Morbid subject

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

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When the time is right for your sick/injured or old horse to be PTS, what are the rules regarding burrial? Can you have your horse burried on your land, (rented land with owners permission) if so does the 'site' need to be inspected? (and by whom?)
If your horse gets taken away, do you pay more for the bigger animal or is it 'just a rate'? or is it free if it goes to a hunt? Can it go to a hunt if the horse has been on medication?
oh dear, so many questions!!
Iam asking because our old pony suffers from arthritis and just want to know what some of the options are.
 
Can't help on the land burrial question, but my horse was put to sleep by my vet in a field at the yard, the 'knacker man' that then came and took the body away. In my experience the vet will organise everything and you just get sent the bill.
 
i take horse to the hunt and then always watch them shoot the horse. cheapest, quickest (humanest imho) way. doesn't upset the horses at home. the horse that goes thinks it is going on a nice jolly in the horsebox, hears hounds etc and pricks ears... then job done instantly. i hand over money (£80 ish iirc) and it is over.
i have heard horror stories about horses being injected and taking a long time to go, struggling, collapsing, trying to get up etc. with the ones i've seen shot (a few now) it has always been absolutely instant, they're gone.
if vet does it at home you have to arrange for a knackerman to come and get the body and winch it aboard etc... not very nice really. i don't like upsetting the other horses, most importantly. i think that as long as it is done humanely, and obviously after only a short journey in good transport conditions, it doesn't make any difference to the horse who is being shot whether it is done at home or at kennels or vets (unless horse is too ill or injured to delay destruction, obviously.)
i'm not sure about the medication if it goes to hunt, depends on what it's been on i guess.
burial is possible i think but it needs to be a long way down - i.e. a very large hole, you need a big JCB basically.
if you choose euthanasia at home and then cremation i think it is more expensive for larger animal, not positive though.
it is morbid but it is also worth planning ahead, when the time comes to do it you're upset enough, it helps to have a plan ready.
 
Both my horses were shot by the hunt at the yard and then removed by them.

One was on bute, which is not a problem for hounds apparently - however he was cremated. The other was butchered for the hounds. It cost around £500 for the cremated horse to be destroyed and taken away, £175 for the other one.

You need a licsence for burial on your own land from the council.
 
My vet arranged for the knackerman to remove the body. In fact the knackerman held my pony for the lethal injection while I stood by. They were both wonderful. They wouldn't let me see the body being removed they said I didn't need to see as quite distressing. I was given time with my pony and not rushed before or after being PTS. The kennels can't use if pony has been PTS by injection or if has had medication.

Burying on private land can I believe be quite complicated.

I think talk to your vet in the first instance. Vets are used to dealing with this sort of thing regularly and will be able to guide you.

I do think that even if this is not a scenario we are faced with it is worth looking into as sometimes there are emergency's beyond our control and a little knowledge might mean we make decisions for the best and not rushed into something we later regret.

If my mare were to be PTS I would probably have her shot. My boy on the other hand I would use lethal injection. They have different personalities.

Best of luck and thinking of you

Jane
 
I had my old boy buried in the field. A lot will depend on what type of horde it is, where kept etc. Technically it is not allowed as horses are classed as livestock. However it can be agreed (as I discovered).
I had to contact Trading Standards animal department of my Local Government. As my horse is kept on private land, is purely a leisure horse (not competition) and there are only 3 animals at the yard, they gave permission. No one came to inspect the site. We were just asked to be 'sensible' in respect of water courses etc. We did get an email confirming our conversation should any questions ever be asked.
I then had to hire a man with a JCB to do the digging for me.
I am so glad I was able to have him buried at home, as I now get a great comfort from being able to speak to him when I want to.
 
You can have your horse buried in your own field if it is a pet and as long as it is not close to a water course. (Your local authority will advise you).

I have held a number of horses that have been put down by injection and they have all gone down gently. No problems at all. The equine crematorium has then collected them and the ashes returned to the owners (if they wanted them).
 
My old mare was pts in her stable by injection 3 years ago. I had her body taken away to be cremated. It cost £500 for indvidual cremation, I think the minimum cost was £420 then it went up according to bodyweight. My mare was approx 450/475 kgs.
 
I can only comment on my personal experience, but my boy was already down when the vet came and he was fading, so he went very peacefully, four big sighs and he was gone. I can understand however, how it could be more traumatic if the horse is standing and/or fights the drug, however, it is a short time in most cases and they won't remember once it's done. As with most things there are good/bad stories.
 
Bullet v injectoin ?? Pro's and cons?? Surely bullet is quicker?
I've seen several horses that HAD to be pts due to serious injury, all had the bullet. I remember one, he had such a bleed after, that it looked gruesome. I don't like that idea, but the thought of injection taking longer or the horse fighting it just terrifies me.
Basicly us, the owner has to pay a large bill to whoever does it? (there is me thinking hunt kennels are free - just a donation required?)
 
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Bullet v injectoin ?? Pro's and cons?? Surely bullet is quicker?

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It's also about cost. A bullet is cheaper, simply put. Fred bled out quite a bit, the other horse didn't at all. I don't have a problem with a bullet, and am terribly sensative when it comes to the animals.

There is a very definate cost attached to both methods of disposal. It's not merely a donation to the hunt, but a charge.
 
Regarding them bleeding out, I didn't stay to watch (couldn't) but went back later to clear up - there was quite a lot of blood which wasn't very nice to see as I knew that had been my horse an hour earlier. But I think I'd still rather see that, than have watched him fight the injection.
 
yes, there is a lot of blood from the bullet to the brain. at the hunt kennels they have an area where they always do the euthanasia, that they hose down immediately.
i had to hold a friend's horse while he was shot when i was 17 - nobody else there to hold him, just vet and me (i'd found horse in field with broken leg). vet got a big plastic feed bag and as soon as he'd shot the horse put its head in that to contain the blood. so, it doesn't have to make a huge mess...
 
Ive heard horror stories about both but the two horses i have seen put down by injection both went very nicely (Well as nice as could be in that situation)

The one i saw by bullet was also very quick but lots of blood as others have said.

I have no idea what id do and i dont think i will unless im put in that situation.
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Good luck to you.xxx
 
I would never ever have my horse pts by injection. To me this is a fairly selfish option done to suit the owner more than the horse. Sorry, I know that sounds harsh...but even my vet agrees!!! He would never have a horse PTS by injection unless it was on the operating table.

I always said I would have the hunt do my horse but when the crunch came I just couldnt, too much sentiment there, so he was done by the knackerman at home. He was turned out, and instead of turning right into his stable when he was brought in, he went left and into the hands of the knackerman. I have to say, it was that quick that he was still eating an apple when he fell apparently.

Writing that is hard! I have welled up!!! My poor boy.
 
We've had ours (old pony and donkey) pts by injection. It was fine, not issues, horse just goes to sleep. Those and two others who died naturally are all buried in our field. We didn't get permission, but we are not near a major watercourse and all we're buried 10m deep, with a minimum of 7m earth to cover the top of them as those are the requirements I think. The local farmer did it for us on all occasions.

I watched the first (died in stable) and wish I hadn't sometimes. I was 14 at the time and watching a family pony be dragged by his feet and winched up with a tractor is not nice, although at least I saw every stage and knows what happens now, although it did affect me for some time after.

I think I would have bullet if horse had an injury like a broken leg, but if I had the choice I would go with injection.
 
Having been present when horses were put to sleep in various ways, I will be doing the following when my two's time comes.
They will be shot and then removed and cremated, this is done by our local slaughter house.
 
If i have any control over this, mine will both have hunt servants out - they will dispatched at home, swiftly in peace and quiet. Your do have to pay for service but IMHO best and kindness method. And they will dispatch any horse even one on medication but they will be cretmated straightway.

BUT if i own my own land i would bury at home instead, but i don't.
 
Having looked into it, I have decided that I want the hunt to come...........but I live in London
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I suppose my nearest hunt is Surrey Union but i don't know if they would come this far and old boy doesn't load......hmmmm maybe I should enquire.
 
I can't get over how much all this is going to cost! The old pony is only 14.1hh arab/welsh/conn type. I really do have to expect a bill of £150 ish don't I? (hunt kennels) Would like her buried really, but not sure if the land owner would allow it now. ( another old pony is buried, but that happened 10 years ago).
 
When my lad was PTS by injection, he was heavily sedated first, then given the lethal injection he went down quarters first, no fighting at all, I think the sedation is important to help this
.
 
I always said I would have my horse shot when the time came, but last wednesday, it was snowing heavily and the vet was with him and the hunt man was stuck in the snow, so Thomas was PTS by injection which was quiet and gentle and allowed me to say goodbye as he was slipping away.
The snow made everywhere very quiet and peaceful....everything was quiet and peaceful.......if it was pissing hard with rain, i would probably have had him shot....

I hope you are happy and pain free wherever you are Thomas xxx
 
I had my old girl PTS in Oct by injection then burried on our land with no permission. She was a 29 yr old TB and was losing weight despite everything we did for her. I knew it was her time.

Vet came who is a very good friend and gave her one huge injection which made her slip slowly down to the ground and lay out on her side, then she gave 2nd injection and she passed away. I was with her the whole time talking to her. There was no fighting and it all felt peaceful and gentle.

A friend came with his digger and burried her for me. I worked so hard for so long to get my own land and even though she only made it one summer (april-oct) I felt so much better knowing I knew where she would be and will never have to leave her behind.

I think in future this would be my choice again.
 
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