The topic of PTS

Spring Feather

Spring Feather

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Euthanasia is a hot topic on this forum and I got thinking about how many of my own horses I have made this decision for and how many client horses I've stood with while they took their last breath, but I very quickly ran out of fingers and toes! I've had some horses shot, some euthanised and a couple have died whilst waiting for the vet to arrive. Regardless of the method, I've been with every single one of my horses at the end. I believe it's all part of my responsibility as their owner to show them this last courtesy.

How many horses have you personally had PTS and what are your thoughts on being there at the end with them?
 
Three, all shot. I was there for only one of them. The other two I was so closely attached to that I knew that my own overwhelming emotions were going to upset them badly, so they went round the corner with my other half. I do my friend's for them for the same reason.

With a bullet, they don't know what's coming and it's only like leaving them with someone they know while you go and fetch something. I would not leave a horse which was injected because they know something is going on as they lose control, but I would not have a horse injected if a bullet/bolt is available.
 
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I have personally been with three that were PTS. One was a client's horse, one my own and another a loan horse. I was unable to be with a fourth as he was at Rossdales and unable to stand after a colic operation. They rang to tell me this at 4 am and I gave my instruction to PTS over the phone. I was 2 hours away and felt that he needed putting out of his misery before I was able to get there. All four were PTS by injection. Personally I would not have the bullet, but understand that others feel differently. Each to their own preference. I would always try my hardest to be with them to the very end.
 
Lost 3. All 3 were injected by the vet. All 3 were held by my daughter and myself until the last moment. All 3 were peaceful and in their own fields.
One had an nonrecoverable injury after 7 months of box rest, one had chronic ligament damage and was no longer paddock sound, and one was 28 with cushings and had her first bout of lami but was not doing well. All 3 were loved and are still missed:(
I have no regrets about any of them and would do the same again every time. Our vets have always been wonderful calm and supportive. It is the hardest thing every time. The older I get and the more horses I have lost the more my motto has become the famous "better a day too soon than a moment too late."
 
I've lost count of the numbers and don't feel like sitting here remembering them, but all of mine I have been with at the end, and I have also been there for a lot of clients' horses.

I think it's more important that there is someone quiet and unflustered with a horse when it's euthanased, and that is not necessarily the owner.
 
One,and the decision was taken out of my hands because sadly there was nothing my Vet could do for her,it made it worse because she was only young,i only lost my little Girl in March this year and it still hurts now,the Vet said she wouldn't have lived much longer she was already down so she was injected and she went very quickly,it was heartbreaking but i was glad i was with my Baby at the end.
 
Just the one pts - my old mare was pts in April at 35. I couldn't be there as she deteriorated too quickly for me to get there (1 1/2 hours drive) but my friend/yo who had looked after her for 17 years was with her. Not sure what I would have done if I had had the choice. I have been with other animals when they have died, but not when they were pts (either my husband or Dad have been). That said I would be if the circumstances dictated it. I tend to be quite strong when things actually happen and then grieve afterwards.
 
Two.

The first I took back to the AHT so they could carry out further research. That was hard, but I didn't want my horse to die in vain, however stupid that sounds. They would only let me stay with her till she'd had the first injection. I found that very hard. I sat with her afterwards, which helped me, but I still wish I'd stayed with her.

The second was a couple of months ago. I was feeding him carrots as he went. I don't think he felt a thing or knew a moments distress.

Both were by injection.

If its something I ever need to do again, I'll stay with him/her to the end.
 
I had my beloved old mare pts last month:( I miss her every day, but would only of been keeping her here for my own selfish reasons when she desperately needed to go to sleep. I held her till the end, and after :o I always said she would end her days with me and she did, there is no way I could of passed her on.
 
Been there with all of mine and many of my friends. I agree with OP, it is my duty and the last respect I can give them for the joy they have given me.

I had one of my dogs PTS this morning, at home, his head in my hands. Again, I owed it to him.
 
9, 2 by vet's injection and the other 7 shot either by hunt or knacker/Equine Crem. I have stayed with all of them except 2 when we asked to go inside, I found out later that this was because someone had thrown herself at the horse's body and refused to allow knacker to load it onto the vehicle. She knows us better now and has realised we have mutual friends, so the last time she was here she stood in the yard with us while the vet did the job. She did offer to hold the horse for me but I declined.
I did not like the experience either time we had to have the injection and would prefer not to repeat it. Both horses struggled far more than any who have been shot, as they knew nothing at all about it.
 
A few over the years, always thought I would only use bullet but last one was our lovely old pony and she had colic. Did not suffer long as we said to vet that she was 30 and we didn't want to keep her going if there was little hope . She had massive painkiller and relaxant. Vet stayed , gave her 30 minutes but she was not getting better just not suffering. Gave her the injection and she fell asleep in my daughter's arms as she was already laying down. It was very peaceful, if only it could always be like that. Buried at home with her head wrapped in a sheet. RIP Paradise Coriander
 
We've lost 3, 2 oldies unable to stand in their field, one PTS due to severe laminitis. All 3 were by injection, as the the vets didn't have a bolt gun with them. I've been with them all. The 2 oldies were probably the easiest (if that's the right word), they were already down and it was very peaceful. Laminitis horse was awful as she was only young and the least likely candidate for laminitis ever. Only regret about her (apart from her age) was that we didn't have a PM done, the vet suggested it as she thought the lami may have been caused by "something" wrong with her gut.

Held a friends shetland while it was shot. That was all pre-arranged as he was elderly and they didn't want him to go through another winter. Think his PTS was the one that affected me most, as although old he was fine mooching about in the summer. I don't blame them one little bit for doing it, but I did find it upsetting afterwards.

Personally I'd prefer to be there, but I know that others feel different. I'd rather them be with calm strangers than get upset as their owner is upset. When I did work experiance at a vets, the owner was there for 2 old ponies being put down and got extremely upset about it. The ponies were terrified. Wasn't pleasant to watch, and I don't think it was nice for those ponies. If anyone asked me again, I'd do it.
 
15, a combination of my own and clients, some planned, some emergency, one died while waiting for the owner to make a decision.

I was there for all except the one that was hacked the short distance to the very local hunt kennels where he spent his last hour near his beloved hounds, he had been a hunt secretaries horse and lived to hunt so was allowed this final journey to his favourite place.

4 are buried here under trees planted for them.

It is the last thing you are able to do for them and your clients, as hard as it may be anyone that takes on responsibility for an animal must be prepared to make that decision if they have to, as a YO I would always support the owners wishes. The horse that died waiting could have ended her suffering sooner but they would not make the call, nowdays I would be more likely to push but it was the first one for me and the vet could not force the owners to pts.
 
Have been with all but three for two I was not in the country and one was a three yo long story but I just could not make myself do it so I went to a friends for one hour.
 
My old mare was 29 and was collapsed in the field early one morning. Vet came and said she had liver failure plus her was against her. She was pts with injection and it was peaceful. I stayed with her until the end. My friends horse was only 5,but he died in horspital after poisoning made him go blind. He was slowly dying so the vets put him to sleep. All very sad but part of animal ownership :-(
 
Only one, my last horse was put to sleep by injection at Liphook just over a year ago. He had severe colitis with a 50/50 chance, but he was actually improving slightly when I spoke to the vet a few hours before he sadly deteriorated again. I wasn't there with him as I got a call at 3am asking for my permission to put him to sleep as he had deteriorated rapidly and his organs were failing and they weren't able to save him; I was over an hour's drive away and he would probably have died by the time I got there anyway. It wasn't a difficult decision, I just wanted him to be out of pain as soon as possible; of course it was absolutely heartbreaking though. I still feel bad that I wasn't there for him and hope that the next time I lose a horse it will be a more peaceful experience, for me and the horse.
 
Why O why are there so many PTS topics. There is no need to dwell on the heart break we all face at some point when we keep horses or any other animal. I have lost a fair few over the years, most at the end of long and happy lives, one in tragic circumstances, but I don't feel the need to tell everyone any details.

Change the subject - treasure what you had or have, enjoy every moment with the lovely horses we are fortunate to own and spend our lives with.

Rant over, I just find the endless PTS topics so depressing, and for those facing the decision, be led by your vet, do the best by your horse and don't be ashamed to be heartbroken.
 
Thankfully none of my horses as yet, but I own an veteran who will be 20 in May next year and he will staying with me until the end. He is happy, healthy and sound at the moment, but I guess the time will come sooner rather than later. When it does, I will make sure I can be with him at the end, if its at all possible.

I have owned many cats and dogs and I have always made sure I am with them at the end. I feel its the final kindness I can give them for all the years of happiness they have given me, and I dont feel it will be any different with any of my horses.

Mini TX and I have had many chats over the method. I would prefer my cob to be shot by the hunt. He enjoyed his hunting, and I know that he will then live on in the hounds so to speak. Mini TX woudl prefer injection for her mare, but to be fair, I think that circumstances will dictate the method at the time, and certainly neither of them, or any other horses I may own in the future, will ever be allowed to suffer.

I just hope I have the courage to let either of my horses go a day too early, I;ve seen a couple of old boys who have been kept alive when they have been suffering because the owner could not bring themselves to let them go, and it was horrible. However, for some odd reason I know I will, even though it will be awful, especially with my old boy who is my little soulmate and my first horse. Oh dear, I am sitting here sobbing .........
 
One euthenised by injection. Was very quick, but I saw the panic in his eyes as he went and swore never again.
Many that have been shot, my own, and other peoples (last being my very veteran shetty stallion).
I will always be with mine for the deed, and they will go after a pat and a polo.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Why O why are there so many PTS topics. There is no need to dwell on the heart break we all face at some point when we keep horses or any other animal. I have lost a fair few over the years, most at the end of long and happy lives, one in tragic circumstances, but I don't feel the need to tell everyone any details.

Change the subject - treasure what you had or have, enjoy every moment with the lovely horses we are fortunate to own and spend our lives with.

Rant over, I just find the endless PTS topics so depressing, and for those facing the decision, be led by your vet, do the best by your horse and don't be ashamed to be heartbroken.
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I do understand but sometimes when it is quite raw and new it is helpful to hear other stories. I agree entirely with your statement about treasure what you have or had. Some people just travel the same journey along a different path - not wrong or right - just different.

If it upsets people they do not have to click on the thread. I am sorry if it is upsetting for some people.
 
I don't understand why so many are against the injection but yet would let their horse have a general anaesthetic for an operation. The horse feels exactly the same. I have watched my child go under GA too many times. Even as a sixteen year old he had panic in his eyes just as the injection hit him. But when questioned afterwards he says he doesn't remember feeling apprehensive. The vet who I questioned about it last time I had a horse PTS said that horses act exactly the same for a GA as they do for lethal injection. We should try not to read too much into their expressions. I know it's hard.
 
I have had 2 of my own pts, both by injection. One broke her leg a couple of weeks before her 24th birthday. The other was at least 27 (didn't know her exact age). She rapidly lost condition and all her zest for life, vet tried several things on her and nothing was working, she continued to go downhill so she was pts. I stayed with them right up until the vet was ready to put the needle in then my best friend held them and I walked away.

I can deal with very sick horses and I can deal with dead horses, it's the actual dying bit that freaks me out a bit :o My friend said she would do it for my other ponies when the time comes too.
 
3 personally, 4 tomorrow. Aged pony shot by vet and buried, lame TB taken to kennels, and old pony had kennel man in her field before going to the hounds. Tomorrow, kennel man will come for the old horse.
Plus 4 at BE events - as a fence judge I've lost 2, as a groom 1 and as a 'passing' spectator 1. All shot by vets.
Plus 1 event horse at home, he broke his leg XC schooling, cantering between jumps that were only 2'6''. He was a previous advanced horse. Shot by vet.
Also at home when we hosted a MINI hunter trial, one horse walking past me, looked all wobbly, rider knew, and got off just before the horse fell dead. They hadn't even done their round yet. Waste of a baby horse at his first event.
 
Spring Feather said:
Euthanasia is a hot topic on this forum and I got thinking about how many of my own horses I have made this decision for and how many client horses I've stood with while they took their last breath, but I very quickly ran out of fingers and toes! I've had some horses shot, some euthanised and a couple have died whilst waiting for the vet to arrive. Regardless of the method, I've been with every single one of my horses at the end. I believe it's all part of my responsibility as their owner to show them this last courtesy.

How many horses have you personally had PTS and what are your thoughts on being there at the end with them?
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Since the 19 70's when I did my training I saw many many many many horses shot I would never have it .

But personally:

I have had two so far PTS both cremated (of which I have both their caskets)
would not have it any other way .

I would always use injection and would always be there long after they have gone. Both died in my arms

I have checked the truck on both cases before they were loaded then went off and cried while they were put in.

I would not have it any other way.
 
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My old boy was PTS today he had a heart condition. its heart breaking but didn't want to see him go down hill rapidly so he left me on a high. Injection was peaceful and calm.
 
I held Flamey. The other two I've had put down were done between my ex-YO (farmer) and vets, and vets at horsepital respectively.

The first one I was a teenager and told I should leave it to them. I was happy with that, they were all people whose competence I trusted. The second was down the other end of the country and me going to join in and prat about instead of letting the vets get on with it just seemed pointless tbh. i think people like to big up the sentimentality really, as long as the horse is held by someone calm and professional I doubt they give a monkeys whether they're with their owner or not, its not like they know they're being put down, is it? I suppose its worse when say horses are kept at home and only used to being handled by one person, my horses are all used to being handled by various yard staff.

I don't like some posts on these threads, its like they try to make people feel guilty if they don't hang round with their horse until it dies. :confused:
 
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