Morbid questions

Denbob

Denbob

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Not a cheery post I'm afraid but I was having dinner with friends tonight and somehow we got onto the discussion of what would happen if something happened to your horse while you were unreachable/unable to get to them.
Has anyone left instructions with YO/YM/OH as to how to proceed if the worst were to happen and difficult decisions had to be made without you there?

My boy is my first and while I have thought about how I would react if he were ever to colic or seriously injure himself, I had never considered a situation in which I was not able to be there for him or at least be in contact. But as I'm sure we all know life does throw curveballs and I was just curious as to whether a 'plan' is something others have thought about/had done.
 
Yes: I outline my wishes - in writing - every time I go to a new yard, and confirm it verbally if I'm going to be unreachable for any long period of time.

At present, the horse is very broken and uninsured, so the yard has permission to put down for anything that would require box rest of more than a short period, anything that would need surgery, or anything that's going to cost more than about a grand in immediate care. We're in an extreme position and well into borrowed time, though - usually my instructions are no colic surgery, and nothing that requires extended box rest.

Nearly every yard I have been on has requested those wishes when I move the horse on. IME asking the owner those questions is generally a good indicator that the care will be good!
 
Mine are kept at home so it is family who would have to make the decision, OH would be the one. I trust him to do what is right to the best of his ability.

The last time I had one at livery was to sell, and I explained in writing what I would like done. I had only owned the horse a week before realising I had bought a mis-match and sent her there to be sold. I would have been happy to fund vets etc for normal injuries etc but would not have funded such as a colic op. I trusted the YO entirely.


ETA - she had it in writing that she was authorised to PTS if it was something that could not wait, and I registered that authority with the vet too.
 
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Absolutely! I think you have to to be responsible. It is rare these days to be completely unreachable but my YO has my written permission to authorize PTS in an emergency if I cannot be reached. And a copy of that is lodged with my vets. Having had to sit and watch at least 3 horses die an unnecessary protracted death when an owner could not be reached I love my boys too much to put them through that.
 
Sister and I co-own our horses and it is very rare for us to be away together for longer than if we were at work, so should one of us be uncontactable, the other would take any decisions necessary.
 
As a YO I have "authority to act" for all liveries, a simple agreement that enables me to contact a vet on the owners behalf, communicate with their vet on their behalf and make a decision based on instructions, pts for broken limbs, open wounds damaging tendons, pts or send to operate for colic are really the ones that require a discussion, most other emergencies, serious cuts, closed tendon injuries can wait a while once initial first aid is given by a vet.
My owners trust me and know I would do my best for the horse and take a very calculated decision before pts.
 
I’m not on livery so either my neighbour or friend would take charge, or my OH If he was here. I’m certain they would all be guided by the vets advice and I’m pretty sure my vet wouldn’t be recommending expensive colic surgery on my old pony so I think the vet and other person would make the correct decision.

It’s very unlikely I’d be uncontactible anyway. I have a friend (also not on livery) who turns her phone off at night. One night her non horsey neighbour at her field could hear banging and tried to phone her but couldn’t. They didn’t know who else to phone and the banging stopped. Her pony was found the next day with his foot stick in a haynet :( I think it quite irresponsible not to leave contact details where you can be reached 24/7. If my neighbour can’t get me he has my OH’s number and my friends number.
 
After having a colt die in my arms when the vets / YO / anyone else with contact details hadn't been able to get hold of the owner, I gave my vets the authority to PTS if that is their best judgement and I cannot be reached.

Both my horses have issues and neither would be put through surgery.
 
I have made it clear to family and friends what action to take for each animal should such decisions ever have to be made on my behalf. However, I have not yet, but must, put authority in writing foe my vets.
 
Yes mine has a signed letter saying I don't want him put through colic surgery and also that if he needs to be pts I want it done via injection and also how I want him cremated. My mum who looks after him as well also has a copy.
 
I have no idea what would happen if the yard couldn’t get me. If I saw they’d tried to phone, I’d drop everything and call back. I’d give permission over the phone if he had to be PTS. I have no will yet :redface3: but currently his sharer would be given whatever money needed to do as she wished with him if I died.
 
My mum looks after my horses if I can't get there... we live next door to each other and the horses live at home... I trust her to make the right decision - and I know she'd make the right decision...
 
Mine is insured so the yard know to call vets straight away. My phone is often unavailable at work but the yard has OH number and my Mums. They would be able to get hold of my work to pin me down. If I'm away it's Mums choice-she's a small animal vet so I would probably be reverting to her judgement anyway and she also owns half the horse.
 
Myself, another livery and YO were discussing this very point the other night. Daughter has said she wants to be there for if/when her pony is pts, but as she lives 300 miles away, I would imagine that unless we can plan it a few days in advance, it'll be up to me. I have given instructions to YO that if I am unreachable and either of my precious boys are in agony and can't wait even an hour (phone signal in Cornwall is dire) she has permission to pts. I have however, pointed out to her that my chap is very good at doing broken leg syndrome when he has an abscess brewing, so not to jump to any conclusions. If I can't be reached, then I'd like to know they didn't suffer, but ideally I'd like to be there to hold a hoof. Absolutely dreading it tho, had one of them 18 years and the other coming up 15 years.
 
It has happened to me; my pony had a heart attack and was PTS on the instruction's of my YO (and close friend) without consulting me. It was my birthday and I was in London without a phone at a gig. She is a good horsewoman and I trusted her judgement totally. She also held my horse when he was PTS because I was too distressed to do it.
 
I went away for 5 weeks last year and, with my horse being 21 at the time with various issues, I told my vet (we see him a lot!) he had my permission to do whatever he though was necessary. My friend who was looking after him and YO were told about my discussion with the vet and they should phone the vet at the slightest sign of a problem. Luckily he's still with us and doing fine.
 
wouldn't trust my YO to make any sensible decisions, sadly.
But have good friends and spies on the yard and I know they would do the right thing, have seen them overrule YO in recent months despite that causing ructions :(
My horses are insured and I have a good veterinary practice so I hope that if something awful happened, between friends and vets the right decisions would be reached. OH has a sensible head on his shoulders too.
 
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