Exactly this.
Hopefully it will always be supportive and comfortable to discuss your decision making here on COTH. But don’t air it to others, no one needs the incredibly strange random reactions. Even from people we thought we knew.
It’s hard enough without that. A few months afterwards it is much easier to say “we had to let her go last spring”.
Hope you are ready when your horse needs you to be. If it matters, none of my animals had any idea. They found peace. Good luck!
I’ve also been in this position with my gelding, melanomas that grew rapidly and ultimately caused a catastrophic event. If I had known ahead of time and if he had additional medical issues I would have let him go sooner - but hindsight is 20/20.
You listed a good deal of medical issues that your horse is dealing with and for some of them it seems that forgoing veterinary care may not be an option. While it would be ideal to be able to try living out you may not get much additional time.
Edited - I’m sorry I didn’t read the full thread before responding, I hope your know you did a wonderful and kind thing by letting your horse go on a good day. Hugs!
The OP isn’t the one who put her horse down; that was MrPerfection.
OP is going to wait until fall, unless a catastrophic event happens
So things have progressed and she will be euthanized this month. Working out the details. Vet came out a few weeks ago and agreed the pain was internal and nothing we had done had helped. We feel the melanomas are not taking over her abdomen. She’s had days where pooping has required a lot of straining and she’s not comfortable.
Most people have been very supportive and understanding about the situation. Only person that has not been supportive is the barn owner, but I think that’s because she’s loosing a good boarder. I won’t be getting another horse for awhile, if ever. Will be looking at grooming other boarders horses and spoiling them when their owners can’t get up.
I’m so sorry.
We have a saying - “better a day too early than a moment too late.” It hurts to take that path, but it’s almost always the best thing we can do for them.
I read your last post and was thinking that it was going to come sooner rather than later but was hoping it would work out for you. I’m very sorry, it’s so hard, but you’re making the right call.
You are doing the best thing for your mare imo, full support from me as well.
So sorry for your loss. You did all you could, and are taking the option that is kindest to her.
Big hugs your way
You are absolutely doing the right thing. They depend on us.
When I sent a mare out for breeding I appreciated the grooming and TLC she got from a non-horse owning student. They even sent me photos–I was very grateful.
Peace to you.
I’m sure you are making the right choice for your friend 
Thank you for doing the right thing. I’m so sorry.
{{{Misty’s Girl}}}
The right things are sometimes hard.
You’re being brave for your beloved horse - I’m very sorry you have to be. Hugs, it’s the road we all have to go down and it is never, ever easy 
Sorry friend. The toughest decision to make.
Thinking of you and sharing some gratitude for our very compassionate vets who help inform us of our options. It is priceless when they can contribute to the conversation and help us realize that it is called humane euthanasia for a reason. People who judge should keep themselves quiet. Our horses are our individual responsibilities and for sure the people on this discussion board take great stock in doing the right thing, even when it hurts our heart.
I would not be quick to attribute the BO not being supportive due to financial reasons.
I know a few people that don’t do well with the “circle of life”. In other words, they don’t deal well with death. These are the people that torture their animals by holding on to them too long. They don’t mean to be mean, they just can’t let go.
As a BO she may be attached to your horse. Quite frankly most BOs and staff in a full care barn or not self-care barn interact with the horse more than the owner does.
It does not make it easier for the owner to make decisions to let them go. Just give the BO some grace. They may love them too
We said goodbye to he yesterday. The vet mentioned how her body condition had gone down since she was out last month. She went fast and laid down like she was going to sleep I was told. I chose not to be there to watch her drop.
I feel good knowing that the vet 100% agreed with my decision. There have been no doubts in my mind about it.
She’s in a better place now and finally pain free.
Now to take a break from ownership and enjoy other people horses.
I’m so sorry to read this. I hope you can find joy in your own time in your good memories and riding other peoples horses.
I’m so, so sorry for your loss, but applaud you for your bravery to face such a difficult decision.
6 weeks out from my own decision to put my wonderful boy down, I know it was the right choice for the right time.
My wish is that you will have that same feeling always (and that you return to horse ownership sooner than you expect 
)
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