Time to pts?

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ItIsILeclucer

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Our yard has been given notice by the land owners that we have to be off by the end of January. I have a 33yo with specialised needs. I don’t think I should be taking him somewhere that I can’t guarantee he will be safe and happy. Am I right in thinking it’s time. And do I wait till after Christmas or before? Please help
 
I had to make that same decision a couple of years ago with the yard having been given only 3 weeks to clear out. My boy was 27 but also 'special needs'.

I decided to PTS as I also knew he stressed when moving yards previously along with worries that anywhere I found wouldn't consistently provide the care he needed
 
It sounds like PTS is the right decision. Personally, once I've made a decision to PTS I prefer to arrange it as soon as possible. As an old friend once said to me 'they don't know there is no tomorrow'.

I moved my 25 year old retired horse to a new yard six weeks ago to better cater for his special needs. Despite moving with a field mate he still found the move stressful although he is slowly setting in. There is a risk we will lose this place in a year or two but I've already decided I won't move him again.
 
So sorry you are in this position; but you are obviously a responsible owner who thinks of the most compassionate solution for their beloved horse rather than seeking a "sentimental" solution to the problem.

Personally I would aim to do the deed before Christmas not after; I know the weather is unpredictable at the best of times at this end of the year, but if (and I say if) you can pick a nice bright day for the job it'll somehow make it easier, believe me.

Thinking of you. It isn't ever easy at the best of times, but especially when it is forced on you.
 
If the yard is closing and everyone is looking for other places for their horses then it will be a case of fewer and fewer horses remaining, such that horses that your boy 'knows', even if he doesn't share a field with them, will disappear.

It might be better to do the PTS before xmas and before the yard, as happened in my case, starts to empty and have a strange and sad/depressing atmosphere, which of course the horses remaining will pick up on. It's also not just the horses but you will find for yourself, as people you know leave, that the yard no longer is the same happy place you've liveried in.

By having xmas to focus on it might help to 'divert' you through the feeling of loss, but obviously that won't be the case for some people. Just do what you feel is best for your boy and also yourself.
 
I'm so sorry you are faced with this. Sending you lots of love xx.

I'd be a bit different to most I suppose in this sort of situation - rather than wanting it to happen sooner rather than later, because it's not an immediate health or welfare thing, I'd want to have a good amount of time between now and the day so that I could prepare myself and spend as much time with him as possible. I'd want to spend time making a fuss of him, remembering times together, feeling how it feels to be with him, maybe spend some time writing memories down. All while he is still here so he acts as a prompt for those memories and nuances and things. And so it is a positive thing to remember times together and to have inspiration to connect with him over those things, rather than it only being a case of looking back without him. It might be nice to organise having some photos taken too.

I'd not make a decision on when it would happen right away, but I'd just know that when it got too sad or if I started to feel I was just starting to feel in limbo for the day, or if his friends started leaving and he started getting affected by that, then that would be my prompt to make the call for a day or two's time.

You have time, several weeks, there is no hurry if you don't want there to be.

Also, Christmas can be a bit of an odd time, with the time afterwards and before the New Year being quite slow and empty. I'd not want to be dealing with such a massive loss during that time, or over Christmas. I'd want everything to be the same during that time. I do appreciate everyone is different though.

(Obviously this response looks at things from only a person's point of view, but that's because it is not a pressing welfare or wellbeing issue - if it was then horse's needs first, no matter what.)

ETA: If he is healthy, well and happy in himself, there's nothing to say that you HAVE to have him PTS - a little more time may give chance for another suitable place to keep him at to show itself. Until you are sure it's the right thing to do, you don't need to do anything. Does he have very difficult needs to accommodate?
 
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ItIsILeclucer said:
PurpleSpots said:
I'm so sorry you are faced with this. Sending you lots of love xx.

I'd be a bit different to most I suppose in this sort of situation - rather than wanting it to happen sooner rather than later, because it's not an immediate health or welfare thing, I'd want to have a good amount of time between now and the day so that I could prepare myself and spend as much time with him as possible. I'd want to spend time making a fuss of him, remembering times together, feeling how it feels to be with him, maybe spend some time writing memories down. All while he is still here so he acts as a prompt for those memories and nuances and things. And so it is a positive thing to remember times together and to have inspiration to connect with him over those things, rather than it only being a case of looking back without him. It might be nice to organise having some photos taken too.

I'd not make a decision on when it would happen right away, but I'd just know that when it got too sad or if I started to feel I was just starting to feel in limbo for the day, or if his friends started leaving and he started getting affected by that, then that would be my prompt to make the call for a day or two's time.

You have time, several weeks, there is no hurry if you don't want there to be.

Also, Christmas can be a bit of an odd time, with the time afterwards and before the New Year being quite slow and empty. I'd not want to be dealing with such a massive loss during that time, or over Christmas. I'd want everything to be the same during that time. I do appreciate everyone is different though.

(Obviously this response looks at things from only a person's point of view, but that's because it is not a pressing welfare or wellbeing issue - if it was then horse's needs first, no matter what.)

ETA: If he is healthy, well and happy in himself, there's nothing to say that you HAVE to have him PTS - a little more time may give chance for another suitable place to keep him at to show itself. Until you are sure it's the right thing to do, you don't need to do anything. Does he have very difficult needs to accommodate?
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There is no where else he can go. He is on individual turnout and has been for years. He is deaf and not brilliant on his legs in a rush. He is also very Riggy and the way he is managed now is the only option for him. Any chance of circumstances in the last ten years have lead to him injuring himself some I am 100% on my decision not to move him.
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PurpleSpots said:
only a person's point of view, but that's because it is not a pressing welfare or wellbeing issue - if it was then horse's needs first, no matter what.)

ETA: If he is healthy, well and happy in himself, there's nothing to say that you HAVE to have him PTS - a little more time may give chance for another suitable place to keep him at to show itself. Until you are sure it's the right thing to do, you don't need to do anything. Does he have very difficult needs to accommodate?
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This x
 
Totally understand your reasons based on what you've written about his needs in your reply, bless him. He sounds very lucky to have had you as his person xx.

I'm just always a bit wary of offering a definitive opinion from only a little information when it seems like the person is undecided (as it seemed you were in your initial post). Especially on a public forum.

Age alone wouldn't be a definitive reason (although of course it would be a significant consideration), but with his other issues and further the likelihood of injury to him with a change of circumstances I don't think there's any other reasonable option I would take either, other than to quietly PTS in familiar surroundings.
 
Sorry you're in the situation. I think you're right to consider it in his best interests to pts, but I have to be honest and say that in your shoes I would be quite bitter about the reason. Life sucks sometimes. I also would do it before Christmas, then it's not hanging over you.
 
Fransurrey said:
Sorry you're in the situation. I think you're right to consider it in his best interests to pts, but I have to be honest and say that in your shoes I would be quite bitter about the reason. Life sucks sometimes. I also would do it before Christmas, then it's not hanging over you.
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Honestly is has actually made it less difficult to make a decision, I have been questioning for a while if I have been doing right by him by keep going , I feed him a huge amount and he isn’t over weight by any ones eyes. He looks good. He’s never been a big hay eater so I keep him on an a partial hay replacer that has gone up in quantity plus chaff and mix and Kwick beat. He gets 4 decent feeds a day and as much hay as he will eat
 
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