Old Horses - when? and How?

GlamourDol

GlamourDol

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As most of you will know, Dol is now getting on, and although is still going strong, this is something that we must think about, as i know she will not be around forever! When the time comes i want to be as prepared as possible as she deserves the best espec at that time!
I have always said that when she can no longer work, that will be the time she is PTS, as a life in the field is not an option for her, and i do not think would be very fair on a horse like her. but how do you know when that time is?
DOl of course has days when she is stiff when she first comes out, and days when she takes longer to warm up, but she is a 21 year old. SO this is to be expected!
I know that she will tell me when she no longer wants to work, but the thing with her, is that she is so honest that she will keep trying and give that little bit more. But i do think i will know when she has had enough.
SO my next question is, what are the options? I wouldnt want her shot, i dont want that for her, but what are the other methods, is Injection the best?
ALso what are the options available after? I would want her treated like the superstar she is!
All help and oppinions greatly recieved!
Sorry mum if you're reading this, but i have questions, and i think it is something we should be prepared for!!
x
 
When i've had to have one pts i've always used the injection its very quick and has been peaceful in my experience and you can get individual cremations done and have the ashes back in a casket for those very special friends, if you ask your vet he'll be able to tell you the best local person to collect a body and have what you want done.
This is something that has been weighing on my mind alot recently with my old boy (its his 28th birthday on Saturday) but i'm trying to stay positive and not dwell on it too much and enjoy the time we have left together whether, its days, weeks, month or years (hopefully the latter!)
 
I had my horse Simon for 19 years and he meant the world to me. I always said Simon would tell me when the time was right. He went through 3 serious operations and i often wondered was i right to put him through those. But he got better and had 2 months of a wonderful life grazing in the field and enjoying himself. Then one night i found him with colic. He told me he had had enough by the look on his face. It is a moment i will never forget and i wished had never come but i knew it would one day. What i am trying to say is your horse will tell you herself when she is ready. The look on her face when you go and see her will speak a thousand words. Simon was PTS by injection and was already lay on the floor when he had it. He just went to sleep in my arms. I had simon cremated and his ashes buried at Leyland pet cemetry. He has his own engraved headstone and i can visit whenever i want. I know this is not everyones cup of tea and im sure you will get varying ideas on what to do afterwards but this works for me. It helped me through the horrible time and its somewhere i like to go when i need time out.
 
That made me cry
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What a touching story for a horse you obviously thought the world of.
 
How did you know that they weren't just having a bad day and that they'd have felt better tomorrow?
This is what worries me, that maybe il get it wrong?
StinkBomb where did u fnd out about this place?
Do you think there are places like this in Warwickshire?
Thanks for your help!
x
 
I hate thinking about this sort of thing, it just upsets me. Chex is 25, but is still in proper work and showing no signs of slowing down! Once he's retired he'll spend the rest of his days in the field, I thought he would hate it, but when he had 6 months off when I broke my leg, he loved it! I think once he stops wanting to go for rides, or doesn't want to gallop about then I'll think about retiring him, we'll probably still go for walks in hand though.
 
I looked at dol today and she looked miserable, shes a bit pottery on her feet atm, but hopefully its just that Tom took too much off her toes last week! But i then start too wander whether shes hurting or miserable etc!
 
All i can say is that you will know. I always thought the same " how will you know?" But trust me you will, your heart will tell you and its a feeling that you will know what it means. Leyland pet cemetry is well known and its not far from me. I had it all planned for the last 5 years!! ( sad i know but like you i wanted to be prepared ) I am not sure if there are any near you maybe do some digging on the internet? Have you an equine hospital near you? I know leahurst have details of pet cemetries so maybe your local equine hospital or vets might even know of one?
I am sure there will be plenty about the country who do the same kind of thing. Its not cheap and they make quite a good business out of it i think. They were really nice and treated Simon with such respect.
 
Thank you, i will do some research, slowly!
Yeh not a problem if its not cheap, shes had the best of everything else, she will have the best of this!
Hell we brought her back so she could slow down with us! lol.
God how morbid am i being this evening?
x
 
You really will know. I always worry about mine...then he springs back to life and was placed against ponies at the weekend in jump offs! (he is 26 years old irish x!)

You will just know in your heart she is not happy and it will be more than just having an off day.
 
I know its a horrible thing to think about and im not saying she's done yet! but found a link that might be useful for you. There seems to be one in Warwickshire not sure how close it is too you though.
We all go through this stage with an old pony so your not the first!!! Just open the page and click on the Warwickshire area.

Pet cemetries
 
[ QUOTE ]
How did you know that they weren't just having a bad day and that they'd have felt better tomorrow?
This is what worries me, that maybe il get it wrong?
StinkBomb where did u fnd out about this place?
Do you think there are places like this in Warwickshire?
Thanks for your help!
x

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO, it's always better to let them go too early rather than too late. They don't know anything about it. I'd much rather PTS when they're in good weight, happy, and pain free than wait until they're in pain and unhappy.

Don't feel guilty about letting her go when the times comes; you can only do your best by her.

Sorry, I can't help with the rest of your questions.

Syd
 
i too have an old horse 25 had 21 years, i aware i will have to make that decision one day, she is in v light work, still goes for a walk in hand or ridden, i take to our local green to graze she gets lots of attention i think you have to make them feel wanted like our grandparents. when the time comes i think i will have her shot, individual cremented and maybe have the ashes made into some jewellery in memory of her, my father brought her for me and be passed away 16 years ago so a part of him can still live as well. every one says you know when the time comes, you hope you will wake up and find them asleep like a dog but v rare with horses. lol.
 
Chex's experience about her horse, against expectation, thoroughly enjoying time out is one you might bear in mind. I am not sure why a horse wouldn't enjoy retirement if in reasonable health and if you have space for him. (If keeping him will be difficult for you then that is different, of course). I have never been aware of a horse who has worked and competed at any level, and is healthy except for the gradual decline of old age, not enjoying themselves in the field, just as top class competition horses enjoy some time turned away now and again. Many people who love their jobs also enjoy retirement - I am hoping I get a reasonably long one!

If you assume your horse will be happy in the field the decision will be much easier - it is always hard to put down a basically healthy animal, which your horse is likely to be if you decide to do it immediately he is unable to work further. If you allow him to relax and see if he is happy doing nothing, you can then be guided by his health and quality of life which is generally a rather more clear choice. I have also gained pleasure from keeping and caring for elderly horses who have given so much to me in my younger days. Don't write retirees off just yet!

(You might be able to tell that I am not getting any younger!)
 
My pony is over 20 now, althought we're not sure exactly how old because she was sort of rescued, and this is something i'm absolutely dreading. She will definitely spend her retirement in the field and at the moment (fingers crossed) is still enjoying her work and successfully competing (in fact she's still absolutely loopy!), although signs of age are starting to show and we've definitely relaxed her work load a lot in recent years. I would definitely want her to be PTS by injection when the time comes, and cremated, although there doesn't seem to be anywhere round here that does it??
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I've been worrying about this a lot this week since a pony my friend helped with was found dead in his stable, he was only 5!
frown.gif
 
There is a guy from the Banbury area who advertises in H&H, who will arrange to PTS, remove and return ashes to you. I haven't used him as I favour the hunt and a more ecologically friendly disposal, but friends who have were very happy with the service
 
[ QUOTE ]
There is a guy from the Banbury area who advertises in H&H, who will arrange to PTS, remove and return ashes to you. I haven't used him as I favour the hunt and a more ecologically friendly disposal, but friends who have were very happy with the service

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you Watcher, he is basically ten minutes from us!
x
 
Ours is 27 in May and had a horrendous summer, starting with strangles (don't ask) secondary infection and laminitis due in part to medication/treatment and non-diagnosed Cushing's. Last week, she was out galloping on the beach and unstoppable round a set of fences (OK she was in a plastic snaffle) with a look of sheer delight on her face. Her suffering was more than I have seen her have with her occasional mild lami (the Cushing's I expect) but with a lot of patient care she came through and is about as healthy as I have ever known her.


I never really thought it was time to let her go and would like to mention here we were given an almost hopeless prognosis in August regarding her guttural pouch infection. A referral to Leahurst saw us heading there anticipating protracted, dangerous treatment with no guarantee of success and a very large bill. Many people would have opted for euthanasia at this point, as although she was outwardly fit and well, this sword of Damocles was a very real and massive threat to her life. Boy, am I glad we took her to Leahurst. It was less than £300 and she was sent home to get better! The gp had emptied itself - vets baffled and never seen this happen before - and Polly is back to her naughty self. No way ready to retire (taking it a tad easier atm as her lami was quite bad and her feet need to recover fully)and we let her dictate the pace. She appears to love her work and is very perky indeed.

I know sometimes it is down to time and economics, and it can be unrealistic to keep them going. It all boils down to what you can spare in time and money in relation to their quality of life - present and future.

I'm hoping I know when her time comes and I can wholly justify the final act of kindness. We do owe it to them, you know......
 
[ QUOTE ]
Chex's experience about her horse, against expectation, thoroughly enjoying time out is one you might bear in mind. I am not sure why a horse wouldn't enjoy retirement if in reasonable health and if you have space for him. (If keeping him will be difficult for you then that is different, of course). I have never been aware of a horse who has worked and competed at any level, and is healthy except for the gradual decline of old age, not enjoying themselves in the field, just as top class competition horses enjoy some time turned away now and again. Many people who love their jobs also enjoy retirement - I am hoping I get a reasonably long one!

If you assume your horse will be happy in the field the decision will be much easier - it is always hard to put down a basically healthy animal, which your horse is likely to be if you decide to do it immediately he is unable to work further. If you allow him to relax and see if he is happy doing nothing, you can then be guided by his health and quality of life which is generally a rather more clear choice. I have also gained pleasure from keeping and caring for elderly horses who have given so much to me in my younger days. Don't write retirees off just yet!

(You might be able to tell that I am not getting any younger!)

[/ QUOTE ]

The reason Going to stand in a field would not be an option for dol, is that a) when she is not working she gets incredibly depressed, u can see it in her face and her coat, she has and always will be a horse that has worked and competed to a high level, and when she is not doing it, she drops instantly,
also she has Azotoria, which is managed by Tye Guard, and being kept warm at all times.
She is not a hiorse that goes out alot anyway!
If the time comes when we are in the summer, she will have a weeks grass and that would be it. But in the winter this would not be an option!
x
 
A decision every horse owner dreads.You are right in trying to get everything in place for when the time comes.I had Rema's final moments sorted for two years before she went and to be honest it helped a great deal in the end.The last thing you need to worry about is sorting everything out when the dead has been done.I prefer injection.It is a very peacefull way to go.With my own mare that i lost she told me she had had enough.The light went out in her eyes and i knew she was telling me "mum iv'e had enough now please let me go".She was 30 and been exceptionally healthy right up to 6 months before she went.Then she got cushins,kept graveling and finally got a massive stomach infection that was putting a strain on her heart.You WILL know when it's time.And you will know that you are doing best by your horse.
 
Know exactly what you mean there GD. Knew a pony years ago that was getting on a bit...owners tried retiring him to life in the field but he went downhill VERY quickly. They subsequently brought him back into light work and the sparkle returned to his eyes. Think he died a couple of years after that.
Some horses are just not suited to being field ornaments!
You know your horse best, and I do think, given how close you are, that you'll know when she's had enough.

Bethxx
 
For the moment, what supplements do you have her on? You could try some Cortaflex for her stiffness (a maintenance supply is around £50 for four months, so not a great deal) and things like putting stable wraps on her legs at night. All horses are individiuals, but with cossetting and appropriate care they some can continue working well into their twenties quite happily. I have never had to have a horse pts so cannot advise on the best method, but I do know that with various dogs we have just known when the time is right. It's a bit like a light has gone out in them. I suspect that you will know when her time is up, but hopefully that won't be for some time. Also, you say a life in the field is not an option - well, maybe not for the horse she is now, but it may well be something she may take to when she is older.
 
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