The not so old boy in question is probably ten, but has soft/fallen pasterns to the point where doing his feet involves sport boots on back, a hitching post to lean on, a cinder block to stand on with the foot being done, and breaks every couple minutes. Riding him is out of the question, and he tends to be slimmer than his food consumption would suggest.
But he still runs and plays with his pasture buddies, and is friendly. I’ve never been the one in charge on making the call before on an animal that wasn’t ready to go.
Consult with your vet and trust your gut. That’s a very difficult situation to be in - a young horse with plenty of giddy up, but whose body just isn’t cooperating with him. Quality of life issues can be either very black and white, or very much in a gray area. Jingles to you and your boy!
Oh boy…
This happened to me several years ago with a horse I had raised who just had some serious genetic issues. He had an alert and playful mind and could play a bit in the field but his issues made him unrideable and caused chronic pain despite his great attitude. This is one of the most difficult decisions to make. It’s not like deciding for an old horse that’s lived a long life or one that has mentally faded…I truly feel for you
For me, I decided to euthanize before the pain became so severe that he was unable to navigate the field without pain. If I had left euthanasia for a time when he was in such pain he couldn’t get up, I could have never forgave myself. If he could have walked and trotted soundly in pasture, I would have considered just retiring him, even at just 7 years old. But even if every 3rd step hurts, that’s a lot of pain each day for the rest of their lives. Keep in mind that just because they’re running in the field doesn’t mean they’re comfortable. If their herdmates run, they’ll run. They’re prey animals and creatures of flight. Geldings especially can be so playful - they’ll just ignore the discomfort, which can make it worse depending on the ailment.
Whatever you decide, I’m sure it’ll be the right decision for you and your guy. I’m so sorry you’re in this position - I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I personally wouldn’t put down a ‘not ready to go’ horse simply because trimming was an ordeal 10 times a year. But…if horse was in pain that couldn’t be managed or had other issues that contributed to a less than happy life, then I would not hesitate to euthanize.
I’ve been in your position with a heart horse who got mechanical laminitis. After many years – many pairs of SoftRide boots & many jars of bute – he eventually couln’t be kept truly comfortable. In his eyes and in his heart he wasn’t ready to go either, but I opted to put him down. Worst day of my life! But better a day early than a day late.
That’s a tough situation. I think I would watch him closely for any changes for the worse.
Two of the three I’ve put down were easy decisions - a broken leg and a very old guy who couldn’t get up. The third was very tough, like yours. It was a 17 year old who was extremely sound in the body. He had been blind in one eye for a few years, and that was no problem. When he went blind in the second eye, he would panic, run into things, and was becoming dangerous to handle. My pasture on the side of a hill with rocks and trees was not conducive to trying to make a blind horse paddock. He would have hated it anyway, as he was already panicky when he couldn’t find his friends. I made the very tough call to have him euthanized after it was clear he wasn’t adjusting to being blind, and he was just becoming more of a danger to himself and others.
I want to put them down when they’re still ENJOYING life. I don’t want their last days, or weeks, or months to be full of pain with them wanting to die. Especially for a horse where you well know what the future holds. When things are never going to get better, and they are only going to get worse, the best thing, IMO, is to let them go before it all goes really bad.
When the farrier does not feel it is safe to do his feet. And honestly if he need that much help with the farrier I wouldn’t think he is doing all that much running and playing or is not at risk of injuring himself in the paddock. Hugs to you, the pony and give a BIG one to the farrier for putting himself in what sounds like a much more risky than usual situation.
I think this depends on a few factors.
I personally have Euth’d a few that have had zero chance of recovery, they were young too. 5 and 6yo’s.
Yes they could have lived until 30 with injuries (wobbler, severe KS etc) but I wasnt in a position to guarantee that, nor be able to carry the cost.
They were high maintenance types, needing a lot of feeds and buddies.
When the situation is hopeless for recovery, I dont really have any qualms on letting them go, I think its damn responsible actually.
If you are in a position to keep them retired and want to do so, then thats a personal decision. But I would never feel guilty for making the decision in the horses welfare, no matter how early in the piece I did that.
There are thousands of sound horses going to slaughter.
I put down my “old” horse at the age of 14. He developed severe arthritis in his hip and stifle and he was no longer rideable. I kept him as a pasture buddy until his personality started to change (grouchy and aggressive). He would still run and buck in the pasture here and there, but I knew he wasn’t the same, was in pain, and it was time.
You will I’ll know when it is time. Trust your gut. It is always better to err on the side of “too soon” rather than put yourself into the situation of “should have been done sooner”.
I put down one with soft pasterns and suspected DSLD at the age of 15. He was still mobile and engaged, but winter was coming and he was starting to struggle with getting up and down. I decided that since the end was inevitable I wanted him to go out when he was still feeling good. I gave him a bath, a good grooming, a short ride (first in a long time, but he HATED not having job), a billion cookies, and held his face while we said goodbye. It’s not necessarily ever too soon in these cases, but it can definitely be too late.
I worry because the title and your first paragraph mentioned that he was young, only 10. His age is irrelevant. If he was 25 would your decision be any easier?
Remember, some horses are more stoic than others.others. It sounds like your horse might be in the former category.
I had one horse with bad suspensories. Doing his feet was super hard, but he was his sparkly self. One day he had trouble getting up, and the decision was made. He had a good 10 years until 23.
I have another- granddaughter of Secretariat. Won over $50k on the track. As far as I know, had 6 foals before I got her at 13. It was clear she broke her knee, and things fused together. She can’t bend it right. It makes it hard for the farrier, but hes a trooper. Lol LOOKS as sound as can be- beautiful mover. Vet xrayed and doesn’t understand how well she is doing, but said riding, no jumping.
I have another severe KS- only way you know is sporadically, he’d bolt and jig undersaddle. He is 10 and has been retired for 2 years.
I have the luxury, and I know it’s a luxury, to have the last 2 still.
If the horse is struggling, you know what to do, but if the horse doesn’t seem to know anythings different? Then i do what i can.
If the horse is suffering unremitting pain or is incapable of being a horse (and that includeds being handled, shod, maintaining weight, etc.) then that’s a good time.
If your pockets are deep then you can go as long as you want to. If you are expending assets on a horse with no practical future and suffering a lack of assets to spend on a horse with a future then I think the answer is clear.
I think this is very close to how I feel. He’s one of those horses that would have his ears forward and a nicker for you even if he was down. . . And he is having a good time right now. the grass is coming up, and it’s not so cold, and they bugs aren’t around yet. I think we’ll give him this spring, and the fall, and put him down before the weather gets cold.
I swear you guys, this is just so hard. I feel like all I do sometimes is bring home the broken ones, make them comfortable as long as possible, and make their end as quick as I can. All of the critters here are the throwaways, and the ones that needed a good home because the humans charged with their care were starting to break down, or the ones whose owners loved them enough to seek an upgrade.
And it never gets any easier to say goodbye, we just get better at handling the arrangements and it’s an awful thing to have enough experience to be good at.
As my vet has said, everyone draws this line in a different place. While it is good to get different perspectives from COTH to help you think through this, there is no one right or wrong answer. I would have a conversation with your veterinarian, who can see the horse in person (and probably knows it) and weight that advice heavily.
On the one hand I agree with “better a week too soon than a day too late” but I have to also say we were 30 minutes from putting down my donkey (vet and backhoe called) when we held off and she lived happily for another 2 years. And a boarder’s horse got down on ice and couldn’t get back up and the vet and I tried “one last shot” and – he got up, and has made it through two more winters without event. So, while I am absolutely all for better a week, or a month too soon . . . two or 3 years is a lot of time, and I don’t think – with hindsight – it was the right decision to euthanize either one of those animals when we were very seriously considering doing so.
I’d urge you to speak with your vet. Perhaps he/she will have suggestions to keep the horse more comfortable; or perhaps s/he will tell you that euthanasia is the best course here. Good luck, it is hard!
“Soft Pasterns” is not something chiro will fix and many draw the line at daily painkillers for degenerative diseases that one day will not allow the horse to rise, painkillers or not. Sooner or later the leg (s) won’t support the body and that is terrifying to a prey animal hard wired to rise and flee at all costs or be eaten. It’s instinctive, they don’t understand, just fear the consequences.
For OP, it sounds like you know it’s on the horizon. However the days are warm and grass rich right now. Don’t think it’s unreasonable to wait a bit. .Just remember it’s far far easier to set the date and have everything prepared then to find him down and unable to rise in some awkward location. It’s a big carcass and not the lasting memory you want, and it will last… He deserves to go with some dignity, not in pain and ancient fear…
Playing or not he’s got considerable pain and a degenerative condition, best think ahead.
With all due respect, this is too little, too late. A horse whose pasterns are mechanically failing is beyond the little bit of palliative help these things provide. And the odds of that horse really destroying one and being unable to get up are high, I’d guess. I think waiting to that point is waiting too long.
OP, I had a gelding whom I had raised who was “pasture sound”— but not enough to canter without being sore for 3 days after, who lived on Previcox (and other stuff), who would choose to run a bit if his herd mates made that look fun. He took lots of management that last summer.
IMO now, he was not “pasture sound” when he was in this state. If I ever have to do it again, I will euthanize sooner.
