Old horses? Should they be PTS even if they have all their faculties

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Comanche

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but they look a bit ropey? My 40 year old pony is a bit thin and folk keep complaining about how he looks - usually people who don't know horses. He is bright as a button though and retired to a field with his old mates. I keep being pressured to put him down cos he looks "ugly".

He has been vet checked regularly and they are happy that he has a good quality fo life.

Why do some people think that as soon as a horse doesn't look perfect he shoudl be disposed of? I'm so mad!
 
I would be spitting feathers too.
As long as your oldie is happy, healthy and enjoying his retirement I would stick 2 fingers up and say mind your own business
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I suppose people don't understand. As long as you, your vet and your pony are happy, just explain patiently and let him carry on with his retirement. If only all horses had such an opportunity!
 
It doesnt matter what they look like, its quality of life. If the horse can be a horse without pain or difficulty, then there is no problem.

My cat lost a lot of weight, she was skeletal and was on tablets and it was only when she couldnt manage the stairs or stand up or get to her litter tray that I knew it was her time.

So if your 40 year old pony is happy, eating and being a horse, then he should be allowed to carry on.
 
How would these people feel if we said the same about their 90yr old Grandma!!! Sorry love, your still really healthy but god damn ugly so give us your wrist whilst I pop a quick needle in it!!! I have similar situation with a 34yr old shetland that never puts weight on, a little cushionoid looking with her coat and hobbles around because she's ancient but when the others in the field come over to play she double barrels them, she calls when I bring her tea out and she loves sleeping in the sun.

I have now got round this by putting a summer sheet on her in the summer & a winter rug in the winter months, this way nobody really see's her in the flesh and it stops busy bodies discussing something they know nothing about. Don't listen to them - listen to your pony!
 
I've never known a 40 y/o pony, you must be looking after him really well. Like the others said, if he's happy and as healthy as he realistically can be at his age, with a good quality of life, just leave him as he is. You will know when the time comes and he's had enough. I'd just ignore these people, he might not look as well on the outside but he's obviously fine on the inside and enjoying life still.
Good luck with him! Nx
 
I'm sure that you know him better than anyone so you'll know when he's ready to go.

Everyone used to comment on how dippy my old lads back was and sometimes he used to sleep alot but other times he was just as alert and cheeky as he'd ever been, wouldn't have dreamed of putting him down if i hadn't have been forced to by recurrent colic.
 
If the vet thinks he is fine and not in pain then don't listen to what they are saying. Well done for looking after him so well that he can reach the age of 40. If you look after older horses well and understand their needs there is no reason why they can't have a good quality of life.
 
ignore them your vet is happy ponio is obvioulsy very happy the only time to PTS an old horse is when they have had enough and they let you know when its time for them to go.

It is so annoying people have to stick there nose in and i will bet half of them have never so much as sat on a horse in there life.

Well done for keeping him ticking this far though really is amazing he is at such a good age.
 
Just to echo what everyone else has said......it is no doubt down to being looked after so well that he is still healthy now.....Provided he is happy and not in pain there is no reason for you to PTS.
 
I'm in a similar situation with my 27yo. She is sound, active, healthy and happy, but due to the fact that she lacks several molars and therefore can only eat mush, we can never get as much weight on her as I'd like (EDT visits 6 monthly). She (like yours) is one of the lucky ones who has a home with me for life. I will know when the time is right for her to go, but meantime, for as long as she's got a very good quality of life then she will stay, despite the "ugly" comments.

Don't listen to the nasty comments - long may your horse continue to have a healthy and happy life with you.
 
I would be livid if people talked about my horse like that.
Don't take any notice of them. You'd never live with yourself if you listened to them. You'll know when the time comes, but it doesn't sound as if it's yet.
 
At his equivalent age, most people look a bit ropey too
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I wonder if said complainers would think they should be PTS too ? :P

If the pony is happy and you can keep him, why shouldnt you? I think its lovely that you are.

As someone else said, its all down to the quality of life! I think implying because he looks past his best means he deserves to not enjoy whatever time he has left with his friends is a terrible mind set
 
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How would these people feel if we said the same about their 90yr old Grandma!!! Sorry love, your still really healthy but god damn ugly so give us your wrist whilst I pop a quick needle in it!!!


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pmsl !! now theres a thought
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Ignore the ill informed idiots who insist it should be PTS, as long as all those actively involved in it's care are happy and the pony is happy then why on earth should it be condemned to death?! Now i'm the first to stand up and say that any animal with poor quality of life should be allowed to go before all dignity is gone but not just because it's got older and less pretty than what folks are used to
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Your pony reaching 40 is a testament to his being content where he is - he is obviously well looked after! Don't listen to the busybodies - perhaps he doesn't look like a megastar at his ripe old age but he sounds cheerful enough and has quality of life so why shouldn't he while away his days with his chums munching grass? Sod the know-it-alls who know nothing!
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Thanks guys. I really was at the end of my tether this morning. Why do so many people feel its ok to comment on horses, You don't hear people telling you how to keep your cat or your dog in the same way do you? Why are horses open to all to commet - even those who know nowt about it! I love my pony, but I wouldn't hesitate to put him to sleep if I thought he was suffering. After all the fun me and my family have had with him it would be the least I could do.
 
Agree with all the others, at 40 he's a credit to you & why shouldn't he be allowed to carry on enjoying himself?!

Have you thought of putting a sign on his fence telling people that he isn't ill or neglected, just an old man enjoying a well earned retirement?
 
My old mare sounds just like your horse. She's 35 & still enjoys the odd hack or game of 'let's gallop round the field'. She is a TBx & used to be very beautiful when she was younger (I've had her since she was 3). She's now had Cushings for ages & looks like a scruffy old pony, but she still neighs & kicks the gate to be fed, & gallops off & tries to buck out hacking when her feet touch grass. She will be staying with me until she starts looking sad.
 
erm as long as they have good quality of life, they are fine.
quality of life can vary in peoples estimations though.
alot depends on the prognosis too.
my old girl was 37 when we retired her and 48 when she was pts last year
she had always been sound,round and happy but over the last 2 months she started to drop weight and start to lose interest in life.i had her pts while she was still bright as i knew at her age i didnt want to let her fight to 'last the summer' but let her go peacefully while she was happy.
 
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erm as long as they have good quality of life, they are fine.
quality of life can vary in peoples estimations though.
alot depends on the prognosis too.
my old girl was 37 when we retired her and 48 when she was pts last year
she had always been sound,round and happy but over the last 2 months she started to drop weight and start to lose interest in life.i had her pts while she was still bright as i knew at her age i didnt want to let her fight to 'last the summer' but let her go peacefully while she was happy.

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Yikes! Ive never known them to live that long! I thought most died or were PTS at about 28-30!
 
If a pony is healthy and happy there is no way it should be pts if the owner is happy to keep him going.
 
We made the decision with our 33 year old last year and she was PTS, because she was stiff and in pain, she had been thin for quite some time! When she was not able to hooley round with the others anymore then we knew it was the time for her to go, just like you will know with your horse. Ours had been beautiful in her prime, she still was to me but I know other people would not have thought she was over her last year.
 
nope, why should a horse be pts if is active and fine, ok I've had two oldies pts now but BOTH were suffering ailments and wasn't because they weren't pretty, in fact both were extremely so
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ignore the numpties, they're probably jealous yours is doing so well at such a grand age!!
 
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