PTS for agression

[maisie06]

A friend has just made the awful decision to PTS her beautiful but quirky mare on grounds of random aggressive outbursts. It certainly wasn't an easy decision or taken lightly and she has exhausted her insurance cover and thrown some savings at trying to find the root of the issue.

Mare is a welsh cob and only 5 years old, bought as rising 4 year old and passed a basic vetting, she did seem to have a quirky side to her and went for my friend when she was filling up waters in the stable, a proper lunge and full on bite, thankfully it was winter and she was wearing a thick coat. The mare would then be sweet and light until the next episode - think equine incarnation of an XL Bully she was ok until she wasn't.

she went off to be backed at a super yard, really experienced kind people, who soon sent the mare home after she grabbed a staff member who simply walked pst the rail where she was tied up, totally out of the blue, she grabbed the girls arm and hung on...not normal horse behaviour.

she's had regumate, scans work up etc apart from a couple of sore spots that were treated noting conclusive to reactions she was showin were found, even a behaviourist was puzzledas perfectly normal when she came out. Then monday the mare really meant business, friend went to catch the mare as she won't trust her with anyone else and she charged mouth open, snaking neck and throwing her front feet, friend ducked under fence, 10 mins later mare is normal again. Vet came the next day and agreed to PTS Immediatley, My friend is devastated and blaming herself but she's had plenty of horses and none have been like that, doesn't help with a couple of biitchy people saying it was cruel to PTS and sh could have been a broodmare - I think not....If any of you have similair stories I'm sure it would be a great comfort to her so Ican show she's not alone.

 

[Cloball]

Sounds like your friend did the right thing an aggressive horse has an uncertain future and is likely to be in pain somewhere even if it's not possible to find.

(To the others...Yes let's breed from unpredictably aggressive animals sounds sensible)

 

[suestowford]

That's an extreme level of violence, but what would really worry me is the sudden changes, that suggests to me that there was something wrong in her brain. I think your friend did the right thing.

As for breeding...I remember reading in Monty Roberts' book about a TB stallion that someone was using to breed. The horse was so aggressive that he had to be led with a pole, so he couldn't reach to savage his handler. I remember thinking then, did no-one question whether those genes ought to be passed on?

 

[pistolpete]

Oh how sad. She obviously tried her best. Poor horse would have been so conflicted. Definitely the right thing. Does make you wonder about the gene that causes psychopathic behaviour.

 

[Orangehorse]

Sounds like the right decision. There is a limit to how much an owner can be expected to spend both money and emotion. It must be terribly hard for her and something that you couldn't even imagine when looking to buy a horse. I really feel for her.

Similar tales - I have heard of horses that started with unpredictable behaviour that was PTS and had a confirmed brain tumour. An older horse changed from quiet to nasty and was PTS as he was obviously very unhappy with something. A curious one about a Welsh Cob, which as far as I know is still alive and lives a nice life. But, this horse was from a reputable stud, it was sent to be broken in and came back as unrideable. It was sent to Blue Cross and they are quite good at dealing with all sorts of different problems, but it was sent out to its new home with a big warning that under no circumstances was it to be ridden (or attempted!). Then lastly, a few years ago dealer friend was looking at the horses at an abattoir (they had obviously picked out some in the past to take and re-sell) and saw a nice looking, quality horse. "You can have it if you can catch it" said the owner. The dealer went in to try and catch it and was attacked and chased out of the yard, which was obviously why it was there.

 

[ycbm]

Please congratulate your friend on my behalf for not selling her on as a brood mare and for doing the right thing.
.

 

[Bearsmum]

So sad but as for breeding, I'm currently reading the story of Seabiscuit and his grandsire was called Hastings who passed his horrendous temperament on to his offspring and some of their offspring, assaulting and maiming handlers and grooms. no one should have to put their personal safety on the line for a horse wo behaves like that .
much better for a gentle passing than passed from pillar to post and not understanding what was happening and suffering

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

So sorry for your friend but she’s made the right decision x

 

[Surbie]

My lovely friend has had hideous luck with horses. The first was her dream pony and PTS by 7, with degenerative spinal issues. She had her 18 months. The second was bought at rising 4, and was PTS within 2 years. Like your friend's mare, she would be fine for a time and then would flip out. She'd rear, and try to strike you with her feet. She would absolutely go for you. My friend has longterm back issues made worse by the mare broncing her off onto concrete out of nowhere. Thank god she was wearing a body protector.

I have no idea what was wrong with my friend's mare, but there was something catastrophically not right and PTS was a kindness. I am really sorry for your friend, but it was absolutely the right decision.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

That's an extreme level of violence, but what would really worry me is the sudden changes, that suggests to me that there was something wrong in her brain. I think your friend did the right thing.

As for breeding...I remember reading in Monty Roberts' book about a TB stallion that someone was using to breed. The horse was so aggressive that he had to be led with a pole, so he couldn't reach to savage his handler. I remember thinking then, did no-one question whether those genes ought to be passed on?

I had the most beautiful laid back tb whi had had a long successful racing career. He was just fabulous. I also had the pleasure of backing this horses half sister, same dad, who was equally lovely. I also bought another half sister, same dad, just as lovely. I had the opportunity to meet the stallion, he was constantly stabled and when people went anywhere near him they took a broom handle as he would fly at them. A total shock to me, can only think it was the way he was kept. His offspring were beautiful.

I think your friend did the right thing.

 

[Lady Jane]

Your friend did the right thing and it would be a tough decision for anyone. People who suggested using her as a brood mare - I have no words to express my horror

 

[slimjim86]

My friends homebred was like this, he was sweetness and light then the devil incarnate, mostly ridden problems rather than on the ground but sometimes you saw that side of him on the ground too. Being home bred she knew all of history and nothing bad had ever happened, he had God knows how many vet work ups which all showed nothing, chiro and physio just incase, went to Richard maxwell who sent him back with instructions to pts. She persevered with this horse till he was 12 when she eventually gave up as he'd repeatedly injured himself and rehabbing was impossible as he kept doing something stupid and re injuring himself. I did wonder if it was a genetic thing as he was by respect and the 3 other horses I knew by him were also nasty.

 

[Denali]

I’m so sorry for your friend. People are awful. It’s so frustrating when people say well you should….. why would you…. knowing they will never step up to make the decisions they want you to make.

I had to deal with that with my own horse. Thankfully my mom was able to be my “agent” after people who I thought were friends gave me heck for making the appointment. Those same friends said if you can’t afford her as a pasture pet I will take her. That time came and I got nothing but criticism.

There is no shame in putting down a dangerous animal. We know our horses and sometimes we have to make the difficult call.

 

[millitiger]

I did the same with a tb I got off the track.
I could cope with the aggression, to me, in the stable - although didn't enjoy it!

However, he then started being pretty vile with the other horses in the field and that was the end of that.
I couldn't risk my other horses getting injured and if he couldn't even be happy in the field that was enough for me.

We had our very experienced knackerman come out, horse knew nothing of it, was out of whatever pain was in his body/head and everyone was safe from attack.

 

[Nonjumper]

How very sad for your friend, my heart goes out to her. However she most definitely made the right decision, not only for the mare but for anyone who would ever come into contact with her in the future, even if she'd just been kept as a field ornament. As for breeding, one of the most basic principles one should go by is never to breed from something that has given you cause to fear them.

I have seen a horse lunge at someone like that with absolutely no provocation and it turned out she had a brain tumour.

 

[snowangel5]

How very sad for your friend, my heart goes out to her. However she most definitely made the right decision, not only for the mare but for anyone who would ever come into contact with her in the future, even if she'd just been kept as a field ornament. As for breeding, one of the most basic principles one should go by is never to breed from something that has given you cause to fear them.

I have seen a horse lunge at someone like that with absolutely no provocation and it turned out she had a brain tumour.

Do you know if the horse is okay now But it does sound really frightening for the person that got lunged at was the person getting the horse ready for a riding lesson or was the person taking the horse to the field to see a horse friend when it happened

 

[Ratface]

That's an extreme level of violence, but what would really worry me is the sudden changes, that suggests to me that there was something wrong in her brain. I think your friend did the right thing.

As for breeding...I remember reading in Monty Roberts' book about a TB stallion that someone was using to breed. The horse was so aggressive that he had to be led with a pole, so he couldn't reach to savage his handler. I remember thinking then, did no-one question whether those genes ought to be passed on?

I think that there might be a possibility of a brain tumour. Many years ago, I stabled at a dressage yard. In the same block of stables as my horse was a lovely young Warmblood gelding. No problem at all.
One day, he leant over his stable door, picked up a young groom by his shoulder, shook him and threw him across the interior of the stable block.
The owner had him pts the next day. The post mortem evidenced a brain tumour.

 

[Cortez]

My only experience with this sort of behaviour revealed a brain tumour on post mortem. This was a 2 year old appaloosa colt that started randomly attacking anyone who tried to enter his paddock or stable.

 

[SEL]

One I knew who was horribly unpredictable on the ground had wobblers. Stunning horse but the owner did him no favours keeping him going - his behaviour got a million times worse in winter with bad ground and less turnout.

So sorry for your friend OP - it's an awful decision at any time, but with a horse so young it feels really tragic. Very responsible of her not to put other people at risk or pass her on for breeding.

 

[IrishMilo]

Please show your friend this photo of my arm, which is the result of a quick 'nip' - and reassure her that she 100% did the right thing. It floored me, and was bruised for 6+ weeks - can you imagine the damage had he gotten someone's face?

 

[snowangel5]

Please show your friend this photo of my arm, which is the result of a quick 'nip' - and reassure her that she 100% did the right thing. It floored me, and was bruised for 6+ weeks - can you imagine the damage had he gotten someone's face?

Jeez that looks really bad how is it looking today can you sleep or are you in agony that you or your husband to watch Netflix because it hurts when you sleep I am just guessing you have pain killers I hope you get better soon but nice looking bathroom

 

[Goldenstar]

I bred a horse who behaved like this .
I had it put down as a three year old .
It was an me or her situation she would have seriously hurt someone .
Her mother was slightly quirky but a lovely person the stallion did gain a reputation for throwing strange individuals .
However I think mine will have had a brain tumour because she behaved very similarly to another I knew who did.
You could have put it down to something terrible in her past but she had a wonderful child hood her mother was a great mum not foal proud it was inexplicable.
Your friend has done the right thing time will make the horror of it fade .

 

[rabatsa]

Your friend has made the right decission.

Years ago a friend had an off the track tb, she was a lovely mare who was wonderful until not. It started with a foot through a metal dustbin when she kicked at the farrier, who was doing her final hoof. He had been shoeing her for a couple of years by then. The vet could not get anywhere near her. I was attacked while filling her hay rack. My friend went down the broodmare route but the mare killed herself two weeks before due date, by doing a blind bolt into traffic and the back end of a bus - nearly three miles from the field she set off from.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Why do people think being a brood mare is the way forward all the time!!
Do they not realise brood mares still need handling and human contact/intervention.

Fries my brain.

It’s really sad but your friend made the correct call 100% right.

 

[photo_jo]

That's an extreme level of violence, but what would really worry me is the sudden changes, that suggests to me that there was something wrong in her brain. I think your friend did the right thing.

As for breeding...I remember reading in Monty Roberts' book about a TB stallion that someone was using to breed. The horse was so aggressive that he had to be led with a pole, so he couldn't reach to savage his handler. I remember thinking then, did no-one question whether those genes ought to be passed on?

That was Landaluce's full brother - In Tissar I think he was called. I think Monty bought the horse to stand him - absolute madness - don't think he sired anything decent either

 

[Miss_Millie]

Your friend is very kind-hearted. It sounds like she really tried her best to help her mare, and then did right by her to make sure that she didn't get passed around or hurt anyone else. Such a difficult and heartbreaking decision, but the right one.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Your friend made the right decision. Please thank her on behalf of all the people who will never be put in danger by her mare or the mare's potential offspring.

If she had decided to bred from her, some poor vet would have had to have their arm up the mare's backside at some point, if there had been an issue with the foal nobody could have got near to help, mare might have killed the foal herself... these are only practical considerations before even thinking about the ethics of breeding from an aggressive horse.

To all the people saying "you could have..." ask them what they'd do with a dog that had repeatedly tried to kill someone. That might put it in perspective for them.

 

[Goldenstar]

The comparison with dogs is good way to think about it .

 

[eggs]

Your friend has absolutely made the right decision. As others have already mentioned the only other horse I have come across with such erratic behaviour was pts and on postmortem a brain tumour was found.

 

[conniegirl]

Do you know if the horse is okay now But it does sound really frightening for the person that got lunged at was the person getting the horse ready for a riding lesson or was the person taking the horse to the field to see a horse friend when it happened

I suspect the horse is dead since the only way of diagnosing a brain tumour is in a postmortem