What to do when they are gone....

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MizElz

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This kind of follows up my previous thread regarding horsemeat, especially looking at some of the replies further down...

What will you do when your horse dies? It sounds callous, but its something i think about often as you never know when it could happen, and i think decisions need to be made, as a contingency plan at least. These days, there are many options open to us all; unfortunately, a lot of decisions may depend on finance.

On a personal level, I have lost 4 horses in my lifetime. Three, all elderly, were sent to the kennels (they were all put down there, and, i suppose, 'fed to the hounds', although apparently hors emeat is too rich for hounds and often ends up being incinerated anyway
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) The other, who was my best friend, died suddenly at the age of 10 in his stable one night; for some reason, i could not entertain the thought of him being cut up, and so he was buried at the base of the Marlborough Downs, thanks to a very kind friend. At the time, it gave me great comfort to be able to go and visit his grave, but now it spooks me to think of him rotting down there; as such, I would myself never wish to be buried! if my girl was to go suddenly, i truly dont know what i would choose for her; whole body incineration seems the most dignified way, but i cannot truly say i would be against her going to the kennels, especially if money was tight.

its horrid to think of, but in my book, it has to be done; i know only too well how quickly these things can happen
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I had my boy cremated aswell, the insurance paid for most of it, but I would only ever have my horses cremated. I think feeding them to the hounds is wrong (thats just my opinion though)
I have Marsden in a beutiful wooden casket next to my bed now and he will come with me when I go!
 
When J died it was very sudden and I was all over the place. Luckily my neighbour, who I didn't really know at the time, stood by me and helped me. My vet recommended a place that could dispose of him and my neighbour took care of everything else like moving him out of the field.

He was cremated with nothing returned to me.

I'm still not over it, so I can't say if it was the right or wrong thing to do, but I'm so grateful to the kindness of strangers, for my neighbour looking after me.
 
I have ticked incineration, but I would pay to have him singley cremated and his ashes returned to me, I know it is expensive but it would be a great comfort to me. I hope I don't have to make this decision for a long time.
 
My friends horse was killed in a car accident, she had him cremated on the insurance it was an awful time for her and she recieved the huge tub of ashes we decided it would be fitting to spead them on a XC course we'd hired for schooling, she said this was their best day together.

Off we went with the dogs and land owners permission, it was a lovely walk and a sunny but very windy day anyway when Jo found a suitable spot she opened the tub and threw up the ashes, with that and a gust of wind they went everywhere! I had them in my hair in my mounth they got up the dogs noses, I though Jo would freak but it was so funny watching the dogs sneezing and I think it was a big release for her after the accident and all the crap she'd dealt with.We still get the giggles about it now.

I think I'd have mine cremated and bury the ashes in their tub.
 
I will have my two cremated and keep their ashes. We did the same with our dogs and I couldn't even comprehend doing anything but that. I know it will be expensive but that doesn't matter to me.
Each to their own though.
 
bless! i have always joked about wanting my ashes released on top of the ridgeway; we laugh about them coming straight back again! i have to say, i agree with you: incineration and then burying the ashes seems the nicest way (i couldnt have my horse 'sat on the mantlepiece')!!!!
 
There isn't a single answer for me. Given the situation where my doomed horse is fit to travel I would prefer to take him to the hunt. If it was a horse who hated travelling then I'd have him shot at home. Same if it wasn't fit to travel.

I can't see the point of paying out to have the horse incinerated and keeping the ashes UNLESS you want to have them made into a diamond and even then I think that's a strange way of spending money!
 
Always put down at home then go to the kennels. Would never entertain (slightly wrong use of word there!) injection or slaughterhouse although I understand why some people do.

To OP: I think everyone should actually think and imagine what they would do/want to do in those sad circumstances because when the time actually comes, although still a trauma, it does help a lot if you have 'been there' in your mind at least and you can act on auto pilot to get through it; that's what helped me the very first time and since.
 
Put down at home and to the kennels. Buried on own land in special spot would the "nicest" but wouldn't be an option (unless I get myself a farm).

I see incineration as a waste, going through the kennels they go back into living things (same as being buried) which is how nature should be.
 
Your post has just made me realise: i didnt include the slaughter house option, as it didnt even cross my mind. now, with regards to LIVE horses being sent there, i know i will probably get 'slaughtered' for being outspoken now, but this is an option i feel is seriously sick; it is bad enough for a horse raised for meat being sent to the slaughterhouse, but for one that has known family affection to be faced with that....i cannot comprehend it. i know how my horse reacts when we ride past our local slaughterhouse; she hates the smell. i think anybody who considers this for their horse's demise (im not saying im against a DEAD horse being collected by a slaughterer/knacker) needs their head examining!
 
So far mine have been shot at home by the knacker man and taken off to the slaughter house I presume.

Having seen my first mare die of her own accord I know that once they're gone all thats left is a very big carcuss, I see no reason to keep their ashes etc.

May be wavering towards injection now though and I think that means they can't go to slaughterhouse or kennels anymore?
 
I have to say I'd have my horses put down by injection....but after they are dead and you've said goodbye the body is immaterial.
Being a practical soul, I'd make sure that the horse is put down somewhere easy to access with appropriate machinery to remove the body...sounds callous...but...if you've ever tried to get a dead horse out of a tiny stable in a long corridor, you'll know where I'm coming from
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Stonks went to the kennels and lives on in the South Notts Hounds - I was very emotional the first time I hunted Donkey with them (stupid soppy git)
 
I work with endangered Big Cats, and we use alot of horsemeat. My lot are going there.
Also, I'd never have them put down by injection. I'd only ever have them shot. Much cleaner, faster, kinder.

However, on a lighter note... I've always said if I lost my big girl, I'd put her down in the field, cover her over, and make an irish bank on top ~ seeing as it's her favourite jump!
 
When my old boy was PTS last year i buried him at home, but i had been with him for 17 years so it felt right to keep him at home, but a horse i had years ago was taken away and cremated.
 
mine would be buried at home hopefully. I know of a trekking centre that at the end of every year they send about 10 or so of there ponies to the slaughter house because they are getting old or maybe not up to the huge workload anymore. I feel so sorry for them when i see them being loaded up every November. I know its a business but those poor ponies would have had to work every day. Seems Unfair!
 
I've had 3 PTS in 30 years of horse ownership. Two were shot by the knackerman (I know him personally as he does a lot of work for the vet I work for) and he took them away and they were incinerated. The other one was PTS by injection as she sadly had a foal at foot. The knackerman also took the body away and it was incinerated. I believe that once they are gone, that is it - it is how they are treated when they are alive that matters so I would never have ashes back. I think the idea of donating a tree to the ILPH in their memory is a good one - these trees act as a windbreak and shelter to their rescue horses.
 
Shot at home then taken to the kennels. Had a livery's pony PTS by injection and it seemed to take forever. Also have one livery's horse buried in the field because she was too upset to send her to the kennels (even though she hunted!). My dogs have all been cremated and ashes returned - wouldn't dare bury them in case the others dug them up.
 
I would always have my horses put down at home, unless in an emergency situation. However, once they have gone it doesn't worry me too much what happens to their bodies. Last pony was sent for non-individual cremation (so no ashes) as that was the quickest option at the time. I don't need ashes or a grave as I will always have a myriad of memories in my head.
 
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Shot at home then taken to the kennels. Had a livery's pony PTS by injection and it seemed to take forever. Also have one livery's horse buried in the field because she was too upset to send her to the kennels (even though she hunted!). My dogs have all been cremated and ashes returned - wouldn't dare bury them in case the others dug them up.

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im not sure i would ever consider injection. i know of three cases now where it has not worked in full; one horse ended up staggering thro a barbed wire fence, thanks to the injection failing to shut him down completely. another was left for dead by the vet in its stable, only to begin making a low keening sound some 3/4 hr after, and begin thrashing around. my dad had to sit on its head until the vet came back to finish the job. (iv also known of a dog which did not die immediately - horrendous)

No, its the bullet for mine. it may be bloody, messy and unpleasant for the owner, but at least it was quick. when my 34 year old pony was shot at the kennels, i did not see it, but the sound was enough for us all to know that she was immediately at peace.
 
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