Euthanizing retirees due to finances

[McGurk]

I’m so sorry you’re in this situation; but I think you’ve been given excellent advice so far.

It will be very hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing.

I put down two horses in their 20s last year, one was still pasture sound. But I was putting down his pasture mate and riding buddy of 15 years with an intractable lameness, and I realized it would be terrible to leave the other horse alone. I wrestled with the decision for months, but when it was done, (very well, by a wonderful vet. The light went out of their eyes and they fell over. That was it.) I mostly felt relieved. I think I did all my grieving for them ahead of time. They were both fat and shiny and had beautiful fall coats on their last day, and I told myself that meant it was the right day. Waiting until they were poor keepers or unthrifty would have been unkind.

I don’t know that I’d look for a companion home for the 17 yo with kissing spine. I think it’s too risky that he’ll end up in a less than ideal situation OR that someone will try to ride him. You’ve given these horses good lives with excellent care. You don’t have to bankrupt yourself or compromise your financial security to be a good owner or good horseperson.

I would absolutely do this while you’re still on the property and under your control.

[steelerino]

I don’t even need to read the thread or the responses to tell you it is ok to PTS unusable horses if it means keeping them would put you in a financial strain/bind.

[Cameraine]

I think it is kinder to euthanize than consign your horses to a potentially unknown fate. Not only is there the risk of them going to someone or somewhere where they might not have the care or ending they deserve but there is also your own emotional and mental health. The worry over where they are and if they are being taken care of or almost worse that you find that your horses are somewhere horrible and being unable financially to do anything about it.

Years ago I leased a mare, she was my first heart horse. Eventually due to finances, military service and moving across the country I had to give her back to her owner. In hind sight I wish I never had. I didn’t know it at the time but the owner neglected her horses to the point that her horses were confiscated by animal control for abuse and neglect. My mare was not among those saved. I don’t know for certain but I can only imagine the horror of her fate as many dead horses were found on the property. That mare haunts me. The wish to have been able to do something, to save that mare from whatever she endured will never let go of me.

Euthanasia is kinder than an uncertain fate.

[Lah0808]

I did just that. It was hard but 4 years out I can say unquestionably that it was the right decision. I was making $58k at the time. My gelding had been retired for 3ish years at that point. He was 28-30 years old, never knew exactly how old he was when I got him. He had cushings, heaves, melanomas. He still was in decent shape even with those ailments but it had gotten to the point that he wasn’t happy on pasture board anymore. I could either just say too bad and make him live like that. I could move him back to a stall board situation and increase my expenses even more. Or I could euthanize. I chose to euthanize. I could have afforded moving him back to stall board but it would have been to the detriment of my own retirement and finances. It just didn’t make any financial sense and thankfully my vet was in full agreement. Barn owner understood too. It was hard but it was the right call. I’m sorry you are facing that decision but I echo everyone else. It’s really ok and there are far worse fates than this one.

[beowulf]

OP, just coming to send you some big virtual hugs. In your position, I would do the same. You are not a bad person and you have not failed them for considering this.

I’ve taken care of a few geriatrics who outlived their owners. Some were lucky to have a safety net, but many were not. People’s situations change so fast. The only way you can guarantee they are healthy and safe when you’re gone is to make sure their last day is before yours. Big hugs.

[ChocoMare]

(( hugs ))… tough situation for sure BUT… You would be making the right decision, as others have said above me.

They only know Now… you already know that their Now is not that of when they were younger and without physical issues.

I’d pick a day, let them eat EVERYTHING yummy they’d ever want and give them that most Self-Less of gifts: a quiet sleep.

(( More Hugs )) cuz, it still sucks.

[RedHorses]

This is a no win scenario if you listen to the peanut gallery. They will say you should not have horses if you can’t afford them in one breath, then turn around and say you shouldn’t be rehoming retired horses. Close your ears and disregard them. Finances ARE part of responsible horse ownership, and are part of the decision to euthanize in many situations.

If the 17 year old was a chill dude who gets along with anyone and isn’t going to become a screaming wreck at moving away from his long time buddy, I would look for a local person who would like a companion for their horse, but doesn’t want another horse of their own. Someone who would like the company without the expenses, who would keep my horse as companion to theirs while I paid his expenses.

But if he’s going to melt down after losing his friend, I would feel it kinder to let him go with his friend.

As for the lining up healthy horses, no one casually walking by would have seen anything wrong with the three retired horses I have euthanized. I prefer to let them go while they’re still in good shape. Yes, how they would handle winter was a concern, but regardless of the deciding factors, we give our retired horses the best lives we can until we can no longer do so, and then we let them go, preferably before they’re in dire straits. We do that to ensure they’re never in dire straits.

It’s not easy. But it is okay.

[RhythmNCruise]

There is nothing morally or ethically wrong with humanely euthanizing two older, unrideable horses that you can no longer afford to care for at the level which they require and have become accustomed. In fact, it’s one of the kindest and most responsible things you can do as a horse owner.

It’s also one of the hardest.

I will not tell you what to choose, as that must be your own choice for your own reasons. But can you bear the idea of these horses going to homes where their needs may not be met? Where people may not care for them as much as you do? Because the fact of the matter is that unless you retain ownership of them both, you cannot control what ultimately happens to them. The ONLY way you can do this is to lay them to rest.

Now. If neither of these options sits well with you, I’d suggest coming up with some ways that you can keep them and afford them. You say you’re being forced into retirement. Does this mean you are unable to be employed in any capacity? Are there any possibilities for you to work or earn money in retirement that can be used to pay for the horses’ retirements? Are there any boarding possibilities with self-care, or maybe even helping out with feeding, etc. to off-set the cost of board for your guys? Any hobbies or interests that could lead to an income stream? Any part-time employment that could supplement your retirement with all or part of that $18k/year?

One of the reasons I won’t be able to retire when I’m eligible for full retirement (7 years from now) myself is the horse expenses. If I didn’t have my gelding, I could swing it, but he’ll be 24 and I will continue to pay for him to live out his life at the self-care barn. I’ve luckily been able to make a little extra cash out there taking care of other people’s horses, and honestly, if I could increase that hustle (which I could, the guy doing most of it is in his late 70s), I could probably retire on time. I can also substitute teach (full-time teacher here), or work at the vet’s office or whatever. I won’t stop working when I retire from my career, especially if I still have a horse.

All of this to say, if you are unable to supplement your income or find a situation that allows you to afford the horses, then euthanizing one or both of them is absolutely a legit option. I would respect that decision much more than passing them on to an uncertain future.

I do not envy you this decision and wish I could give you a big hug. Out of the many blessings my late heart-horse gifted me with, he took this heartbreaking decision away from me the day he broke his leg in a freak pasture accident. He was 22, his older pasture mate had preceded him in death two years prior, and I still have his younger pasture mate. His accident prompted a turning point in my life that led to me selling the farm I’d had for 20 years, moving to a small house in town, and boarding my remaining horse. I also got a new (better) job just down the road from where I live and where the horse lives. It worked out so perfectly. The WORST thing I could have imagined (finding my beloved gelding with his leg horribly broken) paved the way for more blessings than I could have imagined. I will never be convinced that it was all coincidence. That horse is still blessing me every day, 6 years after his passing.

Whatever you choose, it will be the right choice. Trust in that. And know that your horses are fine with whatever you choose because they have no concept of the future.

Hugs to you.

[Red_Dust]

Everything has already been said.
the decision is not easy when they are not fat and happy, and so much harder when you can see yourself in their glossy coat.

Doing the right thing is seldom easy nor pleasant.
Many hugs to you. Adulting sux!

[Laurierace]

PM sent

[red_mares]

I will commend you for realizing that your finances can’t handle horses forever. I’ve known too many people who have some sort of princess syndrome that requires them to have horses even when they obviously can’t afford them. (Helpful hint: If you have to ‘shop’ at a food bank to feed your kids and have multiple horses, you probably need to sell some or all of them.)

That said, both of your two have health issues, so you should have zero guilt putting them down, even the TB.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

OP, instead of thinking of “taking” a life, think of how much you have sacrificed for these horses. Your old man didn’t get to that age without lots of TLC, and I’m sure many people wouldn’t have put as much money and time as you have into keeping him going. That has been a financial sacrifice for you. Your TB was retired at age seven. You’ve kept him and sacrificed getting a healthy young horse, all the while knowing you’d never be able to ride him. As well as sacrificing saving for retirement, you’ve also sacrificed other hobbies, trips abroad, and having more rideable horses to keep these horses going. You are an amazing horsewoman!

The economy is so tough. I haven’t had to face what you have had to face, but I’ve been out of horses now for almost two years, just because I can’t even afford lessons. As we age, it’s sobering how difficult it is to find work/pivot in our careers. That being said, I do hope you find some work to keep you going, as you adjust into your new life.

It is very likely your older horse, although he looks great now, doesn’t have that many more years left. Even if he were a pony, he wouldn’t be young, and the TB has a health condition. You should have no guilt. Things are not getting cheaper and none of us (humans or horses) are getting younger.

[Watermark_Farm]

Thank you for sharing your story. It helps to read others’ experiences. Makes sense about grieving ahead of time. It’s such a big decision to make and carry out. I won’t let the 17 year old leave my ownership; my horses stay in my care and control for life.

[Watermark_Farm]

Thank you for this. I’ve always had very ample financial resources to provide my horses with the best of everything, so it’s sobering to face not being able to continue doing that. You are so right. Finances ARE part of responsible horse ownership.

The 17 yo is a seasoned, chill dude who could be happy just about anywhere. He would be fine leaving his old friend. I think a companion situation where I own him and pay his expenses could be a really good solution for him and I plan to explore that.

There really is something to be said about choosing to let the oldies go on a warm sunny day in their prime, versus on a cold winter day when everything goes south and the choice has been made for you. Thank you for your helpful words.

[Watermark_Farm]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. Rest assured that neither horse will ever leave my ownership or direct control. They will either be under my care and control or euthanized. I’ve worked a lot with equine humane cases and have seen many times what happened to horses when they are passed along. That won’t happen for my boys.

[Watermark_Farm]

Boy, your words hit home. You are right. I do need to focus on all I’ve done for them. And yeah, sometimes I’m just so burned out on writing checks left and right and sweating how to pay for increasing maintenance costs. I’ve owned horses continuously for 45 years. It’s been a wonderful life. But there is a piece of me that now feels resentful and like I can’t get out from under the insane overhead. And desperately wants to know what it feels like not to have all this money going out constantly. And to have the freedom to do other things.

[atr]

When I sold my farm, I had my 35-year-old euthanized before we left.

A couple of years beforehand, we had been forced to evacuate at a moment’s notice for a wildfire. For him, it was devastating to go through that confusion and displacement and took him quite a while to recover when we got home to our peaceful mountainside again.

I said then that I would never put him through moving to a new environment permanently. I believe it was the right decision.

[SMF11]

I would not be opposed to euthanasia in these circumstances. But before I did that, it would give me comfort to know I had exhausted all reasonable possibilities before taking such a final step.

So, I would beat the bushes for a companion home, BUT with you retaining ownership, and offering to pay vet bills. This will make your horse much more attractive to someone offering such a home.

Second, could you track down former owners who might have a soft spot for the horse(s)? It’s not hugely likely, but perhaps one would be willing to fund a horse’s retirement.

If neither avenue leads to anything you can know you tried your hardest to find alternatives, and there just were none.

[Spudsmyguy]

@SMF11

So, I would beat the bushes for a companion home, BUT with you retaining ownership, and offering to pay vet bills. This will make your horse much more attractive to someone offering such a home.

This is the issue. The on-going medical and feed needs to keep them comfortable and happy. It’s draining her pocketbook and she needs to focus on her own future. Them crossing the bridge isn’t the worst solution in the world and is something that I would do.

[Laurierace]

If she could afford the vet care she would keep them herself.