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

PapaFrita

PapaFrita

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I'm not sure what to think or how to feel. A filly fell over today, apparently hitting a stone trough and she broke both hind legs. Apparently (and I didn't go over to have a look) the injuries were horrific, with the bones protruding through the skin. Bearing in mind that we're pretty remote, and getting any vet out would take a pretty long time, especially on a Sunday, the YO asked one of the grooms (a proper gaucho) to put the filly out of her misery, which he did with minimum fuss. He did NOT use a gun though and I suspect he cut her throat. Now, I know this is not a pretty way for a horse to die, but on the other hand she must've been in horrific pain, so much so that she probably wouldn't have felt the knife (if indeed that's what he did) and on reflection I think it would've been crueller to wait until the vet arrived, but it's SO not the way I'm used to things being done so I'm still rather shocked. What do you peeps think?
 
Definitely better. 100% and I wouldnt hesitate to have the same done in the situation, its about stopping the horse from suffering, not looking pretty or being publicly acceptable.
RIP filly
 
God, poor filly. That sounds totally awful.

I find the way this horse was killed quite shocking but I am presuming that the gaucho is used to killing animals in this way - in which case I do not disagree that he did the best thing for the filly.

The reason I am shocked is because culturally it would not be acceptable here. But I doubt many horsemen would have the skill.
 
What an awful thing to have happen
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On reflection, although its not the way any of us would want it done, under the circumstances I think it was better to do it that way than wait for the vet

Maybe I'm being a bit naive here but I thought that on remote yards such as yours the YO would have had a bolt .....
 
Woah, thats horrible. Not the method, the incident. Hope your ok.

Slitting the throat is not as horrific as it sounds if you are worried. If the jugular is slit with a very sharp knife, no only will they not feel it but the sudden drop in blood pressure to the brain renders them unconsious. I know its not much consolation but not sure what else I can say. Hope everything gets better
 
Agree - much worse for filly to wait for the vet and suffer
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plus, when shooting a horse there is a spot the size of a thumb that kills instanlty, and is very hard to hit, so if missed would cause more pain (i think)

Poor filly
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I find the way this horse was killed quite shocking but I am presuming that the gaucho is used to killing animals in this way - in which case I do not disagree that he did the best thing for the filly.

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Yes, he has done it before and agreed to do it straight away.

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The reason I am shocked is because culturally it would not be acceptable here. But I doubt many horsemen would have the skill.

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Yes, quite, that's how I feel about it!
 
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Maybe I'm being a bit naive here but I thought that on remote yards such as yours the YO would have had a bolt .....

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Well, I personally would rather have used a gun (I believe bolts are unreliable on horses) but even WITH a gun I believe you have to know exactly where to shoot or it can go horribly wrong.
Perhaps YO will get a bolt or gun in future.
 
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Surely some one would have had a gun ? or some sort of rifle ??

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TBH I recon it would be easier to hash the job with a gun, than with a knife.
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Surely some one would have had a gun ? or some sort of rifle ??

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Nope. But even if someone HAD had one I'm pretty sure there is a science of sorts to shooting a horse. You HAVE to know exactly where to shoot

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I feel sick after reading about them cutting her throat
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, I know they did it in the best interest of the foal but ...... Still .
Ver very sad
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Very sad indeed
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Slitting the throat is not as horrific as it sounds if you are worried. If the jugular is slit with a very sharp knife, no only will they not feel it but the sudden drop in blood pressure to the brain renders them unconsious.

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Yes, that's what I thought; that whilst it's visually quite disturbing, the horse in fact feels very little pain and is barely aware of it happening

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I know its not much consolation but not sure what else I can say. Hope everything gets better

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Well, I'm glad the YO and groom acted as promptly as they did for the sake of the filly.
 
Given it was a choice between the filly lying in pain for an extended period of time (after the numbing effect of shock has worn off), or her being PTS by exsanguination, I know which I'd choose.
I used to do a lecture on euthanasia...and always wondered if I should teach how to do exsanguination (it's the American vet recommended method, I believe, if you are geographically far from treatment).
B
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Do you have any recommended info on that, S becomes B?
It would be really useful here in France to have as much knowledge as possible on euthanasia.
Ta in advance.
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ETA, so sorry, PF, for you to be there and for the filly, but the right thing was done, I think......... it would have been awful to wait ages for a vet.........
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You know... I've been thinking (!!) and sometimes it seems to me that we depend on vets FAR too much; that there are times, such as this, when you simply can't wait for the vet and there are emergency procedures every horse owner should know and aren't taught as a matter of course; for instance, I think horse owners should know how to apply injections, remove a shoe (not a vet emergency, I know, but quite useful) and apply a Robert Jones splint. 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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Putting myself in remote Argentinian shoes, I would feel relived that someone skilled was there to dispatch my animal in that manner.

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I know! My initial reaction was "Oh ****, how long will she have to stay like that?!" so I was quite relieved that she was put out of her misery promptly although the method surprised me somewhat...
 
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