Folding A Dead Horse

[Watermark_Farm]

I’m so sorry about your horse!

I have rescue horses and also board retirees, so I’ve had my share of euthanasias. I never folded the legs until just recently, when my daughter’s horse died. I folded and tied the legs so he’d looked curled up for her.

However…

I learned an interesting lesson! The horse had to be euth’d far from the burial spot, so I had to move him in the backhoe’s loader bucket. Normally, we place the bucket just under the back, tie the legs to the bucket top, and gently rotate the bucket so as to slip the horse in. This time, with the legs folded up, it was much more difficult to do this, and we had to kind of manhandle the body due to the loss of the “handles” the outstretched, stiff legs usually provide.

I liked the way the folded up horse fit in the hold for burial. All in all, it’s a much nicer sight. Taking good care of the body feels respectful and reverential, and seems to be important for all involved, even the backhoe guy, who shyly shed some tears.

Thanks for a thoughtful post! Again, my condolences on the loss of your horse.

[JLMet]

3 years later, I remembered this post and applied it today. A bit differently but still tucked everything up and in. We had to make the painful decision to put our Rally boy down after having done everything possible to try to help him. We won’t be able to bury him until tomorrow later in the day after we get more dirt in to raise the area (and make it legal) knowing he’s not just laying there and will be easier to handle rather than dragging with legs sticking straight out makes it a little more comforting too. So thank you for posting information that I think everyone could use.

[Luckydonkey]

We used this recently as well. I remembered the thread when it was originally posted, and when I had to help a friend euth their very old mare, we folded her to make the body easier to deal with.

[Dave_Millwater_RMF]

I’ve had to bury too many in recent years… Mostly due to getting long in the tooth myself and outliving old friends. Fortunately, our graveyard isn’t far away, and we can get them interred shortly after they pass, so there’s no need for pre-burial folding…

But on seeing this thread, I couldn’t help but notice…

[QUOTE=goodhors;3667859]
Husband is very familiar with dead horses in his Farrier work.[/QUOTE]

Methinks I would be VERY cross with my wife for phrasing it quite that way! :eek:

.

[irkenequine]

This is an incredibly helpful post and I’m glad its being shared. I have been through an absolute worst-cast-scenerio nightmare about a horse who needed to be moved n-o-w and had not been tied when it died in the stall. I pass this piece of information onto any horse person with an animal long in the tooth or in grave condition…it will save the animal ‘dignity’ later to anthropomorphise it, and help the last final moments go by so much easier for you.

[ChocoMare]

Wanted to bump this thread back up because it is such good information to have in your mental file cabinet should the situation occur. I was also able to share it on FaceBook with an equine program that may be faced with the same situation shortly.

[SwampYankee]

I really appreciate your “bumping” this extremely valuable info. back up. Not only will I use it in the future, but will definitely share it with friends.

Several people have told me “campfire tales” of the difficulties of trying to remove a dead horse that expired in the stall–you basically have 2 choices, take apart the barn or take apart the horse. No one wants to have to do either.

It would have made things much easier a year ago January, when we had to perform a difficult “extraction” in the very deep snows of 2011; would have made it a good deal less awkward.

Many thanks for this!

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Bumping this thread… very useful information for ones who might be facing this difficult situation this fall before the ground freezes hugs to all of you <3

[LadyB]

Wow, it really is a piece of useful information, thanks for bumping this up.

Although its never an easy subject to discuss, its our loved ones and to give the best goodbye is very important to us. Thank you to the OP for sharing and Boyle for bumping.

[MuskokaLakesConnemaras]

Very good thread. Thank you.

[RMJacobs]

I wish I’d read this years ago. Somehow I missed it. It would have made the burials over the years of my three beloved horses so much easier.

Rebecca

[Schatzi09]

We folded my 30 yr old TB this spring. It made handling his body and burial so much simpler. He went into the hole very neatly and was easy to cover with dirt without the trauma of seeing legs or his neck all twisted up. I don’t think I’ll ever not fold another horse as long as I have the opportunity.

[Outyougo]

I took a screen shot of this post and making copies to keep in my barn and send one to vet. Thank you very much.

[The_Crone_of_Cottonmouth_Count]

Filed this info away in my brain years ago, sadly having to revisit today. Our beloved old hunter Ginger Rogers is teetering on the brink and it probably won’t be long now. Folding will afford the process the dignity she deserves. Thanks to OP.

[Zu_Zu]

Jingles “Ginger Rodgers” crosses over the Rainbow Bridge with ease & grace ~

((Hugs)) laced with strength and comfort for the family ~ two legged and four legged ~ she leaves behind ~

While it’s good to see your return The _Crone_of_Cottonmouth_Count ~ I’m sorry it’s under this circumstance ~

[goodhors]

Bumping this back up after having so many friends’ old horses needing to be euth’d recently. In talking about “waiting for the time” I mentioned the folding idea. Somehow they did not know about it. All were happy to hear about the folding, it would make things much easier when the time came.

I am glad that folks have been able to use the idea and it eased things in looks and dealing with the bodies. Good old Lewis, still being helpful to many, after all these years!

[RhythmNCruise]

I was talking about this just the other day. I never knew about folding dead horses until this thread. I’ve always thought it was the best thread on the forums. Definitely caught my attention when I saw the title, and then opening it revealed some super useful information.

My horse lives on a farm owned by a general contractor who buries horses super deep with a huge excavator, so the horses that have passed away out there haven’t needed folding, but it sure would be helpful for someone with more limited equipment and space.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

bumping this up for anyone who might need it with winter coming.