Should lame/companion horses be PTS if you cannot guarentee them a home for life?

[Elliep25]

Absolutely and an even bigger noooooooooooooo way to healthy horses. I think its slightly selfish doing this, and I can't believe healthy horses are euthanised. They shouldn't be so disposable, again I know people's personal circumstances change, but surely rehoming is always an option. I can't afford a horse at the moment-so don't have one-simples!

 

[Puppy]

My beautiful (young & talented ) mare is no longer rideable, and the thought that many like her go on to end up in homes where, for the sake of the irresponsible owner making a few £s, and passing the buck, other people then try to ride them, and inevitably then when they misbehave through the pain, they are punished/or their good nature is taken advantage of, is just heartbreaking

My girl may be broken at 8 1/2, but just the same as I said when she was rideable, she is with me for life. I would consider letting her graze with a friend's horses as a companion, so long as she was near enough for me to visit most days of the week, but only if a friend wanted to borrow her for that and she would be happy there, never would I make a change in ownership, or do this purely because I wanted to pass her on.

I can fully understand why for some horses that are not rideable PTS is the best option. I had a youngish and feisty TB who I faced this dilemma with, and I do think I may have had to take this course of action, were it not for him dying of a heart attack only a few hours after surgery on his legs which may have rendered him unsound/light hack only.

Passing them on is the cruelest and most negligent action, no doubt IMO!

 

[Serenity087]

I have faced having to have healthy horses shot to stop idiots and morons getting their hands on them, and if it comes up again, then thats the way it will be.

Horses are NOT disposable, they are much loved friends and even family. Which is why I couldn't send a horse deemed unridable to the sales to let them get rid of her for me. Which is why I didn't find the nice lady who takes on retired horses and then sells them for a quick buck, risking the life and limbs of horses and buyers.

Which is crueller, having a good friend pts at a home they love, or them travelling for miles to get shot alone and scared cos you were too much of a wuss to do the right thing.
Grow some and do what's best for your horses.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooo!
The people that ride horses that are knowlingly not sound shoud be PTS!!

Since I didn't interpret this as an "in your ideal dreams"-thread, do you really think that will happen in reality?

Absolutely and an even bigger noooooooooooooo way to healthy horses. I think its slightly selfish doing this, and I can't believe healthy horses are euthanised. They shouldn't be so disposable, again I know people's personal circumstances change, but surely rehoming is always an option. I can't afford a horse at the moment-so don't have one-simples!

But that is your personal opinion and choice, if you feel that it is a slightly selfish decision for you to make, if you would find yourself in such a situation, okay, follow your convictions. But others might have different opinions and make different choices than you.

 

[Grey_Eventer]

I think when it comes down to it, they should be PTS unless you can offer a permanent home.
one of ours was PTS in oct. as he was a companion and suddenly went crippled.... he was my aunts, she wouldn't take him back etc. he came right but then went very lame again so we took him to the kennels and he went there, like a hunter should.... we couldn't offer a home for life, and in a way it was good he went when he did as dad was made redundant later last year...
A friend of mines family brought a young eventer for a pro event rider to ride and it did something to itself in the field, and therefore cannot ever be ridden again aged 6, they have found a companion home for it... but at aged 6 and permanently lame i can't but think that hes not going to have the best of lives...