Morbid subject contains *warning* death

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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Further to my post yesterday, this might or might not be suitable for some. However, I know that mine will be shot, but NOT, and I repeat NOT taken to a place like this. getting money for my dead horse is not my idea of horse ownership - however, i know some that have done this and continue to do so..
WARNING -DO NOT WATCH THIS IF YOUR A SENSITIVE PERSON.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=435JtOKH2Qo

Just gives you an idea of how quickly a horse goes, it really knows nothing
 
I daren't watch
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and felt very sad reading your posts yesterday. I know its something you have to deal with but I'm such a wimp
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It looks better than the way i have seen it done before with electric zappers (i don't know the technical word) where it took several attempts and the horse was left thrashing around scrambling to get back up.

At least it looks quick, and like they know what they are doing. Shame they walked past that poor injured one so many times before putting it out of its misery though. I am also surprised at the use of the gun, i thought it would be a bolt gun or something but that doesn't look like it.

I still find it upsetting, couldn't watch it all. When they brought that cute little grey in i had to turn it off. I know it's a fact of life, but i don't like it
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I have to say though, all those horses looked very calm and easy to handle, i wonder how they would cope with a nervous, excitable or unhandled horse in those facilities.
 
I've watched that documentary a few times.
It doesn't shock me at all , they are just horses not pets in my eyes.
I think Potters does a great job and the 'undercover' docu has just ease m mind instead of made me disgusted/whatever
 
I haven't watched the video, but was in the situation last year when I thought one of mine had to go. I did consider taking my horse to the local abbatoir. They deal with so many horses, they are far more experienced than most hunt kennels. My vets said that if they have a difficult one or one that is head shy or unhandled they put the horse in the stable and wait until it puts its head over the door and then shoot it. All very quick.
 
I've seen this video a number of times - the animals are dispatched cleanly and quickly.

I think it's very unfair of you to make a statement like you have in reference to having your horse destroyed at the abotioire for money - because not everyone is in a position to make a different choice. Having a horse destroyed at home costs money. In some cases a lot.
 
the first one was defiantly lame. the pregnant mare really mad me sad but the rest didn't affect me as it is so quick. the thrashing afterwards its upsetting too
 
I haven't watched it - don't think I fancy it. Why would they shoot a pregnant mare?!

I wouldn't take any horse to an abbatoir either, I would only ever have a horse PTS if it was injured or very sick so would not be travelling it anywhere. Think what disturbs me is probably the amount of fit and healthy horses who no doubt end up there. To me a horse is as much of a pet as a dog is. i understand others don't feel the same.
 
Haven't watched it as no login as yet, but I imagine for those with little money it is better to take a horse here to be shot than leave it injured or starving in a field because they can't afford a better option for PTS
 
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I watched it all and didnt find it upsetting at all :s
The horses werent aware what was happening, it was clean and quick.... I dont see the problem??

My veggie OH who hates the thought of horses going to the meat man agrees that the video shows a quick humane slaughter.
 
I have seen this before and while it is not pleasant, I can't see anything inhumane about the way any of the horses are treated. They seem calm and relaxed right up until the gunshot and then they are instantly dead. While it would not be the way I would choose to have my own horse put down I would far rather see a horse go here and be dispatched quickly than left to fester in pain in a field somewhere.
 
I watched it all and altho it is upsetting, as mentioned before, it's quick and the horses don't realise what's happening. They all looked calm enough eating hay.

In a perfect world all animals would have a loving home and die of natural causes but it's just not possible. Don't get me wrong, I plan (at the moment) to keep my horse til he's old but at the end of the day you never know what'll happen, just like you don';t know the back story of any of the horses in the video. We're constantly told rescue centres are over stocked so where else are these animals meant to go? Sometimes the hardest thing is the best option.

I'm not a heartless person believe me, I couldn't understand how a person at my yard just did a straight swap with a dealer for her daughter to get a bigger pony but hey that's their choice.
 
Cant bring myself to watch the video but I have held a friends horse who was shot and been sent away when my old boy was put down. You do need to think through how you would have your horse put down, regardless of age, because 1. you really are not in good position to think about it when you are confronted with it, 2. you may not have realised just how much it DOES cost 3. Your vet may not share your views on injections v gun.

My friends horse was shot when horribly ill, I held the mare as the vet had decided that my friend was too upset and that would transmit to the horse. One of the worst things I ever had to do, including finding a large plastic bag to cover the head after the shooting, plus the talk with the vet first to know what to expect. I had always decided I would have my horse shot by my vet having seen first hand how hard he fought anesthesia. In the end, I had to use a different vet (emergency) who would not use a gun but my poor boy was so tired and ill, he went immediately - but a big difference between putting an elderly ill animal down and one that is feeling pretty well. Finally, I went for the cremation option - mixed and didnt want the ashes back..but this was some 7 years ago and injection, collection and cremation cost me nearly £400....
 
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OK straight from posting my previous reply I went back to the NL2 homepage and the first thread was 'dead pony'. Would that be a better option than Potters? I don't think so.

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Well Said.

Or end up like Carrott and Spud, maybe, or even poor old Okie?
 
I thought it was quite humaine giving the circumstances. The slaughter house dosnt put the horses there, the owners do.

It was a shame to see the pregnant mare shot.

I think anyone who decides to breed from there horse should watch this video first!
 
I thought it was good that they were dispatched quickly, looks quick and painless. However, the little grey pony, the horse who was laid down and the pregnant mare upset me. A lot of the horses also looked too healthy to be put down-but have always been aware that sometimes horses are a business asset and not a pet (although that is not my personal opinion).
I agree with some of the youtube posters comments though, that it's actually good these places exist as otherwise it might be a backstreet job and not done as (quickly or skillfully).
Still makes for distressing viewing. Not particularly religious, but hope they're in a better place now-running in the big paddock in the sky.
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I can't see the video as I'm using filtered internet but I presume it is the potters video. I go to potters to collect data for my dissertation and I only have good things to say about the place. The holding pens have plenty of hay and straw and the horses are moved calmly down to the area outside the rifle room. They go in one at a time and they can't see what happens to the horse before them. The slaughterman is absolutely fantastic with them, chats away and then bang job done all with no stress whatsoever. He's had horses all his life and his children have ponies that have been passed through the family, he's a proper horseman. I think it's only fair to judge the place if you've actually seen first hand what they do. Those horses are the lucky ones; they haven't travelled for hours across the continenent or suffered at the hands of an inexperienced vet or well meaning owner.

If anyone has any questions about the specifics of what happens throughout the process please ask.
 
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the first one was defiantly lame

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I don't really understand your reply, what is wrong with a lame horse being shot?

The thrashing is just muscle spasms caused by the nervous system shutting down. The horse is 100% dead the secoond the bullet enters the medulla (brain region responsible for consciousness, respiratory system, cardiovascular system etc.). You can touch the horse's eyeball whilst it's thrashing about and there is no blink reflex, definitely dead. I've been dissecting the brains so I can confirm they always hit the medulla perfectly, even the wild ones that are shot whilst loose in the rifle room.
 
I agree with RobinHood- I regularly go to Potters to collect stuff for educational purposes and it really is a very well run and humane place. The guys are great and very good with the horses (and the owners)
There is no viable alternative, the abbattoir system works well.
 
I made myself watch it. I didnt want to but I had to see it. I want my horse to have the bullet when the day comes
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I only watched it up to the woman holding the grey pony and i had to turn it off then.

I thought that they were shot quickly without any faffing about and it was respectful how they took them to a separate room to do the job so the other horses couldnt see what was happening. I feel a bit sick now.
 
I've seen this video numerous times, and can see NOTHING wrong with the way these horses are destroyed. They are calm and happy eating hay prior to being led quietly in, then quickly and instantly shot. Dead.

Just what are you complaining about?
 
haven't watched but can imagine how many ex racehorses end up there? my 92 yr old FIL keeps sayingi should breed with my mare, why should i better to buy what you want, think before you breed our 3 horses 20+,15 &5 yr old will allbe buryed on farm but we did once buy a kids pony that was dangerous and ended up at abatior as it was either going to kill a person so we had that destroyed as wasn't going to pass it on to another person.
 
I didn't know that anyone was complaining, only the people complaining about the supposed 'complainers' . Yep figure that one out if you can.

I thought all the posts were about how humane it was. It's still upsetting to see an animal being shot in the head though. I don't like seeing that, it made me feel ill. But i'm glad i watched it because i like to know what happens in these situations and now i'm slightly more at ease about it. I don't think i've read anyone saying it's horrific and wrong and no ponies should ever be shot. Just that it's not very nice to watch really, but necessary.
 
I have to say that i've just watched that and im quite impressed.

none of the horses look manky, or distressed.

Also its so quick.

And personally i dont blame them for leaving the pony for 7 whole minutes!! Even though it had been dumped there out of hours and prob been there all night!! Bit harsh, but 7 more minutes so they can dispose of it doesnt make that much of a difference.

Did make me laugh.... find a cute looking pony..... this is a pony usually used for children to ride.... its probably absolutly mental really! or got issues!!
 
i thought that the horses were treated very well. they seemed quite happy eating hay in a barn beforehand and they seemed to be handles with respect. only thing that really upset me was the pregnant mare.
 
You know what REALLY p!ssed me off about that video? Not the shooting of the horses, which I thought was very quick and humane, but the headings, designed ENTIRELY to provoke an emotional response; EG: "Ponies like these are used to teach children to ride.. blah blah blah until the child wants a bigger horse or the child gets bored.. blah blah"
Who says?? Who says the pony featured isn't crippled with lami or arthritis or riddled with cancer?
Sensationalist 'reporting' (I use the word sparingly) really p!sses me off!!!
 
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