Spoiling before a planned euth

[Larissa]

What have been some of your most meaningful activities with your horses as you planned their last weeks? I am putting down my much-loved retired backyard horse next week. I can’t come up with much I want to make sure I do in my last few days with him. Plenty of treats have been acquired, I sat on his back one last time, have had my kids make their last memories with him, taken candid pictures, have him on meds to maximize his comfort. I am not a horsehair jewelry or memento type person.

What was worthwhile to you to preserve? Anything you did that I wouldn’t normally think of? I appreciate any and all suggestions

[Sheasmom2]

I saved my mare’s shoes. I always like to give them a nice bath, weather permitting. Lot’s of grooming and treats. Jingles for your old man.

[SLW]

No advice but hugs on giving a sweet horse a gentle transition.

When I’ve buried a horse I’ve filled the grave with straw so when they are placed in it they look like they are laying down in a stall. Just a goofy thing for me that makes me feel better.

[GraceLikeRain]

I’d consider saving a big piece of tail. Even if you aren’t a jewelry type, down the road something may come to mind like a piece of raku pottery.

[trubandloki]

@GraceLikeRain

I’d consider saving a big piece of tail. Even if you aren’t a jewelry type, down the road something may come to mind

Yes to this. You can’t go back and get it later so take it and save it.

I must have weird horses because no horse I have ever owned has liked getting a bath so to me giving them a nice bath would not be on the list of positives for final days.

If I had the chance I probably would have taken my old man for a trailer ride, maybe to an indoor where he could roll in the soft footing and feel like it is some place special. After he was retired he got so excited every time I got the trailer out to take my other horse somewhere. I think he missed his showing days. He always seemed so happy to go places.

[mmeqcenter]

I’ve never had a horse that particularly enjoyed baths so that wouldn’t be on my list.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to plan my boy’s last moments, but my girl really loves a good roll in the mud. I’m all sand here but, if I get to plan her last days, I expect I’ll get some fill dirt hauled in and make a good piggie mud puddle for her.

I don’t wear jewelry really, but we have a keychain collection going, so I had a keychain made from my gelding’s tail. My twin sister surprised me with a beautiful framed pencil drawing of him that she commissioned from an artist we know.

[Sparrowette]

@GraceLikeRain

I’d consider saving a big piece of tail. Even if you aren’t a jewelry type, down the road something may come to mind like a piece of raku pottery.

I saw this on Facebook and thought it was cool. It’s a horse tail fly swatter.

OP, I’m sure someone, somewhere could make one from his tail for you.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/864310760256965/permalink/3286406938047323/?sale_post_id=3286406938047323

[2tempe]

Everyone is different but: I had several days between decision and the actual euthanasia. I tried every day to cut part of his tail, but simply just could not do it. I did keep his show halter which had name plate. He did not get much spoiling other than a few carrots, as he was simply not interested and wanted to be left alone - a couple light groomings…He was buried “naked” just as he came into the world.
Another person I know put a sheet and halter on her horse, and buried not only that but one of her own jackets, some fancy leg wraps and some other stuff that she thought would somehow help him over the bridge.
I have a friend who did save her mare’s tail years ago and had a really nice fly whisk made with it; She did some trail riding and would always take it then.
I do like the idea of straw in the grave…

[JB]

Gaaahhh, I’m so sorry you’re facing this

I was fortunate in that the week leading up to the day was great weather, it was early October. I gave Rio 2 baths, which he always loved. I got his whites white, his luxurious tail impeccably clean and detangled, let him do all the things he loved to do while getting a bath. He didn’t wear shoes, so nothing there. I did save JB’s last shoes, which were removed many months before he died, and 1 front and 1 hind are imbedded - open side in - in the concrete in the barn aisle. The other 2 shoes are used to support the shower rod or our master bath

The day of, I gave Rio his normal breakfast, and then gave him another pile of his food to eat as he pleased. I’d never actually seen him FULL LOL

I did save his magnificent tail - can’t go back and that that. I also saved his forelock. You might not be a jewelry person, but there are endless ways to use hair if you want - key chains, pottery, fly swatters, inbedded in picture frames, etc So definitely save it just in case. I cut his after he was gone. Hubby helped hold it all while I cut, and I wrapped the cut end with several big rubber bands, and it’s curled up in a plastic baggie right now, with his forelock. If you can’t bear to do that (I was surprisingly ok with it), I’m sure your vet would be happy to.

I still haven’t cleaned Rio’s stall :\ His last poops, and the last hay he didn’t finish, will go in a garden bed I’m still planning

Hugs. The time between the decision and The Day was awful for me. I was still terribly sad after, but also much more at peace with the situation because it really was the right thing. I hope that happens for you too, and you can be ok with being ok, and ok with the grief process.

[2DogsFarm]

Forbidden treats.
When DH’s TWH was at the vet college hospital & euth was the only option after 3 days of treatment, I drove from work to be there.
Vet students were with him & asked if it was okay for him to have chocolate.
They were selling the bars for a fundraiser & he was begging.
Why not?

I have old shoes from him & my TB Hunter. Saved for many years after they were barefoot.
A friend recently made them into wind chimes.
I wired several into an artificial wreath along with ribbon. That hangs on my front porch for the holidays.

I also have a small bag of hair from both.
Cannot recall how or why. Nothing long enough for jewelry.
A friend who sews was supposed to stuff a plush toy with the hair, but that never happened.
There was a website that offered the same, but I can’t find it now.

[Renn_aissance]

I am sorry that you’re looking at a hard goodbye.

If you are not a horsehair person you are not a horsehair person. It goes beyond jewelry- I’ve seen pottery and belts inlaid with tail hair, for example- so you have other options if those appeal. However, I understand if you are not. I had a bracelet made from my first horse’s tail hair. The dog ate it. I still have his tail in a braid in a zip-lock bag. I have no idea what I will do with it, but it doesn’t seem quite right to compost it.

It sounds like you have already done a lot of the things that are meaningful to you. If you are struggling to come up with more, maybe it’s because you know what you needed to do to say goodbye. Now just make his remaining days wonderful- good food, good things he likes (grooming if he cares for it, hand grazing, favorite treats, scratching his itchies, turning him out with his buddy and leaving him alone if that’s his jam.)

Thinking of you.

[LilRanger]

Even if you are not a horsehair person, you could collect it and leave it out for the birds to use to make nests in the spring. I have a few nests that have my old horse’s hair. Found that out by accident, actually, after I’d found the nest the spring after he was gone and realized his tail hair was in it.

Forbidden treats he loves, that’s a good one too.

Hugs to you, this is a very hard decision.

[walktrot]

@SLW

When I’ve buried a horse I’ve filled the grave with straw so when they are placed in it they look like they are laying down in a stall. Just a goofy thing for me that makes me feel better.

No goofy at all. I’ve seen posts in the past about hay. At my former barn a lovely QH lesson mare had a grievous injury, a broken shoulder, probably had been kicked. Messy details involving the DH that I won’t go into. She was in the indoor in a hay pile by stacked bales of hay, eating and not showing any pain. When the vet put her down she fell on the hay. It had a softer feel. The vet was also my vet so I told her later. She said it makes a lot of sense.

An aging Appy gelding who did regular and therapy lessons had a scheduled farewell in the fall. He loved iced tea and donuts so he had a big snack in the middle of the hayfield. The BO let us know scheduled dates so we could say goodbye. It was nice to be able to spend a few minutes with them, maybe shed some tears.

[Larissa]

I appreciate all of these thoughts and kind words. You guys are wonderful. I have owned old and/or problem horses and pets for a bunch of years and it never gets any easier I’m so sorry for you who’ve been here before. They take up such a huge part of our hearts.

My guy is a bit aloof and impersonal so extra grooming and bathing and fussing will definitely not be on his bucket list I think I’ve decided to do some pictures with him and cut his tail. Thanks for the encouragement! And then just let him eat and eat. He’s a metabolically prone sausage with food and respiratory allergies so free food and treats will probably be enough to send him over the moon.

Socially distant hugs to all of you for your losses.

[hlra11]

So sorry you’re in our club. I too am not a horse hair jewelry type, but a friend had a gorgeous bracelet made for me that is inlaid in a silver bangle type bracelet. Its gorgeous and you really cannot tell it is horse hair at all, which is why I liked it so much.

You can also have lots of stuff made with their hair now a days, pottery looks cool with them too if you have a use for anything like that.

Hugs to you!

[JB]

@Larissa

He’s a metabolically prone sausage with food and respiratory allergies so free food and treats will probably be enough to send him over the moon.

He will be all

@hlra11

a friend had a gorgeous bracelet made for me that is inlaid in a silver bangle type bracelet.

Do you know where she had it made?

[SLW]

@GraceLikeRain

I’d consider saving a big piece of tail. Even if you aren’t a jewelry type, down the road something may come to mind like a piece of raku pottery.

I saw a sweet meme some time ago. A new horse is standing outside the entrance to Rainbow Ridge. A resident horse spies the heavily banged tail on the new horse and turns to a Buddy saying “You can tell he was really loved”.

I would use tail hairs to have fly whisk made from a beloved horse.

[GoodTimes]

Hugs to you! I had to put down a favourite hen yesterday, that was hard enough even though it was in her best interest. The horses and dogs are so much harder

I just had some horse hair raku vases made with the hair from our three horses. They’re beautiful and totally custom. She had a decorative plate and a jewelry box for someone else as well. They don’t require much hair, 10-20 long strands. Something to keep in mind for those that don’t want to cut a big chunk.

I think spoiling them with food is the way to go. And keeping the last few days as stress free as possible.

[Larissa]

Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions and kind thoughts. He left this world better than he found it with the love he gave me and the husband I added later and the horsey curiosity he grew in my kids and the numerous nieces and nephews that played at his feet and on his back. I hope there’s a little girl waiting at the bridge for him to make her dreams come true next

I don’t have any regrets about our last week thanks to your ideas and encouragement. I can say without reserve planning ahead and savoring the time together has been the easiest process of letting go that I’ve been a part of yet.

[JB]

I am so happy to hear all that