PTS for behaviour issues

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Who has done this and for what reason? Hope no one minds me asking, but have a horse with an issue I feel cannot be passed on. I would not sell it on for moral reasons and I would also be worried about the horse falling into the wrong hands or ending up neglected.
 
I wouldn't blame any-one for doing this and agree that it just wrong on all sorts of levels to pass such a horse on.
I thought I was going to have to pts a WelshDxTB mare who was becoming unhandle-able and completely unpredictable. Fortunately we stopped feeding sugar/cereals, to address another issue (cough) and her behaviour improved dramatically. She lived for another 12 yrs.
 
I did it yesterday have a look at my bad day thread .

Just had a read - you did totally the right thing. This one has similar episodes undersaddle, with no warning - all physical checks done, this is a fear type response not a pain issue, and as the animal is a hack it won't be able to continue it's job.
 
Who has done this and for what reason? Hope no one minds me asking, but have a horse with an issue I feel cannot be passed on. I would not sell it on for moral reasons and I would also be worried about the horse falling into the wrong hands or ending up neglected.

I don't think you need anyone to justify your decision.

Book the hunt. Have horse destroyed.
 
I havent done it but it is very much on the cards my little one hates kids and is dangerous near them, but being only 12hh he would if he left here be fair game for a child. He is very aggressive and if you fight with him he fights back he has no sense of self preservation in the flight department at all. So if someone hit him he would attack them again something I cannot guarantee not to happen away from here. So if ever I cant afford to keep him in the way he is accustomed to rather than passing him on I will have him shot. Before any starts saying this is cruel, he hates needles so injection pts isnt an option and to be honest I know some people will say they could fix him but we have tried everything and failed so I would morally feel it was not an option to let him go elsewhere Shame because he is a relatively young pony. He is safe for now but needs must when the devil drives so if circumstances change he will have a big bucket of grub shoved under his nose and a bullet
 
That's what I am thinking - there's so many good horses out there wanting homes that I see no point in keeping a potentially dangerous one.

I was just wondering how many others have done a similar thing out of nosiness really.
 
Not myself but a good friend of mine had a horse put to sleep after it flipped on her under saddle, it was a youngster that needed restarting that she bought from a dealers, it didn't rear and fall it literally flipped on her, made sure she was properly squashed before getting up and calmly walking off.

She and everyone present said it was clear that this was a learned behaviour not done out of pain or fear. My friend ended up with a bleed on her spinal cord, 3 crushed vertebrae, and collapsed discs. She was in agony and had a lot of metal work in her back and couldn't ride for 18 months. She said she didn't want to hear that the horse had been passed on to someone else and it had done the same again and paralysed or killed someone.
 
I think that you need to be careful that what you think is dangerous behaviour actually has a cause but you just can't see it....I once got a big tb mare for free as she was going to be shot for going beserk when saddled or loaded. She was a well bred, lovely looking horse that the owner had become scared of and as a last resort sent her to the dick vet for investigations. They saw her behaviour and said she was dangerous and should be pts, which is when I heard about her and offered to give her a chance. I first saddled her outside, she was fine as she was travelling in a large lorry and I realised that she couldn't cope when feeling confined and paniced. I never did anything to her again unless she was outside and she never put a foot wrong, she could easily have been branded an unhandleable horse and shot.
 
The one I had put down twice jumped four to five foot fences that were simply not there. The second time he landed on a wire fence that was there, he had no concern for his own safety never mind anyone else's. Then he turned himself upside down in the lorry and the last straw was a panic attack he had in the field.

If you cannot guarantee the horse's future, have it put down where it will be at peace and never hurt anyone.
 
We had a CBxTB mare who was nappy when ridden, bolshy on the ground and rapidly became dangerous to be around, after she broke my OH's ribs dragging him through a wood after taking off while being long reined, I literally had to wrap a lunge rein round a tree to stop her, twice, she broke my OH's ribs, broke out of fields, would squash you in the stable if her friend was in the yard, (in full view), we considered pts, but my daughter pleaded her case and did have a bond with this mare, we loaned her to my daughter on condition that if she couldn't keep the mare, she would be pts. 3yrs on the mare is as happy as larry in the New Forest, working well and enjoying life, I am strict, but my daughter spent a year doing NH and is in the forces so takes no prisoners, (she scares me sometimes) but she has turned this mare around, after 2yrs with us and little progress, she would have been pts
 
yes, ive done this. Tried advertising free to good home but just got people who wanted to "sort her out" she was 20 years old and set in her ways. I thought she'd probably end up being won in a card game at the local pub so I did the right thing, which I genuinely believe was the best for her.
 
Absolutely the right thing to do. I feel for the owners of horses like this, its bad enough PTS a poorly horse :( I have great respect for those who are caring and responsible enough to make this choice xx
 
I have. My only bit of advice would be, if you're on a livery yard, keep it to yourself.
The do gooders and naysayers managed to make me doubt my decision and they spoke to the Blue Cross about him! It make a bad situation a whole lot worse.

I know my conscience couldn't let me pass that horse on, I did the right thing :(
 
Not personally but a previous job had a horse who was very unpredictable, never even got to riding him, was checked by vet, physio etc, physically there was nothing wrong with him and he would be quiet as a lamb for a few days then pounce. He had no flight in him and no social skills with the other horses. Pts is never a bad decision imo. Yes a horse may have years with someone who understands them, but the horse has no concept of time it could have, a horse doesn't even know what being shot is. And it means you have given the horse a home for life after all.
 
Definitely. Several years ago a friend had a horse that was an angel on the ground but dangerous to ride but relatively young. Another very good friend was looking for a companion horse so put them in touch and couldn't of stressed any more that she was not to be ridden. Horse went off and settled in very well then about 6 weeks later friend rang me to say horse had put her daughter in hospital. Apparently she seemed so 'sweet on the ground' that they'd thought theyd ride her. Horse was PTS but I wish id told previous owner to do the deed, would of saved a lot of heart ache.
 
I guess it's much tougher on the owner than physical issues - so much easier to say I can't cope but maybe someone else can, so respect to you for doing the right thing. There will always be some one who will say you should have tried this or that, ignore them. The reality is that there are far more difficult horses than people who think they can sort them & there are far more people who think they can sort them than really can.
 
Good for you i know they are big but they are supposed
to be for life.

Whose life? If I had died or been incapacitated my horse would have had to go to someone else, and might have killed them.

I don't agree with you anyway. I believe that we owe them a good life and a good death, not necessarily every day they could possibly have lived. They aren't dogs or cats that cost a few quid a week and little or no time to look after, and they don't know about being dead.
 
I had a horse who was completely out of control and becoming worse so I spoke to the vet about the option of PTS. The horse had every opportunity to come good with some very capable trainers and his behaviours didn't change. Some days he would be manageable other days he would explode .

I got him past his youth years hoping he'd mature but he became worse. Couldn't conceive of him really harming anyone and selling was not viable.

Turned out he had a serious illness and was PTS. Very sad.
 
I took on a mare aged 14 from my neighbour when she had decided that it was dangerous due to serious bucking and had booked the vet to PTS. In my care she has never put a foot wrong, competed and copes with a variety of riders. She's now 18 and super.

I just knew the problem was fixable with this horse and it was. It was a personality clash between them. I took the horse's side!

I'm not saying that the OPs situation is similar in any way, but it's not always the horse that is the problem.
 
It is certainly the case that some horses (just like some humans) are dangerous to themselves and others.

On the other hand, it's interesting to me that everybody will do extensive veterinary checks and treatments if they think their horse has a physical issue, but it seems behavioural issues are either things you sort out yourself or with your trainer. Does nobody consider getting a qualified behaviourist to examine the horse under veterinary referral? If it was a physio problem, you'd get a physio under vet referral, you wouldn't manipulate the horse yourself. If it was a farriery problem, you'd get a remedial farrier working with your vet. There are people who specialise in working with horses who have severe behaviour problems, but they don't seem to be featuring on this thread. Is it because people just don't know they exist, or is it because people think behaviour is just something that can't be changed?
 
Good for you i know they are big but they are supposed
to be for life.

Speaks the one who's obviously not been in the position of genuinely having to make that brave decision. Seriously Lizbet, people on here making that decision are not doing so for minor, novicy-owner, reasons. Sometimes PTS really is the best option for the horse and the owner alike. The horse does not know it is being PTS. It is the owner/carer that is left to fret before and afterwards. They do not need snide comments. It really doesn't help.
 
Lizbet of course horses are for life but sometimes you have to make that decision and trust me it aint easy. i cried and argued with self for months before i did to extreme when driving i had to pull over as sobbing so hard. But i made that decision for Baby and me. Her behaviour/sight/previous abuse meant would not pass her to anyone else. my horse my responsibilty. She was 14 . I stood proud by her side in August and said goodbye to my friend my rock. And i miss her every blooming day. Hugs to anyone facing this as in all my years was hardest thing i have done x
 
For every "dangerous" horse that changes hands, some will find the right person who can manage the issues, the issues disappear in the new circumstances, the new owner doesn't feel scared by the issues and just sees them as personality, etc, etc. Horse sold, old owner happy with money instead of "dangerous" horse, new owner happy with useful new horse and "dangerous" horse happy in a situation it can operate in. Many horses are only dangerous in some circumstances, in fact, most probably are dangerous put in the wrong circumstances tbh.

Saying that, I imagine most horses moved on due to being unsafe in the home they're in remain unsafe in the next home, and the next home, and the next home... A lot of people can end up hurt and struggling with the same dilemma, all the while the horses' welfare is likely to decline. Its a really hard one to call unless the horse is so far gone its bashing its head against walls or something while its just loose in the field.

PTS dangerous horses is the responsible thing to do, but one person's dangerous is another person's over-horsed.

I'll just add, its any owner's right to pts, for any reason, even if its just because looking after a horse puts them in a bad mood now or something equally trivial, and hard to stomach as that sometimes can be, it should be respected. Do gooders stepping in to save horses whose owners choose to pts usually end up doing more harm than good ime.
 
It depends on the circumstances. I have one that is an extreme napper. At a show he has a panic attack and runs backwards violently. The more things he hits the faster he goes (trampling fences, cars, benches, ending up in barbed wire, narrowly missing people who would have been trampled to death) I stopped bringing him away from home and he's happily retired out in my field. But I have the space for a field ornament. I would never sell him on or give him away as a companion, as he is sound and a very good jumper. If my circumstances changed and I had to sell my home and horses, then I would PTS. It would be without a doubt be the toughest decision of my life so I have huge empathy for anyone it that situation.

If my horse were endangering me at home that would be a different matter altogether.

People get too tempted to ride a horse that looks sound, so its too risky to pass them on, even if you are honest about the issue. The people getting the horse may not be as honest.

Before I had my own place I put my horse on grass livery down the country with a "friend". When my horse arrived he was very excitable and jumped in and out of the field a few times. They were impressed with his jumping ability. Unknown to me they started riding him, saw he was a fab jumper, and brought him to a show. (despite me saying there was a danger issue bringing to shows, they probably assumed it was rider error as he is otherwise an easy horse to ride)
Apparently he tried to kill the rider and a few people around them at the show. I found this out when a mutual "friend" got drunk and let it slip.
 
What is the problem with this horse.How much experience
have you got.Why did you buy the horse in the first place.Did
you spot any of its problems to begin with with.What have you
tried.What are you prepared to try .How much money time and
effort are you prepared to spend before you right this horse off.What
are your plans when its dead.Do you have the knowledge then
to go out and buy another .Sorry but we know nothing about
you or your horse and people are so quick to say pts .Can people
on hear not help you with the problems you have got with this
horse .Pay proffessional to help you first look into a charity taking
him and pay towards his keep how bad is he .
 
What is the problem with this horse.How much experience
have you got.Why did you buy the horse in the first place.Did
you spot any of its problems to begin with with.What have you
tried.What are you prepared to try .How much money time and
effort are you prepared to spend before you right this horse off.What
are your plans when its dead.Do you have the knowledge then
to go out and buy another .Sorry but we know nothing about
you or your horse and people are so quick to say pts .Can people
on hear not help you with the problems you have got with this
horse .Pay proffessional to help you first look into a charity taking
him and pay towards his keep how bad is he .

Is this aimed at anyone in particular??
 
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