The impossible situation -- Dangerous Horse, and Humane Solution

[mwalshe]

I’ve heard of horses that had a severe blow to the poll becoming unmanageable and having to be put down.

I would imagine anything that can cause brain damage in a human can do it to a horse.

We had a dog with amnesia- she had no short term memory whatsoever, if she didn’t see you for 48 hours (her cut off) she didn’t know who you were and had to be reintroduced. She was perfectly trainable but she just couldn’t remember people or situations. I don’t really remember the details but the girl who got her (from the pound) was a vet student and researched it a bit. Apparently if she had been a human it would have been a classic case. the funny thing was that our dogs who started out very impatient with her started taking care of her and “reminding” her of stuff she forgot -like who to bark at and who lived in the house. It was weird. I don’t know if she ever got better…

Another roomate had a brain damaged Border Collie who also had OCD but that is a whole 'nother story…

[Weatherford]

I am very inclined to agree with the majority here. I also think donating him to a University Vet School for study could prove to beneficial for all of us. Perhaps they could dissect his brain and learn something.

I also think you should contact his breeder and tell them about the problem and find out if any others with his breeding share it - perhaps they should not match that mare and that stallion again. Regardless, they should know - just for the future.

Good luck.

[Sandy_M]

Just a comment on someone’s earlier story about the horse running in circles and into the side of barns and being otherwise totally “loco.” THAT horse (and not the horse presently being discussed) might well have been LITERALLY “loco” - he may have gotten into some loco weed. If he’d reached the stage of running into things, he was beyond help so the fact that he was shot was probably a mercy.

[monstrpony]

This story could not have a happy ending, but it also could not have had a better one.

My sincere thanks for your generous contribution to the education of future vets. You have my respect, admiration, and sympathy for this difficult and unfortuante set of circumstances that you have handled so well.

May you be feeling the peace that you richly deserve.

[FlightCheck]

and I, too am interested to know if/when they find anything out in a necropsy.

[Portia]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LMH:

It is wonderful that this post can remain a part of the archives…should anyone ever face a situation like mine, they now have a place to turn…and in the future, I offer any contact from anyone suffering from a decision like this put before them.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

LMH, I hope you don’t mind, but I took Erin’s earlier suggestion to change the title of the thread to something more descriptive. This way, when people in the future who may need this thread are searching, they will be able to find it more easiliy. If you don’t like the change, please feel free to change it back.

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“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.” Sen. Everett Dirksen

[Lucassb]

LMH,

At the risk of sounding heartless, if I had done my best to rule out possible medical causes (which it seems you have done - I am talking about for the behavioral issues, not the lameness) then frankly, I would have him put down.

No horse is worth dealing with behavior that could potentially cripple or let’s face it, kill you or someone working at your farm. People do put up with incredibly poor behavior on the ground in cases where there is equally incredible talent/ability/success under saddle… but here I don’t see the point. (Nor would I personally be willing to keep one I thought was dangerous myself, even if they were World Cup material…)

I am sorry that you are having to deal with this. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be -

S.

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“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that
matters, in the end.”
-Ursula K. Le Guin

[CluesGirl]

Just wanted to offer my deepest sympathies. What an unselfish and brave thing you did.

I truly believe that Resolute is in a better place. And through his pain and yours you both were able to help someone, perhaps many, in the process.

May all your days be happy and may there always be a happy horse to share them with you.

[eventamy]

I am a true believer that euthanasia can be a very good thing. In fact, that’s what it means “good death”.
I was very grateful this past monday that we are able to do this for our friends, my beloved 17 year old kitty Niki was euthanized on Monday. If an animal is that aggressive it is really the only appropriate thing to do. And it also sounds like you’ve already made up your mind. Do not fell guilty, you would be doing the right thing, not only for yourself, but for him as well.

[Wonder_Why]

LMH, a very brave and humane thing to do for this horse.

-Melanie

[shiloh]

Possibly, yes - I remember reading an article in Equus magazine - it dealt with sales issues and one of the stories was about a woman who had purchased a nice seeming filly from a trainer. Got the animal home and it started charging her, trying to attack her,etc etc and acting like a homicidal fiend. Long story short, she found out that the animal’s dam and other relatives were all the subject of a study at the nearby veterinary university because they were all essentially these bonkers vicious animals.

Very interesting - really made me wonder what was wrong with the hard-wiring in these particular animals’ heads.

“Stupidity should be painful.”

[stasha]

Good for you, LMH! I’ve never really wished a horse to die, but understand that there are circumstances where it is inevitable. You made a tough decision with grace.

Thanks on behalf of all my pre-vet friends, who are the recipients of donations like yours. They wouldn’t be able to do the excellent job they do in the real world without that hands-on experience.

“The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.” ancient Aztec proverb.

[Duffy]

LMH - So sorry you’re having to go through this. I just wanted to add my support to the other posters. I would talk to a University first about possible options within their program(s). But, please do NOT feel any guilt, whatsoever, about the other option of putting this horse down.

[creseida]

and IMO, 99.999% of problem horses are the results of something that we humans did. On the other hand, there is that 0.001% that are really and truly wickedly psychotic killers.

Based on what you have posted, and my own experience with a really, truly, wickedly, evil horse, I believe you have one of the 0.001%.

These horses are really and truly psychotic killers. They will look for that .01 second of weakness and strike for all it is worth. It is what they live for.

Hard as it is to say, I would not sell this horse. I would not auction this horse. I would not donate this horse, unless it was to a vet hospital, with the absolute understanding that this horse is being donated because of severe psychological issues that make him a potential killer. I would euthanise him. The liability issues to yourself if you keep this horse, knowing that he is dangerous, open you up to a huge potential lawsuit.

The horse I dealt with was a QH/Morgan mare. You could look this horse in the eye and see pure unadulterated hatred for all living creatures in this mare’s face. You could see her calculating and waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Her nostrils were always wrinkled in a snarl, and her ears were never up, unless she had successfully injured someone. Then the ears went up, and the wicked thing looked pleased.

This mare’s final living act was to literally drag two people backwards 50’ so that she could corner and kick a kid square in the forehead. Her ears stayed up for almost 30 seconds after that feat. She was shot dead for that final act.

Much as I hate to say it about any living creature, IMO, it didn’t happen soon enough. The mare was Pure Evil.

~~Come on, try a little, nothing is forever. There’s got to be somewhere better than In The Middle…~~

[Evalee_Hunter]

& butcher him to feed the hounds? I know that can be done in this area. One possible way to make a use of him even in the end.

[Badger]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LMH:

I have found a solution that is correct, decent and I am comfortable with it…
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Would you be willing to share what your decision is?

[Rivermeer]

I’m soooooo sorry about your loss! But i agree you made the right decision and i’m sure that doesn’t make it any easier for you right now. But in future time, the pain will ease.
I don’t know what else to say but that, you have made the right choice, and regardless, it is NEVER easy.
Best luck to You!
Heather

[creseida]

I am sorry for the lost of your horse, but pleased that it was not all in vain. He is now over the Rainbow Bridge where undoubtedly he has resolved his issues and is happy again.

I, too, would be interested in the PM, just because I’ve always wondered what might make a horse, a normally passive and lazy animal, go to such extremes to be aggressive. It simply isn’t their nature. Having dealt with the one animal (who was shot so no necropsy/PM could be performed) who seethed anger, I’ve always wondered what might have caused her to be so evil.

My sincere sympathies for your loss and my utmost admiration for having the courage to make a very difficult, but ultimately correct, decision.

~~Come on, try a little, nothing is forever. There’s got to be somewhere better than In The Middle…~~

[LMH]

No problem portia–to be very honest it just slipped my mind.

Life is too short to dance with ugly men

[HuntJumpSC]

When an animal is that unpredictable and dangerous to wrok around, despite professional training and all other problems have been ruled out & no options are left, then indeed it is the humane thing to do. Sounds to me like there has to be something seriously wrong going on with the horse, like someone mentioned, maybe a brain tumor that is just firing off and making him unstable. Best thing for all involved unforunatley is to put him down~ it’s too much of a risk to others to keep him around. I heard of a case here in SC just last year where a horse got out of it’s paddock and pinned the owner up underneath his front porch, went down to it’s knees and was still trying to attack it’s owner. Scary stuff… SUZ

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