Struggling with my decision. I have a 20 some year old TWH mare that I bought 3 years ago for my first trail horse in a long time. I bought her off a dude line, skinny and no muscle tone but she was fabulous for a year, but as pain got a hold of her she became spooky and unpredictable. I had her stifles injected and put her on Previcox. Her back end has always been wobbly. I tried to leg her up more and it just didn’t go well. Eventually put her on a bute less type supplement that worked better than previcox. I stopped riding her about 8 months ago. She just can’t do it, not lame but drags one toe and just cannot do anything faster than walk around even without a rider. It has gotten to the point now that even with pain meds and CBD she just stands around, but the worst part is her kicking. When she feels pain she kicks. She is alone and has a kick wall installed but it’s gotten worse and her leg swells from kicking and not moving(she has turn out). The other night I did a bed time check and put pellets in the buckets, she wouldn’t get up from laying down to come even eat pellets. The problem is she looks fantastic, great weight and good muscle so it makes me waiver on if it’s time. But summer is coming, and last year was brutal. If they look good but show signs of pain often, is it fair to say that it’s time?
Absolutely fair to say it’s time. You say she looks good but describe in detail here many ways that she DOESN’T look good and is pain. It’s definitely not all about how fat and shiny they are.
It sounds like she’s had a good three years, and that you know the summer is hard. Very kind to put her down now. I’m sorry you’re facing this, these are always such hard choices 
Just a thought … Horses do not know how old they are, or what years they might or might not have in front of them. They just know what is going on today, and how they feel right now. Just imo, there is no reason for a horse to feel miserable when there is no healing. Going over the clouds on a great day is a great send-off, and a gift that we can give them in return for all the great days they have given us. Just imo.
Hope this shows up …
I let my last one go at age 18 … at least 10 years before I anticipated that event. He actually made the decision for me. For reasons, his health was collapsing on many fronts, all treatments were falling short, and he was showing that he had fewer & fewer good hours in each 24 hour day. One of the hardest decisions ever, and hard to explain to friends who weren’t able to see his last months for themselves. But never a doubt in my mind that he got a triumphant entrance into the next plane of existence and wellness, whatever that is for horses.
Look at it this way - if you’re not wavering you probably waited too long.
I wrote a blog post about making the decision. I hope it helps.
I just let my old guy go…he looked really good coming out of winter. Honestly, from your description it sounds like my gelding was in better shape than your mare but I knew his ailments were going to catch up with him sooner or later. Putting him down when I did made me realize I have never truly let one of mine go ‘early’. It never felt like I let any of the others truly suffer but if I take a really hard look at my decisions, I probably did.
It was really hard to let my horse go at the point that I did, much harder for me than when it’s clear there are no other choices. Redhorses is so right, if you aren’t wavering and euthanasia is the only clear option, you waited too long. Never thought of it like that but it really is true. It isn’t an easy choice though, even if you know it’s the right one.
((Hugs)) An informed euthanasia is a gift to a beloved horse. You have done right by this mare.
OP, as we’re all sharing, it’s never an easy decision. But it’s the humane one. Sending you support and strength.
I recently put my old gelding down. He still looked beautiful, with a coat that gleamed like a stallion. But his chronic soundness issues continued to worsen, and the vet agreed that we were at the end of keeping him comfortable. I wept for days, even though I knew it was the correct decision.
After all the horses I’ve owned, showed and ridden in my life, he’ll be the one I want to meet on the Other Side and ride for eternity.
It sounds like it’s time, yes.
You see the obvious pain she’s in. Horses are prey animals; they’re conditioned to not show pain or weakness. The fact that she is means the pain is probably worse than you know.
Pick a nice day. Spoil her. Then let her go.
Hugs and jingles to you.
Thank you all, this really helped. I know my vet may not side with me as she hates PTS but really, she’s not a companion horse if she kicks everything that comes near her due to pain. I hope my vet listens to me.
THANK YOU!
Agreed. So sorry, OP. I hope your vet listens to you.
When I think about a good candidate to be retired, I think about a horse that thinks his life is pretty darn good, and has mostly good days. Maybe he’s a bit gimpy here and there or he’s got an issue that is managed with meds, but he can generally do all the wild horse things - walk, trot, canter, roll, sleep, eat. It’s his owner who is sad/wishes he could be ridden, etc.
If it is painful for your vet to PTS, maybe another vet is kinder to her, as well as to your horse?
I think I know a vet who needs to post somewhere “all services except PTS”. It would be better for her if she offered all vet services but that.
This is hard for the vet, too. Some vets cope with it better than others.
Always very sad when we get this news. I agree, though. It was time.
Two good resources:
Julie Goodnight has an article on her website. Very well written and informative. She had a horse collapse in the indoor.
Dealing with the Death of a Horse
Our vet, who retired last year after 50 years in practice, just published his second book, Goodbye Old Friend. He couldn’t find a book on euthanasia. I’m on my second reading, randomly. My horse is 27, he was our vet for 20 years, Dr J is a really good writer. His chapters are short essays about a real event followed by information about why, how, emotions, everything we hate to deal with. His first book, Maine Horse Doctor, is also excellent, a collection of articles that were published in The Horse’s Maine. More valuable information than a collection of horse care books.
