MissMincePie&Brandy
Well-Known Member
My lovely old boy, 'Polo' passed away peacefully on Friday 28th May. He was 33 years old, and his arthritis had been bad for a while. The week before seemed to mark a step change in his health. The hot weather seemed to exacerbate his lameness, and he was already on a 2 butes a day. He was also unable to regulate his temperature during those hot days we had recently.
On the Monday 24th May, it was very hot and we had him out of the sun, in his stable. He stood in there sweating, and his breathing was laboured. He was being hosed down throughout the day to keep him cool. At tea time when it was cool enough for him to go out, his legs were hurting so much, and he struggled to get out of the stable to make the short walk to the field. I phoned the vet to come on Wednesday so I could have a day to think about it.
By Wednesday our mini heatwave was over, and it was a cool day. The vet came at 6pm and saw him in the field. Polo looked remarkably well, he was a bit lame, but not too bad at all. Polo was being very cheeky and inquisitive and the vet didnt see any cause for concern. We were all very relieved, and I was glad I'd waited until Wednesday to get the vet.
Thursday was a hotter day. We had decided that because Polo had fared so badly in his stable on the previous hot day, we'd leave him out, so that he could slowly keep moving and the breeze might be better for him. There are trees he can shelter from sun in his field also. By Thursday evening he was crippled and he looked miserable. I kept giving him butes throughout the day to try to relief his pain, and by the end of the day I had given him 7. He'd had a nosebleed, looked utterly miserable and I knew it was time.
I called the vet and he said it was now time. All the arrangements were made for Friday morning. I spent the whole evening with him until it got dark, and fed him tonnes of all his favourite treats and sweeties. He has always loved his food.
On Friday morning he had a massive feed with all the goodies we could find; Competition Mix, Mollasses, everything tasty that hes not had for years was in there. As well as several packets of polo mints. He was given a big dose of sedative and he went to sleep peacefully before the 'injection' went into him. He was never aware and he didnt panic. It was a dignified and peaceful end.
We bought Polo 24 years ago. He'd started training with the Met Police back in the early 1980's but a traffic accident caused an end to his Police training. He had a scar on his shoulder from that accident, and he'd always had a deep fear of clippers and we assume it was because it reminded him of the accident. He did a brief stint as the local hunt secretarys horse before we bought him to hunt. He was the perfect hunting horse. Safe and solid as a rock, but could pop a 5 bar gate or huge ditch with ease. He was also a very smart and grand looking boy, being a black Shire cross Thoroughbred. A small lady or a large gent could hunt him. Horses as perfect as Polo don't come round very often.
He retired from hunting about 12 years ago, and he retired from being ridden 6 years ago. He has lived a very luxurious retirement, and I'm comforted knowing I gave him a lovely life and I let him go as far as I could while not letting him suffer.
Rest in peace darling Polo, and you're now able to gallop with the hounds, and see all your old friends again. x x x
On the Monday 24th May, it was very hot and we had him out of the sun, in his stable. He stood in there sweating, and his breathing was laboured. He was being hosed down throughout the day to keep him cool. At tea time when it was cool enough for him to go out, his legs were hurting so much, and he struggled to get out of the stable to make the short walk to the field. I phoned the vet to come on Wednesday so I could have a day to think about it.
By Wednesday our mini heatwave was over, and it was a cool day. The vet came at 6pm and saw him in the field. Polo looked remarkably well, he was a bit lame, but not too bad at all. Polo was being very cheeky and inquisitive and the vet didnt see any cause for concern. We were all very relieved, and I was glad I'd waited until Wednesday to get the vet.
Thursday was a hotter day. We had decided that because Polo had fared so badly in his stable on the previous hot day, we'd leave him out, so that he could slowly keep moving and the breeze might be better for him. There are trees he can shelter from sun in his field also. By Thursday evening he was crippled and he looked miserable. I kept giving him butes throughout the day to try to relief his pain, and by the end of the day I had given him 7. He'd had a nosebleed, looked utterly miserable and I knew it was time.
I called the vet and he said it was now time. All the arrangements were made for Friday morning. I spent the whole evening with him until it got dark, and fed him tonnes of all his favourite treats and sweeties. He has always loved his food.
On Friday morning he had a massive feed with all the goodies we could find; Competition Mix, Mollasses, everything tasty that hes not had for years was in there. As well as several packets of polo mints. He was given a big dose of sedative and he went to sleep peacefully before the 'injection' went into him. He was never aware and he didnt panic. It was a dignified and peaceful end.
We bought Polo 24 years ago. He'd started training with the Met Police back in the early 1980's but a traffic accident caused an end to his Police training. He had a scar on his shoulder from that accident, and he'd always had a deep fear of clippers and we assume it was because it reminded him of the accident. He did a brief stint as the local hunt secretarys horse before we bought him to hunt. He was the perfect hunting horse. Safe and solid as a rock, but could pop a 5 bar gate or huge ditch with ease. He was also a very smart and grand looking boy, being a black Shire cross Thoroughbred. A small lady or a large gent could hunt him. Horses as perfect as Polo don't come round very often.
He retired from hunting about 12 years ago, and he retired from being ridden 6 years ago. He has lived a very luxurious retirement, and I'm comforted knowing I gave him a lovely life and I let him go as far as I could while not letting him suffer.
Rest in peace darling Polo, and you're now able to gallop with the hounds, and see all your old friends again. x x x
xxx
