Upset & Concerned

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Dizzydancer

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I will apologise for it being long now!
Basically I have 2horses which i "loan" well look after and ride for free as owner has terrible problems with her hands since a crash and so cannot ride. One is younger than the other (he was given to them after his retirement from eventing), and I posted about the older one having trouble eating hay earlier this winter, He had his teeth done and was ok but has deteriorated in past couple of days. The owner bred him and feels it is time to let him go, (she is going to wait until after xmas as he is happy eating chaff and going out but she doesnt want to make him suffer an entire winter).
So I am obviuously upset about this but understand it is best and needs to be done.
My concern falls with the other horse, they are pretty much inseperable, if one comes in the other kicks off until they also are in. Can't hack alone at moment as the one being PTS has kicked his way through breezeblock walls when left in alone. This one is a bit better on his own and would walk away on his own until his friend calls him. They do have 2 horsey friends next door in the fields who he likes. The concern is how he will cope once his friend finally goes, For the field we were thinking of asking next door to turn hers out with him as she needs extra grass and he needs company, the problem is what to do at night.
We are looking for a companion but obviously not the easiest time to do so, I cant move my older horse (the one we own) to be with him as he is companion for the mare at the livery yard, otherwise that would solve the problem.
How can we best manage him on his own even for a couple of days? Or any suggestions you can think of about how we can keep him happy as we may not get a companion for a couple of weeks. I will take him to see his old friend once he has gone so he is aware he has gone and that will hopefully help but he is quite sensitive so may not be keen on that! If we cant find anyway to sort it he will go back to the yard he was on when evented which wont suit him as it is too busy and he likes quiet life now.
 
I cant move my older horse (the one we own) to be with him as he is companion for the mare at the livery yard, otherwise that would solve the problem.

Can't you move the "remaining" horse to the yard where your other horse that you own is, even temporarily?
 
Thanks for your thoughts, hadnt really thought about that as Im not really thinking clearly at moment!
I think that wil probably be what we have to do, the only problem is where he is now is free to keep as it is there land so in the long term he wont be able to stay at livery but I think that initially that is what will have to be done until we can find a companion.
We have got ACPs anyway for when clipped so if the vet agrees we will probably give him something or valerian to keep him calm even if he is moved to the livery yard for a few weeks.
 
I dont think drugging the horse is the answer, seems very unfair..he will still be aware of the dangers around him but unable to escape. start looking now for some company, im sure a rescue will have a pony that could do with some grass :)

very sad but dont panic yourself yet

xx
 
Thanks, ino it is unfair to drug him really but if it for his and everyone elses safety then it may well need to be done. Dont want him doing something stupid.
Thanks we are looking, think my friend maybe able to help she needs somewhere to send her foalie while being weaned which is being done in new year. So fingers crossed
 
Is there a local farmer who would let you 'borrow' some sheep? His sheep get to grazze new pasture that he doesn't have to pay for, calm company for the lad, they wont care when he goes out of field & are excellent for the grass.
 
I think as long as you allow the young one to smell and accept his friend has died then he will be much better than if you just seperate them and he doesn't know what's going on. Allow the horse a few moments with him (presuming he will be put down in the field?) In fact, if I was in that situation and they are so hard to seperate, then I would have young one held in the same field while it is done, whichever method is used, bullet or injection as they will both stay calmer if they are together. If they are seperated, the oldie might panic and it will be a lot harder for whoever is dealing with the job; not easy whichever method is used. It's most important that you give him time to accept it in his own way but once he moves away to graze he should have settled enough to be sensible; in this weather, if it means being left overnight together, it won't hurt so be prepared for that for whoever is disposing of the body. Yes, he will call a bit but once he realises his friend's not answering, he'll give up and settle. Again, if it was me, I wouldn't be asking for the neighbour's to keep him company as you're only setting up more problems for yourself and you will be back where you are now. Give him a time while he's the only one and see if he focuses more on you than other horses.

I'm sorry, it's never an easy time but with a bit of thought, it can be made easier for the one left behind.
 
I think horses are more resilient to this type of thing than maybe we give them credit for, mine used to be a real pain in the bottom to get one away from the other without the one left doing the fandango. Now its not an issue at all for them to be apart.

I appreciate you might not have a huge amout of time left to do this, but how about trying gradual seperation for longer and longer times? Another option which I have no personal experience of, is if its safe and practical to do so, I've heard of folk PTS horses with their pals able to see whats going on and that seems to help. Hopefully someone with more experience will know if thats rubbish or not though.

My thoughts are with you, as others have said try not to panic or worry too much.
 
the horse needs to grieve for its loss as well us humans. I would not move the one away, i would allow them to be there. When i had to have one of my pair pts, the other one was eating but watching from the top of the field. After she has slipped away, he came up and started sniffing her and he then went tearing around the field crying after her, then back to her - repeating this process for a good 6 hours. Then the crematorium took her away and i had to stay with him all night long for him to calm down. It took the best part of a week for him to come to terms with what had happened.
 
Maesfen said:
I think as long as you allow the young one to smell and accept his friend has died then he will be much better than if you just seperate them and he doesn't know what's going on. Allow the horse a few moments with him (presuming he will be put down in the field?) In fact, if I was in that situation and they are so hard to seperate, then I would have young one held in the same field while it is done, whichever method is used, bullet or injection as they will both stay calmer if they are together. If they are seperated, the oldie might panic and it will be a lot harder for whoever is dealing with the job; not easy whichever method is used. It's most important that you give him time to accept it in his own way but once he moves away to graze he should have settled enough to be sensible; in this weather, if it means being left overnight together, it won't hurt so be prepared for that for whoever is disposing of the body. Yes, he will call a bit but once he realises his friend's not answering, he'll give up and settle. Again, if it was me, I wouldn't be asking for the neighbour's to keep him company as you're only setting up more problems for yourself and you will be back where you are now. Give him a time while he's the only one and see if he focuses more on you than other horses.

I'm sorry, it's never an easy time but with a bit of thought, it can be made easier for the one left behind.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with Maesfen, & this is what i would do if i were in your shoes.
 
Maesfen Thanks I was thinking of doing this anyway as I heard and kind of experienced that they were better if they can smell and see they are not coming back, it will be being done in the field not sure which method yet, probably shot. I can see where you are coming from with the neighbours issue as it will still be an issue at night.
Mollylolly I hope he doesnt tear around for 6hours in this weather! Although they have only been together a couple of years so fingers crossed he won't be as bad as yours!
I am considering the idea of getting a rescue pony or something from the sales that needs help. I cant get sheep as would have to sheep fence entire field and thats not practical really.
 
Maesfen said:
I think as long as you allow the young one to smell and accept his friend has died then he will be much better than if you just seperate them and he doesn't know what's going on. Allow the horse a few moments with him (presuming he will be put down in the field?) In fact, if I was in that situation and they are so hard to seperate, then I would have young one held in the same field while it is done, whichever method is used, bullet or injection as they will both stay calmer if they are together. If they are seperated, the oldie might panic and it will be a lot harder for whoever is dealing with the job; not easy whichever method is used. It's most important that you give him time to accept it in his own way but once he moves away to graze he should have settled enough to be sensible; in this weather, if it means being left overnight together, it won't hurt so be prepared for that for whoever is disposing of the body. Yes, he will call a bit but once he realises his friend's not answering, he'll give up and settle. Again, if it was me, I wouldn't be asking for the neighbour's to keep him company as you're only setting up more problems for yourself and you will be back where you are now. Give him a time while he's the only one and see if he focuses more on you than other horses.

I'm sorry, it's never an easy time but with a bit of thought, it can be made easier for the one left behind.
Click to expand...

Great post ^^

((hugs)) OP but at least you have a little time to try and get organised..
 
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