Retired horse - end of the road?

mb73

(((GotToChange))) I hope you're feeling a little better now. No one will judge you harshly if you decide it is better to say goodbye sooner rather than later. It just shows how much you care. x

moomin5

I'd have a look round at moving him elsewhere first, advertise and see if anyone needs a companion or has a stable spare so you can take more control of his feeding etc. My friend sent her mare to a retirement yard when she needed time off and i think it was cheaper than full livery as they mainly lived out but i've no idea how common these places are or prices.

It might turn out PTS is the best option. I think its slighty different to cats/dogs, many people choose to PTS there retired horses in order to know their fate as passing them on can end up bad situations or meat man

tori.k

Why not give Billy a call @ Mr mouse's Farm for the unfortunates, its an retired horse santuray in Wolverhampton. He might be able to take your horse on

walwin

tori.k wrote: »

Why not give Billy a call @ Mr mouse's Farm for the unfortunates, its an retired horse santuray in Wolverhampton. He might be able to take your horse on

Link to home page http://www.thehorsesanctuary.co.uk/index.html

Best wishes to you GotToChange, what a horrible time this is for you :sad:

cally6008

GotToChange, what area are you in ? I can guarantee there is somewhere out there that is better than the place you are at and within your price range. You should NOT have to put up with that carp from the farmer. He's your horse and you need to look after him when it suits your routine, not have to pander to someone else's whim and fancy.

orlao

I really feel for you, it's a horrible position to be in. I've had to make the decision for my old boy some years ago and I've also decided that if, for any reason I cannot keep my nutty 13 yo (financial or otherwise) he will be PTS as I could not pass him on to anyone else - for his sake, not mine so I do understand the dilemma.

My concerns would be

1) Even if you could find somewhere else to keep him, would it be fair to uproot him from his long term home at his very advanced age? Same with loaning him (if there was anyone prepared to take him).
2)27 is a very good age for a TB - to have got him that far shows a huge level of care - but sadly, healthwise it can only be downhill from here.If you are already struggling financially, further vet bills (no insurance available at his age?) could be the final straw.
3) Horses do not know why the vet or knackerman/hunt are visiting - it's OUR guilt that makes US think that they do.
4)I subscribe to the belief that better 6 months too early then a day too late when it comes to doing the last good deed we can for our animals.

If the above seems cold hearted, I apologise, it's not meant to be and thinking about making that decision for my old boy 12 years ago has me in tears now but my only regret with him was that I allowed the vet to carry on for longer than I should have.

I think that if you can look at his AND your overall welfare you may find deciding what is the right thing to do (whatever that is)

(((((((HUGS))))))

O x

lostinrates

Got toChange, I have two oldies ATM, one in her thirties and one in her twenties. My panic last year was that I have nothing suitable to keep the other company if I need to make ''that'' decision for the other. Thankfully both look set to make it through nother winter.

If, on the other hand, I were in your shoes I think euthanasia is a very valid considertion. You could also seek advice/help from one of the equine charities. The difficulty with moving is security: what I would hate is too move to somewhere and unsettle him, or risk having to move again, and again, but, although demand is falling, you could look for somewhere for him to go as a companion, if he is suitable.

Good luck with the decision.

mrsdarbs

What a difficult decision to make! I would certinaly have a call around places first and like a couple of other people have mentioned - maybe loan him out or find out if there is anyone out there with a horse/pony that needs a companion. put an advert up and see what happens?!

Good luck and I hope you make a decision that is good for both of you!

GotToChange

Thank you again for such wonderful and considerate responses; I have calmed down a little now although this will always be an emotional subject and one which I will struggle to handle in a detached manner.

Orlao - you make some hugely relevant points; I know for sure that a change of home would be horribly unsettling for him (and, I hate to admit it, me). At present, he lives a fairly settled existence in a field of four on a yard of six (mare and her 4 yo daughter in separate smaller paddock). he has reached a good age for his type and, apart from the cost, any procedure that he should need that would involve anasthesia would be the end whether I liked it or not (the vet advised). No insurers would touch him for vet fees, although he was fully covered until the age of 21 (as he had been with them from age 15) - which certainly helped when he had the (horrible) day at the vet's for navicular investigations (£600).

I have seen the injection pts procedure and it was very very peaceful - but the old pony (not mine) literally could not get up that day so he just lay his head down on the straw and closed his eyes. It would scare me to think of the horse "going down" as the injection did it's work - I was so very upset on each of the two occasions that mine has even been sedated; it is seeing such noble animals becoming weak and defenceless that cuts right through me. I think I am too soft.
(But I simply cannot bear what happens with them afterwards; the dragging of the body into a the back of a truck with a winch is one of the saddest things I have seen.)

I know also that they have no sense of the future - are happy enough to be "in the moment", eating their grass and being able to move about and pass the time of day with their friends (once past the days when they proudly waited to be taken out for the day - or whatever); that the care and attention they receive from a human is a great bonus but more for the human than the animal... But still....

Although my horse's health and well-being are paramount to me, I think this situation at the farm is more about the people and (sadly) money. I hate so much that I am in this situation of powerlessness. I know every other yard in the area (North Notts border) and know that various reasons would prevent us going to them - which is pathetic I know. I had thought that we would stay at the farm until the end of his days (which I admittedly did think would have been before now); for the arrangement we had to be changed for no reason other than greed (and it is, I have done the maths and I know the reasoning) - when I have put up with so much for so long (12 years) through (their) thick and thin - and my own (still), is heartbreaking.

orlao

You are in such a hard place GotToChange. I can really sympathise with not wanting to move for both you and your horse(been there, still there) .

If you want to know more about the procedures, feel free to pm as sadly I've had to be present at both more times than I like to remember for my own horses and other peoples. I completely understand about not wanting to watch them being removed. I always disappear at that point because as I see it, I've done my duty for the animal - they can't feel anything/need me by then.