Oy, you with the arthritic mare ......

cptrayes

cptrayes

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on the road to Flash in Staffordshire. The poor mare has had more and more trouble standing for the last three years with increasingly enormous lumps on her knees. Today she is on three legs, with the biggest one stuck out in front of her. She may perk up when she sees you, but the rest of the time she is miserable.

PLEASE PUT THE POOR CREATURE DOWN
 
I don't know, will they do anything? She is 'well cared for', brought in at night, clearly loved, but loved too much by someone who doesn't want to face the hard decision.
 
Not your decision though and I think this in very poor taste.....just hope the person concerned doesn't see this.
 
The local BHS welfare officer may be the best option, they tend to be sensible horse owners and just offer advice rather than the WHW who may put the owners, if they even go out, on the defensive as they may seem more official, if it is as bad as you describe a quiet word may be enough, shame more vets don't broach the subject unless actually asked.
 
Bonny are you having a laugh. I hope the individual involved DOES see this and its the kick up the arse they need, to do the right thing.
 
Not having a laugh no, someone else's horse and their decision, not some random passerby. Maybe it's an old horse having one last summer, who knows, but unless it's a welfare case which it doesn't sound like then posting this on a public forum is at best unkind and I fail to see what good can come of embarassing someone in this way
 
bonny said:
Not having a laugh no, someone else's horse and their decision, not some random passerby. Maybe it's an old horse having one last summer, who knows, but unless it's a welfare case which it doesn't sound like then posting this on a public forum is at best unkind and I fail to see what good can come of embarassing someone in this way
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I agree with this.
 
A horse with that degree of lameness is a welfare case it's matters not a jot if a horse is 'loved ' if it's on three legs with arthritis pain that's serious and needs attention .
Welfare officers will attend such cases I have done so my self and often it is the cue for the owners own vet to nudge the owner into the making the decision.
All the welfare people I have worked with where not overly officious in these circumstances we all recognise that some owners when they see horses daily don't see a oldie going subtly downhill.
 
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Maybe it would be better to wait and speak with the person directly about your concerns, rather than post on here.
 
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Probably being buted to be ridden - some people see nothing wrong with this *rolls eyes*. Poor horse :( WHW call possibly
 
bonny said:
Not having a laugh no, someone else's horse and their decision, not some random passerby. Maybe it's an old horse having one last summer, who knows, but unless it's a welfare case which it doesn't sound like then posting this on a public forum is at best unkind and I fail to see what good can come of embarassing someone in this way
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She's had three last summers already more than I would have given her. This mare is dying by degrees in the 'care' of her owner. I just hope they aren't going to put her through another winter :(
 
BSL said:
Maybe it would be better to wait and speak with the person directly about your concerns, rather than post on here.
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You think they'd like a total stranger to knock on their door and tell them to put their horse down, do you? I chose this way because they do not have to face me on their doorstep and they can stay anonymous. And because I was so upset at seeing the mare today.
 
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cptrayes said:
She's had three last summers already more than I would have given her. This mare is dying by degrees in the 'care' of her owner. I just hope they aren't going to put her through another winter :(
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Is not your decision though and I doubt you would like your care of your animals to be debated over by a bunch of strangers on the internet. We all have different ideas about when an animal has reached the end of the road and the ultimate decision has to rest with the owner and not you. There are horses, dogs, sheep etc who are are lame all over the country, people too for that matter and as the owner does sound like they care about the mare then it's their business and not yours when she is PTS>
 
bonny said:
Is not your decision though and I doubt you would like your care of your animals to be debated over by a bunch of strangers on the internet. We all have different ideas about when an animal has reached the end of the road and the ultimate decision has to rest with the owner and not you. There are horses, dogs, sheep etc who are are lame all over the country, people too for that matter and as the owner does sound like they care about the mare then it's their business and not yours when she is PTS>
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Actually you are wrong here. If the horse is suffering anyone would be within their rights reporting the owner to WHW. If they deem the owners have caused undue suffering then the owners could be in a lot of trouble...

Why on earth would you condemn someone for caring about the well being of an animal - that's callous
 
bonny said:
Is not your decision though and I doubt you would like your care of your animals to be debated over by a bunch of strangers on the internet.
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It has been, at great length :)

We all have different ideas about when an animal has reached the end of the road and the ultimate decision has to rest with the owner and not you. There are horses, dogs, sheep etc who are are lame all over the country, people too for that matter and as the owner does sound like they care about the mare then it's their business and not yours when she is PTS>
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If it had rested with me I'd have had her shot at least two years ago. That's kind of my point, that it's not my decision!
 
cptrayes said:
You think they'd like a total stranger to knock on their door and tell them to put their horse down, do you? I chose this way because they do not have to face me on their doorstep and they can stay anonymous. And because I was so upset at seeing the mare today.
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I personally would prefer to argue/discuss my decisions face to face rather than be discussed on a public forum.
 
BSL said:
I personally would prefer to argue/discuss my decisions face to face rather than be discussed on a public forum.
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To be honest, if you left a horse in the field like that I wouldn't really be terribly concerned what you would prefer. I hadn't thought of whw (I know the local RSPCA probably won't do much) I'll call them on Monday when their phone line is open.
 
If the owner of the horse recognizes the description of the horse then they know how bad things are, if they are refusing to acknowlege the problem, this might spur them into action. If it's the first case then this discussion will mean nothing to them any way so no harm done.
 
Fides said:
Actually you are wrong here. If the horse is suffering anyone would be within their rights reporting the owner to WHW. If they deem the owners have caused undue suffering then the owners could be in a lot of trouble...

Why on earth would you condemn someone for caring about the well being of an animal - that's callous
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I'm not condemning anyone for caring, I'm condemning her for posting about it in this way and pointing out that we all have different ideas about when to pts and it's for the owner to decide, no one else. If anyone is concerned about a possible welfare case then report it if you think it's called for, but being old and arthritic is not a welfare issue imo if the horse is being looked after properly.
 
I had a bigger motive than one horse in posting this thread. If it helps anyone realise that when the see their old horse day after day, they may not realise how it has deteriorated, then I'll be happy. It isn't the first time I've seen this happen by a long, long chalk.
 
bonny said:
I'm not condemning anyone for caring, I'm condemning her for posting about it in this way and pointing out that we all have different ideas about when to pts and it's for the owner to decide, no one else. If anyone is concerned about a possible welfare case then report it if you think it's called for, but being old and arthritic is not a welfare issue imo if the horse is being looked after properly.
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I disagree with you. This horse is now definitely a welfare case, she is bearing very little weight on one front leg and the knee is so big with arthritis I can see that it has increased in size again when I am passing in a car fifty yards away. She has already been unable to completely straighten her front legs for two years.

The owner is not the only person who has the right to say that this horse should be put out of her pain, and I'll be trying to find someone on Monday to go and tell them so.
 
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cptrayes said:
To be honest, if you left a horse in the field like that I wouldn't really be terribly concerned what you would prefer. I hadn't thought of whw (I know the local RSPCA probably won't do much) I'll call them on Monday when their phone line is open.
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I suppose that's where we differ. If I considered it a welfare case I would have reported them straight away to the appropriate authorities.
 
Just report it if you think it's appropriate. No need to post on here in the hope someone will recognise their horse, that's just unpleasant.
 
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zigzag said:
Why didn't you report it two years ago if she has been that bad?
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Because I agree that it's not my place to tell someone else when their old horse should be put down. I assume she is on pain relief and the locking out problem with the front legs mostly mechanical, but it's gone to far now :(
 
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