PTS help

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goodtimes

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My horse is not recovering from an injury. And it's possible we may need to call it a day.

My last horse was PTS by injection. It was very quick and peaceful and I was with him.

However, this lad hates injections. He has been sedated and had GA four times over the last 6 weeks and he has fought it and became distressed every time. So of course I will have him shot when the time comes.

The problem I have is... I don't know if I can be there. The thought frightens me as I have no idea what to expect.

Please, and I know for some of you this will be very difficult, could you tell me your shooting experiences.

Pm me if it's easier, or just ignore. I don't want to upset anyone.

Thanks.
 
its loud and a lot of people don't like it,

please don't feel you have to be there,I think its more important that the person holding is cool calm and collected so there is no stress for the horse to pick up on. most vets can bring an assistant to hold and many prefer this than the owner holding as its all less emotional.

my friends pony was shot last year and the lady that helped back the pony as a three yr old (he was 22) came over from spain to hold as owner knew she could not do it.

I hope it all goes as well as possible and don't beat yourself up if you dont feel you can hold him
 
Your best to say your good byes and hand him over. It's actually safer if your not holding him. I always have mine shot as its much quicker and they no nothing about it at all. If your worried about anything then I find sometimes mentally for me (more for me than the horse) I will give them a bit of Sedalin or acp tabs before the job is done. It's so so fast and over so quickly. My local kanckerman is also known to me on a personal friend level, so actually knowing this makes it all easier. I trust him to do his job well. Just give him a big bucket of feed and it will be fine. I always have mine shot in the school or field (where possible as removal is easier) the wait is the worst thing about it all.
 
Mine was with my first horse a long time ago. I was only 19 and having had my horse on a shoestring budget I didn't have a choice about this because I didn't have money for the injection. :(

Vet came, gave my boy bute to make him as comfortable as possible for last few hours and then called the man who came to do it. The two of them who arrived were very calm and sympathetic, and suggested I say goodbye and leave my horse with a friend who was there and would feed him some treats as it was done. I went into a field on the other side of the farm, well away and heard the shot a few minutes later. I didn't go back until I knew they'd taken him and gone.

Some people choose to stay with their horses, I'm glad they didn't want me to as I'd rather not have that be my last memory of him. If you decide to stay I'm told it's very simple and quick, but most people choose to be away whilst their horse is loaded.

It seemed very violent to me at the time, but now I think it's how I'd choose to do it when the time comes again, they don't have time to fight it and they aren't put on edge by the vet being there either.

I'm so sorry that you have to go through this but I hope whether you decide to stay or not you remember you're doing the best you can for your horse and that's all that matters. Xx
 
i personally don't like it but that's for a selfish reason. for the horse it's quick and over with in seconds, they don't know what's happening and they dont' get distressed by it.

if you don't think you can be there then don't force yourself, ask someone who the horse knows to be there for them if they don't mind.

some hunts/vets will ask you to leave the horse with them and will shoot when you are out of sight, they are very good with the horse and give it a bit of fuss so the horse doesn't get upset at being left with them.

might be best to speak to whoever you would have out and ask them if they would be able to hold for you and how they like things to be done, as i said everyone does it differently.
 
Shooting is harder for the owner to deal with than injection, its the fear and our inexperience of guns, most of us will have never seen a gun closely before.

The last one that was shot on my yard the owner chose not to be here and I knew that I would struggle to hold a big horse still enough so a local horseman/ farmer friend came and held him for me, it was very quick the horse did not struggle at all but as expected his head was up high and being short I would not have felt comfortable holding him still. Speak to whoever is coming out, they will often come with someone else or bring someone to assist, they will be very experienced and used to dealing with horses as well as distressed owners, they may suggest you say good bye and leave it to them coming back afterwards to see him at peace before they take him away.

Do not stay and watch him loaded, that is in my experience the worst part, it is very hard to move a large horse, however hard they try it can seem rather lacking in respect when they get dragged into the lorry, the horse does not feel anything by then but it is not something to watch.

Do not feel guilty if you cannot hold him, he is better with someone unattached that can be calm and relaxed than you getting even more stressed and upset than you need to be.
 
He will be shot by the hunt.
My last horse was PTS by injection at the vets. I was with him and unbelievably calm.
He did not gasp or twitch.

When they are shot do they twitch. I think it's that I couldn't cope with
 
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It's not that bad I prefer it to them being injected and I have seen a lot of horses PTS .
It is a loud bang .I lead them out talking to them give the rope to the vet still talking I stand behind the vet keep talking and shut my eyes ,as soon as I hear the bang I turn and go .
It's very very quick for the horse.
It's never easy but its the last thing you can do for them give them an easy end at home.
If you fear he may be a little head shy ask the vet for a oral sedative to give him before hand .
Good luck nothing said can make it easier it just has to be gone though.
 
if its an emergency then i would use vet however would and have in the past used the knackerman.
yo husband (farmer) held him i was at home my hubby was there but farmer came and told hubby he would do it. hubby walked out barn and within seconds farmer told him it was over. i would def ask before considering using any medication as i dont think the horse can be then used but not sure would def ask x good luck with your decision
 
All of mine - and the ones I have assisted with - have been injected so I don't know exactly what it is like for horses. However, both my OH and I have shot sheep, and I'm assuming the physiology is similar.
The actual shot is very quick, and the animal feels and knows nothing. However there is a bit of blood... once the animal as passed the nose and mouth trickle a little blood, usually they will also urinate/defacate, this is completely normal, but can be distressing to an owner.

I don't know you from Adam, but I have held several horses/ponies for other people who felt they couldn't do it when they had them put to sleep, and I would gladly do the same for you Goodtimes. If you have no-one who is willing/able to be there, please PM me, don't feel you are alone xx
 
Really sorry that you have to make such a tough decision.

Mine have always been shot as I find it 'faster' for the horse if that makes sense? My first pony really didn't like jabs or vets so the knackerman was the only option in his case when his time came. I'm very emotional, can and will cry over everything but usually manage to hold it together(just) until the bang and then I run - I don't want to see the horse down - they don't need me anymore at that point. I always pay the knackerman on arrival and leave them to load the body so I don't have to see them again that day. Our KM is very good, cleans up and goes - in fact you wouldn't know he'd been there once the lorry leaves.

My advice FWIW

It is loud, you really should have ear plugs - it saves being deaf for 2 days.
Arrange payment in advance.
Have other people around who are prepared to hold if you can't - just having somebody in reserve can provide reassurance for you.
LEAVE as soon as the deed is done, you really aren't needed after that. Have other people clean up (This may be TMI and if it is I apologise. It's not often messy but some horses do bleed a bit)
Tell the vet/KM if you want the headcollar and/or rug back otherwise it will just go with the body when it's collected.
If the vet PTS, try and have the collection people there at the same time.
There may be muscle movements after the shot but that's all they are - the horse is dead before they hit the ground.
Finally, it's not as 'peaceful' as PTS by injection for the people involved but it is very quick for the horses - I always console myself with that thought.
 
My mare was PTS in April. She was terrified of vets & injections so I used a knackerman recommended by the vet. They (2 of them) were fantastic. The one thing I dreaded was holding her, but one of them, a lady, asked if she could hold her as it keeps the horses calmer. They were horse owners themselves and were very good with her. I went away and sat waiting for the shot. The other thing I liked was that they used a horse trailer to transport the body. There was some blood from her nose, but nothing horrific. Would recommend them to anyone, and would use again.
 
Rosehip said:
All of mine - and the ones I have assisted with - have been injected so I don't know exactly what it is like for horses. However, both my OH and I have shot sheep, and I'm assuming the physiology is similar.
The actual shot is very quick, and the animal feels and knows nothing. However there is a bit of blood... once the animal as passed the nose and mouth trickle a little blood, usually they will also urinate/defacate, this is completely normal, but can be distressing to an owner.

I don't know you from Adam, but I have held several horses/ponies for other people who felt they couldn't do it when they had them put to sleep, and I would gladly do the same for you Goodtimes. If you have no-one who is willing/able to be there, please PM me, don't feel you are alone xx
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That's very kind of you. Thank you.
My YO has offered to hold him if I can't do it.
He knows her very well and she is a great horsewoman. She knows the huntsman well too as she's out with them every Saturday. So she will trust him him too. He has shot her horses in the past.
 
We had a loan horse shot a few years ago, there was a little blood from the wound, and she did twitch a little, but it was quick for her, and I will do the same for my boy when the time comes. If you are on Facebook, have a look at Andrew Goatman, he is our local KM, and has uploaded a short video showing (not up close) him shooting a pony, it's not upsetting to watch, and the pony is quite obviously dead when it hits the ground.
 
Spot_the_Risk said:
We had a loan horse shot a few years ago, there was a little blood from the wound, and she did twitch a little, but it was quick for her, and I will do the same for my boy when the time comes. If you are on Facebook, have a look at Andrew Goatman, he is our local KM, and has uploaded a short video showing (not up close) him shooting a pony, it's not upsetting to watch, and the pony is quite obviously dead when it hits the ground.
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Thanks. That was quite comforting, in a strange sort of way.
 
hi im facing this too ,am ringing my hunt tomorrow. feel a bit better after reading this thread tho.ive only ever had it done by injection before- just one question my YO wont allow it to happen at the yard so do they ever pick horses up and do it in the lorry or what do you guys think will be best?
 
archiepoo said:
hi im facing this too ,am ringing my hunt tomorrow. feel a bit better after reading this thread tho.ive only ever had it done by injection before- just one question my YO wont allow it to happen at the yard so do they ever pick horses up and do it in the lorry or what do you guys think will be best?
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I don't think they'll do it on the lorry - confined space and as the lorry is used for deadstock it's unlikely to be suitable for livestock.

Very unfair of your YO - is there a field/paddock or even the carpark that you could use? Otherwise I think you will probably need to take your horse off site...either to the kennels or another yard.
 
archiepoo said:
hi im facing this too ,am ringing my hunt tomorrow. feel a bit better after reading this thread tho.ive only ever had it done by injection before- just one question my YO wont allow it to happen at the yard so do they ever pick horses up and do it in the lorry or what do you guys think will be best?
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What a shame your yard owner wont allow this(sorry I am thinking strange and what if emergency etc). Oh well I had old boy PTS and too'd and fro'd which method and where?. I was worried as my old boy was in a field and out in middle of nowhere so was dreading he would tank off, if it all went wrong!. I was going to move him to a hard standing area away from public view to do the deed but on the day didnt think he would make it.So I think if you can find someone willing to allow you to use their yard ie a farmer etc yes I would arrange to transport your horse elsewhere. I was thinking of doing this myself, am sure most people are willing to help an animal in a predicament. There is a company called Holts around our way and I think they may do this service but you would need to ask. Or the hunt even better would probably know a yard willing to take your horse. I am sure this is possible. Good luck.

Half said shoot and other half inject. Either way I understand it is quick/final. I opted to be with old boy as felt overwhelming duty.It went without hitch(injection). The guy collecting my horse asked me to leave but I stayed. I just in my heart wanted to know he was ok(even though he was dead).Personally I didnt find collection traumatic etc.

My family usually use our local hunt and I know they are absolutely stars(two come along) and will feed a carrot to keep head up and do the deed. They are very kind gentle to them. I would get a few carrots or apples(I fed my old boy two apples...he never finished the second).Families horses(shot) never finish the carrot, instant. My family thought I was mad having injection method by the way?

Got to say the worse bit was organising it I was in pieces ringing the vet and blabbered on the phone. Just waiting for the hour to do the deed was awful. I didnt want to find him down in his field and end up an emergency(he was limping that day bute not working).The one thing is coming on here has been so useful/supportive. Ours are the lucky ones with responsibile owners. I am sure it will go smoothly for anyone contemplating this, as my OH kept telling me they do this for a living and are experienced. It was the first time I had been in this situation. Everyone is different, just make it easy to suit your horse.
 
Spot_the_Risk said:
We had a loan horse shot a few years ago, there was a little blood from the wound, and she did twitch a little, but it was quick for her, and I will do the same for my boy when the time comes. If you are on Facebook, have a look at Andrew Goatman, he is our local KM, and has uploaded a short video showing (not up close) him shooting a pony, it's not upsetting to watch, and the pony is quite obviously dead when it hits the ground.
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Thanks for posting that - I've always wondered what it was "like" and it is reassuring to see how fast it is, nowhere near as bad as I imagined.

I'll probably have my mare injected, and by one of our female vets if I am able, because she is very, very wary of men and also I want to be with her and I don't think I could with a gun. But I do think that shooting done well is probably for the horse as so fast.

OP - I do hope it goes well for you x
 
im quite disapointed tbh that my YO has objected but she has offered to allow me to bury him on her land if i did it by vet injection ,but i would have to pay for hiring a digger and it would take much more time to organise and cost is an issue .i just wanted it to be over quickly and as hes quite dangerous on the ground and deteriorating quickly and is a very bad traveller so taking him would be impossible as i dont have transport and even tho ive got sedalin for him he hates people and any deviation in his routine- so its not going to be easy anyway. i just wanted him to wobble out of his stable and be done nice and quietly ,but im at a bit of a loss now. i will ring the huntsman tomorrow and see what he says
 
archiepoo said:
im quite disapointed tbh that my YO has objected but she has offered to allow me to bury him on her land if i did it by vet injection ,but i would have to pay for hiring a digger and it would take much more time to organise and cost is an issue .i just wanted it to be over quickly and as hes quite dangerous on the ground and deteriorating quickly and is a very bad traveller so taking him would be impossible as i dont have transport and even tho ive got sedalin for him he hates people and any deviation in his routine- so its not going to be easy anyway. i just wanted him to wobble out of his stable and be done nice and quietly ,but im at a bit of a loss now. i will ring the huntsman tomorrow and see what he says
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What an awful situation for you and your horse. Hope he has a quick and dignified end.
 
I prefer the kennel men to come shoot any horses I have to have euthanised. It is quick and as said, they are dead before they hit the ground and, most importantly of all, most of the hunt servants have far more experience of shooting horses than any vet.

The amount of bleeding depends on how high the shot is put in. Lower, as in drawing a cross from eye to ear, will result in more blood. Higher and there is little. It is a good idea to have a large polythene bag to put over the head to help contain the blood.

I have never found the shot particularly harmful to my ears and the thought of ear plugs would never have crossed my mind!

Finer bred horses like TBs and Arabs are more likely to twitch longer than a cob or heavy horse.

The other bonus of having the hunt is that they will remove the carcass - they will take it if you have the vet inject but it will cost you a lot more as they cannot feed that to hounds. There is usually a fee for the job unless you are a member of the hunt.

archiepoo I am sorry that the YO is being so difficult. I cannot understand it. If an accident happens then they would have little choice and they are not thinking of the horse at all.
 
So sorry to hear that you're facing this.

I have limited knowledge of shooting, but have had animals put to sleep.

Have someone else on hand to deal with the paymet and the collection of the body.

The shot will be loud and that I believe is what stays with people.
 
hi how awfull for you :( i had to have my chap shot a couple of months ago i had our local hunt do it as we had used them for our old boy last year and i trust them totaly,they where great i walked my boy up the track to where they had reversed the trailer and i said my goodbyes and the huntsman took him and waited for me to walk away.it was quick and surprisingly after it was done i almost felt at peace i know this sounds weird and heartless but he was in a lot of pain and i felt better knowing i had done the kindest thing for him.I do think that we are lucky we can make sure the animals we love dont have to suffer its a shame we cant make that desition(sp)for humans!!!
 
I had both mine injected when it was their time to go... very quiet and peaceful stayed with both all the way through and the collection (which IMO was not traumatic)

I personally would always inject but I understand there are some some instances were shooting is a better option (sorry I cant help with that) just be aware that there might be some movement afterwards so I would def recommend not to hang around after the first shot!

I am sorry you are facing this, sending you hugs x
 
thanks i dont know what would happen tbh if there was an emergency,the YO has had horses shot herself with the hunt so maybe thats why she doesnt want it done:-/ she said she doesnt want the mess ? or noise upsetting the other horses ? im not going to be able to take him far as he will be sedated but i suppose if we stagger to the end of the property theres not much she can say. bit disapointed tbh:(
 
archiepoo said:
im quite disapointed tbh that my YO has objected but she has offered to allow me to bury him on her land if i did it by vet injection ,but i would have to pay for hiring a digger and it would take much more time to organise and cost is an issue .i just wanted it to be over quickly and as hes quite dangerous on the ground and deteriorating quickly and is a very bad traveller so taking him would be impossible as i dont have transport and even tho ive got sedalin for him he hates people and any deviation in his routine- so its not going to be easy anyway. i just wanted him to wobble out of his stable and be done nice and quietly ,but im at a bit of a loss now. i will ring the huntsman tomorrow and see what he says
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Maybe your YO is worred that the shot and smell of blood will upset the other horses?
 
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