Euthanizing retirees due to finances

[Watermark_Farm]

I can’t quite believe I am making this post, but I need some input from this wise community. I have had the good fortune to keep my horses at home for the last 25 years. I am being forced into early retirement – which means I need to seriously downsize my expenses. I have to sell my horse property and move to a small affordable home. I have gone into this plan thinking I would board my beloved two retirees at a good local no frills retirement farm. Until I really started adding up their annual expenses.

Horse #1 a 28 year old Dutch gelding who needs pelleted feeds, Cushings meds, Previcox and front shoes. His feed and meds really add up in cost. He is fat, shiny, happy and comfortable. Life is good. He looks 12.

Horse #2 is a 17 year old TB who has been retired for 10 years due to kissing spines and being unsafe to ride. Also a happy, comfortable retiree. No special needs. He has a lot of years ahead of him and that scares me.

I am crunching the numbers for retirement board cost, ongoing meds, farrier and vet costs and I am getting more and more panicked at what this will cost me annually. I will have about $60,000/year to live on. The projected expenses for the two horses (without emergency vet costs) are coming in at $18,000 per year. I am stunned at the prospect of having 1/3 of my living costs go to horse care. I don’t know how I will do it long term without putting myself in serious financial jeopardy.

I now find myself contemplating a horrifying thought: euthanasia of one or both horses, before I sell my property. And I honestly can’t believe I am even typing this. Have any of you ever had to make this decision to let a horse or horses go purely for financial reasons?

Any words of wisdom would be so appreciated. I am a longtime experienced horse keeper and have euthanized many horses over the years. But I have never once euthanized a horse solely due to finances. Having to consider this feels like a surreal nightmare. It is one thing to talk about it abstractly, and another to really consider what it will feel like to line up two healthy happy horses and lay them down forever. Thank you for reading.

[Libby2563]

I’m so sorry about this turn life has given you. I haven’t been in that position, but if I were I’d rather give my horses a loving early end than try to rehome retirees safely or not be able to pay my own bills and have some cushion for future uncertainty. They live in the here and now, and it sounds like you’ve given them many good years. If you need more justification, the KS horse probably has some degree of discomfort, even retired, and is at an age when symptoms can start compounding.

If you decide to do it, I’d be careful who you tell IRL because people can be so judgmental.

Lots of hugs to you!

[Jackie_amp_Starlette]

If something happens to me, my horses, 23 and 25, will be euthanized. They have been together for 16 years, and I don’t want them separated or rehomed with possible bad endings. It’s the kindest thing for them.

[NaturallyHappy]

I’m sorry this is happening to you.,

[FitToBeTied]

If you don’t feel you can afford to take care of them appropriately then euthanizing is a kind option. In my will, my horses get euthanized. I wouldn’t want them to go down the road to a bad ending.

[Snowdenfarm]

My heart goes out to you. It is not wrong, in fact it is kind, but it is not easy.

[fanfayre]

You need to stop thinking of it as ‘horrifying’.

It’s sad, yes, and unpleasant, BUT you are offering them safety to the end and a dignified and kind way out, in a safe and familiar environment, not in a strange and scary place with people who might not care about them like you do.

I am very sorry you are having to investigate these options, but if I were in your situation, a pleasant ending under my control would be my only choice.

[OverandOnward]

IMO, it’s ok. It is better than an alternative of sacrifice, on your part, and theirs.

The horses do not know how long is their life. The don’t know the average lifespan of horses.

All they know is how they feel right now. Honestly, if they feel great now, and go through the exit door now, then they will never know another day of decline, disablement from age, or pain.

Old age can be hard. A natural decline to death can be prolonged and more agonizing than the decisions you are making now.

The easy ticket out is one of the greatest gifts we can give them. A short good life is a good life. And your horses have had a lot of good life.

[B_and_B]

I’m sorry. For what it is worth, that question has also been crossing my mind (cut in pay on my part and DH’s health isn’t what we expected). One I would sell, but the other two aren’t candidates for sale due to behavior and age: 24 year old pony with severe arthritis who is comfy on pain meds and loves her retirement home here, 14 year old draft with behavior issues. I would euthanize both of them. I’d hate it, it would break my heart and I have no idea how I would explain it to friends and family members who I know wouldn’t understand. But, it wouldn’t be fair to the pony as this is her soft landing. And it wouldn’t be fair to the draft, he is a big, hairy, sweetheart with some truly dangerous quirks.
Here is the thing though, neither of those horses, yours or mine, are going to get better or cheaper. Not for you, not for me, not for someone else down the road. I am so sorry. Horses, any pets, they break our hearts; but, you shouldn’t feel guilty for giving them a good life right to the end.
I would add for emphasis, that my third horse isn’t one I would euthanize: he is young and healthy. I’d always worry about where he went; but that in and of itself doesn’t justify euthanasia, if it did none of us would have our horses after all! But your two are not young and healthy. Neither are my two.
Your finances are the catalyst for the discussion of what to do; but their health and age is what narrows your choices down. Does that make sense?

[suzyq]

This

[Watermark_Farm]

Thank you for your thoughtful answer. Yes, that does make sense and I appreciate you pointing that out. And it’s a good point about things not getting better or cheaper.

[Watermark_Farm]

Thank you for these comforting words. You are right. Both horses have had remarkable, rich lives and have always been well cared for. I will remember what you said: a short good life is a good life. Thank you.

[GraceLikeRain]

No judgment but echoing the recommendation to be thoughtful of who you tell. People can be so quick to judge and romanticize the idea of someone swooping in and providing a safe permanent alternative for a retiree.

It sounds very rational to accept that 1/3 income barring emergency going to animals/“hobby”/nonessential expenses is not a sustainable path. Letting them go on a planned timeline on your property rather than deal with a gossipy barnmate or a barn owner acting irrational feels like it would bring a lot of control and peace to the transition all things considered.

[Watermark_Farm]

Yes, I would be very cautious about who I tell. That is a good argument for making any euthanasia decision while the horses are still at my home and I have total privacy and can carry out plans on my timeline and with the most dignity possible for both myself and the horses. Thank you for your input, much appreciated.

[OverandOnward]

Not for nothing … I know of a couple of older horses whose owners are seeking a ‘last good home’ pasture homes, to get out of the expensive, restrictive boarding situation they are in now. To pasture board or give away.

But in truth – those horses may not take a move all that well. They are long past 20, and neither has been off their property in many years. They don’t want to be anywhere but where they are now, with the companions they have now. They don’t remember trailer rides, or adapting to new places, or making new friends.

I wonder if it isn’t better to let both of them cross the bridge now.

I wonder if that would be a better solution for many horses who ‘need retirement homes’, something that is scarce or non-existent in so many locations. Let them have a year or two of peaceful retirement where they are now, then let them go. I’m conflicted on the idea, though, maybe just because it is a big decision that can’t be reversed.

[colorfan]

I too am at a place where every month I have a horse is a gift. I have been considering the host the money will line up and potential unexpected bills, such as the vet bill today. A day of your choosing is always better than the unexpected and a forced decision in the middle of winter or whatever storm life threw at you.

[2DogsFarm]

I have 3, 2 are not suitable for rehoming.
25yo Hackney Pony, was trained to drive, but that’s at least 15yrs in his past.
23yo TWH, could possibly go to someone else, but quirky enough U/S so I choose euth over the chance of a bad end.
Both will get a peaceful end if - barring emergency - I’m allowed to make the decision.
Need to get a Will that includes this directive.

#3 is an 11yo mini, he’ll be donated - with his harness & carts - to a reputable local theraputic program that includes Driving.

[4horses]

Is it at all possible to find a small property to keep them on rather then euthanize? How big is your current property?

I’m thinking you could keep 2 horses on 1 acre and then you won’t need to pay board.

From a cost standpoint it is so much easier to keep horses on your own property.

If I had to board my horses, there is absolutely no way I could afford to keep this many horses.

I would really struggle with euthanizing early unless my horses were in pain or suffering. Older horses don’t need as much room to move around and I think you would probably be okay with a smaller property. I had 2 horses on 1 acre for several years and everyone survived.

Another option is to look for a boarding situation for someone who wants a buddy for their current horse. When I was in college I found affordable boarding for about $200 a month. I paid extra for farrier and deworming but that included feed and a big pasture turnout.

[Watermark_Farm]

All good suggestions. Thank you. The home I will be moving to does not have space for them. I’m in California, so land costs are very high and I’m not in a position to purchase land just to keep the horses on. And honestly…after 25 years of being chained to a horse property and the twice daily feeding, cleaning, cost, repairs and all the upkeep, I’m beyond burned out. I haven’t taken a vacation longer than 1 week in 25 years. Haven’t even left the United States. The retirement facility I’d use is excellent and board is a reasonable $495/month all inclusive. It costs me an average of $300/month/horse just to feed them at home currently. That is a good idea, to look for someone who needs a companion horse without taking on ownership. That could very well work for the 17 year old. Great input, thanks!

[Amberley]

@4horses

From a cost standpoint it is so much easier to keep horses on your own property.

If I had to board my horses, there is absolutely no way I could afford to keep this many horses.

Not anymore. You can board 4 or 5 for the price of a 2025 mortgage on a 10-15 acre property.