henryhorn
Well-Known Member
I had an old mare (18) pts this morning, she was bred by us and sold on as a four year old. She started her career SJ then got kicked by the owner's other horse, had two stifle ops but was unrideable again. We bought her back for meat price and she has bred some lovely foals over the years, but her last year hasn't been good, she stayed lean looking despite having her teeth done, wormed for every possible parasite and being on adlib haylage after good grazing.
My husband and I have disagreed re pts, I wanted to do it last autumn, he said give her time not in foal to see if that worked, but she remained lean and last week I watched her attempt to play with the rest one windy day.
They were all charging about but she made one attempt, leapt in the air and bucked, went "Ouch!" and hobbled after them looking in pain. The injury has always restricted her movement in one back leg but her quality of life was good before, and she partied like the rest, but I knew instantly the time had come.
The vet came and we led her to a secluded corner of the next field, unfortunately the herd thought because she was in the good grass field they would all be following and went mental. leaving me hanging on to a supposedly lame horse who was now dancing round me in a circle!
She calmed down with the aid of a bucket of feed and the vet used scissors to make a space in her coat for the needle, she had a sedation straight into the vein then carried on eating calmly. After about two mins he inserted an overdoes of anaesthetic after the sedation and within seconds she crumpled to her knees and fell sideways, well under the influence of the drug. She kicked her legs once gently and that was it.
We waited until he was sure it was done then they left me alone for a while to think.
The entire herd stood along the hedge and watched her go, and afterwards her best friends stayed whilst the rest wandered off again.
I cried a bit but in reality I am not that sad, she had a good life with us, I watched her being born and I held her as she died, how many horses have that sort of continuality in their lives?
I will still no doubt keep looking for her for a while, but feel I have done my best for her, the vet agreed arthritic changes could account for the continued weight loss, and the time was right.
Rest in peace Minty, you were always a bargy madam, but a good Mum and no real trouble.
I hope this report reassures anyone wondering how a horse dies by injection, sometimes they give a big sigh but I reckon it's the same feeling as being in the operating theatre, you just fall asleep and dream..
My husband and I have disagreed re pts, I wanted to do it last autumn, he said give her time not in foal to see if that worked, but she remained lean and last week I watched her attempt to play with the rest one windy day.
They were all charging about but she made one attempt, leapt in the air and bucked, went "Ouch!" and hobbled after them looking in pain. The injury has always restricted her movement in one back leg but her quality of life was good before, and she partied like the rest, but I knew instantly the time had come.
The vet came and we led her to a secluded corner of the next field, unfortunately the herd thought because she was in the good grass field they would all be following and went mental. leaving me hanging on to a supposedly lame horse who was now dancing round me in a circle!
She calmed down with the aid of a bucket of feed and the vet used scissors to make a space in her coat for the needle, she had a sedation straight into the vein then carried on eating calmly. After about two mins he inserted an overdoes of anaesthetic after the sedation and within seconds she crumpled to her knees and fell sideways, well under the influence of the drug. She kicked her legs once gently and that was it.
We waited until he was sure it was done then they left me alone for a while to think.
The entire herd stood along the hedge and watched her go, and afterwards her best friends stayed whilst the rest wandered off again.
I cried a bit but in reality I am not that sad, she had a good life with us, I watched her being born and I held her as she died, how many horses have that sort of continuality in their lives?
I will still no doubt keep looking for her for a while, but feel I have done my best for her, the vet agreed arthritic changes could account for the continued weight loss, and the time was right.
Rest in peace Minty, you were always a bargy madam, but a good Mum and no real trouble.
I hope this report reassures anyone wondering how a horse dies by injection, sometimes they give a big sigh but I reckon it's the same feeling as being in the operating theatre, you just fall asleep and dream..
