The Hardest Decision

[Michen]

If it's going to break your heart to PTS, and she's happy enough in the field (though, it doesn't necessarily sound like she is?) then you have to decide whether you want a horse that can do a job for you and is rideable, or just to keep her for what she is as a pet, if she's comfortable as that and safe to be handled otherwise.

There is no shame in PTS a horse that can't do a job for you, they are expensive animals to keep, but ultimately when they are no longer able to work then that is often the decision we are faced with if we can't afford to have more than one.

 

[Shazzie2024]

Have you tried stripping her feed right back to grass/hay only? I only say this because I had a mare whose behaviour was very erratic and we eventually worked out that her reactions to feed were behind it. However she was never really right again and spent the rest of her life as a companion. If you feel that your only option is to pts that is the right decision. She is obviously not comfortable/happy for some reason.

Hello! She has been on only a handful of Chaff a day since Christmas as she was up to her old tricks and was far too full of herself, so i don’t think this is a fix for us sadly thank you for your suggestion though

 

[Carrottom]

I agree with others supporting your courageous decision to pts. I hope you have help from your friends and horsey professionals to get through this.

 

[Shazzie2024]

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied, you have all made a horrible and lonely decision, a little bit less so.
If only the money pit was endless i would do anything just to keep her as a pet and love her forever, but i really feel this would be a short term solution for her at best. I cannot afford to have more than one horse and feel that we are both too young (me at only 25) to commit to potentially another 20 years of no riding.
Everyone has been so kind and understanding towards the situation, thank you so much

 

[Michen]

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied, you have all made a horrible and lonely decision, a little bit less so.
If only the money pit was endless i would do anything just to keep her as a pet and love her forever, but i really feel this would be a short term solution for her at best. I cannot afford to have more than one horse and feel that we are both too young (me at only 25) to commit to potentially another 20 years of no riding.
Everyone has been so kind and understanding towards the situation, thank you so much

That is completely understandable and your choice to make. And it doesn’t sound like she would be suitable as a pet regardless.

 

[shanti]

I'm sorry for anyone that has to make this decision. It's so hard, even when we know it's the right thing to do. Bit of a different scenario, but I once waited too long to euthanise a sick dog because I couldn't make the decision and it is something I will always regret as he did suffer because of my selfishness.
There is obviously some underlying issue with your horse, and you have done everything you can to try and help her. As hard as it is, I think it's the best decision for everyone

 

[IrishMilo]

I've done it. It's horrendous but sometimes the best thing for them (and the people around them).

One was my amazing Connie, he was absolutely class and my best mate. I got him at 4 as the easiest horse ever and he slowly became more and more unhinged over 2 years. I couldn't ride him without him exploding or bolting off. He'd do really odd things - if we were having a canter out he'd suddenly just gallop off in the opposite direction to the other horses we were with and try to jump massive ditches (and fall in them...), or run through a hedge.

I eventually retired him after about a year of this and it went from bad to worse with him jumping out the fields, running through fencing, attacking other horses, jumping out the arena etc. I sent him away to retirement livery as a last resort and they asked for me to go and get him back as he was causing mayhem. Obviously being a Connie I couldn't just chuck him in a massive field as he'd end up dying of laminitis. I couldn't really see a viable option so he was put down.

Also had an OTTB who I really loved but he was physically done in and while I could have retired him to a field it didn't feel right, I worried he'd be in pain.