Sad, but how often does this happen?

Munchkin

Munchkin

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Arrived at the yard today to find the old pony had laid down in the sun and died peacefully.

Upsetting, but sort of nice, I mean, how often does that happen to ponies? It's usually that the owner has to make the horrendous decision or the pony suffers a long, slow death because the owner can't make said decision.

Yesterday she was chasing my youngster round the field and trying to kick his head in so I can safely say she wasn't feeling under the weather!

She wasn't mine but as I rent the place with another couple we share looking after the ponies so it's still a sad day for me too. RIP Biscay.
 
As long as they have been well and healthy until that moment, then it is a nice way to die for them. Most probably just the heart giving out.

I think i would prefer to know and be able to say a goodbye, but that is selfish of me and my head knows it is better for them just to go, although my heart does argue.

Hugs to you, must still be a very upsetting thing to find xxx
 
What a lovely way to go. I'm sure he will be greatly missed.
Rest in Peace Biscay
 
Munchkin said:
Yesterday she was chasing my youngster round the field and trying to kick his head in so I can safely say she wasn't feeling under the weather!
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RIP Biscay :(:(:(
At a place i used to work i went out to feed Lucy one eve and her and a very old pony (Drifter) where galloping round like loonies. I said to Lucy she was going to give Drifter a heart attack if she carried on.
The next morning i found Drifter dead in the field. :( It was very upsetting at the time but looking back now i'm glad he went having one last hoone around and judging by the marks on the ground he just droped dead mid gallop. I don't think he would have known a thing.
 
That is lovely in a sad way although still very upsetting for you and the owners to find her. xx

ETA: how were the other horses in the field? When a horse of mine died in the field (although desperately distressed as he died of colic) the other two were hysterical when I got to the field and charged at the gate neighing :(
 
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Ravenwood said:
That is lovely in a sad way although still very upsetting for you and the owners to find her. xx

ETA: how were the other horses in the field? When a horse of mine died in the field (although desperately distressed as he died of colic) the other two were hysterical when I got to the field and charged at the gate neighing :(
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When i found Drifter Lucy was grazing near him with Brittania the other pony in the field and when the hunt wagon came to take him away. The ponies stopped grazing watched him winched into the back and as the van drove off Lucy gave out a loud whinny. Then they got on with grazing. It was quite touching to see realy. They wern't distressed at all.
 
Ravenwood said:
ETA: how were the other horses in the field? When a horse of mine died in the field (although desperately distressed as he died of colic) the other two were hysterical when I got to the field and charged at the gate neighing :(
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The Arab was hysterical, but they've been together for years. Youngster didn't seem too worried. I had my TB PTS in December and he was far more upset then. I think they buddy up though don't they - Biscay didn't like the young one at all! You could practically hear her muttering "the youth of today" under her breath at him!
 
Aww R.I.P How sad

My moms old boy did this!! My old girl was PTS on the (he watched her be loaded up to go to be cremated) 12/02/05 and on the 17/02/05 (5 days after) My sister went over to feed the horses and he had died in his stable.He was 42 the vet come to check him and said he had a massive heart attack and would have died pretty much instantly!! Still very sad and heart breaking but he made up his own mind he loved hunting very much and he died just before the ban come in!! Just in true midnight style still miss them both very much..
 
How lovely for the old one to sleep off in the sunshine with his palls around and probably be best way for the others left behind too. Horses understand these things.

I use to livery and work part time at a large livery and riding school. There were amny older horses an if one was lying down in the field you went to - well you always checked them. Sometimes just what you describe had happened

But one day, in springtime blizard, I went to check a small Shetland x WA pony mare that was lying down and had the surprise of my life to find a tiny shivering foal lying next to her. Hardly bigger than a whippet! No one even knew she was in foal, she just looked a bit fat.

Little chap was v. cold and struggling, so I took off my long coat, and wrapped him up and then carried him in my arms, with Mum following at my elbow. Quite a long walk to the stables, and exhausting, with him trying to suckle on my ear! But once in a warm bed, the little guy bounced back quickly.
 
We found one of the donkeys that the yard owner looks after like that. He was literally curled up in the sunshine in the far part of the paddock, looking to all like he was sleeping in the sun. What a lovely way to go. His partner is still going but we had a scare with her last week when she wouldn't get up for a while but she's fine now (and into her 40s!). I do keep an special eye out for her every day though, just in case.
 
My old mare died mid gallop in the field. She ate all her breakfast went out and they all galloped off. The yard owner saw her go down and thought she was having a roll but when she went back half an hour later she was still there.

I went to say goodbye and she had obviously died instantly. I am grateful that she went this way much better than having to decide when the time is right as I did for my lovely TB (who was only 14 when he went). The other horses were sniffing the mare when I went to see her and they were not distressed at all.
 
RIP Biscay x

We were lucky with my old girl Lizzie (RIP) I went down the field and she "wasnt right" so i called her owner, who came straight away. We were just thinking about making the decision (she was 30+) and she just laid down and died with both of us there. Was horrible to see but looking back we were so lucky! Our other little sec A was in the field with her, watched her be taken away; just had a little neigh then carried on eating. (Miss you beautiful <3 )
 
Orrrr thats sad news, hope he went in his sleep while dreaming of lush pastures and galloping around with his friends.

RIP Biscay
 
I found my old shetland dead in the field shelter last April. The vet later said he probably had a heart attack. I actually had the vet booked in for 4 days later and had booked some time off work.

As for how do others react? Well, it was dark, but Henry was there as usual wanting his dinner. The only reason I knew something was up is that I took out both feeds and realised I was only being mugged by one pony. It was awful putting that feed back in the feed room :(

Other than that he just kept going into the shelter to have another look (after he'd gobbled down his dinner!). I couldn't blame him for that. I kept doing the same thing!
 
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