Quite upset about the shetland pony living next door :(

[charleysummer]

There is a small yard next door to the the one i am at, and a lady there has 3 shetland ponies. i get on well with the lady and she's helped me out at the trickiest of times and given me the odd drink and horsey things out of kindness- (which makes this an awkward situation). Anyway the shetland ponies are all stallions and are very 'loved' but one is not well cared for in the sense that she is keeping it alive in pain.

The stallions are all old, two are fine and live out their days eating and come in at night to a cosy stable with a thick bed and a bowl of feed but one has been shut inside its stable for weeks- it must be 12 weeks or more now, an before that it was out periodically then in on box rest again! The pony stands depressed against the wall and has abcesses in two feet- it can't walk really at all and has laminitis.

The lady kept calling out the vet to do something for the pony and he reccomended PTS - which i also hinted quite obviously to her, she reported him for this and the vets sent out another vet who then told her to PTS for the kindest thing, she reported him too and now they won't come out to her. It is just upsetting because every time i go to the stables although i can't quite see it from my yard i can imagine it (from what i've seen before) just standing against the wall depressed. The stallion is in it's twentys i beleive or late teens.

Just don't know what to do , probably a pointless post because there isn't anything i can actually do but i wanted to get it off my chest a bit.
thanks for reading.

 

[Mistyrocks]

Rspca?

 

[kerilli]

I think you are going to have to have a kind, straight conversation with her to tell her that you are really worried that the pony is suffering, that he has no quality of life, and that it is probably time to let him go... maybe not tomorrow though.
make sure at least that he's on lots of painkillers, if at all possible, poor little chap. that's so sad. do you know the vets? could you ask 1 to come along and back you up in your 'chat' perhaps. I know this might sound like busybodying BUT if more people had a conscience like you, Spindles Farm etc couldn't happen...
tbh I'm surprised the vets didn't report her to the RSPCA or similar.

 

[mymare]

I agree with others, RSPCA, or WHW. Poor thing

 

[beeswax]

Please report RSPCA or WHW or both, if you do not report sorry to say but you are as guilty as she is for letting it suffer. Thank you in advance for the best decision you will make this year.

 

[glenruby]

I have come across a number of similar situations in the last year or so. Unfortunately, there usually isnt a great deal you can do as a vet if the owner refuses to have them put to slepp as long as they agree to admin painrelief. In fact, you wouldnt believe the number who would put their horse through extreme pain and discomfort for their own selfish reasons. Just make sure the poor divil is getting pain relief and encourage her to get another vet in - maybe if everyone tells her the same she might reconsider. If not, I would contact RSPCA but if evidence of vet treatment or pain relief they may not be able to do much. However that way, the vets recommendations for PTS may be given more force.

 

[ColandMe]

If you feel it's too awkward to talk to her, then ring WHW, in my experience they will be more likely to come out and advise the owner. If the owner chooses not to take the advice then they will take any decisions out of her hands.

 

[charleysummer]

thanks, yes obv tomorrow is not a good idea! i will probably contact a WHW or RSPCA and see what they say, i just don't know what she's thinking :/

 

[Ranyhyn]

How very sad, love is obviously blinding her. I kind, gentle chat with her might help. Bless her, I know its not right but at least its born of love and not other less admirable traits..

 

[Natch]

If you are on good terms with her, I woudl think there is every chance she would listen to you. Maybe invite her over for a cuppa after Xmas, or go round with some mince pies as a thank you for her kindness over the last year and ask her how her horses are doing, and what the prognosis for the chap is. You can gently tell it to her in a much more sympathetic way than a vet could - i.e. a hand on her arm, a cuddle etc.