Vet vs Hunt the cost of having a horse pts

B

BigRed

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 January 2008
Messages
4,145
Visit site
Can anyone comment on the cost of having a horse put down and taken away by the hunt, vs having your vet do it and then paying to have the horse taken away and cremated. I do not require the ashes back, so it would not be a special cremation.
 
I don't know how much it costs to get a vet to put down, I had a horse destroyed in March this year by a knackerman, to put down (shot) and take away it was £150 on a Sunday morning (if that makes a difference).
 
I think hunt is about £250 depending on size of animal & if it's suitable to be fed to hounds.. I don't know about vet but have heard £500+ for jab & disposal
 
It cost me £180 to have the hunt shoot my horse back in april, and that included taking him away. It was heartbreaking, but quick and I just wanted it overwith as soon as possible. I think some people thought I was a bit heartless, but it was what I needed to do.
 
I believe I am correct in saying the vet and cremation route will be around £500 give or take and the hunt maybe £100. Its the cremation is costly at around £350.
 
plus they were able to organise it the next day, which was ideal. I would highly recommend the hunt. I think I got it a bit cheaper than usual as our YM used to be whipper in or something.
 
I had my old girl pts by the vet 3 1/2 weeks ago and it cost £170.

I had her individually cremated, and had her ashes back, which cost £700. I appreciate most people will think I'm bonkers for choosing that, but it was terribly important to me that her body was dealt with so respectfully.
 
Puppy said:
I had my old girl pts by the vet 3 1/2 weeks ago and it cost £170.

I had her individually cremated, and had her ashes back, which cost £700. I appreciate most people will think I'm bonkers for choosing that, but it was terribly important to me that her body was dealt with so respectfully.
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry to hear it. Mine was put down mid april and I'm not really over it. Have got another horse now, but it's still early days. I don't think you're bonkers for spending all that money, if that's what you wish to do and it ties in with your beliefs. We should all respect eachother's choices and wishes.
 
It only cost £50 for the Hunt to take my shettie away and he was incinerated, as he had bute in his system. Didn't even enquire with vet, as it was weekend and they're ALWAYS more expensive!
 
Puppy said:
I had my old girl pts by the vet 3 1/2 weeks ago and it cost £170.

I had her individually cremated, and had her ashes back, which cost £700. I appreciate most people will think I'm bonkers for choosing that, but it was terribly important to me that her body was dealt with so respectfully.
Click to expand...

When a horse or any animal has been a loyal friend it is important to do what you feel is right in the end. It is terribly hard losing any animal.
 
My lovely boy was PTS just over 3 months ago and cost £175 for vet and disposal.

However I know someone who had a cremation and it cost around £500.
 
It cost £60 for the hunt to do my boy, but that was a reduced rate as we are farmers, they then, very kindly, brought him home to bury.

I think it is normally about £200 give or take depending on the size
 
I would hate to be in the position to choose method of PTS according to cost. I think it should be what is best for your horse and you. Personally I would find it hard to have a horse shot, especially for financial reasons, though if the horse was terrified of vets, then that may be a different matter. I don't think it matters much to the horse, so long as everything goes to plan and it is quick and painless. It cost me around £300 for a group cremation and less than £100 for the lethal injection the last time.
 
When I had my old mare pts last November it was approx £550, £250 for the vet to come, sedate and inject and the £300 to be taken away, presume she was incinerated.
Once their spirit has gone, to me they have just left their fluffy jacket behind, so I am not keen on having a box of ashes back at a huge cost.

I can understand why some people do want their horses ashes back though.

Hunt is bound to be cheaper.
 
The hunt are usually a lot cheaper, anything from £50 to £200 depending where and who you are; they will treat your horse with the dignity and respect it needs and deserves. Around here, for a vet plus disposal you'll be looking at anything over £600 more if you want ashes back and then it can't be guaranteed they will be the right ones.
Personally, I wouldn't use anyone else but my hunt not on account of cost but their efficiency, skill and compassion for both you and the horse.
 
Hunt came out on Christmas Eve to collect an old pony that had died in the field & it was £60 to collect & dispose via incineration. Had they had to have shot her too it would have been the same cost (& we arent farmers as such).
 
Depends where you are.
I had an oldie PTS by the vet (injection) and that was £200. I then had to arrange to have him taken away and cremated....another £200
I had my recent oldie PTS last Sept. Knackerman came, shot, and took away for £120
 
We took a pony to the hunt earlier this year. It cost us fifty pounds and was the right thing for her and her owners, she felt happy and confident there as she'd been there many a time before in her long career as a PC pony. She did her first ever PC rally there 20 years earlier. They could not have been calmer or more relaxed throughout.

IMHO it's down to personal choice and what feels right for the individual and no-one should be knocked for the choice they make just as, I assume, no-one would be knocked for choosing the cheapest burial and cremation for themselves or their family over an all singing, all dancing, plumed horses and mutes funeral.
 
Mine cost about £500 he was PTS on Sunday evening 2nd of January this year and was taken away the next day which was bank holiday Monday. I had a individual cremation, and had this ashes back in a beautiful box. And he will be buried with me when I go. I'll need an extra large coffin what with the dogs & horses that will be going in with me :-)
 
Black_Horse_White said:
I'll need an extra large coffin what with the dogs & horses that will be going in with me :-)
Click to expand...

Lol me too. Currently I have 2 horses, 3 dogs and a cat waiting plus a euthanasia fund should anything happen to me so that will be another horse, 3 dogs, 3 cats and a rabbit. And people think I’m odd ;o) ?!!?
 
If you are a hunt subscriber/land owner/ farmer its usually half the price of what it is to a normal person. So for us its £75 to be shot and taken back to kennels but £150 if you are not connected to the hunt. Lethal injection and kennels collection is £300 for people unconnected and the cost of vets time and injection on top of that, which I imagine would boost it up to £500.
 
I had my mare PTS by the VET last month, Emergency call out, PTS, body removed no return of ashes or anything fancy. £627 all in which i thought was alot of money. :(
 
I find the Hunt is very good with a horse (horses seem to know a Vet when they see one !) £40 to put a horse down & take the body. They feed the horse polos as it is done, very neat & stressless for the horse, it can never be stressless for the owner sadly.
 
each to their own.
Vets and cremation for me - collection and individual cremation with 'box' and name plaque £300, cant remember the vets fees but it wasnt huge.

When i go - i want my ashes to be mixed with the ashes of my horses and dogs that we have lost. I currently have their boxes lined up in the library.
 
I had my old horse PTS by the hunt just over a year ago (he had gone into heart failure). He was shot on site by an experienced shot and horseman. It cost £100 plus VAT and that was farmers' rates.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top