Vid of pony being put down on facebook

[basilhorse]

So difficult a decision to make. I have only had one PTS (broken leg). The vet decided to use a bolt gun and missed the lethal spot and then had to inject as horse wouldn't let the gun anywhere near hs head. I am so thankful I wasn't holding my horse (I was 14 and steered gently away by adults once vet had confirmed broken leg). I concede an experienced knackerman probably wouldn't have missed and it would have been quick.

[heather]

I agree Megant, it is a very personal choice. I have only had one horse, a great old favourite, who had liver failure aged 28, put down by injection and it took him nearly 30 mins to die. I have never had another put down this way since, but it is not to say that others, who have had better experiences, are wrong.

Heather

[annie]

Jan 3, 2012 12:32:26 GMT 1 @donnalex said:

I think that sending old horses away to new homes and everything they know to retirement livery, charities and so on is much much more of a hardship for an animal and very wrong

Maybe sometimes but not always. I've just taken on a 24 year old pony on loan and he seems very happy with my two.

[esther]

We had one of our old TBs put down by injection this year - everything went as perfectly as it could and it was absolutely the right way for him.

It was the first one I've seen by injection as all the others I've been involved with have been shot. What I was surprised about was that Joe stood a bit groggily for a couple of seconds, the vet stood back, and Joe reacted as if he had been shot. That was actually quite good because he was being put down in the midst of his fieldmates (including his close pairbond) and we didn't want them to associate what happened with something that a human had done. He was gone before he hit the ground, but the twitching etc that you get seemed to go on a bit longer with the injection than I remember with the shootings.

I'd be, well happy is the wrong word, but ethically satisfied with using either method again in the future depending on the horse and the situation.

[gem]

I have been there for both circumstances and while I pity those of you that have had bad experiences I cant for a second believe that anyone would think owners that use the injection do so at the horses greater suffering than those who chose the bolt.

When Sky was pts it was by injection it was over in an instant and she was no more aware that she would have been had i had her shot. It was dignified quick and allowed her as much dignity as I could afford her, the vets were careful and did their job perfectly - bear broke her leg coming round from an op so she was also pts by lethal injection. I have seen both and personally I would never opt for shooting unless a specific reason such as in Jennys case.

My horses are my family and for me and it is a personal decision whether you have your horse pts by injection or by shooting. Either way however I would always have my horses put to sleep at their home (unless they broke their leg out riding or something horrid) where they are happy safe and loved and id be there with them till the end - I owe them that much

[naria]

Jan 3, 2012 21:07:14 GMT 1 gem said:

My horses are my family and for me and it is a personal decision whether you have your horse pts by injection or by shooting. Either way however I would always have my horses put to sleep at their home (unless they broke their leg out riding or something horrid) where they are happy safe and loved and id be there with them till the end - I owe them that much

This, for me, is one of the biggest considerations - I'd want it to be at home with the minimum stress & a kind familar face there at the end. When William was ill & we knew that it was only a matter of time the one thing I absolutely insisted on was that he was PTS at home & if I couldn't be there someone he knew was - that mattered to me far far more than how it was done.

[Karon]

When Sham was PTS last month I don't think shooting could have been quicker - like Joe he dropped straight away, very quick indeed. Not even a twitch in his case, nor with Khafif 4 years ago (also injection). I know they can twitch after, and the vet warned me of that but there was nothing.

[auburnalia]

I wont watch the vid coz I'm too much of a big softy but I am not sure deciding the end for our animals comes down to what we would prefer/what easiest for us/others, its more about knowing the horse/animal in front of you.

The thought of having Auburn "shot" still sends a chill down my spine, it sounds violent and messy and cruel......but that's my feelings - not hers.

I was not interested in how I would feel, only what she would go through. I chose the gun because she HATED being injected and although my vet was the calmest nicest guy she knew he was the vet, she would fight sedation for x-rays so the thought of her fighting it in those last moments I felt would be too much for her and it made my mind up. My preference to be honest never really came into it.

The man who came out was the oddest looking fella you have ever seen, lacked teeth, dirty hair and clothes but the nicest nicest man, he was early (for which I will always be grateful), quietly took control was very kind to Aubs, she was so relaxed and at peace and it was over within milli-seconds. No mess, not violent and certainly not cruel. I know I made the right decision and had she been able to I am sure she'd have made the same choice.

Another horse on another day might have been a different situation entirely.

[daisysp8]

I was at the end with mine .... always would be, just as i have been for many animals over the years.


Having it done at 'home' isn`t always an option. It wasn`t an option for me due to various reasons, none of which i could change. My 2 options were the hunt, or the vets ..... and seen as he`d got himself in such a sad and sorry state whilst at the vets the times he`d been in, i went with the first option.

We will be doing the same again on Friday, for the same reasons. Some times circumstances limit our ideals of how we`d like it to be, and in those circumstances we can only do our best.

[gordo]

Dreading Gordo as he is such a big fella and can almost touch the moon with his great swede when the feeling takes him. He will deffo have some contact with drugs even if its to sedate him to keep his head low. Cant tell till the day although I repeatedly tell him to fall asleep in the field, fingers crossed that happens when he is ready

[lc]

Disney was PTS by injection and like Gems experience with Sky, Disney died quietly, quickly and with dignity and I was there till the very end, I couldn't have wished for a more peaceful exit.

[BJMM]

I have seen horses pts by both methods and have always, personally, preferred the gun, just based on my own experiences. Erin, Jas's mum, had to be pts when Jas was 12 weeks old. The local knackerman, who is a lovely chap, said that Jas would have to be there, as separating mare and foal would mean that he might not get the gun in the right place if Erin became frantic, and she might have to be shot twice.
I held Erin, I always stay with my animals, and two friends held Jas and Blaze. I looked away and just felt her drop. It was instantaneous, no twitching or movement at all. We said our goodbyes. Blaze was very calm, almost disinterested. Jas sniffed her mum and pushed with her nose, but followed Blaze quite easily (all three were together 24/7 since the birth, so Blaze was mummy 2 to Jas)
Jas did run around the field, screaming for mum, which was awful. But the strangest thing happened when the knackerman's lorry came within view of the fields. This was a large DIY yard and there were loads of horses out in 8 fields. EVERY SINGLE ONE stopped grazing and they all watched the lorry go up the road, for several minutes, and then, as the lorry went around the bend, one horse gave an almighty whinny and as one, the horses turned and resumed grazing!
Obviously this was an awful, gutty day for all of us, but handled with dignity and empathy by our knackerman and with help by other girls on the yard, who cleaned up for me.
Sorry if this has been upsetting to read xxxxxx
PS I know that passing 'oldies' on to new homes is sometimes considered to be not in the best interests of the horse, and I know that many are passed from pillar to post and have a rotten time. But I, and many others, carefully selected new homes when keeping them was no longer possible. I was so lucky to find such a super place for my Silky, and still visit her often. She was fit and healthy and full of life, so pts was not an option for her at that time.

[minimin]

I have found this thread really interesting and thought provoking. I am lucky that I have not been in the situation where I need to make a decision on the method used to put a pony to sleep, and to be honest i have never really thoguht about it - but i will do now (though as my baby is only 3 1/2 hopefully wont have to make said decision for many many years).

[laurac]

Well I finally managed to get the courage to watch the vid, and yes I agree it was very very quick and peaceful in that instance
However, I think it only right to comment that shooting can go horribly wrong and not be at all peaceful
I have witnessed a horse being shot where it all went terrribly wrong, horse moved was shot in the face (nose), broke off running about, re caught, then heavily sedated, then shot again - took about 20 minutes in all, vet and lady holding poor horse were absolutely drenched in blood from head to toe literally, people who collected horse said 'oh that went a bit wrong then', when they saw her body, a very messy & distressing end to a poor horses life
We can only do our best, I think if we can bear it then being there with our beloved horses at the end is the right thing to do, and considering the options and what is right for our horses

[lawyerbunny]

I always find these threads difficult but important to read. The subject matter is difficult, but it's important for me to read about other people's experiences of the end of their horses' lives - it's something I've got to face one day (all good things willing I still have Twig at the end of her days) and I'm grateful to everyone who shares their experiences, for that reason.

Completely agree with those who say it's a matter of what suits the horse, and then preference for you, and most definitely in that order.

And particular (((hugs))) to those who have recently faced this, or will do soon.