I also need to add my two cents as an educator (school guidance counselor). Please, please do not call euthanasia “putting to sleep”. It is very, very confusing for children and can do quite a bit of damage. Please call it what it is, euthanasia or put down, but not put to sleep. That is not what it is.
Take heart. Know that you have tried to do your best by this poor horse, and you have had to make a really tough choice. Your not alone.
The thing that scares me about the university donation quite frankly is “What if he seriously injures someone there?”. I personally wouldn’t be able to live with myself even if I thought that it was a great place, this horse sounds like a loaded gun ready to blow.
There are too many good horses out there, and this one obviously has some terrible problem causing him to be so vicious. At the risk of sounding cruel, I think he needs to be put down so he doesn’t hurt anyone else. It’s the kindest thing to do, and would save you a lot of heartache and fear in the future. I am sorry. This just must be so disheartening and scary for you-and frustrating too. 
. I wish you the best.
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
LMH - I too agree that you did the right thing and in such a way that everyone benefited. Good for you to make such a decision. What a scary animal - smart and angry - he and everyone else are way better off.
Kryswyn - Rage syndrome - how interesting! I never heard of that before. Will have to do some research now. I wonder if anyone has done any research on that kind of syndrome in horses?
“Stupidity should be painful.”
My father went through a similar experience. He loves horses and used to train racehorses. He bought one that was a beauty, exceptional bloodlines, extremely talented, but only when he felt like it. He had one good month where we got pretty hopeful, he wasn’t attacking people, actually did pretty well in his workouts (just over :56 in five furlongs without actually working as hard as he could have). Then he reverted back to his old self, attacking for no reason, pinning people against the wall, etc. My dad tried retiring him and putting him on turnout but he actually got worse, even attacking other horses viciously. he used to jump out of his field to go attack horses, cars, and people. My dad ultimately decided that he had to put this horse down. Sadly, an autopsy revealed nothing wrong with him, his siblings all seem normal, as do his parents. It was heartbreaking because h had so much potential and he truly was one of the most beautiful horses I’ve ever seen. We had many people try to help him, but nothing and no one was able to help. It’s a sad decision, but no horse is worth that amount of danger.
There has to be something. I’m not suggesting that you try to deal with him yourself, but plase don’t think euthanasia is the only option. At least give him a couple weeks. Seriously, I’m willing to try to help you find a place for him. A horse whisperer type looking for a project? Some big acreage you can stick him in for a year or two? Equine Behaviourist researcher looking for a case study?
You could contact some horse magazines (they always have those features about “bad” horses), that University sounds interesting…
Call me a hopeless optimist, but I believe all horses can be “saved.” It’s totally understandable if you don’t want to deal with him, but please give it a lot of thought before doing anything–you’re dealing with a living creature here.
Thanks one more time to everyone…I am pleasantly surprised at the thoughtful discussion on the topic–I was afraid my question might stir up arguments and accusations and am pleased it did not.
I have found a solution that is correct, decent and I am comfortable with it…
Hard hats off to all the wonderful advice.
Life is too short to dance with ugly men
LMH, having ready your follow-up posts about his behavior over the years, you’ve done all you can do, and from the sound of it, taken too many risks already. I understand, believe me, having been in a similar situation, and it’s a horrible, horrible decision to have to make. But there is only one thing you can do – Put him down or have the vet school put him down for post-mortem study.
From a legal point of view, you cannot continue to have the liability of having this horse around. Not only could he seriously injure or kill you or someone else, but he could devastate you financially when the person he hurts sues for damages. Although most states have equine limited liability acts, you would be very likely be held liable under the exceptions for having a horse with a known history of very dangerous behavior.
Please, try not to feel guilty (though I know that will be very difficult). You have done all you can do, and you need to treat him the way you would any animal friend who is no longer comfortable living on this Earth and who cannot be helped.
“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.” Sen. Everett Dirksen
I can only wish if faced with the same situation, I can do the same thing. You have my full respect, admiration and support (as always).
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then give up. No use being a damned fool about it” -W.C. Fields
You have my utmost admiration, LMH. Thank you for providing a wonderful example of how a truly caring and thinking horseperson should act.
I know you must be dealing with quite a bit of pain, from this decision. I am sorry for that, and wish you could be spared. But then, you would not be the person you are, if you didn’t feel that pain.
“We ride and never worry about the fall.
I guess that’s just the cowboy in us all.”
Tim McGraw
LMH,
A belated note to say I’m sorry for what you went through - certainly you did the right thing. What a good idea to offer the vet school an opportunity to benefit in the process.
I know it can’t have been easy (why are the right things so hard sometimes?) but surely now he is at peace.
We are all around if you want to go have a beer or some margaritas to commiserate…
“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that
matters, in the end.”
-Ursula K. Le Guin
I agree with Portia. No horse is worth getting someone killed or injured. Who knows what is wrong with him - possibility of a brain tumor>
Please do what is best for yourself. And, I add my deepest sympathy.
“We ride and never worry about the fall.
I guess that’s just the cowboy in us all.”
Tim McGraw
Though it may have been the ‘obvious’ decision, I can’t imagine it was an easy one. How unbelievably sad and tragic.
Kudos to you LMH for your courage, perseverance and strength.
He may have some terrible problem, like a brain tumour - it is just not normal for horses to behave like this. But behave like this he does, and he is a danger to everyone around him. I think you have tried, and it is only a matter of time. I also think he cannot be very happy either if he acts like this -
but please don’t send him to auction or to the slaughter house - call the vet.
It’s not a happy situation, but it is a quick and humane death.
I’m sorry for you and sorry for him too.
I know I am only repeating what everyone else has said. You made a kind and thoughtful decision that would be hard for anyone to finally come to doing.
You have my deepest sympathy at having to make that decision and also deepest admiration for being a very caring owner.
I second Meandercreek:
Contact your local veterinary teaching hospital/university and see if they could use him for study/postmortem. Something like a brain tumor is very possible, and other horses could benefit from what vets might learn from this guy.
You made a good decision.
((hugs))
[This message was edited by FairWeather on Apr. 10, 2002 at 08:38 AM.]
Rescuemom had a situation like this very recently at Days End Farm Horse Rescue. I don’t remember all the specifics but they had a tempermentally unsound mare, that was dangerous for anyone to handle. I think they did end up putting her down. She’d be a great person to talk to for advice on this. I haven’t seen her post here lately but may be able to round her up for ya. Hang in there, this is a toughie
~Odin
I once worked with a filly that was pure evil, born evil, stayed evil. She got very sick and I was one of the unlucky ones to deal with her, let me just say I prayed every day for her to die. I was terrified by the thought of this baby full grown. There were no environmental or genetic reasons anyone could see for a 3 month old to be so bad, but she was. This horse was certainly hard-wired wrong.
LMH, IMHO the only choice you have is euthanasia.
There are just too many nice horses out there. Why risk the possiblity of serious injury? Isn’t horse ownership supposed to be fun?
I would not suggest a University unless they have a specfic behavioral study to use him for. I guarantee that none of the employees would appreciate having to handle this guy.
Good luck with your decision, it must be heartbreaking.
dangerous behavior such as you describe, it is no picnic!
Speaking from personal experience, there are few rewards in having a horse such as this in the barn–when I was grooming, we had one as dangerous as I’d want to have anything to do with, and for several years, the trainers and staff at the barn I was working for did manage to deal with this horse and keep him competitive as a just below top level Grand Prix jumper. But it took every bit of expert effort and knowledge on the part of those handling him (and you couldn’t find a more expert or knowledgeable situation in which to place a difficult horse) in order for any of us to emerge from the encounter unscathed. He seriously bit or kicked nearly every member of the staff–from inside his stall, he even managed to injure his groom, who was outside the stall, badly enough to land him on crutches for weeks by somehow kicking UNDER his stall screen. Even with all the expertise our barn had to offer, this horse was not safe to be around.
With a dangerous horse whose soundness is questionable, and who is unwilling to go to work even if he is sound, I think there isn’t any question about what the right course of action is. It isn’t having any fun–life is not a pleasure…and it’s dangerous for those who look after him. I would never consider donating a horse of this type to a college–we had all we could do to handle the one we had and we were in one of the top barns of all time–there is far less expertise to go around in even the best staffed college program, and there will always be someone around without enough experience and judgement to realize that they can’t handle the situation…that’s serious trouble just waiting to happen. Sorry to say, I agree with the majority of posters here about the best solution to this problem.
MCL
