What you wish you had done when euthanizing a beloved horse

[HellBent4Leather]

Wish I could wrap my arms around you - I’m so sorry you’re at this place. I had to euthanize my first horse (cancer) and feel lucky that I was able to donate him to a university for research. I had to trailer him to the school, and they gave him the injection out of my view. While that may sound terrible, I don’t regret not being there for the final moment. I spent the day before with him just being with him and loving on him.

I do deeply, deeply regret not having enough pictures of him, and not keeping a clipping from his tail (although I see several people had a hard time doing this). I did keep a horseshoe, which I have had for 20 years now and will never let go. I would trade the horseshoe gladly for just one more picture.

Also, I never regret my decision to “send him home” before his condition got much worse. It was so very hard, but I am glad I didn’t wait until things were bad for him.

[All_the_Shenanigans]

I’ve been so busy the last few days I didn’t get to reply but thank you to all the replies.

We’ve arranged for Saturday morning. We’re getting the backhoe out tomorrow. We’ve decided to do it close to the barn and move the bodies later so it’s not a bug ordeal to get them out to the site.

We pulled his shoes so I think I will try to set them in to concrete and make that into some kind of marker for his grave. I’m planning on taking some tail tomorrow night.

He and his buddy have been out on pasture for the first time in years these last few days and it’s amazing how much happier he seems. I’m really glad his last few days will be good ones.

I’m planning on spending some time with him tomorrow night and really saying goodbye. I’ll be holding the lead rope when the time comes and it’s totally gonna be the worst thing ever but I can’t imagine not being there.

It’s strange because sometimes it seems like it’s not really going to happen, but others it sort of hits you all at once. It’s really the hardest decision there is.

[OverandOnward]

Great thoughts here.

Be sure you know what to expect at the moment of euth, so you can decide whether you want that memory, or not. Thanks to the drug procedure the horse has no idea what is happening and the sedative takes effect instantly, so he/she does not need you to offer comfort as he won’t feel or know anything. It’s the one moment that is really for you alone. It is not unusual that the body will lurch and seem to fight, then go down hard. You do have to be ready to leap out of the way, and the lead rope may be jerked out of your hands. But know that the horse is not consciously doing this. And as has been said, there can be movement after death.

Some people can handle all this, but if it will be a memory that bothers you later, your horse will be ok if it is just the vet. Do what is right for you, because you have already done everything for your horse. Keep those good memories.

I like holding the thought that the horses that have gone on are in a wonderful pasture above the clouds. At night we can see them in the stars - look up, that’s where he’ll be.

[fordtraktor]

Yes, if you don’t want to be there, it is totally OK to ask a horsey friend to do the honors. I have held the rope for several friend’s horses and I am very glad to do it. Either way is totally, totally fine, you are NO LESS a horseperson for giving your horse a bucket of treats, handing him to a good, competent friend, and going home. I text or call them when it is over to let them know the horse is gone and everything went fine, and handle the burial. This is what friends do for each other. There is absolutely no shame in it.

If you can’t imagine not being there, be there though. I have never regretted it even when it didn’t go quite as planned. I only regret the one I wasn’t there, that pony I lost at VA Tech. They put her down when I was on the phone in the parking lot sitting on the curb of the sidewalk at law school 1,000 miles away, and it was just horrible. I think that was mostly the shock of it all, though, and I never got to say goodbye to her. And she was so special – even now when I dream about riding horses, I am always riding her.

Do NOT WATCH them move or bury the pony, that is by far the worst part. I would myself definitely recommend doing it where you are going to do the burial because dragging a dead horse is not very pleasant. I just stick their heads is a big old bucket of sweet feed and they usually go pretty well. Then I keep it there until the pink stuff goes in. No worries about the sugar any more, buy the most molasses-y sweet feed you can find for a final gorge, in fifteen minutes it won’t do anything. If your pony is anything like my laminitis horse he hasn’t eaten molasses in years and will really enjoy it.

[All_the_Shenanigans]

Just an update for anyone interested. We did put him down early this morning. It was really peaceful and I think he was really happy in the end. He got to gorge himself last night and this morning on apples and sweet feed.

I’m actually really happy we did it today. It’s been absolutely beautiful the past week so his time out on grass was a good one. I think part of the reason I’m coping so well is because this thread really helped prepare me for what to expect.

I took some mane for a bracelet for myself and I’m planning on having a hat band made for my dad. I think I’ll make a stone for the garden from his shoes. Thanks for all the well wishes. I like to think he’s up there running around on a new pair of feet that won’t ever cause him pain again.

[frugalannie]

Dear Shenanigans:

How wonderful that you could let him go kindly and well-loved. You’ve planned some lovely remembrances and your closing line is exactly as I’ll think of him, too.

Hugs from Massachusetts and all CoTHers everywhere.

[fordtraktor]

So very sorry for your loss, again, and I am glad to hear everything went smoothly and he was happy. Hugs to you on a difficult day.

[2tempe]

A lovely little poem for all who have lost a horse:

Somewhere in time’s own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.
~Stanley Harrison

[cayuse]

You are in my thoughts this afternoon. Godspeed, Pony.