What To Do With An Old Horse

[french_fry]

[QUOTE=Lady Eboshi;8059899]

There are far more “jobs” than ever before today for a horse who can no longer be an “athlete.” Most people are aware of the free-lease option so they can be sure he doesn’t wind up on the wrong end of the pen. But are homes to be found for “husband horse,” weekend trail horse, safe lead-liner for the littlest kids, therapy horses, confidence builders and even, believe it or not, “pasture ornaments” and companions. Many of these horses will “work” less than an hour a week. When the issue comes up that someone “has” to get out from under their older horse, my vet’s networking and mine go into full swing and you’d be astounded at the safe, happy situations we’ve found.[/QUOTE]

But this is sort of the crux of many people’s point - many these horses don’t deserve to have to do yet another job after they get too broken down to handle their current workload.

Of course there are shades of gray here, but I see way too much of, “his soundness/maintenance issues aren’t as OBVIOUS with his decreased workload therefore we can ignore them” vs. “he’s totally sound for this decreased workload.”

I have worked with many, many lesson, trail, and therapeutic riding programs. Maybe it’s just my part of the country (midwest and northeast) but those horses get pounded into the ground pretty much across the board.

I don’t understand the logic behind, “my children’s hunter won’t hold up to 3’ twice a week anymore so now he’s doing multiple 2’ lessons a day 6 days a week. Happy retirement, buddy!”

Nope. You cannot tell me that is kinder than euthanasia.

And how many stories have we heard on this board about horses that were free leased out or had owners that were given first right of refusal that subsequently disappeared?

Let’s face it: in many cases, leasing out/giving away/donating a horse that no longer serves the purpose you purchased it for is just making it someone else’s problem.

[french_fry]

Also, while I’m ranting, I refuse to throw shade at “one horse families” that choose to euthanize and get another sound horse rather than subsidize an unsound horse’s retirement over ??? years.

I think for most people, having a horse involves mixing the experience of having a pet with one’s riding goals. Let’s face it: as pets alone, horses are about the most expensive, least rewarding (in the sense that they can’t live in the house with you) pets you can have. If most of us equestrians solely wanted a pet, we could get a cat, a dog, whatever, for significantly less time, effort and expense. I don’t think it’s wrong to own a horse with the expectation of being able to work towards your riding goals on it. If your options are to retire that horse on your dime (preventing you from getting another horse), euthanize the horse, or rehome it, I will not judge you for euthanizing.

Now, I say all this with the caveat that I cannot put my money where my mouth is: I am a one horse person due to finances and as I mentioned before, my childhood horse has been retired for ten years and running now. But I wouldn’t blame anyone who would have instead made the decision to euthanize him.

[Lord_Helpus]

Clair,

You bring up good points and, I agree; there is no one answer that is always (or almost always) right.

But this thread can at least get people thinking about what they would/will do. I have been in horses for 60 years, and yet I had no plan when Bear got hurt. I just reacted, based on the professional advice I was getting, until I (finally) saw that a vet’s orientation may not be the most humane point of view.

A surgeon knows how to cut and a GP vet knows how to make things better. But when surgery or drugs do not make things better, the horse’s advocate needs to have a plan, even (especially?) if it means going against professional advice.

Perhaps your post will encourage people to set up retirement funds for their horses. I bet it has. I know that reading other people’s posts has made me aware of my old dog’s health issues. Today I made an appointment to have a thorough exam done on her so I can be proactive in helping her through these latter years. She is 13 now and I want her to be around for a long time, yet I had not done anything to find out what it will take to make it happen.

Of course, I avoid checkups and colonoscopies and mammograms. We all have our priorities.

[Lord_Helpus]

Lady E, My late friend Claudius (RIP, dear Leslie) left behind a horse who is not really sound (OK for ‘walkabouts’ but nothing more). He will make a beautiful pasture ornament (he is chestnut with 4 high whites and a blaze) or companion. But I am having trouble trying to help her (mostly non-horsey) family place him. He is only 13, so anyone taking him will be looking at 10 - 15 years of support.

Would you be able to help? He is in Pa.

[McGurk]

I struggled with the issue early in my professional career. I leased a small barn with lovely pasture for my own horses, and I ended up offering retirement board to few people locally. I could do a very inexpensive pasture board with run in/basic care.

One of the retiree’s owners called me in the fall and told me to send a horse to the kennels. I was shocked and horrified. The horse in question was happy, healthy, an easy keeper, but was also 35. He was a sweet old thing and a perfect gentleman. The owner had bought him as a 4 year old, retired him as a 20 year old and had been paying retirement board on him at one facility or another for longer than the horse’s useful career. And this wasn’t benign neglect - the horses got farrier care, dewoming, basic shots, etc.

So I wrestled with whether or not I could actually send the horse to the kennels. I considered taking over his care myself, but I couldn’t afford vet and farrier expenses on another one, and I would have had to give up one of my young horses to do so. I tried to be angry at the owner and the owner’s son (the owner was infirm and hadn’t seen the horse in years) but how could I be angry at people who had ensured the horse had a lovely 15 year retirement? Just because they said “enough?” And finally, I knew it was fall, and that if I elected to keep him going and we had a horrible winter (we did) I would be to blame for his suffering. 35 is 35, after all.

So I called the kennelman, brought the horse up, brushed him and fed him treats and led him up to the trailer. He trotted up happily and the kennelman gave a me the stink eye and said “He looks awfully good.” But I put him on the trailer and felt awful.

Until the first ice storm that long, horrible winter. Then I felt a little better.

For me, just my .02, not every horse that I’ve owned crossed categories from athletic partner to beloved family member, but some definitely have. I have sold on lots of horses, that was how I made part of my living, and most I have done so freely. The horse I had as a teen that I had to sell to go to college I kept track of for a while, but I know he ended up in a dealer’s yard at some point and probably made a bad end. I feel terrible about that and wish it could have been different.

Several since then have been special enough I decided that their ticket was punched for life, regardless. The three currently in my pasture are all in this category because they have all been extraordinarily good to me and brought me much joy; I have actually set up a trust to make sure they are cared for after my death. It certainly helps that I have my own place now and that I can keep them cheaply, if I was paying any kind of board I wouldn’t have three.

People do draw the line in different places. I have a friend who bought a badly misrepresented horse that was completely unsuitable for her; it then developed EPM 9 months after she bought him. I privately think he should be put down as a waste of resources, but she is fond of him (though Lord knows why) and he will live in luxury til the end of his days. Her choice, and brava for her. It wouldn’t be mine.

I sadly know that euthanasia is NOT the worst thing that can happen to a horse, and I try not to judge when people make thoughtful decisions that happen to be different than mine, as long as the animal isn’t suffering.

[Blinky]

I’m sure I will sound cold hearted but I agree with French Fry on this. Perhaps, in some situations, that is the best decision. There are FAR worse things that can happen to a horse then be euthanized. We’ve seen stories in COTH and on this BB time and time again of horses moved on to situations that didn’t work out. Are they better off being hungry and/or over worked or in pain vs. being given a peaceful and painfree exit?

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8059969]
Lady E, My late friend Claudius (RIP, dear Leslie) left behind a horse who is not really sound (OK for ‘walkabouts’ but nothing more). He will make a beautiful pasture ornament (he is chestnut with 4 high whites and a blaze) or companion. But I am having trouble trying to help her (mostly non-horsey) family place him. He is only 13, so anyone taking him will be looking at 10 - 15 years of support.

Would you be able to help? He is in Pa.[/QUOTE]

PM me with complete details of horse’s condition/needs and contact info. and I’ll put it out on the grapevine!

[SMF11]

[QUOTE=Blinky;8060008]
Are they better off being hungry and/or over worked or in pain vs. being given a peaceful and painfree exit?[/QUOTE]

But that’s not the choice anyone is espousing!

To reiterate, everyone draws the line in different places. And there is no ONE right way to handle the situation of an older horse. It is not a choice of terrible situation vs. euthanasia – I think we can all agree euthanasia is the way to go under those circumstances. There are SO many factors that go into the euthanasia decision (aspects of the horse, but also aspects of the owner’s life and finances too).

I would add one tidbit to the discussion, which is that most of the horses retired with me (and I have about 10 at any one time, less than Lady E) spend anywhere from 2 - 4 years here before dying. There are exceptions, absolutely, but the only person retiring a “young” horse was me, he was 13, and just had to be put down this fall at age 18. But most horses come here around 24 or so (though of course there’s a range) and they aren’t living another 10 - 15 years (as a rule!).

It is an interesting discussion.

[CaitlinandTheBay]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8059621]
A reoccurring theme in these posts is “financially able”, “in a position to”…

Those of us who fall into that category and are able to make decisions based solely on the well being of the horse should count ourselves very lucky indeed.

But we are in the minority of horse owners. We are looking at this issue with rose colored glasses, and our horses are the beneficiaries.

The thread which prompted this thread was the discussion the pro’s and con’s of donating horses to a school/college/IHSA/Therapeutic program when a horse could no longer do what his owner wanted to do.

WHAT THEN?

I cannot quote statistics, but I believe that most one horse families are just that — able to maintain one horse. When the current horse gets too old or too creaky, and yet buying a second horse is not financially feasible, what then? I don’t think that anyone should feel obligated to maintain an old or “unsound for the intended use” horse at the expense of giving up their riding goals. I am definitely a pragmatist.

Providing 10 - 15 years of retirement is not within the reach of many people, unless they devote their equine budget to taking care of that horse, at the expense of their horsey goals and enjoyment.

If the horse is given away, donated, sold for a low amount, the owner loses control of their old friend’s future. Contracts, right of first refusal, etc, are hardly worth the paper they are written on. If the old guy is moved on from an approved situation, there is nothing the prior owner can do except sue for breach of contract. That is an expensive and frustrating option.

If I owned a horse who was no longer able to be a partner in my equestrian goals, and if I could not afford to buy another horse because I was still supporting the first one, I think I would seriously consider euthanasia. Not saying I would necessarily do it, but it would be one option I would think about. The future is uncertain – no one can know how their old friend will end up. But who wants to play the odds that their horse will never reach the end of the road at New Holland, or in a field with other, more dominant horses who take his food and pick on him until he becomes a walking carcass?

Lady E has said that she will NOT (emphasis hers) euthanize a horse who is not in physical need of it. Neither will my primary vet. – So what kind of dilemma are these owners, who want to be caring and do the right thing, caught up in?

I will never second guess another person’s choice in such a situation. The world is not as black and white as these vets believe. There are so many shades of gray, that “the right decision” may not always be the decision we would want to make.[/QUOTE]

I’ll bite here. I’m a “one horse owner” and realistically will be for the foreseeable future. My current horse is 20, so this topic stays in the back of my mind. He’s still in fantastic shape, which is a blessing. When he’s not, well, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Ideally, I’ll find him a low cost boarding situation and be able to afford lessons for myself. I am blessed with many good friends with large acreage that’d retire him, if I asked (I’d pay upkeep, of course). I’m not sure I’m comfortable throwing him out in a field away from me, though. He likes attention a lot and is “just living” worth it? I’m not convinced.

I do have a “vet care” number, or rather metric, for him and it’s pretty low. I’ll spend more if it’s stretched out/less invasive/less painful than something invasive or painful. We opted out of laying him down last year for sinus surgery. I love him to pieces and can’t really imagine life without him. I also can’t sacrifice my financial future for him, though. I also maintain that it wouldn’t be fair to him to keep him going through something painful. Tubing for mild choke? Done. Call the vet, have it done. He’ll be fine by morning. Surgery? Nope. Kiss his nose, tell him he’s the greatest horse to ever life, and say goodbye.

I’ll note that he does have a “savings account” of sorts. It’s not terribly large, unfortunately, and is more for emergencies than retirement.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

[QUOTE=Clair2014;8059893]
OP, in response to post 35, I do see what you’re asking and it is a difficult question but it seems to me that if owners are aware that they have financial limitations than perhaps they could make some sort of financial plan for their horse’s future when they purchase the horse. There are ways to save for retirement, farms that offer pasture board at reduced rates, etc. I do understand that we as riders have goals but I have a hard time when these goals are at the expense of the animals. Is their purpose merely to serve us or do we have a responsiblity to them as well?

I’m not saying there is a right answer and it probably depends on who you ask but personally, I try to do all I can to ensure that my horse has what he needs even when his usable days have passed. Of course, life can be unpredictable and sometimes we have to make decisions we don’t want to make and that is okay but it seems unfair to purchase a horse planning to euthanize when his usable days are over and making no other plan for his retirement. It seems like there are better options and I’ve always thought of euthanasia as a last resort when no other option is suitable. Like I said, there is probably no right answer and it is a very difficult subject, just playing devil’s advocate.[/QUOTE]

I don’t think most inexperienced horse owners of limited means embarking on their first purchase typically give much thought to what the horse’s future might be beyond the term of their ownership. They’re buying a horse! They’re going to ride and maybe show and canter across grassy fields and make dreams come true! There is no paper they have to sign acknowledging that the now 7 year old horse may live another 20+ years and that for a variety of reasons, selling or re-homing him may not turn out to be as simple as buying him was. Even first time buyers being advised by experienced professionals at the time of purchase aren’t usually going to be told in plain and simple terms what some of the downsides and long term consequences of the purchase may be. I don’t think these are people who start out with bad intent - they just don’t know what they don’t know.

I appreciate how several people on this thread have pointed out that as an animal, the horse blurs the boundary between livestock and pet. Some horses luckily land in situations where the owner is in a position to make them part of a “herd for life”. Others, not so lucky, maybe get an owner who has to choose between supporting horse indefinitely or funding their own retirement.

Unless or until horses become a rare enough commodity that only the truly wealthy own them, the gray areas and the slippery slopes and the shifting lines in the sand will be part of the discussion. I think at this point in time, the most popular solution to the unwanted horse is still some form of making him somebody else’s problem - sell, give away, re-home. But I think euthanasia is probably gaining traction as an option - especially in more densely populated areas where a higher proportion of the horse-owning population has limited, low(er) cost boarding options.

[MsM]

Interesting discussion. My horse is entering year 5 of complete retirement following about 4 years of trying to get or keep him sound. He is at a wonderful place for retirement. But I haven’t ridden regularly for most of those years. Can’t afford another horse and him. He is a bit gimpy but otherwise healthy and happy. And too damn personable and cute…

[HorsesinHaiti]

And to unveil another elephant sticking its head over the stall door: opportunity cost for the horses. As in, much as we hate to admit it, horses have reached the same state as dogs and cats in the US. There are more healthy animals than homes for them. What if instead of a fancy show horse, the theoretical one horse family is replacing Broken Horse with a sound Rescue Horse? Thus opening up a rescue slot for another needy horse that would otherwise die a bad death or stay in some other Bad Fate while their first friend has the proverbial confirmed Painless End, even if premature?

I wouldn’t want to euth an old friend because ‘another horse needs your slot’, but I am one of those who likes horse care and interaction more than riding. I could see and I think we are more often seeing people find that tradeoff to be morally acceptable given how horses don’t reason about their old age futures - and because they’ve seen that scenario in the dog/cat world already.

[ako]

I do strongly feel that we have an obligation to provide a retirement for the ones who have given so much to us. That said, there’s a fine line there somewhere… How much does one horse have to give me before I’m obligated? Clearly donating or selling a horse CAN be reasonable options, so when does euthing become preferable? I don’t know. There are too many variables, I could write a novel.

My gelding is now a pasture puff. I board him, have his feet trimmed, pay vet bills, etc. Let’s say that’s $13,000/year. He’s maybe 25. He might reasonably live another 10 years, as he’s quite healthy. He’s already been retired for about 5 years. The math is easy - and painful.

I’m lucky that I can - and do - have another horse. But do I feel obligated to board a retired horse at the same price? No, I’d be happy to pay maybe half or a third for a decent place farther away, visiting every couple/few weeks to keep an eye on him. I won’t go to heroic lengths should something catastrophic happen to my boy.

ETA: all this to say, I just cannot imagine putting him down just to save the $$$. I just can’t. Not while he’s pasture sound and happy. I couldn’t live with myself, it would tear me apart.

(My situation is perhaps a bit unique. My husband is very attached to our gelding, as well. He will absolutely never consider moving him to a cheaper/farther facility, or downgrading (upgrading?) him to pasture board.)

[KandC]

My current retired gelding has given so much of himself that I have promised to keep him until the end of his days. He was just retired in August due to severe arthritis. In an ideal world, I (and he) would love to be brought back into light work if his hocks were to fuse. This is a horse who shoves his head in the bridle for weekly hacks, will walk over cross-rails and jump the from a standstill with no urging from me, but is lame at the trot. It breaks my heart to leave him in the field and show/work with my lease horse. I can tell Candy misses the life of a show horse: he loves to be stalled (horrible for his arthritis) and be the center of attention. Before his retirement, he was spit-shined, well-conditioned, and was spoiled rotten in general. During retirement, he is less muscled, but still in good condition, coat is long/natural, but shiny, and he is still spoiled rotten down to birthday bran mashes.

I am lucky to have financial support from my parents for a lease horse to ride in the mean time. With Candy, he is definitely my “heart horse” (even though I hate that term), but I have limits as previous posters have said. The 2 times he has been hospitalized for colic, I have been firm about no surgery. An easy fix? I will do it. Anything with significant rehab/post-procedure care is off the table. He deserves an easy, leisurely life (as much as he disagrees with leisurely). As long as he is fat, happy, and has a sparkle in his eye, I know he is doing well. This is one of the reasons I’m hesitant to move him to a retirement facility- who knows him better than me?

With my future being relatively uncertain (not sure where I will be after vet school), I am happy to keep him at school with me, and move him to a retirement farm when I go on to do internships and residencies.

Sorry I can’t be of much help- this has been weighing on my mind since retiring him in August.

[quietann]

It’s a very tough call, no matter what.

With my horse … she would LOVE to be a little girl’s special pet as she is a kind, sweet horse and is the living embodiment of Barbie’s Dream Horse… palomino, long mane and tail, etc. I think she’d be happy if she never did anything under saddle again, or maybe lead line. But she might be just a bit too much horse for a child to handle without supervision.

I keep her retirement in mind because her soundness issues are easy to maintain, but pricey, and at some point I will say enough. It’s my intention to give her a full retirement – but I would not, at this point, pay for colic surgery or anything else really pricey with a long recovery period and iffy outcome, or keep her through a really bad founder. I have my filly coming up, and if F needed to be retired before the filly was ready, I could probably swing a half-lease on another horse. Probably.

Retirement folks: here is a question. If you have a horse who can’t be maintained on pasture because of health conditions, what do you do? I know some just don’t take these horses, and that is fine. If you have one that came in fine on pasture but, say, has a mild founder and the vet says to limit or eliminate pasture, then what?

I personally would love for my mare to go out on pasture for her retirement – not just tossing her out there without getting her used to grazing of course – but because she is a middle aged Morgan, I know there’s a fairly good chance that her life would be shortened if I did that. Is it OK to say, “OK, this horse is a founder risk, but let it have however long it can in pasture paradise, until it founders or develops some other condition incompatible with grazing, and then put it down”? My mare would love to be out on grass permanently; it’s how she was raised and she is a fiend about grass… but her breeders have found that with their older Morgans, they really have to use grazing muzzles and keep them on the leaner side.

(I know someone who sent their horse to a less expensive retirement place, fully expecting that he would founder eventually … and he has been there for 3 years, on grass when it’s the right season, with no problems.)

[Lord_Helpus]

Not to go off topic, but to perhaps explore a different focus on euthanizia since we discussing the topic in a kind and thoughtful way.

There is/was a rescue group in Washington state which, monthly, holds an “euthanasia clinic”. I corresponded with them several years ago when the issue of slaughter in the US was a hot topic, and the proponents who were of the opinion that defunding Government inspection of slaughterhouses (which is what has shut them down) maintained that it would be counterproductive because horses would now be shipped farther and endure more pain if they had to leave the country.

This rescue group usually gets/got about 40 horses a month who come to their clinic. Upon arrival, the owner had to sign the horse over to the group, totally relieving him/herself of any right to decide the horse’s future.

The horses who came and were candidates for retirement or light use were identified as such and were retained for rehoming. The ones who had reached the end of the line were taken in, given a big meal and many carrots and then euthanized later that day. One story I remember specifically – was a horse who had such advanced laminitis that it could not walk off the trailer and had to be euthanized on the spot.

Evidently the owner (a small, rural horse owner) had not understood the gravity of the situation, because his alternative was to send the horse to “auction”. From what I heard, the horse was in such pain that he would not have made it to a slaughterhouse, and might well have gone down in the transport rig and been trampled.

The idea of a euthanasia clinic idea intrigued me. There seemed to be a need for such a group in the Pacific NW. Evidently, the horses coming to the clinic were about 50/50 retirement candidates v. those in need for immediate humane euthanasia. That is 20 horses a month that is small group was able to give a kind and painless reprieve from their suffering.

We are not talking about the general horse and ownership we have on COTH. This group was created to provide an alternative to neglect or slaughter.

What would you all think if such a 501©3 organization was formed near you? Would you consider taking an old horse to them, or recommending their services to others who might otherwise keep a horse alive (due to the cost of euthanasia) or send the horse down the road, to possible end up at a kill auction.

The several friends I asked this question of were horrified that a rescue would invite people to bring in horses to be put down, so I did not follow through with researching the need for such a group in my area. God knows, I did not want to be known as the “lady who kills horses”

I guess this thread has made me wonder if there really is a need that is not being filled.

[Laurierace]

I think euthanasia clinics are a wonderful gift, not only to the animal who needs to be released from his pain, but also for the owner who is unable to pay.

[CaitlinandTheBay]

Personally, I would support, even volunteer if such a group was formed in my area. I live in a very poor small city. It is not uncommon to find horses city in backyards. In fact, my neighbors rather frequently have a cute palomino behind their house and we’re very urban. Their horse is in good shape, so I’ve not ever said anything. However, you don’t have to drive far to find horses that aren’t. Given the opportunity to give these animals a kind end, I would take it. Maybe it lends a “disposable” nature to horses, but, until we can get a tighter grip on the horse overpopulation problem, it might just be the best thing.

[SMF11]

@quietann;8060909

Retirement folks: here is a question. If you have a horse who can’t be maintained on pasture because of health conditions, what do you do? I know some just don’t take these horses, and that is fine. If you have one that came in fine on pasture but, say, has a mild founder and the vet says to limit or eliminate pasture, then what?

I personally would love for my mare to go out on pasture for her retirement – not just tossing her out there without getting her used to grazing of course – but because she is a middle aged Morgan, I know there’s a fairly good chance that her life would be shortened if I did that. Is it OK to say, “OK, this horse is a founder risk, but let it have however long it can in pasture paradise, until it founders or develops some other condition incompatible with grazing, and then put it down”? My mare would love to be out on grass permanently; it’s how she was raised and she is a fiend about grass… but her breeders have found that with their older Morgans, they really have to use grazing muzzles and keep them on the leaner side.

In my case I have a small paddock that can be grazed down to make a dry lot. I would not take a horse that could not be on pasture(as I’m set up just so they CAN be on pasture!) but if one that had been here a number of years needed to stop grass and I could work with them, I probably would. If the horse needed more care than I could give (e.g. needed to be inside every day) I would suggest the owner find a barn with the facilities and services the horse needed.

As for your mare being out on pasture, if she were here I’d absolutely use a grazing muzzle. None of my boarders have been air ferns, but my kids’ pony was/is and I put a grazing muzzle on him overnight in the summers and that was enough to keep his weight at an ideal level. There are all sorts of ways to manage easy keepers; I can’t offer them all, but besides muzzles I’ve done a trace clip on the pony in the fall so he wouldn’t get too fat on the free choice hay I offer.

As a rule, the more you pay in board, the more you get. So you don’t pay the same for a “throw them out in the field and rarely check them” kind of place as you do for mine, with more hands on care, which in turn is much cheaper than a place with a staff and stalls and the ability to offer more labor-intensive services.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

I can only hope my semi-retired 16 year old makes it to the ripe old age of 35 being happy and healthy. I will happily pay her board for all those months and years because to me, the journey of aging with such a beautiful soul is priceless.

That said, I am of the opinion that a relationship with your horse is a long-term commitment and that the useful riding years are your horse’s gift to you. My gift back is to ensure her health and happiness, whether or not the number of years give by each of us even out or not.

In my opinion, all too many people forget what a tremendmous gift it is for these animals to allow us on their back at all - let alone work in a partnership to accomplish amazing tasks. Although they may not live in the house with me like my dogs, I don’t think a horse’s contribution to the relationship is any less.