The impossible situation -- Dangerous Horse, and Humane Solution

[Evalee_Hunter]

but have you tried chemical behavior modification–I mean Regumate?

He certainly sounds scarey & dangerous. A friend of mine who runs a boarding stable encountered a horse somewhat like you describe–the difference being that this horse, although dangerous to work around on the ground, was a total dream to ride.

The horse was purchased at New Holland (shades of recent rescue/horse slaughter threads!) by a local riding stable & leased to a 13 year old girl. According to my friend this horse was a known biter so they kept a muzzle on him but he was a total dream to ride–this rather inexperienced 13 year old could ride this horse bareback cross country, he was that bombproof.

However, the day came when he managed to grab my friend by the jacket (he slammed his muzzled muzzle against her chest hard enough to grab her through the small hole in the muzzle) & she was TOTALLY CONVINCED he tried to kill her. He was put down.

Your story & your horse certainly fit in with these recent threads & I hope some of the rescue people will give you some input because you have raised an important question:

Can every horse be saved?

[Peggy]

Just another person adding her admiration for your decision and how you came to it. Sharing your decision with the BB and your horse with the vet school provides an education on several levels.

[MeanderCreek]

I have to agree with those who have suggested euthanasia. I’m sorry to say that, but if he is dangerous even as a pasture ornament I think that’s the only thing to do.

He’s an enormous liability to you, your family and anyone who may come in contact with him regardless of whether you keep him, sell, give him away, or donate him.

The lack of trainability, talent and soundness are only more reasons to make that difficult decision. It sounds as if there is something REALLY wrong with this horse somewhere and the kindest thing to do would be to euthanize. How happy can he possibly be if he’s acting like that?

Maybe you can find a university doing post mortem studies on horses with behavioral problems and donate him. That way, some good may come of this unfortunate situation.

www.meandercreekstable.com

[DMK]

LMH, I think it was the right decision based on the circumstances, and honestly, I have to say that if I have a euthanasia case in the future, I will probably consider the same route that you took.

It is no different from a routine euthanasia, except for the knowledge and learning that is imparted. And you know what? My driver’s license has “donor” written on it… Why is this different?

[I]"You can pretend to be serious; you can’t pretend to be witty. "

• Sacha Guitry (1885-1957) *[/I]

[His_Greyness]

I cannot get sentimentally attached to a horse that seriously tries to hurt me. The first horse I bought, that I knew had problems at the time, I ultimately sent to the slaughter house. Neither I, nor anybody I asked for help, could change this horse’s behaviour. I had gained a good basic education of the horse business, including dealers, horse auctions and slaughters, at the stable where I first learned to ride as an adult. One message I got from that stable owner loud and clear while learning to ride was that, no matter what the horse, nor how you feel about him, a horse is big enough to kill you.

This first horse of mine was hard wired for the rodeo, but not even the rodeo stockman wanted him; I asked. Given the likelihood of an unscrupulous dealer filling this horse, a very pretty appaloosa, full of tranquilizer and selling him on to an unsuspecting family for their kid, I decided not to try and sell him. I would be the one who did the evil deed of having the horse put down before somebody else got seriously hurt. I already had enough bruises from this horse.

LMH, I think you need to make the same decision I did.

[lawgrl]

I had a very similiar situation with a dog. Her periods of aggressiveness were interspersed within a calm and loving personality. After going through much of the same agony for 2 years, the vet, the trainer and I reached the decision that something was just not right in her brain and it could not be fixed–not her fault but as others said, I had no choice but to put her down.

I loved her and I still miss her but I am comfortable that I made the only decision I could as I believe that you made the only decision you could.

Never doubt yourself–you did what had to be done and I know how painful the decision was.

Whenever I find myself rehashing the decision or saying “what if I had tried …” I stop and imagine having to tell someone’s parents or spouse that my animal has permanently maimed or ended their loved one’s life–then I find comfort in my decision once again.

[Janet]

Horses certainly CAN suffer brain damage if they are deprived of oxygen for too long during a difficult birth, but I don’t know that that would cause this kind of behavior.

[Tannenwald_Trakehner]

I agree with all of the other posters who say there is only one choice for this horse, and that is to end his life.

Are animals capable of having pathological mental illness? I think so. Without getting into a fundamentalist Christian argument, we are all cut from similar cloth and it certainly is possible in people.

Yet, to my knowledge, no one is treating horses with medications for mental illness (I never even heard of one getting Prozac, although dogs do, let alone mind-altering drugs). No one is doing electro-shock therapy on horses. Treatments for behavioral abnormalities include hormone therapy, and maybe Regumate would be a last ditch thing to try. However, even if that worked, it is almost certain to be required for the horse’s whole life.

I think the path is pretty clear, but there may be options for how to go about it. I cannot recommend sending a horse to a slaughter house. It may be a bunny-hugger viewpoint, but I cannot see putting a horse through that situation. I admit I am not a vegetarian, but when I think about it enough, I think I should be. In Europe horses are very often sent to slaughter; they haven’t the space to be burying horses everywhere and that is just what is done in that society, but it sickens me to purposefully end a friend’s life in any but the fastest, most humane way possible, and preferably without causing them the discomfort of leaving their home.

One thing I would suggest investigating is whether a vet school is interested in him for study. While I was at the MSU clinic, another lady told me she decided to put her horse down after she had it examined there, and MSU offered to euthanize it and cremate the remains after body was used in classes. That may be an option, particularly in light of the behavioral abnormality, as there may be neurological facets to explore. Anyway, I guess that lady’s expenses were about $100 and she was able to pick up the cremated remains. I know that having a horse euthanized and buried at home hits in the $200-$500 range, so that option was good for the lady and gave her horse’s death a purpose, as it were.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

[Dementia_13]

LMH - I am so sorry you have to deal with this. I can’t even imagine what you are going through. Good luck to you.

“What lamp has destiny to guide her little children stumbling in the dark?”

[spoiledsweet]

LMH, I think that was a wonderful decision. I’m sorry you had to go through such a sad, frustrating ordeal. At least some good came from it. My cousin is in vet school now: I can assure you those students work very hard and care very deeply about what they do, and I am sure they were grateful for the opportunity to learn so that they may help numerous horses in the future. Best wishes to you.

[TXan_TB]

I have followed this thread in the past few days, and am impressed with the support you have received, and duly deserved, during this difficult time.

You made absolutely the right decision, and like the other posters, my hat is off to you.

I am interested in hearing any follow-up that the vet school might have on his autopsy?

Again, you did a wonderful thing. From one responsible horse owner to another-bravo!

[Portia]

LMH, you are a caring and thoughtful person, and a brave one for facing this situation head-on and making the best possible decision.

You did a very good thing by turning an “impossible situation” into something from which good will come, and I sincerely hope you find comfort in that.

May Resolute’s soul rest in peace now.

[Portia]

I’m very sorry, LMH, but if the situation is as bad as you say, there may be only one thing you can do.

There’s too much potential physical danger and financial liability involved in having a horse like that around, unless you can make him just a pasture ornament.

I’m sorry. I hope it works out somehow.

[Quinn]

LMH, I can add nothing to what has already been said. The situation was unbelievable and put a tremendous amount of responsibility and expense in your hands. The outcome is tragic but your action is to be applauded. I’m so sincerely sorry.

[mwalshe]

My old trainer went through this with a horse. Like your horse he was handled by a small number of very competent and experienced horse people his whole life and was still an untrustworthy, and very dangerous horse.

She had tried everything with him, even an animal communicator (who said he was delusional and basically insane) but there is a point where there is nothing more you can do.

He is OK in pasture right now and reasonably ok as far as receiving maintenance care but, yes he would have been put down if that had not worked. He will be put down if it comes to him needing any major medical treatment as he will be impossible to treat.

It sounds like you have given this horse every chance and he is an accident waiting to happen.

It’s a tough decision to make though

Just ot amend my post, the horse I describe was a stallion till he was three. He never showed any sexual interest in mares whatsoever and gelding him made little to no difference to his behaviour. I do believe he was truly insane.

If you had a dog that vicious you would have put it to sleep, you shouldn’t feel any more guilty just because he’s a horse.

[UrsaMajor]

I’m so sorry!

[Chanda]

I don’t have any further suggestions but I just wanted to say ‘Good Luck’ with whatever you choose to do. I am sure you will make the right decision.

Bowed tendon: 73 days down, minimum 17 days to go.

[Kryswyn]

You certainly deserve the respect and admiration of your peers.

In dogs, there is something called “Rage Syndrome” It is documented, it can run in certain lines, and almost always ends with someone being badly hurt before the dog is euthanized. Sometimes, spaying a bitch will trigger it. It is hypothosized that it may be occur when a dog has an abnormally high testosterone levels and the removal of all estrogen leaves a double dose of testosterone.

~Kryswyn~
“Always look on the bright side of life, de doo, de doo de doo de doo”

[Chanda]

Awww, that is so sad. I am so sorry you have to go through something like this. It must be so disappointing, in many ways. Good luck.

Bowed tendon: 74 days down, minimum 16 days to go.

[Anne]

Thank you, LMH, on behalf of myself and my colleagues. You helped students in Georgia directly, and you will probably never know how many other people will consider donating their horses just because they read your thread. You made an excellent choice.