WWYD? Should I PTS?

sorry you are in this position but forget the money side for the moment.

think of his quality of life, you say is is lame most of the time this equals pain...

he is not putting on weight even though all has been checked and he is getting plenty of food...this again could be due to being in pain..my horse is 22 and is on 1 danilon daily to keep her comfortable it may be worth trying this for him to see if it helps.



try and make your decision SOLEY on his quality of life and you know him so can be the judge and if you decide to let him go please feel proud that you have given him 3 good years and dont feel guilty because you are doing the best for him....good luck with whatever you decide
 
I'd have him PTS now.

If you had oodles of cash, maybe let him enjoy the summer, but if intermittantly lame, eating you out of house and home, IMO, there's only one thing for him.
 
Yes, i'd be calling it a day. I personally wouldn't give him the summer, as his pain is continual it would be unfair to do so. Make your decision. Call the vet/hunt. Do the deed.
 
Having read through this and seen the situation you are in I think you should PTS as soon as you can, and start to feel better and enjoy the summer with your other two.

You have done your best for him for three long years and things are not going to change, and 20 is not young, he has has a longer life than many, its not long ago and certainly in my memory when most horses retired at 15 and lost value after 12.

If you need support the BHS have a scheme where their welfare officers will support you. All the charities are saying to people, if you can not keep an older horse it is not wrong to PTS.

Don't be hard on yourself, you are doing the right thing for not only yourself but the horse and the two you will then be able to give more attention to.
 
Hot_Toddy7 said:
Thank you all for your comments, it really means a lot. I put him on a months 'probation' 3 1/2 weeks ago, and with only 4 days left, he's not looking any different. Think however I do it, I will feel guilty. What if someone else had taken him on, would they have done a better job? I feel like I've failed him and yet I know he could've had it a lot worse.
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You will feel guilty because you are choosing to end a life and that's never going to be a nice place to be. I did it 2 1/2 years ago and I had a terrible time afterwards. Waking up in the middle of the night, panic attacks, it was a really hard time. It does pass and I have made peace with my decision now.

With my mare, I probably could have kept her going, but at what cost? She was costing a fortune (that I didn't have), she was never going to be totally sound no matter what I did. She could have carried on as a field ornament as long as she wasn't disturbed by new horses, which of course I couldn't guarantee at livery. She was draining me financially and emotionally.

I had a lot of unhelpful input from people who judged me for making that decision. But do you know what? None of them offered to take her on and give her the life they thought I was wrong for taking away.

From reading your post, I wouldn't judge you. You have to do what is right for you and the horse. You have given him 3 good years that he probably wouldn't have had otherwise.
 
I think you already know the answer to this. You've tried everything you know and it hasn't made much difference, except to your bank balance. I spent tens of thousands of pounds on veterinary care for my horse even after she was retired and she was finally put down last October because nothing I did would get her to put on weight and she was slowly fading away. Still happy enough, but clearly becoming increasingly troubled by her arthritis despite all the drugs. I don't regret the expense, it wasn't her fault and she deserved the chance which gave her a normal and long life, but it meant I sacrificed just about everything, and it wasn't until after she'd gone that I realised how much she had been draining me physically too. I know I did the right thing for her at the end - think of it as another form of treatment and it doesn't seem so bad.
 
Don't mean to sound harsh but if you have made a choice about PTS I would just get on and arrange it.

After all there is always a reason to put it off "its going to be raining that week" or "I will do it when i'm back from holiday" a hard decision is always hard and if the sun is shining, the grass is green and the horse looks well over the summer I think your more likely to try and drag things out longer which might not be in the best interest of the horse keep in mind that your choice might not be what everyone would do but it should be the right thing for your horse (((Hugs))).
 
If you`d only had him 3 weeks i could understand your concerns but you`ve invested 3 years into him, no one can ask for more ... personally i`d be putting to sleep, and i wouldn`t be waiting til autumn either.
 
I echo those posts who advise pts...whether now or after the summer.
Regarding the guilt...I totally understand....but....remember...he does not know you are going to do this....so a few days before you do the deed....bute him up so you know his last days are pain free.....and know that you are doing the right thing.
Your stress levels are very high at the moment.....and although they will be higher at the time.....you will soon come to realise that you do not need the constant stress of worrying about your boy's wellbeing.
He has a fabulous owner in you...you took him on....you have done your best by him.....and now you are free to do your best for him.

Very best of luck.....
Best wishes
Bryndu
 
Enfys said:
I would PTS now, I am not as hardhearted as this will sound, but really, 'giving a horse the summer' is not always as kind as it sounds, merely prolonging the day.

Flies, old, sore bones stomping on hard ground (OK, wet and soggy if this year is like last) still in pain, still struggling to keep weight on.

I wish you well with whatever decision you make, you sound as if you have done your best by him and he's had a good innings.
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This
 
Hot_Toddy7 said:
I can't loan him as he is too skinny and I would feel like I'm just passing the buck
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Why not at least see if someone else would take him on. Its not passing the buck as long as you tell the person exactly how he is and what his problems are. Yes, it's probably the hardest type of horse to rehome (big and older) but someone might want him. Unless of course he is actually unhappy with his lameness although I assume not if you say he canters and bucks about.

I'm speaking as someone who was given a 17.2hh 13yr old who was due to be PTS!
 
I have tried the loaning route and let's just say it didn't work out and is the main reason that I am making this decision now. But thank you for the advice. The main issue is his weight as opposed to the lameness. He's pretty much field sound, but let's just say we had an incident with someone calling whw on me due to his condition, despite my
 
Sorry, pressed post lol... despite my other two looking ok. The welfare guy said that he is quite underweight but could see that he was happy and welfare wasn't an issue at all and he then proceeded to tell us about the different options for pts
 
Don't get me wrong I would rather someone call a welfare on a horse if there were any concerns, but it was definitely the straw that broke the camels back!
 
Best wishes whatever you decide. I'm going through similar with my old girl and I think this will be her last summer. It's not an easy decision,

Thought I'd quote this from a couple of pages back in case you missed it.

JennyConnor said:
Do you have any pictures of him? I helped rescue an abandoned TB from the brink of starvation a while back. It took me years to get him sound, fit and back to a proper weight. I was told by vets to PTS but I wouldn't give up. He's finally fat after over 4 years and looks great for a 24 year old ex-racer.

If feasible, I would take him on as my WB would like a companion
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you have given the big guy 3 good years with his belly full and knowing he is being cared for if he likes and does well in summer and you can afford it then give him a summer but if flies heat and hard ground ( or possibly swampy mud logged areas that used to be grassy )arn't his thing then better a day too soon than too late. i dont think in this current climate i would like to pass on a rocking horse everybody is still in such financially precarious positions and they may not have the heart to make what is an obviously important decision. its a hard position to be but your decision will be the right one.
 
Hot_Toddy7 said:
Hi all, in a bit of a difficult situation at the moment and just want to get some views.

I have a 17.2hh Hanoverian - 20yrs old, rescued him 3 years ago. When I first got him he looked about 30, very underweight and unhappy. I had been told about him by a friend of a friend, and being a muggins, I fell in love and just wanted to take him home and 'make him all better'. It hasn't quite happened that way though. When I first heard about him, the friend of friend had said he was fabulous in all ways, ideal novice hack, a good do-er, some unsoundness issues but full of life, and fine for low-level stuff.

Turned out his unsoundness was worse than I was expecting and he was intermittently very unlevel infront, he has his good and bad days, but on the whole, he's never going to be sound.

Since I've had him, he's put on a little weight, but, he gets fed more than what my other 2 full TB's get combined! Had bloods run - nothing came up. Teeth all fine, up to date with worming etc etc. I am now getting to the point where I realise how stressful the last 3 years have been, I have had no time to enjoy the other 2 and I have a money-pit field ornament.

He can't be left alone and goes mental if he is, I can't loan him as he is too skinny and I would feel like I'm just passing the buck, and I can't continue the way things are. I know it's been a sh**ey winter, but he has never looked 'Ok'. I could continue to struggle financially and also time-wise. But I've pretty much come to the decision to PTS. The thing that's making it so damn difficult is that he is happy, he plays around, bucks & farts like a 2 year old from time to time, but he's not getting any better physically and I can't afford to have investigations done, and at his age, I'm not sure I would want to. Is it wrong to PTS a horse for financial reasons, or for it being the easier options, or have I tried long enough to say that it's not been easy?

Help :confused: :confused:
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I think you gave him another chance and if he is not an easy horse to look after please dont pass him on as he may not be as fortunate with the next person and horses get sold on to an uncertain fate. Best call it a day as has been suggested do it on a nice day and Iwouldnt subject him to tests as he sounds like he isnt going to come sound(my vet wanted to take my kindly old arthritic boy for tests). But no I couldnt rejuvenate him so best to PTS, when you are ready and made the decision. Just book it. Your others are missing out and so are you. But your call and dont be hard on yourself you did well for 3 years and tried. Hope this helps its very easy sitting here giving advice but you have been given some good advice already. Hope you come to an easy decision now.
 
MagicMelon said:
Why not at least see if someone else would take him on. Its not passing the buck as long as you tell the person exactly how he is and what his problems are. Yes, it's probably the hardest type of horse to rehome (big and older) but someone might want him. Unless of course he is actually unhappy with his lameness although I assume not if you say he canters and bucks about.

I'm speaking as someone who was given a 17.2hh 13yr old who was due to be PTS!
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The horse is permanently lame, and showing signs of ongoing pain. Why in God's name would you seek to loan it out?

Really, i've read it all now.

Jesus.
 
amymay said:
The horse is permanently lame, and showing signs of ongoing pain. Why in God's name would you seek to loan it out?

Really, i've read it all now.

Jesus.
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I tend to agree, prolonging life because you want to isn't in the horse's best interests when ongoing pain is involved. Why prolong suffering:confused:

The welfare guy is "going through the options of pts" for very valid reasons I would think.
 
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Cantering and bucking doesn't mean a horse is not in pain. How many times do we read threads about lame horses or dogs with injuries who we worry about because we can't stop them being silly despite them being in pain?

Pain is shown in one way or another...I would say that with normal bloods, it is
likely that pain is responsible for his inability to maintain condition.

My best friend made this tough decision and had her horse pts last week. He would drag his off hind occasionally but otherwise sound...but after 3 years of investigation, he still continued to lose weight and always looked very poor. No vet or nutritionist found a reason...all agreed it was just pain somewhere.

yoI agree a summer could be nice, but actually it won't make any difference for the horse...he won't know any different. It will perhaps make you feel better, but I would imagine another 6 month's of this hanging over your head
will be a huge emotional strain on you that the horse won't really benefit from from what you say. Especially if we get another horrible summer.

I really feel for you, but I feel very strongly that horses like this should not be passed on. Even if you find the best, most genuine new home, there is no guarantee against redundancy, change in circumstances etc and you just don't know what the horses future would then be. He could end up chucked in a field slowly emaciating because the person who has him then can't be as brave as you and do what is right for the horse!

Financial or not, your reasons for pts are valid due to this being a high maintenance horse that could easily suffer in a different home.

For what it's worth, you have my full support in putting to sleep. When you do that is up to you, but don't feel bad or guilty if you decide to do it sooner rather than later.
 
Oh hun, its perfectly normal to be having second thoughts and doubting yourself. But from reading your post I think you just want reassurance from other people that you're doing the right thing - which you are.

You've given him 3 great years. There's no point in thinking 'what if someone else took him on' because there wasn't anyone else, that's why you got him. And whilst its a nice idea giving him the summer who's to say we're not going to have another ****ty one with rain and mud? He has pretty much been on ad lib forage and hardfeed all winter, you've done every health check possible and yet he still hasn't picked up. Even if someone else does take him on, they're not going to be able to wave a magic wand and get weight on him. You've tried everything already.

Remember that he's completely unaware of what's going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month ECT. Horses live for the moment and as someone else said, its far better to do it a week to early than a minute to late.

Huge hugs, you ARE doing the right thing. Xxxx
 
It is horrid thinking about this, but the thinking is worse than the doing. Once the horse is gone it is over and you know he is no longer in pain.

I don't think it is right to pass on an old horse that has soundness issues that aren't going to get better. You have given him three good years - what a bonus for him. You have done your best for him, let him go with good grace.

He is often lame = being in pain. He doesn't know that summer is coming.

I do sympathise, I have been in the same place, but after it is over, there is also a feeling of relief.
 
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