misst gives good advice re: cracking on with it quietly. Great if the owners are supportive, but it can make a difficult time far far worse if you have some numpty trying to guilt trip you / change your mind.

You have done far more than many would have done in caring for a tricky horse without dumping the problem on to someone else. At her age, with her conditions, in this livery situation, PTS is a very responsoble, caring decision.
 
Thank you so much to those who has replied.

Like most of us on this forum there is so much more to the story of mine and my mares life (medical, emotional etc) that could be shared and that also factors into the decision I now feel faced with.

There is a part of me that feels I should move her again and try to find that ‘better’ living situation.

However, seeing her extreme reaction to losing her friend makes be suspect there is more going on with her than is obvious.

What I do know is that she didn’t have the easiest of lives before me ( incident findings on an MRI showed what looked like evidence of a head injury in the past) and she also spent 4 years pretty much constantly stabled and was depressed when she came to me.

I love her and don’t want her to feel sad, alone or in pain 😭
 
I agree with others that pts is the kindest course of action for the horse. I would try to arrange it as soon as possible.
 
Agree with the others on here. I'm in a similar situation. I do agree with the comment that if you are posting asking about it, you've subconsciously come to an understanding, but sometimes that bit of solidarity from others is needed, "permission" as it were. Many of the lovely people on your thread gave me "permission" and made me see I had already acknowledged what was the best thing. We could continue trying lots of things to see if it could improve things, but I don't think it will. He has a myriad of issues, it's never majorly bad,but it's always something, and at the end of the day, he's not happy, I'm stressing about him and we argue with each other trying to manage things. I've made my mind up now, and I think it's best for him. Summer won't necessarily improve things for him, if we get hard ground he struggles as much on that as mud, and growing grass causes other issues too, but I will let him feel firmer ground and sunshine for a bit before he goes with a bucket of stud muffins, because he's not been allowed such indulgence before.
My empathetic sympathy to you, it's a hard place to be in.
 
Oldernewbie said:
I love her and don’t want her to feel sad, alone or in pain 😭
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Which is exactly why you are making the kindest decision for her and for you. She is so very lucky to have had you in her life and you are also so very lucky to have had her in yours too. Stay strong I hope talking on here is helping, we are always around if you need us. 🫂 z
 
Oldernewbie said:
Thank you so much to those who has replied.

Like most of us on this forum there is so much more to the story of mine and my mares life (medical, emotional etc) that could be shared and that also factors into the decision I now feel faced with.

There is a part of me that feels I should move her again and try to find that ‘better’ living situation.

However, seeing her extreme reaction to losing her friend makes be suspect there is more going on with her than is obvious.

What I do know is that she didn’t have the easiest of lives before me ( incident findings on an MRI showed what looked like evidence of a head injury in the past) and she also spent 4 years pretty much constantly stabled and was depressed when she came to me.

I love her and don’t want her to feel sad, alone or in pain 😭
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Not trying to put you off your plan of action, but would it be worth looking around for alternative livery? It's so hard to find anywhere decent these days that will accommodate "special needs". Perhaps once you've seen the reality is that there is nothing that would suit, the decision to PTS might be easier. Then you will know that you have done absolutely everything and you can PTS with a peaceful mind. Just a thought. Not suggesting you should keep your horse going for the sake of it, just thinking how to make it easier mentally for you as you clearly love this horse and are very connected to her welfare.
 
So sorry for your difficult situation OP. I hope you can accept all the reasoned advice upthread, that pts is now a kindly thing for both of you.
 
Even more objectively you’ve moved her and she’s not happy, she’s likely to struggle moving again, paired turnout always comes with the risk of losing the other half (even if they’re just moving, I’ve had issues before) she may also not be 100% comfortable which may be adding to the behaviour
 
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