Without wanting to upset!! ? about PTS!

charliesarmy

charliesarmy

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When people are considering/having to have there horse/pony pts and they say they've rang the local hunt what do they mean by this?? Not wanting to cause any upset!
 
Many people use the hunt to dispatch (shoot) their horse rather then a vet as the hunt have far more experience and I think they are a cheaper option.

The hunt will also take the body (hound food) once the horse has been shot so there is no need to organize removal of the body.
 
No nice way to put this but it means that the hunt (normally huntsman or kennel man) will come and shoot the horse and then take the horse away. I worked at a hunt for a season. It is seen to some as the best end for a horse.
 
I'd imagine most hunts offer the service.

Some hunts allow you to take the horse to the kennels to be shot also. I know people who have done this as the horse thinks it's going hunting so 'goes' with it's ears pricked not knowing any different.
 
3Beasties said:
I'd imagine most hunts offer the service.

Some hunts allow you to take the horse to the kennels to be shot also. I know people who have done this as the horse thinks it's going hunting so 'goes' with it's ears pricked not knowing any different.
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not to be morbid but thats a lovely way to go for an old hunt horse - knowing no different
 
pip_dog said:
I'd hate to think that's where my horse ended up. But I Spose it's different for everyone.
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I'm not sure how I'd feel. Or will feel, when it's something I have to face. :(

I find the idea of keeping ashes doesn't really do it for me. Ashes never seem to have anything to do with living beings. Burying a horse is only possible in certain circumstances, although I did once know a farmer whose fields were littered with the places he'd buried his horses in their favourite spots, over his own lifetime.

I do believe that once we're gone, our bodies (and our animals') are of little consequence. I've always let the vet take my dogs for disposal. I suppose this would be no different.
 
It is usually cheaper than a vet, however for many, including me, that's not actually why, its just some prefer bullet over injection. And vets generally don't have the experience of shooting a huntsman does.
As to feeding to hounds, imo its no different to cremating, both just break the carcass down for disposal. Only difference is what the owner feels is best for them.
 
I have no problem with this method whatsoever, personally it seems a good solution all round and most importantly it's humane.

However, I couldn't have that done to Sandy. If/when he has to be PTS then I will pay for the injection, that way he won't be eligible for human (and possibly canine?) consumption. Personally I just couldn't stand the thought of my sweet, gorgeous pony hung up in some warehouse or butchers and being hacked away at. It doesn't bother me with other horses, it's just that Sandy is my baby and I would never want his only earthly remains to be treated like that.
On the other hand, if I ran a business or had a number of horses then yes, I would use the hunt. It's just that Sandy is my horse of a lifetime and I would want him cremated and possibly his ashes, I would at least want to be able to scatter them if I didn't keep them.
 
These things are intensely personal my first horse was buried at home I thought it was what I wanted but in reality it was not nice digger her body being pushed into the hole etc etc.
Likewise cremation body dragged far away from home burnt put into a box sent back uggh.
Or shot at home by people I know then a short trip four miles and used .
The truth is there is no right way it's not about it being cheaper my horses going to the kennels it's what I am most comfortable with.
 
I agree with horses going to the Hunt.

Over many years I have had several horses euthanised and preference is the hunt. it doesn't matter to me what happens to anything once it is dead it is how it meets that death that matters.

Hunts will not use anything that has been euthanised with drugs but most will remove the carcass for a fee. That then gets taken to a rendering plant along with parts of other animals that they go not feed.

I walk Foxhound pups and regularly collect flesh for them and our other dogs. This is mostly calf meat, occasionally cow, mutton and horse. In all honesty having had a horse put down and then feeding it to the dogs bothers me not an iota. it is part of the natural cycle.

If people want to have their horses cremated then that is up to them, however I will admit to having a chuckle recently when it was reported that a man who took horses for cremation actually took them to a rendering plant and returned any old ashes to the owner.
 
^^^ this! It can happen a lot. I used to equine nurse and the amount of times owners wanted the ashes back, but for some reason the message got confused and the owner ended up with a bag of random ashes instead of the horse being marked down for individual cremation.
 
Irishbabygirl said:
^^^ this! It can happen a lot. I used to equine nurse and the amount of times owners wanted the ashes back, but for some reason the message got confused and the owner ended up with a bag of random ashes instead of the horse being marked down for individual cremation.
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And I wonder if the vet owned up and didn't charge the astronomical fee for individual cremation. It cost me 12 quid to cremate with no ashes back and I was stung for 100 quid to get the ashes back. If I found out they were just some random ashes I would sue :mad:
 
FoxHunter49 - you think that some poor owner being returned a box of any old ashes rather than their beloved pet is a situation to 'chuckle' at? Dear oh dear. Yes, quite hilarious.
 
Wow I worked in an equine hospital and the vets and the company that collected the horses were meticulous about ensuring owners got the correct ashes back. It is shameful to think a vet would do otherwise. Owners were often surprised about how much ash came back. I could hardly lift my boys box.
 
BillieBlitzen said:
FoxHunter49 - you think that some poor owner being returned a box of any old ashes rather than their beloved pet is a situation to 'chuckle' at? Dear oh dear. Yes, quite hilarious.
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Agreed! Made me feel a little bit sick, to be honest :( those poor people! I wouldn't ever be able to forget that, I would be utterly heartbroken. What a truly awful, awful thing to say.

I don't know what to do with Ned when it's his time. I'm all for "The Great Circle of Life", but a horse that is so special to me...I don't know!
I want to have a plan in place soon, not because I'm being morbid, but *touch wood* he could die before I arrive at the yard in 20mins time.
 
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If people want the gun with experience there will be a local knackerman who will come to your house, be an expert in his job (as that is all he does day in day out - unlike a vet who does it once in a while) and take the body away for basic cremation.

Your vet will be able to give you the phone number (I am over cautious but I have his card in the feed room and on my phone so there is no delay in event of an emergancy)

It was a couple of years ago now but in Lincs the whole thing was about £160 - good value for a very kind and professional service
 
I'd far rather my horses went to the kennels but where we live now it's no longer an option, and we have to use the vet, and the knackerman for removal. Hunt staff are very experienced at this, plus they are generally horsey people themselves - unlike some vets who smell "vetty" and may not always be great with horses. Having a horse euthanased is always traumatic, but for me I think it is quite appropriate for a horse, particularly a hunter, to go to the hounds at the end of its life.
 
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