PTS for behaviour issues

quirky said:
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 :(
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This is good advise , be careful who you discuss this with it can make it much more painful for you.
 
quirky said:
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.(
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Absolutely. I was left a note calling me a murderous bitch.
 
I have done it, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again in similar circumstances. I also supported a friend when her horse, whom she loved, and had invested a huge amount of time and money in, tried to kill her. I have seen a huge amount in 45 years of horses, but I can honestly say that I have never been so scared for another person's safety.

It is all well and good saying that 'someone, somewhere' may have the key, but, personally,I wouldn't want even the slightest chance of having someone's death on my conscience.

A 'healthy' horse has to be mentally, as well as physically, healthy.

If someone makes the decision to have a horse put down,it is no one's business but theirs, and anyone who tries to make them feel guilty or bad about it should be ashamed.
 
amymay said:
Absolutely. I was left a note calling me a murderous bitch.
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Thats terrible. Another option that I said to a friend...just lie. She was getting a horse PTS, and was worried how others in the nosy livery yard would react. Just say the vet said he has wobblers and thats why you did it. On veterinary recommendation.
 
YasandCrystal said:
That is dreadful.
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Isn't it just?

Talk about making a heartbreaking decision even more devastating.

I feel very, very strongly that it's no one's business but an owners as to the reasons to put a horse down. Even a seemingly healthy one. No one ever, ever takes these decisions lightly.

I can honestly say that I've never been more devastated at having a horse put down as I was with my beautiful grey horse. It was three years ago, and I think of him daily, still grieve his loss, and bear the guilt continually.

However, the decision (whilst not what everyone would do) was not the wrong one.

No one has the right to question an owner on these decisions.
 
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amymay said:
Absolutely. I was left a note calling me a murderous bitch.
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I'm shocked (but perhaps not surprised) that someone would do this. After all, if a dog was biting people, there wouldn't be many people if any that would think PTS was a bad idea. Horses are much bigger than dogs and have both teeth and hooves.

Sometimes you just know that something isn't right, and unless you have the time and money to keep a field ornament, PTS is the most sensible option. With my previous horse, I knew I was overhorsed and he wasn't bad or dangerous, just far too much for me and needed work and a strong rider. I managed to find him a knowledgable home where he's doing great - I would NOT have hesitated to PTS if I hadn't been able to find such a home. He'd already had five homes in five years and had been to two people who couldn't cope (me and his previous owner) and I would not have done that to him again. Better that than an unknown future or the sales or cruel handling before the meat man.
 
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OP
You know your horse and you don't need to justify your actions to anyone, much less certain people on here who think we should all risk life, limb, not to mention financial ruin in order to pay a never ending parade of equine behaviorists/back people/massage therapists/voodoo medicine men....

Those of us who have been there with a horse with severe problems know how hard it is to finally throw the towel in, without some bleeding heart jumping up and down making you feel bad about it. I do wonder how many such people have actually seen really severe behavior, not some minor bucking or a bit of napping. I ask this because more than once I have seen experienced, qualified people astounded by explosive behavior from horses I have taken on.

Meanwhile hundreds of good young horses with potential are crying out for homes.
 
Brightbay said:
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?
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agreed. although I'd defend anyone's right to have a potentially dangerous horse PTS if they feel it necessary for the same reasons CPTrayes listed,and would do the same, there are behaviourists out there. They would agree to have the animal PTS if thought dangerous, particularly if the behaviour is ideopathic. Please note I am talking behaviourists here, not natural horsemanship trainers.

Amymay that was an outrageous thing to do to you :(
 
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Noone has a right to judge. Everyone's limitation differs and that is for the owner to decide not anyone else in my opinion. It will depend on facilities, finances, circumstances including time available, experience - the list of factors is endless. I was under pressure as many of you may know to have my WB pts - he was so aggressive. I decided to stick with him, but that was at a cost - it was emotionally draining, scary and costly. I have owned him for 3 years now and it has only really been the past 8 months that have been a 'pleasure'.
My choice I know and I don't regret it, but if I had had him pts that would also have been the 'right' decision at the time.
I think the decision to pts a horse is never taken lightly by anyone and I don't believe it is ever easy.
 
lizbet said:
Everyone
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Debate and discussion is good. It gives everyone perspective.

However, I would agree generally with the principle that once the decision is made in one's own mind. That's where it stays.

Unfortunately for me my YO at the time was unable to keep the information to themselves, hence the news getting out. But as it's common courtesy to inform a YO when an animal is being destroyed, I'm not sure how you get around that one.
 
I to suffered the backlash( whilst i tried to keep it private a person i trusted didnt) as to look at Baby was so healthy but i knew my lass and saw changes. she went healthy and happy. For god sakes Lizbet no one rational is quick to say PTS but those who have been inthat situation are responsible owners who see worse things happen to horses than PTS.Whilst the word murder still stays in my head the fact i knew my lass so well and understood her allowed me to make the right decision
 
Last chaner good name i was asking the originall
post . For her info not yours what has she tried
what experiance has she got hopeing you may
be able to help help help the girl and her horse
you know with all your experiances.like some of you
have said some situations have turned out well
You all seem quick to go for the gun without the facts
was my point. ask some questions first pts pts is all you
hear
 
Lizbet, from what you wrote, I can only assume you have never had to make the decision to put a horse down. When you do you will understand how much it hurts.
 
I am currently in a situation where I wish I had PTS. I decided to sell a pony who would unpredictably spin and throw me off. I had him fully checked by a vet, I had physio, dentist, saddler and sought help from a well respected behaviourist and I spend thousand on lessons and professional schooling. I came to the conclusion that it was because I was scared of him I was causing the behaviour and was giving him no confidence. I sold him and was absolutely honest with the lady, told them EVERYTHING he did and that he wasn't suitable for a child and needed a confident rider to give him confidence. He was very naughty on the day she tied him but she was very confident, experienced and decided to take him. I got a recent phone call from a lovely lady who had traced me through his passport. He had shortly after been sold to a dealer with NO explanation as to his behaviour and sold by the dealer onto a lady and her daughter as a safe pony. Daughter has just got out of hospital after being very seriously injured. I feel horrendous and wish I had had him PTS, I thought I was doing the best thing for him but I wasn't and now he could have killed someone. I don't know what the current owners are going to do and I have no authority to decide for them :(
 
Oh i got crucified in person because 1 i would not attempt to move baby nearer to me. i knew to move baby would finish her mentally and i was not prepared to cause that mare anymore suffering and 2 i would not "give" her to someone on yard!!!!! Ehhhh she wasnt some unwanted gift to be passed around but a sweet horse with issues and who i was responsible for.But when i came on here i got nothing but support from peolpe who understood.They werent people quick to say PTS but people who understood people who had been in simliar situations and for that i myself thank them all.
 
Generally people who are against PTS for behavioral reasons are people that have not seen genuinely dangerous behavior. More experienced people that have seen people killed/almost killed by a horse are more aware of how easily human life can be taken away in a split second by a horse.

If I were to describe my horse as running backwards violently, people would think "oh just a bit of napping". In reality if you saw him blast backwards through a post and rail at a show, almost crush spectators sitting on a bench, demolishing the bench while people scattered for their lives, the horse finally coming to stop while it was crushing a wooden building under its sheer strength.

Likewise a friend sold a horse only for it to be PTS for bolting by the next very experienced owner. She was originally devastated by the news, as it had only bolted twice with the new owner. But then after seeing a terrifying situation where a bolting horse ran straight into spectators at a show she realised that it was a sensible decision.
 
lizbet said:
Last chaner good name i was asking the originall
post . For her info not yours what has she tried
what experiance has she got hopeing you may
be able to help help help the girl and her horse
you know with all your experiances.like some of you
have said some situations have turned out well
You all seem quick to go for the gun without the facts
was my point. ask some questions first pts pts is all you
hear
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Could you write that again in English? I don't understand what you're trying to say.
 
Several years ago now I posted a thread "Dangerous mare" and received a huge response with the majority of people suggesting I should PTS (and some quite brutal responses telling me I was an idiot basically for being in two minds over this). No one was "wrong" as they were just going on the information I was giving them.
Only 1 or 2 people made the suggestion that I get an expert to her and as I desperately wanted to keep this mare those 2 replies out of the hundreds were the ones I chose to listen to.
Ours is a happy ending so far as years on we now have a fantastic relationship but this isn't a warm and fluffy story by any means. Even last night she lost the plot and over reacted. I now know how to deal with her and EVERYONE else knows to stay the hell out of the way. I never miss a morning or evening to do her and I could never put her on livery. I take no holidays because of this.

99.9% of the time now she is fantastic to handle and mostly the staff and other liveries think I'm a control freak. Then yesterday whilst washing her off after riding she managed to get her rope in her mouth and she freaked out and reared and reared and reared until the rope was gone - then absolutely quiet again.

I do not take owning this mare lightly and god forbid if anything ever happens to me my vet already has an instruction from me to PTS.

We now have less than one incident a year if that and she is a truly brilliant horse with so much about her. But I'm the bonehead who wanted to keep her and I know exactly what she's capable of. I will never put anyone else in a position to be hurt because I chose to own her. I totally understand why these decisions are made and even though I chose not to I would never condone anyone who does. Likewise I do believe there are horses who in different hands or with different treatment / routines come good and as in our case asking for the right person's help was the turning point.
Good luck OP with whatever you decide x
 
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