Something awful happened at the yard today... Really quite disturbing

Oh goodness that poor thing
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I would be shocked, but I think under the circumstances what was done was for the best, and if the man knew exactly what he was doing, I'm sure it was very quick and as painless as possible for the filly.

Sleep well little one xxx
 
Agree with all who say that it is a good thing the bloke was there and could do the job quickly and efficiently. As some one who has done IM and Subcutaneous injections on her own horses and sheep, I think it is essential that basic vet knowledge is there for owners, along with knowing how to stop bleeding etc. Not sure I could exsanguinate my own horse, but I would rather be able to do that than leave her to die in pain.
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I'm so sorry to hear about that PF it sounds horrific, poor little filly, freak accidents like this are so difficult to deal with properly and I think that the gaucho did the right thing, I think that if it is done properly then its totally humane and was the kindest thing to do for the horse.
She wouldn't have felt any pain, in fact I remember reading something that said that this is actually a peaceful way for an animal to die, providing it is done quickly and properly.
 
Eep i really shouldn't read these posts before bed!

I do feel sick at the thought of it but i assume thats a fairly normal reaction and thinking about it logically, (suppressing the first reaction of horror at the whole situation) i'm really glad that someone there was able to end that poor creatures suffering. The thought of having to wait around with such badly broken legs is worse for me than the thought of having it's throat cut to end that.

Am so sorry you had to be around when it happened though- i know how much it would affect me if i was close by.
 
I really feel for everyone involved. I had a terrible accident the year before last when a rider came up behind my 4 yo and the horses clashed resulting in a compound fracture in the other horses hind leg. we were out on a hack and after 15mins the vet had not arrived so a local farmer came out and shot the mare there and then in the road. That was traumatic enough and I still think of it now so can only sympathise with you. I do not know the ins and outs of any form of slaughter but agree something had to be done to end any suffering as quickly as possible. xx
 
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You know... I've been thinking (!!) and sometimes it seems to me that we depend on vets FAR too much;

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I totally agree, in case of an emergency everyone should have basic knowledge as to how to treat the horse while at least waiting for the vet. For example choke, I know too many people who would just stand bak in horror while calling vet rather than try to massage the blockage or encourage the horse to lower it's head.

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You know, perhaps you're right and we should learn how to do exsanguination. I'm not sure I could perform one on my own horse, but in a desperate situation...

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I have to say if bone was protruding through skin I would be able to put my horse out her misery, unfortuantely I think the law in the UK says you're not allowed to!

I heard locally of a horse being hit by a car and seriously breaking both back legs, the next door neighbour (it happened on the road as they were returning from a hack) had a gun and a license and the vet couldn't be there for 45 minutes! When asked the vet said the man would be breaking the law if he shot the horse
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so sad as it was in utter agony for the last hour of it's life.
 
PF I am glad that someone was able to put poor filly to sleep before the shock had worn off.. not the nicest way but I would rather that way than wait for the vet.

RIP Filly x
 
How terrible, (((hugs))) to you, but it was an emergency and your yard was lucky to have brave and quick thinking person on hand, so long as the animal was killed quickly no matter what method, and the pain was ended, obviously not a nice image but at the end of day, there was no choice.
 
That is awful Silverspring
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Quite frankly I think there is often too much red tape when it comes to the welfare of animals and quite often common sense is overruled. That poor horse must have been in agony especially when the 'shock' period had elapsed.
Far better for it to have been put down and to end its suffering than to have to wait for an authorised individual to perform the task. If the person present had a gun and was licensed surely they would be competent enough to know how to handle it correctly and dispatch an animal quickly.
This red tape and pc doesn't half baffle me
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PF what happened to that filly was awful and a really tragic way for her to end her life. But I do agree that the method used to kill her in the end was acceptable rather than for her to suffer for much longer by waiting for a vet to arrive.
To be fair so long as any animal is killed humanely in such circumstances it does not bother me what method is used. While we all may prefer certain methods for our own animals, in certain circumstances the preferred method of dispatch may not be feasible. It is the animal who must come first every time and their own suffering should not be prolonged due to us being squeamish about a killing procedure.
I agree though it was a very sad situation but at least she is no longer suffering.
Cazx
 
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I heard locally of a horse being hit by a car and seriously breaking both back legs, the next door neighbour (it happened on the road as they were returning from a hack) had a gun and a license and the vet couldn't be there for 45 minutes! When asked the vet said the man would be breaking the law if he shot the horse
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so sad as it was in utter agony for the last hour of it's life.

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How awful! But would the man have known exactly where to shoot? I wonder if there is a loophole or circumstance in which an owner can authorise the shooting of a horse with what is evidently a hopeless prognosis?
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OMG how awful. Grim for all concerned. Poor filly, but I'm sure he did exactly the right thing. The most important thing was to end her pain and terror as quickly as possible.
So sorry for you all who had to deal with it.
 


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I have to say if bone was protruding through skin I would be able to put my horse out her misery, unfortuantely I think the law in the UK says you're not allowed to!

I heard locally of a horse being hit by a car and seriously breaking both back legs, the next door neighbour (it happened on the road as they were returning from a hack) had a gun and a license and the vet couldn't be there for 45 minutes! When asked the vet said the man would be breaking the law if he shot the horse
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so sad as it was in utter agony for the last hour of it's life.

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Same happend in our village, again horse left suffering with his hind leg hanging off until the vet came, there were a lot farmers on hand that could of ended its life.

If I knew my YO (famer) was very confident and knowledgeable in shooting/putting horse out of misery and pain, I know I'd ask him rather than waiting for a vet, I cant think of anything more upsetting than seeing your horse lie there in pain just to be on the right side of the law, of course I can understand the reasons why not just anyone should be able to do it though also.
 
Oh my god. No way I could have done that even if it was for the best.
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We had a riding school pony break his hind leg in the field and on the vet's instructions I injected him into a vein with a whole bottle of ACP we had on the yard. He ' fell asleep' about 10 minutes later and his heart had stopped before the vet arrived to shoot him
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.
 
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This thread reminds me of my student days, in a village in England. I drove into college in the morning, past a horse which had been hit by a car, lying in a pool of blood with at least one broken leg. It was a grey, I think.
I carried on to college, went to a lecture, and was returning home about a couple of hours later - the horse was still there, alive.
I heard later that the horse was out on loan, the vet wouldn't put it down without the real owner's permission, she was abroad so hard to contact. I also heard, that shortly after, a knackerman driving by had hopped out of his cab and put the horse to sleep, without permission.
Whenever I leave my horses with someone else, I tend to give them written permission saying the carer is allowed to have the horse euthanased without contacting me, if necessary.
I couldn't stand to have one of mine lying in the road.
B
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How awful! But would the man have known exactly where to shoot?

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I don't know
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I suppose that's why they have the law to stop people causing more distress if they get it wrong in situations like this. How are you feeling today after the trauma yesterday?
 
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Whenever I leave my horses with someone else, I tend to give them written permission saying the carer is allowed to have the horse euthanased without contacting me, if necessary.


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It's terrible to contemplate but I have it in my livery contract, I trust my YO completely and know if the choice had to be made she's do the best for the horse. I have to say when I'm away with work or abroad I leave family details (both sis and mum are horsey) just incase anything happens and permission is needed
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I agree that it was the right thing to do given the circumstances.

At least the man doing the deed knew what he was doing.
Better to be out of her misery than suffering for longer.

We have had to do the same for a lamb recently when no one with the gun licence was around - a cattle feed trough fell and landed on its back and it was just a mess. Better for the animal to be out of pain.
 
That must have been awful for you.

I think that the method of cutting the throat, if done properly is very humane. After all, it is how they slaughter pigs etc (after being stunned). Death is very fast.
 
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Oh god, that sounds horrific. But I agree with everyone else that it was definitely the best thing to do. Personally if I had the choice of my horse being put down that way or someone with a gun who didn't know what he was doing I'd choose the knife, less can go wrong. If push came to shove I'd like to think I could do that for my own horse no matter how difficult it would be.

I had no idea there were so many laws surrounding the euthenasia of animals. I'm going to go and check the laws over here now as would hate to think my girl could end up in that situation.

Hope you're feeling a bit better today PF and the shock has worn off a bit. Even though its for the best, it can't be nice seeing or even knowing that has happened.
 
It sounds like they did the right thing in the circumstances.

I'm rather surprised that a very remote yard didn't have any painkilling drugs to give the filly - keeping an emergency supply of painkillers might be a good idea in future.
 
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I heard later that the horse was out on loan, the vet wouldn't put it down without the real owner's permission, she was abroad so hard to contact. I also heard, that shortly after, a knackerman driving by had hopped out of his cab and put the horse to sleep, without permission.

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Well, I'm glad someone had the balls to do the right thing! This filly's owner is abroad at the moment, so YO made the decision, but I expect even if YO hadn't been there, the groom would've destroyed her.
 
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I heard locally of a horse being hit by a car and seriously breaking both back legs, the next door neighbour (it happened on the road as they were returning from a hack) had a gun and a license and the vet couldn't be there for 45 minutes! When asked the vet said the man would be breaking the law if he shot the horse
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so sad as it was in utter agony for the last hour of it's life.

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Unless the law has changed recentley then this is not true.

Yes it is ilegal for any person to put an animal down that IS NOT suffering.
BUT an animal that is suffering anyone can PTS.
Same as anyone in this country can own a bolt gun & to use it on animas not suffering you have to be 'vetted' to use it. ie you have to dispatch of so many of certain animals to be aloud to use it. Again that is on fit animals not ones that are suffering.

The filly was given the proper attention asap.

It is our moral duty to make sure animals do not suffer & dispatch them as quickly & humanley as possible. That is what happened to this poor filly.
 
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It sounds like they did the right thing in the circumstances.

I'm rather surprised that a very remote yard didn't have any painkilling drugs to give the filly - keeping an emergency supply of painkillers might be a good idea in future.

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Oh we do have painkillers. I think the problem with giving a horse painkilling drugs is that they will try to stand up and flail about hopelessly, or if they are standing with one broken leg, will put weight on it and make matters worse (assuming the injury is not as severe as yesterday's) I think perhaps it would be wise in future to keep some xylazine; the stuff vets use to anaesthetise horses for surgery
 
sounds horrific, as do all of these stories. I would hope that somneone would do the same for my horses in that situation. i would hate for something to happen where one of my animals is suffering and I was of no use to them. At my yard we give each other permission to call vet and do what's necessary in these circumstances if we are uncontactable.
 
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Hope you're feeling a bit better today PF and the shock has worn off a bit. Even though its for the best, it can't be nice seeing or even knowing that has happened.

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I went to see the filly's body today. I'm not sure why I wanted to. Her injuries were as bad as I imagined. At least she didn't suffer for long
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gosh how awful
i think it was best for the filly in those circumstances poor thing would have been in agony for hours waiting for a vet.as long as they were efficient and quick.
shudders to make me think about it though.just horrid.
 
Hope you are getting over the shock of a terrible incident. Thank goodness the poor filly was put out of her misery quickly (and in my opinion humanely).
I'm sure the method used to euthanase her was the best thing to do in the circumstances. For what its worth, when I was 18 I put my hand (by accident) through a window and sliced my wrist. The only thing that alerted me to my injury was the spurt of blood - and no time did I feel any pain. As I lost blood quite quickly I began to feel faint and had I been allowed to, I would have fallen into unconciousness quietly and peacefully! Luckily there were people about but the point I am making is that cutting a main artery looks horrific but is probably the least painful. I am sure the filly felt no more pain from having her throat cut.
Sympathy to all involved.
RIP little filly
 
God that sounds horrific PF, but I agree that it sounds like the best thing was done for the filly.On the subject of shooting, I'm a vet student, and we were given diagrams of all the major large animal species with crosses marked on their heads as to where to shoot (lovely eh?!) There's a big difference in the place/angle your supposed to shoot for cows/sheep/horses/pigs, so I'd imagine that someone unskilled could quite easily get it wrong. I think horses might be one of the easier onesthough - with pigs, they have a huge frontal sinus full of air, and if you shoot into that animal doesn't die. Just shows that in some circumstances the messier methods might be more effective.
 
QR
This thread reminds me of my student days, in a village in England. I drove into college in the morning, past a horse which had been hit by a car, lying in a pool of blood with at least one broken leg. It was a grey, I think.
I carried on to college, went to a lecture, and was returning home about a couple of hours later - the horse was still there, alive.
I heard later that the horse was out on loan, the vet wouldn't put it down without the real owner's permission, she was abroad so hard to contact. I also heard, that shortly after, a knackerman driving by had hopped out of his cab and put the horse to sleep, without permission.
Whenever I leave my horses with someone else, I tend to give them written permission saying the carer is allowed to have the horse euthanased without contacting me, if necessary.
I couldn't stand to have one of mine lying in the road.

This is exactly the reason why I drew up a clause in the loan agreement for my big lad. I am not prepared to let him suffer should that awful decision ever have to be made and I cannot contact the owners. It is very unlikely as I do have all their contact numbers, mobiles and all. BUT should the situation ever arise and the veterinary advice is such that the horse will suffer while I was trying in vain to contact them then I do have it in writing and signed by the owner that I have the authority to make that decision.
Personally I feel that all loaners and loanees should at least address this subject no matter how distressing it may seem or unnecessary to talk about it if the animal is otherwise healthy. Accidents can and do happen and illnesses and afflictions can cause tremendous pain, whilst at the same time being either terminal ( as in cancer) or else certain to cause death. So long as there is a mutual trust between both parties then I cannot see what should prevent this matter being addressed in written format just in case the situation ever arises.
 
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