Shooting horses. Is it legal...

The other year there was a nasty RTA involving some escaped horses on a bend in the road near us. For some reason the owner/driver involved (not sure of the details here, presumably police were also involved) couldn't get a vet to come out, late on Sunday night. One mare was in agony with broken limbs. The local man who shoots rabbits, foxes etc for people, so obviously has a license, came to deal with her- she certainly couldn't be left like that for long. A local farmer's dog got in with another farmer's sheep and worried one. Farmer 1 shot it there and then. My old RI certainly shot his elderly ponies when the time came - better for them to be pts at home by someone they knew.
And another RTA several years ago, just a few yards from a large livery yard - the YO came out and shot the badly injured horse - the police were certainly in attendance then. The rider was a policeman's wife.
I think if the circumstances warrant it, in an emergency, and you have a license, you wouldn't be able to do anything else.
 
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You can destroy your own horse/dog by an approved humane method but not someone else's, unless it's an emergency. You'd need a horse slaughterer's licence to destroy someone else's horse, except in an emergency.

To destroy a large animal like a horse, it would have to be done either with a 12 bore or centre fire rifle (what the newspapers like to call "a high power rifle") suitable for culling deer and it is not a job for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. Properly done, I don't believe there is a more humane method -- but that's a personal opinion.
 
Dry Rot said:
You can destroy your own horse/dog by an approved humane method but not someone else's, unless it's an emergency. You'd need a horse slaughterer's licence to destroy someone else's horse, except in an emergency.

To destroy a large animal like a horse, it would have to be done either with a 12 bore or centre fire rifle (what the newspapers like to call "a high power rifle") suitable for culling deer and it is not a job for someone who doesn't know what they are doing. Properly done, I don't believe there is a more humane method -- but that's a personal opinion.
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Why am I not surprised you know the answer to questions like this :D
 
It is legal to shoot your own. We looked into it when my old lad was to be pts last year. However the prob we found was the local knacker man would not take the body as he couldn't have it with a through and through shot only bolt-may have only been his licence and throughnot same for all but that's my experience
 
It is perfectly legal for anyone to humanely destroy their own livestock, of what ever type. It becomes illegal when anyone who is un-licenced (from the slaughter-man's viewpoint) accepts payment for the act, from A.N.Other.

I always perform the final act for all my own animals, horses, dogs, cattle and sheep. It is vital that for the first time, the operator either has a perfect understanding of where the brain lies, or better still is in the company of someone who is very experienced. The brain of a horse, for instance, is not easily accessed, and looking at an equine skull, in live form, most would be surprised to see just where the brain is.

I have shot horses for others, in emergencies, and I would council strongly against anyone "having a go" at it. With a misplaced first shot, subsequent correction is often very difficult, and dangerous to any bystanders. I've yet to make a mistake, but I've watched others do so, and it can be quite dreadful.

Alec.
 
muff747 said:
Enfys - what prompted this question may I ask?
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Ask away, fair question. :)

I was talking to my Vet today and he was saying that it was lucky I hadn't called him out for an emergency as he'd been four hours drive away.

Also, recently, there is a situation where newborn foals are reportedly being shot at birth because the racing business has gone pear shaped and tracks are being shut down left, right, and centre.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3546551

Thankyou to everyone for your replies.
 
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JFTD said:
Why am I not surprised you know the answer to questions like this :D
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I am a veritable mine of useless information.;)

I don't know about other areas, but it is also legal to bury a pet on your own land in Scotland, subject to minor requirements like not being near a water course. Farm and commercial livestock is another matter.
 
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competitiondiva said:
It is not illegal to euthanase an animal in a humane and appropriate manner, i.e a person with relevant firearms licence can shoot their own horse, dog etc.
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Good to know. Is it assumed that anyone with the relevant licence has the required knowledge to ethanase an animal humanely? And if it could be proved that someone killed their own animal less than humanely would they be liable to prosecution, or would it simply be consider "bad luck"? And lastly, would a vet be immune from such prosecution?
 
Urgh - yes its legal

Dad shot his own horse after an ifor williams floor gave way and almost completely severed both hind legs. Vet and hunt were over 30 minutes away, Dad made the call to do it to avoid his horse from coming out of shock and thrashing about (hind legs held on with just tendons)

However that combined with the horror of the accident leaves very deep mental scars! :(
 
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