Reason to pts- wits end

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poiuytrewq

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I see many threads on hho commenting that its better to pts rather than pass on when owners cant cope/keep for any reason.
I am seriously struggling and my o/h and field owner are both putting a little pressure on me. Rightly so I might add- Im earning far less than I used to due to my hours being cut but shelling out cash I just cant afford. My field is beyond trashed and I get very cheap rent on the condition there are only 2 horses and its well looked after. I have 3 and its wrecked.
He's fairly recently been confirmed not rideable due to two issues one I can try and rectify the other I cant. He's not happy in the field stood knee deep in mud and water often just weaving at the gate but freaks out if I get him in- weaving madly and box walking.
I had fully intended to keep him in happy retirement but am just feeling this is not how I want it. I don't know if he's happy- Im certainly not, to the point I cry a lot at the yard just about the pure god awful state of it (at least the others can be ridden and kept a little more occupied) I lie awake worried about it all.
I've tried loaning him in the past but he came home with stories of attacking people in the field. I have to admit I didn't believe it but ive since seen him go for my o/h. I trust him 100% not to go for me and he's regularly handled by my daughter and has been since she was 6- it seems to be mostly men he has a problem with. He wont make a suitable companion as can be highly dominant and bully other horses but also suffers extreme separation issues.
Ive also looked at retirement livery but just cant afford it.
Cant loan or sell the others as they both also have medical problems and are not simple to look after but me and my daughter ride and enjoy them.
I keep thinking I have no choice but pts but then I see him and he looks so healthy and wanders over for a chat and I cant go though with it.
Are there anymore options here (please don't slaughter me im ready to break here)
 
You are right to consider pts as he hasnt got a quality of life and you cant deal with his problems adequately now. The weather has been awful so the fields are suffering. Better to let go now than for things to get so bad you lose everything
 
why should you feel guilty? what options do you have? treat him at cost of money you don't have, get into debt? sell/loan but risk him being passed on etc?
 
I'm hearing about if more and more people taking the pts option this year, the conditions seem to just be tipping some people/horses over the edge. I do believe when options are limited with older, lame, behaviour issues etc it is often the kindest thing to do. Its not like its something you decide overnight, you've been putting thought in and looked into options, you just have to decide what will be best for his long term welfare.
 
posted too soon... carry on as you are but risk yo asking you to leave? why don't you keep a diary for two weeks record objectively how he is and how you feel? pts is a braver more caring choice than either passing him on or burying your head in the sand
 
You had hoped to keep him 'in happy retirement', that is no longer possible for more than one reason, you have explored other options and found that they are not viable. It really seems to me that any responsible owner would be considering pts. You will not be letting the horse down, you will be securing his future and that of your other horses, as it sounds from what you say, as if the land-owner might ask you to move if you do not fulfill their conditions.
Never an easy decision to make but the right one in this case, it would seem.
 
I don't even know how to do it :(
I think if he was "ill" id be fine Ive had two ill ponies pts in the past and its been important to me that ive been the one to hold them They were done by the vet as part of a call out so I didn't arrange it - Im not sure I can in this situation. Im reasonably ok with someone else holding him as im certain he wont know anything. He's not nervous of people or needles etc.
I think my lovely boss would help me- is it too much to ask someone?
Thank you for not biting my head off x
 
I just had to have my boy pts due to an untreatable medical problem and not suitable to just try time due to risk of serious infection. The rest of him looked an absolute picture of health. Real quality horse with serious breeding and he was v. much part of the family. V v sad.
I have to say that it was harder to get to that decision than to actually go through with it. I was going to hold him while hunt did it. I have seen them do others and trusted the chap - he was v. good, patient and careful. OH ended up holding my boy for me. He's good too!
Now I can almost relax as I know it was right thing to do and I know he didn't suffer at all and had far better end than I probably will!
Main point is - I think you are at the worst stage now. Get it done as you know it is the right thing to do. You can then move on. The longer you wait the more miserable it will be for you. Your horse has no idea whats coming and will not suffer as a result.
All the best.
 
Don't feel guilty you have tried your best, not every one has the luxury of endless pots of money to keep broken horses for many happy years skipping through fields of Daisy's having some wonderful retirement.

Life is tough at times and you gotta do what you gotta do.

You sound sensible and realistic.

You have nothing to feel guilty for. Xxxx
 
Turks said:
Main point is - I think you are at the worst stage now. Get it done as you know it is the right thing to do. You can then move on. The longer you wait the more miserable it will be for you. Your horse has no idea whats coming and will not suffer as a result.
All the best.
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^^This. If you feel unable to make the call, then ask the YO or a friend to do it for you, I'm sure they won't mind as they don't have the emotional attachment that you have.
 
the huntsman could bring someone to hold but i think its very common for people to hold for each other, someone i know asked an old friend who now lives in spain and she flew to the UK to hold the pony as she had known him very well in the past
 
Hi OP,
wow, I can really empathise. I had my lad PTS in September. He was chronically lame and I was offered free grass livery by a friend should I wish to retire him. I knew he would hate being retired (he was the type that would be stood at the gate an hour after going out) and wanted him to be happy to the last.
Remember, they don't fear death as we do. For them, it is sleepiness followed by nothing - that's all they experience. We are the ones left behind to grieve etc.
It is a tough choice to make, but I think that the fact that you are considering it in the present circumstances means that you have your horses best interests at heart. Only you can make the decision - a group of strangers on the Internet can show you what the options are, but you are the person who has to live with what you decide to do.
You will do the right thing.
((((((Hugs))))))
 
I think things have changed so much these days and the options for horse care are no longer as affordable or easy. Round here grass livery is non existant. DIY is 30 odd a week because so many have closed down. Mine are in mud but have grassy areas, just about..but older veterans and I would definitely go for PTS over anything else if I found myself backed into a corner with an unmanageable horse/illness. It's the responsible thing to do because there are people out there who will make a fast buck out of anything. I feel you are extremely limited in your available options and would get it over with ASAP. So sorry.
 
Most of the fields round me went under water, not deep but still knee deep. I cant keep Toffee with other horses and she can't be stabled shes retired with hock spavins that have left her unlevel/lame. I said that if the water engulfed our whole field PTS was going to be my option.

I think sometimes you cant pussy foot around the subject and although I do what I can for my horses I won't endevour beyond my pennys and emotion just to keep an animal alive.

The horse next to her moved last week and shes gone back to being miserable. I do look at her wondering what to do.
 
Horses live in the moment, they don't make plans about what they will be doing next month and they don't think about the future. IMHO all responsible horse owners have a duty to consider all options when it comes to their horses long term future, if comfortable retirement (for what ever reason, money, horse personality etc.) isn't possible then there really is only one alternative.

OP you don't mention how old your horse is - if he is younger the blood bank may be an option for you - but if not please don't feel bad about what is a very responsible and mature decision to make.
 
I don't like giving advice without knowing exactly what the conditions are that you refer to as my advice would be given without the full facts, and when a horse's life is at stake, then I think it is wrong to advise without all the facts. However, he does not sound like a happy horse. Horses will act like this even if they are fit and healthy and it is usually due to not having enough hay or haylage in the field or being cold. If he IS having plenty of hay in the field and is still acting this way, then he is not a happy horse and so PTS may be the kindest option. If he were a more sociable horse, then you would have more options, such as the blood bank or loaning, but nobody wants a horse that attacks others. It could be that his behaviour is due to pain or to some mental problem. In which case, unless it can be addressed, then again, PTS would be the kindest option. Horrible position to be in.
 
It seems that a re-think is needed all around. None of your horses sound to be in a good situation. And if you are struggling with costs, then something has to give.
 
The blood bank is only an option for large, young, field sound horses requiring no medication.

OP, for many of us it is not realistic to collect and provide for numerous unsound and/or problematic horses. You just sound like you are being realistic to me.
 
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