This. Well said.
I still feel so sorry that this has been your horse buying and ownership experience, OP.
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I’m so sorry OP.
I donated a horse once to a local teaching hospital and they were very grateful. It made me feel a little better knowing he would go on to help shine a light on other horses with similar issues and potential help them.
Hugs to you.
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I agree that Texas A&M would be an interesting idea. Keep in mind that you will likely have to transport the horse there prior to euthansia. (didn’t you say he’s not a great traveler? ) Wherever you end up, my sympathies for all that you’ve gone through. Its a hard thing.
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I would want to know. I may know of an option to get him to A&M post euth if you don’t want to trailer him there while he’s still alive. It sounds like that would be rough on him. PM me if you’d like more info.
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Thank you!
You remembered correctly. He does not trailer well and it is a long drive. I don’t want to stress him out on his final day.
My vet said it may be possible to euthanize and take him to a local diagnostic lab. Waiting to see if A&M is interested.
Meanwhile, there’s been no change in his behavior. Nothing seems worse. When he trots in and seems “fine” it seems hard to believe that there’s anything wrong.
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When my horse was put down in 2018, new bolton had Just done a full work up the day before. I think the fasting etc for all the tests stressed him and caused a colic which was his final undoing. He had chronic colic issues. Since NBC just had him they agreed to do a necropsy for free. The company that picks up and cremates the horses took his body to NBC and picked him up after necropsy for cremation. Would anything like that be possible?
Just a thought, but maybe we could slow down and give TXKing99 some space to breathe with her boy before we give her the menu of all possibilities of what might come next. I know preparedness is important, but if it was me, I’d be feeling my heart shred a little every time I got a pragmatic recommendation for a heart-wrenching decision.
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Wish I could like your post more than once.
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OP, was thinking about you and Jasper, and wondering how it’s going. If you feel like it, let us know.
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Hello.
Thanks for checking in.
I did a little groundwork last week. Just walking around the arena, standing at the mounting block, walking over poles. Most of the time he was dropped and semi stiff. Tail was swishing.
He didn’t have the ejaculatory response we have seen before. I have seen him drop more in the pasture but not like he does when I work with him. It is definitely more frequent now when I do anything with him.
We haven’t had any interest in a study. I have struggled with the timing of saying goodbye but I have asked my vet for an appointment for next week. 
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Big hugs. So sorry. 
When I had my first horse loss, I was not very prepared and was too in the moment to think much, if at all. A friend cut a piece of my boy’s tail for me before he was buried, and gave it to me the next day cleaned and braided. I took a few strands to make a bracelet and Christmas ornament for my mom (who bought him for me as a teen), the rest is braided and hangs on a mantle with photos of my first, very best boy. Just throwing it out there since it is a “horsey custom” when one has to say goodbye.
You are a class act OP. Jasper is very lucky to have landed with you. I’ll be thinking of you two all week. 
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You are very kind. I don’t know what I would have done without the support I received in this group.
I have been a basket case coming to this decision and crying randomly. I was talking to my son about it and he told me to think of it as giving him peace. That has helped.
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I’m so sorry you are going through this. Even when it is right, it is not easy.
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So very unfair. Please know you are both in my thoughts constantly. Sending you love.
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OP this is definitely not easy even with all you have done to get to the root of his issues. One thing I can add is that these situations with so much going on are also stressful on the owner as each new thing has to be added, then reevaluated and balanced in your mind. You worry about the horse, you worry about the costs and its exhausting. I’m sure you will rethink parts of this journey from time to time, but also you will hopefully feel some weight lifted off you after your final goodbye. HUGS
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This is the worst part about all this, truly. Your son is a class act. Big hugs…
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OP, I agree. Both of you are class acts and your son is right…you ARE giving him peace. It’s still hard to say good bye, though.
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Here on COTH, we have an old saying: “This, it be right.” I think letting him go peacefully is the right thing to do, for him.
It’s awful that your first experience with horse ownership took such a turn. But I think you have done everything you possibly can for Jasper. You’ve shown incredible kindness, perseverance, compassion, and love for him.
Almost everyone here has had a horse put down. If you want to ask questions about the process, we’re here to help you through it.
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