Hi Cherry,
I’ve read a lot of your articles related to my horse issues but can’t seem to
find my answer to this one.
We have an older appy gelding who was given to us. We had bought a younger NSH gelding and this horse was his best buddy, so we took him too. At the time we were told he was 17, but our vet said, no well into his 20’s. This really didn’t bother me because I’ve know many horses that were useful at older ages. I thought he would be good for my girls to learn to ride on. Unfortunately, he has some medical issues, and they are rapidly increasing.
He has laminitis issues in his hooves. He has had abscesses in two, both
front and back. He has DSLD. He has arthritis. He tends to be aggressive to
our other horses, all except his buddy the NSH.
In January we began Natural trimming with a trained trimmer. She felt that it would be cruel to continue riding him, so he as been unridden since
December. Our vet hasn’t really mentioned it, but said that eventually
there will come the time to put him down.
I’m wondering how to determine that time. My fear is that he is in pain.
Currently he is on Bute for the arthritis to help with the pain and
swelling. I had hoped that we would be in a position to have a pasture by
now as we plan to move, but that may be put off for another year. With a
pasture I would simply let him live out his days, doing what he wants. This
really isn’t an issue about his unusability, but his pain level and since it
is difficult to tell, I’m at a loss as to the right time. Any insight would
be helpful.
Thanks, Patty
Hi Patty,
It is a difficult decision that most horse owners eventually have to face one day. The tough part is taking on the responsibility of making that decision, but ultimately the person who is the caretaker of the horse, usually the owner or owners, need to come to terms with what is best for the horse. We have to put our emotions aside and choose what is most humane for the horse. It is good you are thinking about it now while the horse is not in crisis – sometimes an emergency adds to the already difficult emotional decision.
Sometimes it is more difficult to decide what is best when others weigh in on the decision: co-owner, child, veterinarian………each person has their own view of that point where a horse no longer is comfortable. It sounds like you are the main person making this decision. If so, it will help if you step back and look at the big picture – how the horse was at his best and how he is now and if his current condition is full of more negatives than positives.
We horseowners seem to have a common dream in mind for our horses – we picture them “living out their days” on a nice pasture. Turnout is usually a good thing. But if a horse is laminitic and/or arthritic, turning him out on pasture (with grazing) might be unsuitable for the horse and contribute more to his lameness and discomfort. That same horse with a managed ration, therapeutic shoeing, a sand stall, and a suitable drug regimen might be more comfortable in confinement. Yet, would that be the right thing to do? In some cases yes, in others no.
Each person makes this decision based on different factors but to me the top
one is this. I ask myself, “Has the quality of life for this horse deteriorated to the point that he no longer can function normally in a comfortable manner?” If the answer is yes, then putting the horse down could be the most humane thing you can do for the horse. By function normally, I mean stand, eat, defecate, urinate, exercise, lay down, roll, socialize and all other things horse.
Other factors can enter in such as:
Do the treatment and management practices themselves add to the horse’s discomfort?
Does the drug treatment cause other problems?
Can the owner afford the full costs of care to keep the horse comfortable?
I hope something I’ve said has been helpful and I welcome further discussion on the topic.
Cherry Hill
I read this post several days ago – but tears flooded my keyboard too and I had to wait to write. Your thoughts are so beautiful and tender, yet pragmatic about a major life event for you.
Dear oh dear – what gaps in the sights, sounds and scents you were used to receiving from each one of your dear friends. Thank you for sharing your feelings so candidly with me (one of your readers).
Love never ends.
What a wealth of info on this blog and your website – you have put a hell of a lot of work into the advice, etc. You and Richard are really “paying forward”.
Thank you !
Thanks very much for writing. This blog and our website are truly “labors of love” and I am happy to help readers with their questions.
Cherry
I also live in WA state where this year is wet, muddy and crappy for the most part. I have a 32 yo holstiener who I did our final musical freestyle at her age of 30, and then did small trail rides until 31. Thank you so much for this thread as I am facing the same situation. She is still bright and cheerful, enjoys going for walks, pees/poops I have her on soft diet since her molars are gone, but she is still mindfully happy and I think she still wants to be ridden. Her hind quarters due to years of eventing/dressage are arthritic. She will give my 12yo gelding a few lessons in manners. I think about the decision that I will have to make, and the call I will have to make to my daughter, but for now she is still happy being the queen of the barn. As a nurse, I have patients that generally don’t listen to me, at least I have my horses and dogs as therapy!
Thank-you again
Holly Williamson
I’m glad it is helpful for you to read this thread. Thank you for your comment.
I have just been reading all your comments .
I have a situation with my old mare who is now 29, she has arthritis now not bad but has to have bute each day .
She has been a wonderfull girl given me hours of pleasure produced me 2 gorgeous foals .
I have her with my 3 year old and I have. A opportunity to move her to a better yard which is more within my budget .
I have to make a horrible decision what to do with my older mare as I feel she
Has lost her sparkle and her legs I know will get worse eecially in the winter .
I have also noticed she does not lay down much now so finding it difficult .
As she has been such a gorgeous mare so kind and loving I feel I should let her go before it gets worse and don’t think she would be upto moving as this would cause her more stress .
I don’t want to watch her get worse
I am sure she is in pain as she is reluctant to lift her back feet .
Everyone has a view and people think I am cutting her life short and am feeling very upset .
Jane
I had to put my mare, age 32 down a month ago. Her pelvis was arthritic from eventing, etc., She started going into liver/kidney failure, and we both knew it was time for her. Just always remember that she will be in God’s keeping, but she will always be in your heart. I miss my girl, and her memory gets me through my toughest days.
I had to put down my 29 yr old Arab in snowy Idaho the day after Christmas. He was the best ever..been with me for 19 yrs. Tore a tendon that never reattached 9 years ago, but still could be ridden at a smooth gait, and felt so useful when he got to be ridden. He was so good, even gimpy….and when he tore the tendon, just survived through it with spunk and good attitude and bute for 2 mos.
I am sick with tears, a blotchy face from crying, non functional still…hate to even go to the barn to feed the others. I feel empty…it never gets easier….dogs and horses, they sure aren’t as easy as goldfish. I pray for strength to be happy when I go to my barn…good memories just break my heart…wish there was a cure all for everyone…I am again sobbing…..I wish I never liked animals sometimes. Good luck to all that face the time……..no words can really help….just takes time…it plain old sucks
Cheers to my horse Destiny….and Gable…and good old Mink…and Clancy…wow I have spent many years crying, they all were put down due to old horse issues, but sad everyday
Thank you for this blog. I am feeling sad and guilty and more sad but also I feel like my beautiful 21 year old TB gelding told me on Sunday that “it’s time.” He was a retired dressage horse when I got him and the owners had nerve blocked his left front hoof to try to keep working him longer. It didn’t work. When I got him to ride trails their vet told me we’d have several good years — but it’s not been so. Starting with lameness on and off and then abscesses, he finally ended up with a rotated coffin bone (all in the same hoof). We’ve been working on that since October and while THAT seems to be better, his overall pain and misery seem much worse. I kept telling my self when I walked him that he was fine, but when I put him in the round pen and really looked at him, I saw how much pain he’s really in. And then he looked at me and we had this intense moment of understanding.
I am applying to send him to a Circle of Life program which is where many of the therapeutic horses that I work with go when they are ready to “run with the angels.” My biggest issue is that everyone at the barn has a different critique of what I am doing, what I should have done, etc. etc. I know in my heart I am doing what’s right for him. I just had to get this off my chest to someone whom I think would understand. Thanks.
Good hearing this. I have a gelding, the love of my life but upper and lower ringbone. Only 22 but have been Bute ing him twice a day for over 2 years. He is now refusing meds. I am sick about this but have chosen to have him humanely put down next week. I can’t stop crying either but know it’s time.
I to have an old app I bought some years ago because no one else wanted him…!! but now he has trouble walking and the vet has me giving him a butte every day and spring is here and I can see he is slowly getting worse ,, I am so hurting as I have to make the decision..!!! I was out with him today and groomed him in the warm spring afternoon sun..I cried while I was having a talk with him on how I was going to miss him and how special he was to me ..!! he was so dirty from rolling in the mud and I laughed as I respectively told him how goofy he was ..I am having such a hard time letting my friend go,,,but I do know its time to say goodbye .it just HURTS so much…I so hope it gets easier as time goes bye and that he understands. but for now I’ll just hug him and say goodbye… for now ,,and I will always be thinking of you and I will see you again someday… Goodbye REBEL My FRIEND…..you will be missed…..
Our heart goes out to you Kip. All of us here at horsekeeping…….
I didn’t see this thread until today, five weeks after I put down my Icelandic gelding, Kjarkur. He was only 22 but battling Cushings and Metabolic syndrome. He’d had health and behavioral issues for most of the 14 years he was with me but I never gave up until late in April when I could see how very tired he was. I knew it would be very difficult for me to give him a good quality of life. I just knew it was time to say goodbye. He is the second horse I lost to Cushings. The first one told me when to let go when the pain of chronic laminitis was no longer controllable. Kjarkur also told me so I did what I had to do to insure him a peaceful death, before he suffered the inevitable crises that lay ahead. I know I made the most loving decision, but it was so difficult.
We have to call on our deepest courage during times like this. I feel for every horse owner facing the decision of when to say goodbye. They really do let us know and we have to trust this message.
Wow, make me cry. My heart goes out to all of you who have had to say goodbye. I live on the coast in central Queensland, Australia, right on the tropic of Capricorn, with two old boys – one is my appy gelding I’ve had since he was 5, he’ll be 29 in November, and the other is his paddock buddy I adopted three years ago who is around 27. They are true paddock horses who shelter in the trees and drink from a dam, coming up for feeds morning and night. They still wander all over the paddock which is about 5 acres of hilly, rocky, shrubby wildness which they share with cows every couple of months. I have become a bit worried because in 2 or 3 years I will be moving down to the far south coast of New South Wales where my mum is, also aging but living in a house not a paddock. Now this journey is around two and a half thousand kilometres and down out of the tropics and into a more temperate area. I have started researching as to what my options are for my boys, I don’t want to be selfish and do things that will make the old boy’s have a dreadful time but I also don’t want to just put them down so that I can move. Can anyone give me any thoughts?
Thank you, Cherry, for a rational approach to this impossible question. I have a relatively young mare (14) who seems to have irrevocably hurt her back, and after stints at Colorado State University and months of physical therapy and other therapies, including steroids and non-traditional treatments like acupuncture and others, I have come to the conclusion that she will not ever be able to live without significant pain. A horse who cannot do more than walk is not living a quality life. I will euthanize her tomorrow; you have made this awful decision manageable, although the pain of the decision for me is devastating. But thanks for your logical questions that focus on the horse, which is, of course, the one who must live (or not) with our decisions. Unsubstantiated human hope is not a good enough reason to let an animal suffer.
Update: Two days after the above post, I put my lovely Fanny down. An autopsy showed that her S2 and S3 vertebrae had fused, crooked, years before I bought her. The hole where the nerves went was fully 1/3 normal size. She was never going to get well. It wasn’t my fault, or her fault, or her previous owner’s fault. It just was. It didn’t make the act easier, but it gave me peace that I did the right thing. My instincts were correct: she was never going to be without pain again. I’m glad I put her needs first.
Time to put my winning driving horse down. Thirty three years old Rescued eight years ago. Best money ever spent. Showed love always, Always in the ribbons. Confused, Put down or destroyed???? The answer eludes me, lost over 50 lbs last month. Wise horseman said to my after seeing my 28 yo Quarter Horse’ worst things to do to a horse than to put it down”” Your right Archie. Bye Benny
My heart goes out to you, Dave. You did the right thing.
I have already had to put down a beautiful 8 yr old Warmblood due to severe ring bone. There was no question that even with pain meds and special shoes he was barely able to walk. I am now struggling with the decision over my 19yr old Thoroughbred. I bought him as a 3yr old off the track and we have had many adventures together. We did some eventing, hunter/jumpers, dressage and just riding and hanging out. I was lucky enough to have my own place to retire him to when a severe knee injury left him unridable at age 15. My husband and I have both noticed that he seems to losing his zest for life. He has severe arthritis in both hocks and his knee. He had a mild bought of laminitis last year also. He has developed horrible hock sores on both hocks. He never trots or canters in turn out anymore and today seemed to not be interested in even going to the pasture. I know it’s time and he can’t make it thru another winter but I just can’t make the call. I’m so torn. He is my best friend.
Be kind to him, then. Let him go. A horse who can’t run for the pain is just hanging on. In the last days before I put my mare down (see above), I put her on some bute to ease her pain before the end. The transformation in a few hours–running, bucking, her old, familiar general silliness–made me realize how much pain she was actually in. No one should have to live with that. (BTW, a necropsy showed that she had two badly fused vertebrae and bone growth that was pressuring her nerves. There was nothing I did to cause it, nor anything anyone could do to relieve it. It was a (sad) luck of the draw.) Remember the loyalty your riding partner and best friend gave you, unselfishly, and try to give it back in the same way. He is, and will always be, your best friend. You’ll never lose the great love and memories he gave you.
I have to put my second horse down. The last two years I have had to put horses down. Crescende 32 of old age. Now Gumby for navicular fx. He’s on bute and does well at 4g but once reduced he is very sore and not stable. It is very hard to watch, as a nurse, I can’t fix him. So I will let him go and be with his old stable mate Crescende.
I know I have made the right decision since yesterday I was hand grazing my boy and he had difficulty balancing on the slightest of incline in the yard. He hasn’t lost his appetite, but I can’t watch him in pain anymore. I will be horse-less for the first time in a long time. I will get another, because of the therapeutics that I get from them.
My lovely 30 y/o saddlebred, Joe, colicked horribly two years ago and after two hours of trying to help he was put down. Major trauma and the one thing I wanted to avoid at the end of his life. Now am faced with 32 y/o quarter horse who has no major problems, except I sense she is not happy. (I know within a heartbeat when it is “time” for dogs or cats, and always want to err on the side of sacrificing days weeks or a month or two to ensure that there will not be trauma or pain. Horses are harder, much harder.)
Betty struggled in the heat this summer despite the best cooling and care a horse could have, and I just cannot see putting her thru the ice, snow, and cold of another winter. I want to send her over the bridge to meet Joe and so many others before I MUST. Friends and barn mates supportive. Decision made today as I watched her drop down like a sack of potatoes to roll, enjoy the roll, but then struggle and struggle to get up, becoming more panicky by the moment.
It is just so hard to call the vet and say, I am choosing this day to do the unthinkable, but necessary. Thanks for this forum to air my thoughts.
We have a thoroughbred warmbloodcross he is on his 20s , he has been the best horse i have ever met. When we boughy him I thought my husband was crazy, you see Gus (our big boy) threw me across the barn with his nose! When we brought him home and rode him he was the most amazing gentle horse I had ever met (with no ground manners) . We have had him for 6 years, along with letting our friend use him for jumping and dressage. He came back to us full timr in November of 2012.
This past spring he started to drop weight , even with being rode as we were preparing for the 4 H fair. From May to the beginning of July he lost 200 lbs. Like wow, and the worst part was like it happened over night. Needless to say no fair for Gus ( he would whiney up a storm when we would go for lessons and didn’t take him)
I hac the vet out and other than low red cells , nothing is showing up, I get him to start gaing weight and he drops its again! He is getting red cell, kalm utra 12% on both fat and protein, alfalfa pellets, oats, and two cups of vegitable oil daily in the amount of 20 lbs of this a day in mash, plus all the hay and grass he wants. He is arthritic as well, i found out the girl I let use him was injecting something into his legs (not happy about) .
Anyway , its killing me beacuse he cannot keep any weight on and I know I should put him down. I have tried everything from his teeth, blood work and worming for tape as tape may not show up in the fecal exam .
Gus has been so good to us , I only want to do the same for him ( he was the baby sitter for our 5 yr old twins ) and a grand champion to those who rode him in Hunter Jumper events !
Im not ok with any animal suffering, I guess I maybe needed to vent ! But I don’t know how to do this !,,,,,, he acts normal , other than I did notice hes letting the lower end of the pecking order heard him , I moved him when I seen that !
With the pecking order changing should I take that as a sighn ?? please help. !!! We live in Michigan and I dont think he will make it through the winter !
My husband and I think we should put him down, but how do I convince my daughter, whom has rode him for the better part of her life !! He has been such an angel ♥♥♥ Joy
Joy, with a Michigan winter coming and your dear friend who is no longer comfortable and able to interact normally with his herd mates…….he is calling out to you to let him exit peacefully. To your daughter, perhaps you can tell her it is hard but it might be the best way she could say “thank you” – to prevent him from enduring much tougher times ahead. Best of luck and we all feel for you in the position you are in…………all of us here at horsekeeping…………
Thank you , we are putting him down tomorrow. We are all heart broken, but want what is best for our sweet boy.Thank you for letting me tell you about him and what an angel he has been to us.
I’m sitting here with a lump in my throat reading what I am going thru with my 30 year old Morgan gelding. It has helped me reading your postings! Helped me decide what is best for him to allow him to leave this world in a proud manner not in severe pain in his stall one night. He is having a bout with laminitis, and has been unable to ride for the last 6 weeks. When we had pictures taken of his coffin bone we found he is also very arthritic and is suffering from severe ring bone. He has cushings and is insulin resistant, and is on thyroid medication, blood work shows he is anemic I gave him medication for that with no results. Yes for years I have been trying to keep him going.. He is a very proud horse, he thinks its his job to go on trail every day like we did for 20 years. Now I hand walk him around hearing the sound of his feet hitting the ground hearing he is still off and seeing he is in pain. Today when I put him in a turn out, he walked to the shade and stood there. He can’t roll anymore. Yes, its time! I have friends that say that I should wait let him tell me in his way, some say he still has his ears forward and has bright eyes. I think he told me today. He can’t run, snort, or rear in turnout like he did for so many years. Tomorrow I am having the vet down to have the conversation with him. Thank you for making me not feel so alone.
My heart breaks for you. We love them so much, they give us their all. We must give them a gentle death while we still have the power to do so. You are not alone.
HI this is Trish, with the 30 yr old Morgan I was so heart broken over in January with the decision I eventually would have to make. My vet came out, he said his ears are perky, he is eating and responding to touch it isn’t time. I waited another three months, more complications, swelling in his sheath, and stomach, his insulin was up to 116, (very high) I made the decision on my own, it is time. On March 8th 2014, I made an appointment to have it done. I met with my vet early on a sunny morning, (my horses name was Sunny) The truck to take him away was there, I gave me a big bucket of carrots apples and alfalfa hay his favorite snacks, snacks he no longer could have due to his IR, he dug in like he was in heaven!! I gave him a big hug and turned and walked away, I couldn’t watch them give the shot. I did have a close friend that stayed with him, She said he went down so peacefully like he was so ready!! The last three months I have been depressed and having back problems. I have lots of friends who are offering me there horses to ride, but Im not ready!! I know it was the most humane thing to do for Sunny, he is free with no pain, running and bucking, rolling, and snorting like he did for so long!! I’ll never be sorry I made the decision! Good luck with all your loved horses, and know it means no more pain, they try so hard to hide it from us, they are work animals, here to do a job!! Sunny did his job, he was took care of me for 21 years!!
Hi, I have a large pony that we’ve been battling laminitis too. He lives in soft ride boots, but I had a farrier about a year ago take them off cold turkey. He had been living in them for 4 years prior. He was so bruised from 5 days without it’s heart wrenching. We have been battling abscess after abscess half hoofs falling off because of trauma. He spent almost all winter laying down, he’s up now for most of the day now. What do I do? Do I make the decision to end his suffering with arthritis added to the mix now or do I keep up with Pergolide,Thyroid L, muscle relax, bute and betadine sugar ? I read the story of Druid and ironfreehorse and got high hopes! Any suggestions?
Danica, be kind to him: if he can’t stand up for the pain, love him enough to put him down. Love him enough to think about what is best for him. Thank him with the kindness of peace.
I have two beautiful Percheron crosses that are16 to 18 yrs old. One was born here and the other was my dad’s horse who past away 5 yrs ago. The one I raised has been lame for about 8 yrs and the other about 3 yrs.. They are best friends! I have lots of pasture and because of there breeding they are very heavy bodied horses. Neither one will ever be able to ride or work of any kind, we’ve been through the corrective shoeing and all kinds of management . We’ve made the decision to put them down.:-( I’m struggling so hard with this! I know if I gave them to someone, they could be used and put through lots of pain. I pray to know what to do and know that without legs you have no horse. I’m not in a position to devote hours a day keeping them up or do I have the money. I have an old horse also that has been my mount who I have retired. I’ve ridden for 50 yrs and never faced this. Also no possibilities for them to be pasture mates somewhere, what should I do?????? Very sad, horse lover !
Resa, in my view–and I’ve had to put a number horses down over my 50-year horsemanship experiences–when a horse can no longer be a horse–run, play, kick, buck, and stand in peace under the shade of an old tree in midday–it is unkind to keep them alive. Years ago, we had an old pinto mare with stifle problems. We no longer rode her, but one day she couldn’t get up in the pasture without great effort over about 20 minutes’ time. The next day, we bathed her, prettied her white mane and tail, gave her a ton of treats, and took her to the vet. Once there, a “cowboy” (I use the term loosely since I have respect for true cowboys) had come to pick up his two skinny, back-sored Quarter horses who had run away, and been found and taken to the vet. He took one look at our sleek, pretty, well-fed mare and offered us his two broken horses for our one. Of course we didn’t do it: she was there to part with all of us because of her pain. Think of your darlings standing in pain all day, then love them enough to give them peace. And thank them for all of the joy, life lessons, and kindness they showered you with throughout their lives.
It is a very hard decision to make! I hope you come to the right choice, the one that is best for you and for your sweet horses! We well always miss them, but know they are no longer in any pain and left this world proud with no stress.
Hi…all of you are dealing with issues with older horses. I have “Black Beauty” as my love. She was thrown out with cows as a three year old, no real human bonding, and she didn’t make it to the track as the breeder couldn’t do anything with her. He said, I bought “old bone head.” She was always difficult to train but I practiced patience, patience, patience and it paid off. She became more loving and trusting but mainly to me. She’s now thirteen, sound, and so beautiful but has become somewhat dangerous. I did care giving for 7 years to my mom, after she passed, all I wanted to do was ride again and regain my “Joi de Vivre” but one day she squealed and tried to kick my husband…not by intent but he just happened to be in the way. I proceeded with blood work, herbs, meds, regulate and insisted help from a young man to come and work her to see if she was safe. Riding was fine but if she was touched in the wrong place, which could be anywhere she squealed, kicked, and tried to get his young man. I was horrified and distraught for six months as I tried to “fix” the problem. Was it ulcers, a cyst? What? As I’m writing this, she’s kicking the barn and I will have to have the vet out soon. I’ve been crying for a week. I brush her and she nickers softly to me as I seem to be the only human who bonded with her. I will not give her away as she could end up in a bad situation later. I’ve heard too many stories of such from people I trust. She will be buried on my property with a lovely tree over her grave. My heart is broken as I said she would be my last horse. My husband spoke with a vet in AZ who said these things don’t improve with mares and one should look to the kindest thing to do for the animal, not the most convenient….like give them away because they’re not working out or it’s too much work. It’s tough love owning a horse as they are so powerful, beautiful, kind, and we bond with that spirit which they represent and resonates with our own.
I had my beautiful Morgan gelding put down in march of last year. He had laminitis, Cushings, and was insulin resistant. He was a very proud horse always so full of energy, he was my life for 21 years, he was 30 years old.When his insulin continued to go up I knew it was time. I didn’t want to find him in a crisis where he knew as well as I it was time. Instead we choose a bright sunny morning with a bucket full of apples and carrots he was put down. I have never regretted the decision I know it was best for him to go.
This last year my health has been one problem after the next. I rode other horse’s, I love horses! But eventually couldn’t ride anymore. I don’t know if it were because of my missing my horse and emotionally had no idea how hard it would be on me.
I know it was the right decision! Just prepare yourself for the humungiss loss! My sweet Sunny well always be in my heart.
Good luck.
I was brought a 3 year old Standardbred horse 14 years ago. I training he severely injured his Stifle and worsened it when he they chose to race him once. He won basically on 3 legs. They loved his temperament and wanted him to enjoy life calmly for a few months so they brought him to me. Even with his injury he was a lot better in approximately 3 weeks. Eating well again and playing around the field with my other horse. I had him x-rated in Guelph shortly after he came here and it showed he had a fairly big spot of arthritis.
He still had lots of good days, he rolls every day when I let him out of his stall, still runs with my other horse and just loves to hang out with her. His front legs carry the majority of his weight and get a tiny bit shaky sometimes when standing. Getting up after rolling is sometimes a bit rough on his hocks as they scrape quite often. He is a much loved pasture horse. He hasn’t had colic for 9 months now, but he devastatingly colicked 3-4 times a year for a long time. He eats 4 times a day, about 10 lbs, but has always been on the lean side a bit too much. He is happy and relaxes well but does get a bit sad looking and distressed once in a while. He is alert and energetic enough, I let him out in the field almost every day for 5-7 hours. He gets occasional massages from an equine massage therapist, acupuncture and chiropractic adjustments. I have to be careful about him walking where there might be mud now as he has had mud fever on the ankle of his injured leg on and off for the past 3 years. He doesn’t mind all treatments and supplements and is mostly happy and loves meals and treats. I have a loving close bond with him and can’t stand the thought of putting him down. The expense of his high maintenance is high, but I’m not letting that stand in my way. I’m just writing this to get an opinion from you. Thanks
Am I right in interpreting what you wrote? Your horse so dreads the pain and struggle of getting up that he stands holding his weight in the front long enough that his legs shake with the stress. When he does go down, he scrapes his hocks and struggles to get up. He shows you his pain by being sad and distressed in spite of having “lots of good days.”
The question is: how much is “lots”? What’s the percentage of good versus bad (shaky legs, can’t get up, looks distressed)? Create some clear, observable behaviors indicating pain or comfort for him, set up a calendar/diary, and note his behaviors daily for a few weeks. That will give you facts to work from.
You have given him 14 great years. He has done his best for you. Please don’t equate money spent with amount of love you feel. You “can’t stand the thought” of putting him down. The question is: Is he ready to be relieved of pain?
Keep your calendar, look at the data, and love him enough to do what’s right for him, whatever that is. My heart goes out to you: this is the difficult part of a wonderful 14 year relationship. However, you will always have the joyful memory of that, no matter what happens to him.
Marianne, we can’t take away the burden of your decision, whenever it comes, but many of us have gone through a similar situation. You are not alone.
Laurie’s plan to evaluate your horse’s quality of life over a few weeks might be very helpful. Sometimes we are so immersed in the day-to-day care of a special needs horse that we lose sight of the overall picture. I really do believe that most horses (and dogs) will give us signs that they are too sick, too tired or too painful. For myself, I know I saw that look for some time before I accepted the meaning because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing my friend. As I looked ahead I knew my Icelandic’s prognosis was very poor and I decided to give him a gentle death before his condition deteriorated much more. I did not want him to leave in a crises, for his sake and for my own. I didn’t want his last day on earth to be full of pain or fear. I miss him still but I know I made a humane decision and am at peace.
Years before, my Appendix QH suffered off and on for three long years as I tried to save him from Cushings (PPID). When at last he very clearly told me he was in too much pain and I let him go, I vowed to never again hang on so long when the prospects were clearly bad. I didn’t know this phrase at the time but ran across it when struggling with the decision of when to say goodbye to my pony: better a week too early than a minute too late. We don’t always get the choice to choose the time of the goodbye, but sometimes we can.
You have given your beautiful horse 14 happy years, way beyond what he would have had after his devastating injury. Trust that you will know when to say goodbye. Ask him to tell you.
Kay in Oregon
Hi Kay,
I just read your email, thank you.
Gabriel started moaning a few times yesterday when he moved his leg. Nufluxin didn’t help much at all. I called a vet whose advice I would take over any of the others. She came at 9:30 this morning .I trust her, she has more compassion that the other vets do.
Gabriel was put to sleep. It is heartbreaking.
But I know it was time.
Marianne
My heart is with you, Marianne. It is never easy, even when–and maybe, especially when–it is the right thing to do. Condolences.
Marianne, I’m so sorry for your loss. He was deeply loved.
Kay
Had my 31 year old gelding euthanized last week. I’d had him since his third birthday. We grew old together. It was such a release. Each morning as I walked to the barn I wondered what I would find…did he develop old horse colic during the night or perhaps lie down and was not be able to get up? A dear vet friend told me years ago that I would know the time, and with each critter that has been so. And so it was that morning last week when I looked into his eyes and looked at his posture and realized what a burden life had become. It was a fine spring day, not too hot; the flies weren’t out yet; the grass was sweet; what a fine day to release him from his body.
There are worse things you can do to a horse beside euthanize him.
I’m sitting here at 4AM knowing that in a little more than 24 hrs my beloved horse will be “gone”!
After reading this article by Cherry Hill I know it is the best thing for my Hermes.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts both sentimental and logical.
It’s a very fine line between reality and hope when your heart is involved.
You’ve helped me to rationalize this very difficult decision which doesn’t come easy but now tolerable.
Diane
I’m glad it was helpful, Diane. My heart is with you. Laurie
Gail
I had to put down my beautiful Diablo. She was 18 years old and I had her for 14 years. She was the kindest and best horse ever everybody loved her. She had cushings and lamintas and fell and dislocated her shoulder. The vet could could not do anything for her so I had to put her down she could not walk much and was always lying down and she was on bute for awhile to help with the pain.I had to different vets but i still had to end her life.I feel I will never get over the loss of the first and only horse i have had, GAIL.
Gail, I lost my brilliant Arab of 20 years to a sudden colic in 2013. The pain was immense, especially the first year, but now I am able to look at photos of him and think of him with joy. I still weep occasionally, like now, but more and more the terrific memories of his courage, ability, and kindness remind me that the pain is worth the connection you make with your horse of a lifetime. Condolences on your loss.
Hello I need some advice my horse SI fell yesterday I found him laying on his side he’s 29 years old and he continuously loses weight even though we feed him three times a day and he has hay and grass to eat we also have dewormed him, I’ve tried putting a rope around him and pulling him up but all he does is kick sometimes he does nothing he’s like dead weight he’s been down for 24 hours I called the veterinarian yesterday they gave me an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen for him I gave him that I feed him while he’s laying there he’ll eat but he will not drink water I try to put some in a baster and give it to him like that but he just spits it out I don’t know what’s wrong with him why he can’t stand up I’m fearing for the worst I keep going out there every hour and give him some food and water and trying to entice him to get up but no matter how hard I try he will not stand what should I do?
We have a horse that has a suspensory injury in his hind legs. He has to be retired and moved from his friends and regular handlers. He is only a trail horse now, but he is skitish and therefore I doubt he will make a good tail horse or even enjoy it.
Right now, he is happy with his friends and his normal routine and life as he know it. He is 25 and therefore lived a long life.
I think we should put him down instead of moving him to some place where he does not know to live out his life without his buds. Is this inhumane?