I’m so sorry for your loss. Many thanks for sharing this info, I never would have thought to do this…and hopefully won’t have to for a long long time.
Having worked at a couple of clinics, this is simply the most practical thing I’ve ever heard. I had the bad luck to be visiting my colicking horse in his stall the day “the dead horse guy” showed up with an open trailer to pick up a dead foal. Let’s just say that neither it nor the other’s already in were folded. I was glad it was me that witnessed that little scene instead of the teenaged owner and mom of the next horse over. I did mention to staff that they might want to check to see if anyone is about before bubba came next time. this will definately help.
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As long as we’re at it…
Just wanted to add my two cents… We have in the past TORN stalls apart to get the horse out of the stall because no way was it fitting through the door without removing parts of the horse. I would rather remove parts of the stall. JMHO. So this info would have come in handy while the horse was still moveable. Definately worthwhile information, and thank you for posting it!
I would like to add the following to those facing the loss of a beloved horse: SAVE A BIT OF TAIL HAIR BEFORE THE ANIMAL IS DISPOSED OF! If you would like a memento later, you will be glad you clipped a bit while you had the chance. Wash it with shampoo, and braid loosely.
As some of you know, my 12yo daughter and I make horsehair bracelets for some horseowners that have lost a beloved horse. We are happy that we can offer this service, and it is really sad when people wish they had saved a bit of “Old Dobbin’s” tail hair.
Sorry for your loss, but a great big thank you for sharing. This would have never ever crossed my mind, but it makes so much sense and I really like the thought of the horse being buried in the folded position.
Several years ago I was driving down I-5 and a rendering truck had tipped over. Thankfully there were only cows (no disrespect to cattle lovers, but I don’t think they were anybody’s pets) on board and after the initial shock my sick sense of humor kicked in. There were stiff cattle all over the road. I’m sure many drivers were horrified, but it was a sight to behold.
Thank you for sharing this information about the reality that happens at some point to anyone who has animals on their property.
Hopefuilly not for a very long time here!
Thank you for allowing your loss to educate us. 
I shall print out your post for my vet to save/use/learn from too.
Thanks for the information. What do you guys do when the ground is frozen? Compost them in the manure? I can’t imagine my sister digging a hole in Wisconsin in February and both of her guys are old.
My sympathies for your loss. I don’t even have a horse and I appreciate the OP. It’s such a thoughtful topic because it addresses something that does matter tremendously to most people, but is not often discussed. It’s a very human characteristic to feel pain over the appearance of a dead body; animals don’t appear to care and I think a lot of owners tend to downplay the importance because well, if it doesn’t hurt the animals, what’s the big deal? But it is a big deal to most people, so if the OP’s idea helps create a peaceful and maintanable position for a dead horse prior to burial, that’s great.
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Very interesting and informative post. Always good info to know, just in case. Thanks.
Sorry for your loss and thanks for posting this info.
I think I could do this - with help - if one of my horses were to die in a stall. I know it’s just a shell that is left, but it would be less upsetting to me to not see this shell traumatized further.
As much as I would love to be able to bury on my property I’m afraid it’s too small - 5ac - and neighbors too close for possible contamination of the water table (we’re on wells here).
Is there some Rule of Thumb for when NOT to bury on your land?
pcwertb: in your sister’s place I think I’d have the old one put down before the ground froze if at all possible.
First, I am so sorry about your horse. It’s so hard to lose an old friend.
I lost my beloved 29 year old gelding last Sunday to colic. Never having folded a horse’s legs at death, I wanted to try it to make burial easier. We folded his front legs, but could not get his back legs to stay folded (did not think to tie them). I agree with you, they do look much nicer with the legs folded, HOWEVER…we learned an interesting lesson. When we move a dead horse, we put it in the huge bucket of the backhoe by putting the loader edge up under the horse’s back and tying ropes to the legs and back to the loader hooks to tip the horse into the bucket. Usually the legs are stuck out stiff, and help with this process. We had a harder time this time because there was poor leverage with the front legs tucked tight against the body. An interesting dilemma! How do you get your folded horse into a loader?
We have been told to add a 50 lb sack of lime (we used oyster shell flour) to the grave to speed decomposition. We did that and the spectacular white cloud that emerged from the grave was strangely wonderful.
Full rigor peaks from 12-24 hours after death, so you can wait a bit if ever you need the horse to “soften” up in order to move it (if it died in the stall, etc.)
Again, sorry for your loss. As others have said, handling the “shell” of the horse with love and dignity is immensely important.
I too, offer my THANKS for this post.
My girlfriend’s very aged TB mare, who lives here with us, will be put down next week.
The hole is already dug.
There is no way that mare is going to walk down into the hole with the vet.
So, besides worrying about ‘if’ the hole is big enough, hubby was also worried about how to keep her in the loader with her long legs sticking out.
Hubby will be glad to get the details on how to properly tie her up!
We have had the dead stock guys come and remove horses in the past, when it has been impossible to dig a hole. It is not a pretty sight to see Dobin being man-handled into their truck.
I have also had the mispleasure of dealing with a dead horse in a stall…
I am sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your experience here.
As someone who has sadly has had to call the truck and have had a dear horse die in a stall, I feel this procedure is unnecessary. The livestock service truck comes with a winch on it. They’re accustomed to dealing with limp or stiff carcasses all the time.
The stall issue may be a problem either way. It’s just something you have to consider when planning a barn. I like barns with exterior doors so you can at least get a tractor to it.
It’s not true the body stays stiff indefinitely. Rigor mortis sets in shortly after death, but if it’s a situation where the animal isn’t moved for a day or so, the rigor mortis will have faded.
I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be argumentative. It’s just that this might be emotionally upsetting to have owners thinking they have to go back and try to bind the legs of their dear deceased horse’s feet together.
I agree mays…
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Very sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing your experience in such a clear fashion. If we own a horse long enough we all have to face this.
My backhoe guy has no trouble digging holes in frozen ground. I’ve had him do one in March and one in December. The southern half of Wisconsin has milder winters than we do, and northern Wisconsin would be about the same.
(Just noticed you said “can’t imagine my sister digging…” – if that meant her is digging a hole buy hand, that aint’ gonna happen in winter for sure. Probably ain’t gonna happen in summer either, unless she has very soft, sandy ground or a overhanging bank that can be undercut and collapsed on the body.)
I am sorry for your loss. Your post educated me and seems to have been helpfull to others. Just think of all the knowlage we gained from your horse. Thank you.
So sorry for your loss. Thanks for all of the information. My baby is four, I hope it is a long long time before I ever need to use it.
Sorry for your loss, but thanks for sharing the information.
I, too, have lost one in a stall, took the stall apart to get the body out. Also lost a couple during winter months and my backhoe guy doesn’t have any trouble digging holes either. He does a great job.
The rendering truck in this area requires that the body be out in the open, preferably next to the drive by the road. For horses, I think that’s just wrong, but it’s how they want it done for whatever reason. I remember years ago when I was boarding and working at the barn, the BO called to tell me not to panic as there was a horse’s body laying at the end of their long drive for the rendering truck and to tell me who it was so I didn’t freak thinking it was mine. Same color, size and gender. It was my horse’s pasture mate. On other ocassions she called to tell me not to mind the pigs at the end of the drive. One very hot summer day, there were four ginormous sows piled up there. Kinda freaked me out, as their pigs were at another farm at a big confinement, so they were brought there and dumped.
Mallard… Sorry about your g/f’s mare. Condolences all around for the old gal.
