| Although some horses (like some people) have the | | | | medical costs. Your local veterinarian is a good source |
| good fortune to die peacefully in their sleep of old age, | | | | to ask, not only for the large organisations but also for |
| most horses will eventually reach a stage (due to | | | | the smaller ones and the local private activities. |
| severe injury, disease or incapacity) where the most | | | | - New Owners. Although a horse may have no |
| humane action is to put them down. For the horse | | | | apparent economic value, there may still be many |
| owner, this can be a very difficult and painful decision, | | | | potential alternative owners that would be happy to |
| in terms of when a horse should be put down, as well | | | | provide it a new home. For example, people which |
| as how. This article is the personal view of one horse | | | | have purchased a horse for their private use |
| owner on this subject. | | | | recognise that they need a second horse as a |
| Is Now the Time? | | | | companion to the first. For this purpose, even an old or |
| If a horse is in a lot of pain and distress, due to an | | | | unusable horse may be perfectly suitable. There are a |
| incurable injury or disease, the only correct action is to | | | | number of websites where one can advertise horses |
| put it down as quickly and as humanely as possible. | | | | for this and similar purposes, often free of charge. |
| However, in some cases the decision is not as clear. | | | | One may not always be able to find a solution for |
| For example, a horse may be in permanent pain but | | | | every horse. However, before putting down a horse |
| quite capable of happily living with it. This was the case | | | | which is still enjoying its life, remember that there are |
| of a draft horse pensioned with us, who had a chronic | | | | alternatives. |
| case of laminitis which made walking painful (especially | | | | How |
| over hard surfaces). As an elderly horse, he also had | | | | When your horse has reached the point where it |
| dental issues which made chewing uncomfortable. | | | | needs to be put down, the question is no longer 'when' |
| However, by supplementing his diet with soft food and | | | | but rather 'how'. |
| giving him maximum time on soft pasture, his | | | | The normal methods are by injection (sedative |
| discomfort was minimised. He was a stoic horse, who | | | | overdose) or by a slaughter gun which fires a bolt |
| seemed little bothered by pain, and obviously enjoyed | | | | directly into the brain. In both cases, this should be done |
| life. He would trot around the pasture with his head | | | | by a professional. In particular, the use of a slaughter |
| held high and come to us for cuddles. Although retired, | | | | gun should be done by an experienced person, as |
| he was active in the pasture and obviously enjoyed | | | | inexperienced people have been known to shoot the |
| life despite the constant pain in his feet and when he | | | | horse without killing it on first attempt, resulting in terrible |
| ate. | | | | pain until the mistake can be corrected. Whatever one |
| For me, the question is not how much pain the horse is | | | | might see in western movies, the use of a hunting gun |
| in, but rather is he still happy and enjoying life. One can | | | | is highly questionable, due to the risk that the bullet may |
| tell this not only by how the horse behaves at the | | | | not penetrate the thick skill and immediately end the |
| moment, but also how his behavior has changed in | | | | horse's life. |
| response to injury or illness. When life changes from a | | | | If the horse is at home when the decision is make, it is |
| pleasure to a burden, that is the time for the horse to | | | | kindest to the horse to put it down there (e.g. have a |
| be put down. | | | | veterinarian come out and give a lethal injection). If the |
| Economic Constraints | | | | horse is severely injured or ill, transport to another |
| Aside from illness and disease, many horses are put | | | | location adds to its suffering. Furthermore, unfamiliar |
| down for financial reasons, such as: | | | | surroundings may cause it distress (particularly if taken |
| - Competitive Horses. Many horses are bred and | | | | to a slaughterhouse, where the horse may panic in |
| raised for competitions (e.g. racing), with the vast | | | | response to the smell of blood). The main obstacle to |
| majority of these not making the grade. The ones | | | | this approach is the difficulty of transporting the body |
| which are not fast enough are often either put down, | | | | afterwards, so prior to putting a horse down one |
| or sold for slaughter, or sold into questionable | | | | needs to consider whether it is necessary to first |
| circumstances. | | | | move it to a more practical location. |
| - Elderly Horses. Older horses, having reached the end | | | | For personal safety, if the horse is standing up, one |
| of their productive life (e.g. riding), leave the owner with | | | | needs to either lie it down prior to euthanasia or be |
| a decision between putting the horse down or paying | | | | careful that nobody becomes trapped under the horse |
| for an expensive (and potentially lengthy) retirement. | | | | if it falls while being euthanized. Professionals (e.g. a |
| - Medical Costs. Injuries and illnesses can be very | | | | veterinarian) should have the experience and sufficient |
| expensive. For example, a severe case of colic which | | | | detachment to consider such practicalities. |
| requires surgery can cost $10 000, with no guarantee | | | | Unless one personally knows and trusts the person |
| that the treatment will be successful. With the average | | | | performing the euthanasia, one should remain with the |
| horse costing $3000 or less (in many cases, much | | | | horse until the end, to ensure that your wishes in this |
| less), horse owners of limited financial resources face | | | | regard are properly carried out. For example, it has |
| a difficult decision. | | | | been known for professional slaughter staff to |
| Although the economic pressures are real, there are | | | | transport horses to the location which is most |
| alternatives: | | | | convenient for them, even though it meant additional |
| - Rescue Organisations. There are numerous horse | | | | suffering for the animal. Staying with your horse allows |
| rescue organisations, which will find new homes for | | | | you to ensure that your horse ends its life with |
| horses young and old. Some of them will even take on | | | | minimum distress. |