Thoughts on putting your horse to sleep because of financial reasons

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Frankel13

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Wondering what people's thoughts are on this? I've had my 17 year old for 7 years and he is my world but since I changed jobs and earn 5k less than what I used to I am find ing it increasingly hard each winter to afford to keep him. I do not want to go down this route I love him to much and he is fit and healthy at the moment still working at advance medium :) I would never sell him and just wondered if anyone else is in a similar situation?
It's probably just winter blues as don't feel like this in summer plus when he lives out costs drop :) just want people's thoughts and nothing abusive ! Chances of me going through with this is slim unless I loose my job
 
Why wouldn't you sell him on/loan him out? 17 isn't that old and you said yourself he's still working fine?? I would consider that for my little mare if there was NO other option as she's a lami and colic prone slightly mad and prone to freak outs out of nowhere. Can't be ridden, has to have very restricted grazing but doesn't keep weight on so has to have quite a bit of soaked hay and fast fibre all year round. She's generally a nightmare to keep so if it ever came to having to let her go there wouldn't be people waiting in a que for her. So that would have to be on the list of options :(
 
None. PTS would be if the horse was in pain OR if in real financial trouble and having a horse that was retired and could never go anywhere else.

So, think on the fact that you are now halfway through winter. Could you get an evening job to tide you over? And next year, why not prep your horse and have him living out in winter as well? There are very few horses that hate it and, providing you have set him up he should be fine. Or give him a break till after Xmas, have him living out and then bring in and start working in prep for spring. Next year, why not work out your total yearly costs and have a monthly amount going out to a separate account. That way, come winter, your costs won't change if you want him in.

Alternatively, you could loan him out particularly if he is working at the level you said.

It's winter, we all get fed up. It seems like a lot of work and money for much less fun. I am fed up with the mud and lack of light but have a plan for mine to keep me going..that and the knowledge there will be a break when the snow comes !
 
I hope I'm never in the situation where I have to do it as I would find it very hard to do.

However, if the horse in question had issues and could end up being used and abused if put out on loan or sold, then I would rather ensure this didn't happen and pts. The thought of someone treating my horse horribly is more upsetting than the thought of him being pts.
 
I'd look at ways of reducing costs further, such as turning away for winter, no shoes/lessons/competing and mainly forage diet and then get a sharer for the coming Spring if the horse was healthy and capable of work.

If the horse had issues that meant a sharer would be difficult to find and I couldn't afford the bare essentials then yes, I would put to sleep.
 
I think its fine for the horse, but it 's a shame when he has a lot to offer and there would be a lot of other homes that could and would like to provide his upkeep. I think, since he's healthy and working, you could be selective about who had him and made use of him on loan, keep him safe and at the same time allow him to have years more life. I can't see why you wouldn't at least try to do this first tbh.
 
Goodness me, that would be the last thing I would consider in your shoes. I was expecting to read about an old unridable horse, not one that is only 17 and working at advanced medium. :confused:

Could you get a sharer? Or put him out on loan as a school master? People would be falling over themselves to have him. I would, if I didn't already have two field ornaments. :)
 
I am just about to make that phonecall to the vet. And god have I shed a lot of tears. But he is 28, and been retired for about 10 years. I was going to let him live to a disgraceful old age, on my own farm, but things have changed, i am now paying livery for him, and I can ill afford to do that, as well as eat. I have made the hard decision, i had to wait till I got some money in to do it. That money came in on friday so call to be made this morning. my boy is not sound, I would never let him go as a companion as it is my call and my responsibility to ensure he is never abused or ill treated. i have had him since he was 4 he owes me nothing, I owe him everything. At 18 if your boy is still sound, happy and healthy then sell him, or loan him with a water tight agreement and a weekly check from yourself. Or get a sharer to ride him and help with the costs.
 
Bosworth said:
I am just about to make that phonecall to the vet. And god have I shed a lot of tears. But he is 28, and been retired for about 10 years. I was going to let him live to a disgraceful old age, on my own farm, but things have changed, i am now paying livery for him, and I can ill afford to do that, as well as eat. I have made the hard decision, i had to wait till I got some money in to do it. That money came in on friday so call to be made this morning. my boy is not sound, I would never let him go as a companion as it is my call and my responsibility to ensure he is never abused or ill treated. i have had him since he was 4 he owes me nothing, I owe him everything. At 18 if your boy is still sound, happy and healthy then sell him, or loan him with a water tight agreement and a weekly check from yourself. Or get a sharer to ride him and help with the costs.
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So sorry to hear this, Bosworth. You poor thing, what a horrible thing to have to go through. At least your boy had a good life with you, and a much longer one than he would otherwise have had.
 
I don't think there is any problem with it for the horse's sake (he won't know any differently) but I do think it is completely unnecessary in this case.

17 isn't that old, and he clearly still has a lot to offer. You could easily sell him or find a loan home - or even a sharer to help with costs.

I'd fully explore those options before thinking about having him PTS.
 
I really would loan Him out!!! On ur terms obviously. I loaned horses for years , worked out fab and made great friends with owners. I know many people who would give their right arm to loan horse workin at that level!!
 
Bosworth - I'm a similar situation and feel horrendously guilty about it. Mine is 31 and has been doing well but can now no longer eat haylage. I hate myself for thinking about it terms of money but he just seems so miserable I thinks what's the point in ploughing tons of feed into him. Feel like an awful person even saying that! If only they could talk, I'd give anything to know if he wants to carry on :(
 
Going back to the original question, personally I have no problem with the concept of PTS for financial reasons. As many have said before me, there are far worse outcomes for a horse than to be put down.

It has to be your decision, OP. It is up to you whether you want to explore the options of selling, part or full loan, leasing or any other possibilities. But ultimately if you decide the best option for both of you is PTS, then there is nothing wrong with that in my opinion.
 
I'm not anti pts and believe its the best option in some circumstances. But at your horses age and being fit, healthy and in a decent level of work there are many options for him before being pts. Working livery, living out 24/7, loan.... I know lots of people are put off of loaning out due to hearing nightmare stories but there are just as many if not more lovely loan stories. I would hate to see my horse live with someone else and working with someone else due to selfish reasons but would rather that and keep a close eye on him then have to say goodbye prematurely. Sorry to hear of your horses that your having to say goodbye too, I dread the time the decision has to be made but your very brave, hugs x
 
In cases like bosworths & cactus, then no I don't have a problem with it, imo its the only decent thing to do if you can't keep them yourself or with a longstanding, much trusted friend. But with a healthy, easily homeable 17yr old, I'd not consider it, I'd loan locally.
 
Depends on the horse. If he had problems and might be a horse that was always for sale then pts. If it was sellable and likely to be loved again then sell. If he needed me to keep an eye on him the loan.
 
I can't make up my mind with this. Heart says one thing, but head says another. It's because owners can't do the right thing by their horses as well as overbreeding that we have ended up with rescues full to capacity. (Not aiming this at OP).

Not to cause an argument, but so many times you see posts on here of 18yr old horses that have been sold on, and people being mortified that horses that have been loyal are now being sold.

Once a horse is sold, you have no way of knowing where he has gone or where he will go. You could sell a horse to the best home, but there's no guarantee he will stay there. None of us can ensure once we sell that our horse will not end up somewhere like Aversham. Loaning as we all know can have its own pitfalls. Sharing is another option.
What happens if the horse owner has no money - loaner/sharer decide not to continue?
This can end up being quite stressful.

My heart says, this horse has a quality of life why put him down, but my head says the above. I'd rather PTS than risk the above, especially for an older horse - if sharing/loaning isn't an option.

IF anything happens to me, my OH has instructions to put my 6yr old horse to a specific yard where they can look after her day to day care, then when he is able, she is to be PTS. He wouldn't be able to do this straight away as she is one of his links to me. This will happen as she is not an easy mare and could quickly end up in the wrong home. Plenty of people better than me could care for her - I'm not that arrogant to believe I'm the only one who can cope with her - but it would be very easy for her to end up with a nasty dealer/do gooder that can't control her/etc.

This is a general musing, my tin hat is on!
OP - good luck in whatever you decide xx
 
Yes I would with my current pony. He is 26 years old and fully retired due to a back, hock and stifle injuries caused in March 2010. He will now always look slightly lame and has regular bute (touch wood though he has been off it for 6 weeks this time). He is the most nervous pony ever due to a very bad start to life. nobody can catch him so he wouldnt be any good to loan out as a companion and I would always worry that he would end up in the wrong hands.

But if I was in your situation then no I wouldn't, I would try and find him a loving loan home or even sell him.
 
I think you should seriously look at loaning him to someone local to you working at advanced medium I think you may be pleasantly surprised how easy that might be .
Or sharing .
 
I think PTS is a sensible choice when the horse is retired and in bad health, as selling him on wouldnt be an option and is too much of a risk anyway.

I can understand you wont want to sell him after 10 years, but with him working at advanced medium I'm sure there will be plenty of novice competition riders out there who are looking for a schoolmaster - so perhaps look into selling him, or even better get a sharer.

I have just found my perfect dressage horse to share, he is 14 and is a total superstar, he is teaching me loads and we are going to start competing next year. He is at the yard where his owner has kept him for the last year, his owner still goes to see him every day and I help out with a few chores and ride, I pay him £120 per month. I've never competed before so he's the perfect horse for me, he is well schooled and is an old pro when it comes to competing. It takes a while to find a good sharer, but we do exist I promise!

Alternatively loaning is a good option while he is still in work, I know there are a lot of horror stories but with a bit of time and good vetting of the potential loanee I think you would find someone. But sharing is a safer option - you know the horse is at your chosen yard, in his normal stable and you can pop up to see him whenever you want.
 
Personally no I wouldnt. Yes winter is hard and very expensive. But there are alot of options open to you (as mentioned in previous responses) . I wasnt fortuanate enough to have my own horse until i was 24 previous to that i shared from 20 and loved my loan horse and only wish I had had the chance of doing it sooner! im sure you will find someone to share him or take him on full time
 
Might be worth trying an equestrian college, say.

However, if it were my horse, if it was a very special horse, I would rather have it PTS rather than never knowing where it ended up...
 
Frankel13 said:
Wondering what people's thoughts are on this? I've had my 17 year old for 7 years and he is my world but since I changed jobs and earn 5k less than what I used to I am find ing it increasingly hard each winter to afford to keep him. I do not want to go down this route I love him to much and he is fit and healthy at the moment still working at advance medium :) I would never sell him and just wondered if anyone else is in a similar situation?
It's probably just winter blues as don't feel like this in summer plus when he lives out costs drop :) just want people's thoughts and nothing abusive ! Chances of me going through with this is slim unless I loose my job
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A fit and healthy 17 year old who is doing advanced medium, is very desirable to a lot of people. That is the sort who many of the 'housewife' types I know are looking for - something slightly more mature who's been there and done it, for doing the midweek dressage on at places like Patchetts.

I know quite a few people who've had their happy, but unrideable horses PTS purely for financial reasons within the last couple of years, but I've never heard of anyone putting, a fit horse who is competing at that sort of level, down.
 
I had to make this decision in sept for my beautiful mare, and yes finances did play a small part, but, she was old and struggling with arthritis and cushings. If she had still been full of beans and life I don't think I could of done it and would of found a part loaner for her x
 
Ginger_2002 said:
Soemone educate me, would a vet actually allow this anyway?
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Of course what's it got to do with the vet some might have misgivings but a bet that refused would be wrong to do so .
If more people thought as OP is there would be fewer of the pathetic heartbreaking things I saw as a welfare officer personally I would never pass a 17 yo from my care.
 
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