Putting a "healthy" horse down and push back from others.

[OverandOnward]

IMO you are doing the right thing to go ahead with your decision, OP. You have given this horse a good life, and every possible chance. I totally agree with you to let him go on the best day he has left in his life, not the worst.

I’ve had to do this once and it is desperately hard. But I’m glad he had a great last day, not a terrible one.

Looking healthy is not the same as being healthy. It’s unfortunate that other people choose to challenge these decisions because the horse has been well-cared for and the outer wrapper ‘looks good’. Maybe even everything is working but the one thing that dooms the horse to a future of pain and suffering. And it isn’t apparent just by looking, for some people in any case.

I would not let a horse in this kind of twilight situation go to any other home. It is an open door to horrors. No promise by the next owner will be rock solid, just because life can happen to anyone. Everyone has the best intentions in the moment of the transfer, but then things change down the line.

I have heard so many stories of “we had a stipulation in the sales contract of [first refusal] [when they no longer wanted him, he would come back to us], but the next owner didn’t honor it and moved the horse on, and we lost track of him”. I have heard very few stories of when such a clause was honored and the horse returned to a safe haven.

It’s best to keep him 100% safe from future harm and suffering, just as you are doing. That’s my opinion. Thank you for what you have done, and are doing, for this horse.

[Amy3996]

At the end of the day, it truly sounds as though your heart is in the right place. I’m sorry the people at your barn aren’t being supportive. You’re in an incredibly difficult position right now, and I don’t think they can really understand that until or unless they’ve been there themselves. In this situation, preventing future pain and suffering by euthanizing based on your horse’s prognosis and the progression of DLSD is likely the most humane decision you could make. It sounds as though you’ve considered every possible option and are doing your best to do right by this horse, so thank you for that. Your horse is very fortunate to have an owner who’s willing to do what’s necessary, even if it may not be easy or “popular.” Jingles to you and your horse!

[kiwichick]

the people that criticise in situations such as this are IME the very ones that cannot and never do make the decisions themselves, they are the ones that rehome unsound horses as “in hand” prospects, or babysitters, who invariably get neglected and end up in kill lots somewhere.

ive put down unsounf 5 and 6yo’s
and you know what there are hundreds of horses put down weekly because they just cant run fast enough.

[hosspuller]

I didn’t know what DSLD is. Just from the first post, the OP was backed into a wall of guilt … Today, thanks to Google … I am amazed at the Vet and Barn owner for NOT supporting the OP in a precarious situation. (Ignorance or ulterior motive ?) OP’s horse is destined for a very poor and pain filled existence. I think this situation fully deserves thoughts of “Better too early than too late”

Important point from first post: “…has DSLD (basically all pasterns are horizontal), been vet-reviewed by Vet School …”

"Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis " or as recently named: ESPA “Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation.”
Recent research has found DSLD/ESPA to be a systemic connective tissue disease that affects tendons and ligaments throughout the body. The accumulation of proteoglycans are found in the affected tissues. Affected tissue can include tendons and ligaments of the legs including the patella, also the nuchal ligament, eyes and aorta.

[nefferdun]

I let animals tell me when their time is up and it sounds to me like you are finished but he isn’t. Let someone else take him with first right of refusal so that you know he cannot end up abused.

[IPEsq]

@nefferdun

I let animals tell me when their time is up and it sounds to me like you are finished but he isn’t. Let someone else take him with first right of refusal so that you know he cannot end up abused.

Sorry but this is wishful thinking. People break contracts all the time. Problem with breaches of these kinds of clauses with unsound horses is that the horse is more likely than not to end up on a meat truck. How many people do you think are looking for an unsound pasture ornament? Who has the appetite of a 4 yo WB? The remedy lies in a contract law dispute which may do nothing to help the horse, as the horse could be long gone already.

[Pennywell_Bay]

I have a mare that was a successful hunter, turns out she has DSLD. She hasn’t dropped by has now blown both her suspensories at different times.

I made the decision to put her down with my vet and thankfully, since I have them at home, have not said a word to any person (this is the first time I have spoken of it publicly). I went through extensive treatment for diagnosis (ultrasound, full body CT, MRI) and PT (water treadmills, vibe plates, the list goes on and on). I did not go the genetic testing because she fits every other exclusion criteria. I was shocked.

No one else gets a vote. No one else gets a say. It is painful enough decision and I don’t need the peanut gallery of FB/friends who woudl “DO ANYTHING” so save their horse, guilting me, jumping in and prolonging a situation that has no possible chance of a happy ending.

I haven’t done it yet, as it isn’t “critical”. I am waiting for a perfect spring day, to graze groom and then have her put down and taken away.

It is your decision and I hope that it is one you can come to peace with and people butt out. ( I haven’t read all post so assuming this is your horse alone).

Nothing but sympathy.

[CPL713]

@nefferdun

I let animals tell me when their time is up and it sounds to me like you are finished but he isn’t. Let someone else take him with first right of refusal so that you know he cannot end up abused.

Do you know this horse? Or what in her post leads you to believe the horse hasn’t “told her” that he is finished? She has known him his entire life, his prognosis is horrible, and she seems to know what can happen if she gives him to someone else even with a first right of refusal…and who is to say that such an agreement would protect him from abuse? I feel very confident that she is the best judge of whether or not he is finished. Not you, and not me.

[Laurierace]

@nefferdun

I let animals tell me when their time is up and it sounds to me like you are finished but he isn’t. Let someone else take him with first right of refusal so that you know he cannot end up abused.

That cop out is wrong on so many levels. Let the person who knows and loves the horse make her own decision and quit projecting your own la la land beliefs in her.

[warriorhorse]

@nefferdun

I let animals tell me when their time is up and it sounds to me like you are finished but he isn’t. Let someone else take him with first right of refusal so that you know he cannot end up abused.

You honestly believe by having first right of refusal will ensure horses well being? What a cop out way of dealing with horse… just pass him off to someone else. Or let it suffer in pain waiting for horse to give you that sign he’s ready to be pts.

Plenty of horse’s endup at slaughter because owner just gave them to someone else. Who promised to give horse a loving home. Once horse changes owner ship you have NO CONTROL over what happens to them.

Op is doing the right thing giving the horse a dignified peaceful euthanasia.

[sascha]

@nefferdun

I let animals tell me when their time is up and it sounds to me like you are finished but he isn’t. Let someone else take him with first right of refusal so that you know he cannot end up abused.

Oh. Stop. Please get a grip on reality. There is no legally binding first right of refusal, and even if there were some arsehole looking to make a buck would walk right through it anyway.

Do you have ANY clue about DSLD? Do you know what is in store for this horse? Do you have any clue about the discomfort this horse is already suffering?

Please, stop. It’s exactly this sort of crap that you spew that makes people turn off their empathy and allow animals to suffer.

An animal will not “tell” you when it is done. It doesn’t even know what that means. All it knows is survival and comfort, or survival despite pain.

We have a legal obligation in my country to put an end to terminal/long term suffering. We are obligated to put down animals that are suffering with no hope of recovery. This horse has only more pain and suffering in its future.

[Lyssabd]

OP, if there is one thing I’ve learned in the horse world, it’s that horse people are shovey, know-it-all types who offer all sorts of unsolicited advice and opinions. Take this with a grain of salt, because not everyone is like that, but I believe you’ll catch my meaning.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t owe ANYONE an explanation. I’ve been following multiple threads about DSLD, and my heart goes out to you and the others. You are clearly an educated owner who has done everything within her power to fix this situation, and all roads have led you to the same unfortunate place.

I repeat: You Don’t Owe Them An Explanation.

Come up with a short one-liner, “Dobbin has a chronic, untreatable condition and my heart is breaking, but I have to do right by him” or something of the like. If they persist, “I’m sorry person, but I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

As for letting him go too early, I’m of the mindset where it is better to let them go a day too early than a moment too late. What a lovely thing you can do for your wonderful horse to end his life on a very happy note, where is still able to be a horse, enjoy his turnout and his buddies, and has no major suffering. The longer you wait this out, the worse off he will be, DSLD can be debilitating as you well know. So sorry you’re going through this, I know this must be unimaginably difficult for you.

[EmilyM]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing.

[x-halt-salute]

@warriorhorse

You honestly believe by having first right of refusal will ensure horses well being?

I can’t believe I’m actually agreeing with Tazy/Dancerflash/Blackdimond/warriorhorse on something. @nefferdun 's idea that a sale/giveaway with a right of first refusal is justified because the horse hasn’t given a clear indication of being ready to shuffle off this mortal coil seems incredibly naive on several fronts.

No “right of first refusal” contract clause actually provides real protection for a horse’s welfare – theoretically it could give you grounds to seek an injunction to stop a horse sale if you are informed in advance of a sale but denied the opportunity to match price, but realistically the only protection it provides an everyday horse owner is the right to seek financial damages in court if a horse is sold without honoring the clause. It won’t keep someone from quietly selling the horse or sending it to auction. It won’t keep someone from riding a horse that’s not sound for riding. It won’t give you any right to be involved in end-of-life decisions.

And I’ve never witnessed an animal “tell when their time is up”, except through a significant decline in quality of life/experience and associated change in affect. Isn’t it better to prevent deterioration of an animal’s health or happiness to the point of obvious misery?

OP, I hope you can find a different, compassionate vet to discuss euthanasia with. Don’t ever feel guilty about making sure your horse lives a happy life, even if that means it ends up being a shorter one than you’d hoped for.

[keysfins]

My schoolmaster was part of the UGA study when I had to euthanize him at the clinic last spring due to colic. He had had a front Suspensory injury several years prior, and UGA needed non-DSLD samples as “controls” for the study. My vets at Littleton took care of submitting samples after he was gone. We also took gut biome samples for another, unrelated study. It was nice to know he was contributing to new research.

OP, not sure where in CO you are located, but a phone call to Littleton costs nothing. Your horse might still be able to be part of the study if you are close enough to a facility that can prepare the sample.

You are making the best decision for your horse, and that’s all anyone needs to know; repeat as often as necessary.

[OverandOnward]

Including an innocuous reference to a vet seems to help forestall such comments. Such as “the vet has tried everything we can do that could help”, “there was nothing more the vet could do that was likely to help”, etc. Instead of “I/we did this or that”, say “the vet did this or that”.

That reassures people that a veterinarian was involved, and seems to calm down other people’s urges to have an opinion.

People must not realize how incredibly hurtful it is to say to the owner of a suffering horse with no future things such as “couldn’t he be a therapy horse” (no, he’s sick, he’s a spooky tall TB with rapidly declining usefulness, why are therapy programs expected to clean up the medical mess); “couldn’t she be a pasture horse” (she needs constant supervision and medication to avoid pain and that won’t happen in acres of pasture); “couldn’t you give him a few more weeks and see what happens”; “isn’t there something else you could do”. Having already thoroughly reviewed all the options, sometimes for weeks, and having learned exactly why each isn’t suitable, it’s excruciating to re-live the awful decision process that came to the one conclusion the horse owner least wanted.

[Pennywell_Bay]

@OverandOnward

Including an innocuous reference to a vet seems to help forestall such comments. Such as “the vet has tried everything we can do that could help”, “there was nothing more the vet could do that was likely to help”, etc. Instead of “I/we did this or that”, say “the vet did this or that”.

That reassures people that a veterinarian was involved, and seems to calm down other people’s urges to have an opinion.

People must not realize how incredibly hurtful it is to say to the owner of a suffering horse with no future things such as “couldn’t he be a therapy horse” (no, he’s sick, he’s a spooky tall TB with rapidly declining usefulness, why are therapy programs expected to clean up the medical mess); “couldn’t she be a pasture horse” (she needs constant supervision and medication to avoid pain and that won’t happen in acres of pasture); “couldn’t you give him a few more weeks and see what happens”; “isn’t there something else you could do”. Having already thoroughly reviewed all the options, sometimes for weeks, and having learned exactly why each isn’t suitable, it’s excruciating to re-live the awful decision process that came to the one conclusion the horse owner least wanted.

I am going to screenshot this and keep it on my phone. So much better said and what I wanted to convey, but the acute pain of my decision interfered. Well put.

[Simkie]

@OverandOnward

Including an innocuous reference to a vet seems to help forestall such comments. Such as “the vet has tried everything we can do that could help”, “there was nothing more the vet could do that was likely to help”, etc. Instead of “I/we did this or that”, say “the vet did this or that”.

This might work in some circumstances, but THE VET is the party doing the guilt tripping in this case.

[CPL713]

@Simkie

This might work in some circumstances, but THE VET is the party doing the guilt tripping in this case.

How about, “the other vet I consulted, who actually has my horse’s best interests in mind, has come to the conclusion that there is nothing more to be done”

[DressageChic2]

been here twice, once with a sound but aggressive horse who was talented but dangerous to ride…tried to retire him and thats when he started attacking people.

heard on the grapevine years later i had him PTS because i didnt want to keep paying for him…

recently a 5yo with ulcerative colitis which showed zero improvement despite every cocktail of drugs possible and again im hearing about how he was PTS because i couldn’t handle him!

people WILL gossip but be strong and do what you know is best.