Spin off from Meat Man Thread. Were you/Will you be there when your horse is/was PTS?

I was there when my boy was pts by injection, felt like i owed him to be there at the last moment, he sufferd crippling arthirits and weight loss and wouldn't have made it through the winter without suffering. I held onto him while he picked the grass and the vet gave him a sedetive, then the injection.

When he was gone and i was waiting for him to be taken away, i sat with him the whole time, stroking him and telling him how much i was going to miss him, and how sorry and i was, and feeling both guilty that his life had been taken away, but also relief that he wasn't hurting anymore.

Unless it was an emergency and i could get there, i'll always be there at the last min to say goodbye.
 
i stode n held the lead rope when both mine were pts by injection n was there when they were collected,1 old age at 41 ,one collic in a youngster .i also waited for the slaughter man to shot a friends horse he wasnt up to the job it hade a throat tumer n he didnt want the vet to do it.if we have live stock at some point we will always have dead stock unless we sell them before they get old of of have the luck to never have a ill horse.i see it my duty as the owner to see my horses out in the best way possible id never have my own shot n i always have mine cremated after,
 
Sorry, I started this thread then went off to do some work!

I have a lot of admiration for people who can hold their own horses whilst they are pts, I really doubt I could do it. :( Thank you for all the replies. :)
 
I have had a number of horses PTS over my life time. Ive held every single one. They have been loyal animals so there has never been question that I would not be with them at the end. I have respect for my animals and they are all PTS at home. Never would I have them killed in a slaughter house.
 
Last edited:
I have had 5 horses pts due to illness and I've stood by them to the last every time. I honestly believe it's the last thing I can do for them as their partner and friend.

Bx
 
I was there when we had Ellie pts with the gun.

I am so glad I was as it was nowhere near as awful as I had imagined it would be.

Ellie was mid stride when the shot was fired, she was striding along, ears pricked and happy, she never knew what happened and was dead before she hit the floor.

I wouldn't hesitate to be there again.
 
I would have given anything to be with Lucy when she was PTS. Many on here know about her illness. She had been ill for 8 months but seemed to be picking up. I was due to go away with my parents on a canal boat holiday. I didn't realy want to go but as Lucy had improved and seemed to be doing well I was perswaded to go. About 4 days into the holiday I got the worst phonecall of my life. My vet was nearly in tears. Lucy had lost alot of weight literaly over night and she seemed very unsteady on her legs. :(:(:( My vet said she wasn't suffering and she could try to make her more comfortable till I got home. We where miles away from the car on a canalboat and I was due to be away for 2 weeks. I had to make the terrable desition to let her go. :(:(:( I cryed and cryed I just wanted to have the chance to say goodbye but I knew that if I asked Lucy to wait for me she could have started to suffer and then it would have all been about me and everything I have ever done has been about Lucy and that wasn't about to change. My vet was amazing and arranged everything. She was even there at the end eventhough Lucy went to hounds. I still feel guilty about not being there for Lucy when she needed me most but I know I did the right thing in letting her go. I also believe she waited for me to be away so I didn't have to see her give up the fight.
I have been there for other peoples horses when they could not. It is diffrent when it's not your own but I do wish I had been there for Lucy. :(:(:( I will always tey to be there for my own but sadly sercumstance my dictate diffrently.
 
I hope I will be able to be there for them but I just don't know if I would be too distressed. I suspect it will depend on the circumstances. I've been there for my cats when they have gone, but not sure I could do the same for my horses. I have a pact with a friend that we will be there for the other's horses if necessary.
 
yes, I was there. It was the last thing I could do for him to make sure he went with comfort of me being strong and not weeping all over him. I did my crying the whole week before so I could be there for him on the day. I'll never forget it, and it was horrible giving the permission, but I owed him that to see him out of pain
 
i have been there for some (both injection and gun) and not for others (only due to circumstances, not thriough choice neseccarily). I have been in tears and obviously upset but not hysterically, still capable of actions and talking etc, just very sad.Ive never regretted either being there or missing it, to be there you know you are there for the horse and that is comforting, to not be there you know you have been spared those 'last moment' memories wich is also comforting. I have also beeen there when having to manhandle stiff carcasses out of awkward stables to get to the van and have been there when the vets have jumped in the back of the van to disect immediately. Neither was at all hard, i had said my goodbyes and 'my horse' was gone, it was just a body then. I was very very surprised how my feelings toward the body changed when i knew they'd gone.
 
Those who have had to be PTS via injection I have been there. My father has handled the ones that have been PTS through the gun. I woudl be too upset to make sure the job was done properly with the gun and he knows what he is doing so to make sure they have someone they know and its done swift and quick he sorts it out. I have never been further than 5 meters away from any of mine when they have been PTS except the first and it needed to be done before I could get back to him. He had the woman that gave him to me and my Dad. They are never on their own in their last minutes.

I never watch my own being removed as I woudl hate to see them being moved about like that. I don't care what anyone says no matter how hard you try its never dignified when they take them away. I would happily be there to sort it out for someone else though if they needed someone to be there and they couldn't be.

I think each person is very different so for anyone who wasn't there I wouldn't want them to feel bad about it. For me its a part of the mourning process and I can ensure that they know how very I love them and how grateful I am to them for all they have given me if I am there. I also want to know that it is as quick and painless as possible which ever way it happens.

When A was PTS I sang to him. I had his head in my lap to help keep him calm, he was paralised anyway so couldn't move but he was terrified and calmed down when I held as much of him as I could and sang to him. He always was a big girls blouse though! He went very calmly and peacefully. R was the gun and Dad was making a fuss of her so she thought she was in luck! She always had a thing for him and would flirt outragously with him! B went mad as he was utterly in love with her so I stayed with him to keep him calmer. J was also by gun and he was the one I couldn't get back to. Dad made sure it was quick and J was a very proud animal so he was allowed to stand on his feet with the people he knew close by but not touching as he wouldn't have wanted it.

Always been there for my dogs and everyone of them has died while being hugged/ fussed the way they liked. Been there for rabbits and guinni pigs as well so no one has been on their own. Its sad but a fact of life and you have to get on with it and mourn, then remember them.
 
Ive had both of mine put down by injection. Daizy was so poorly at the vet hospital where she had been in intensive care for 3 days, that the vets told us that she wouldnt know we were there, but she managed to lift her head onto my knee and whicker. Mum and I were in contamination suitsbut she knew our voices and Im so glad I was there. We then left her to be disposed of by the vet (joint cremation).
Sunny was different in that I held him as the vet injected him and guided him to the ground, then we all (mum, dad, my best friend and I) sat with him and waited for the pet crem to collect him, then Kate, Mum and I helped the (lovely) chaps to put him onto the winch pad and eased him out of the stable.
I felt a huge sense of peace and tranquility even when we were holding his feet to stop them bumping on the step down out of the stable and was so greatful to the men who collected him that they let us help - even though we were talking to Sunny still and telling him he was being a really good boy! Must have thought us quite potty!!
Its very individual, personally I will always be there - circumstance permitting - with my horses, and will always choose injection as all the sheep we have shot seemed to take too long to die, although probably not in reality!
My boss had her old lad shot, and left him before he went down, she said it was instant, and he was calm even though he was a bit of a nut job, She prefers to have them shot I think, personal choice isnt it, no right or wrong answer. x
 
I hope I'll be there, I'd like to be. I always thought when the time came that I would have the vet and the LI, but recent threads have made me think about whether or not this is the best for my horses...
 
I chose to be with Charlie, I had been through everything else with him and wanted to be there with him. I was very upset so had my yo and hubby with him, in a way it really helped as I knew I had to be strong so that he didnt pick up on it.
He was pts by injection and had been warned what could happen, vet was very good stayed very quiet and calm, he went extremely peacefully. He was given a sedalin paste in the morning, then when vet arrived he had another sedative, he started to go (he was v ill for 3months) he then was given the overdose (vet gave him 2 to ensure he had passed) he slipped away very peacefully with me talking and stroking him( this is when I got very upset.) I chose to stay for 10mins(I kissed, cuddled spoke to him).
I did not want to see him being put on the lorry so my mum took me away while my hubby and yo stayed with him, I had made my hubby promise he would stay with him, my hubby said I could ask what had happened when I left (I asked 3mths later)

I will always be there with my horses as I want them to sense me and to have a familiar person, dont think it ever gets easy but to me it is an important part of me being there owner and friend.
 
I was their when my old pony Squeak was put to sleep 6 months ago, she was 34 years old and had been with me 21 years, i felt i owed it to her to stay with her and I will be with Pluto when the time comes.
 
MissCandy said:
I was holding my first pony (10 years ago) when he was put to sleep by injection. It was very peaceful and I'm glad I was there. I wasn't present for the disposal though.

I am having my current horse pts next week. This time I have chosen the hunt. She is a very big girl and scared of vets and needles so I feel this is the right choice for her.

I intend to be with her as I want me to be the last person she sees. I imagine it is going to be very traumatic for me, I am really scared of being there if I'm honest, but I could not ask somebody else to hold her. That is not to judge anyone else, if somebody offered to hold her I would be tempted to accept their offer but I don't think its fair to ask somebody else to go through it.

We will see what happens next week - I am trying to be strong now but I may feel differently on the day when the huntsman (is that the right title?) arrives at the yard.
Click to expand...
legally you wont be allowed to hold your horse when a gun is involved its to dangerous .
 
I was there when my old boy Miri was done, it seemed right. It was the right thing to do. I regret not being there when Sunny went, my dad thought it was best if I wasn't - he was wrong, I was so cross with him.
I will continue to be there with everyone else when the time comes. My family know this, and even if Iam miles away I will do my upmost to see them off. (Unless urgent situation dictate otherwise).
I have seen and held so many others, and its always sad, but its something I think as a horse owner and carer, I have to do. We owe it to them.
 
When I was 18 I had a lovely little TB mare called Pippa, I had a phone call from the yard just after we had finished our christmas dinner from one of the other liveries saying Pippa had broken her leg in the field and she had called the vet. My best friend was staying with me for christmas and she had to come to the yard with me.
She was calmly standing eating a haynet in the barn when I got there and I had some hope that she would be ok. My Mum said she would pay for anything that needed doing (she wasn't insured) but when the vet got there he said nothing could be done as she had totally shattered her pastern bone :(
I was in pieces and beside myself sobbing into her neck, so much that my friend and the vet had to pull me off her.
The vet told me I couldn't be there when he put her to sleep and my friend had to hold her. I went and sat in the YO house.

5 minutes later my friend came running in crying and gave me a hug and I knew she had gone :(

At the time I was too upset but now I wonder if I should have been there or whether I did the right thing by going away. She was a real one person horse and very attached to me, although she did know and like my friend.
 
I have been there for mine, and held horses for others. Where possible I will always be there.

I can stay calm, even in the most distressing circumstances so it works for me. It might not work for everybody.
 
For my last horse, I was there for him, right to the end. I was able to remain cool, calm and collected, for his sake and his sake alone, coz I didn't want his last memory of me to be upset around him.

With the boy I have now, he's 14 and I'll never sell him, and if I'm still around on planet earth I will be there for him, whenever the time comes.
 
I was with Woody I gave him a pat called him a good lad and handed him over, he was then out of pain for ever miss him so much. :( He had kissing spines but became very aggressive had to give him two syringes of sedaline just to say goodbye :(

I had hidden Toffee round the back of the shelter with loads of hay and just cuddled her and cried my eyes out.

I was with my friend when her arab was put down and I hid in her cobs mane when the bolt went. I changed my feelings though about what horses should see as she was down in the field amongst her friends they saw it and stood with her body for ages the youngster even ran her nose through the blood from the bolt gun. But they were calm, unlike Toffee when I lost Woody, I couldnt catch her, she woulnd have feed for about 5 days and dropped lots of weight (shes a good doer norm). Im a terrible one for tears I cried at every one of chickens but I would never say no if some one asked me to hand their horse over the green pastures in the sky.

Sorry wittled on.
 
. My 1st pony was shot but I wasnt there as too upset. Injection for these two when the time comes. I will be there with the horse or pony then leave after its done. However I couldnt watch them drag the body away,I wouldnt want to see that. Id want the animal cremated.
 
working for HAPPA i saw it many times, have held friends horses

To my little mare i have made 2 promises

1/ no one will ever ever hurt you again mentally or physically
2/ i will stand by your side when that day comes calm and strong just for you beautiful baby. you are my life my rock and i owe you that one time to be strong - then my tears will flow
yes i will stand by her side proud to have been honoured to own such a beautiful inspirational horse - my baby
 
I was holding Pharaoh when he was put down. I knew it was a matter of time before his illness got that bad and I had made the decision that he would be put down when he next had a flare up. Several people said that I should not be there as I am 16 but I am glad I was (mind you some people said there was no need for him to be pts until they found out the post mortem results...). If i'm honest I was dreading it, I was worried it would be a strung out process but it wasn't, he went down carefully but quickly (injection) and it was as nice as it could be for all involved. After seeing him put down I definitely would not hesitate in having a horse put down again if needed.
 
I've had 2 PTS and one shot. The first wasn't an emergency, just my 37 YO eventing pony who had outlived his body. He was 37. It did not go well, he fought the drug.

Then I had another old pony I took to the hunt and wasn't allowed to stay.

Three years ago I had to put another old mare down. She was colicing and actually putting her down was easier than seeing her in agony since it took the vet several hours to arrive.

If you have never seen it done, put a fly mask on the horse. Most likely they won't close their eyes.

We can bury horses on our land but I don't watch that
 
I was with my old pony of 29 years when he was put down by injection and it didn't go well at all as he tried to get up in the middle. It was very traumatic but could have been worse and I have made a huge effort not to let it haunt me.

I was also with a friend's old horse who was already down and we couldn't get up, even with a strong pain killing injection. He went very quickly and peacefully by injection and I think he wanted to go.

When my current invalid goes I think I will have him intravenously sedated by the vet and shot by the knackerman in order to make it swift. I will stay with him for the injection, but will walk away before the shot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top