Old horse

[Brinjal]

I am i the sad situation of having to make the decision to put my old horse to sleep. He was a wonderful family horse, my 3 children rode him and won heaps of ribbons and trophies on him. He is 26 and has had a dicky ticker for acouple of years now but recently has started falling over and struggling to get up. The vet has advised that it is his time now so I have made the decision but am wondering what to do with his remains. My idea was to call the animal sanctuary and donate his remains to feed the big cats but my children arent too keen on that idea. They want to bury him but will take a big hole. Anyone had to deal with this type of problem

[B00]

The knacker man usually disposes of the carcass for you.

Sorry for your (future) loss, horrible decision to make isn't it?

[Brinjal]

It is a horrible decision Thanks Boo.. I live in zimbabwe so we dont have renderers here so really have to make the decision. The kids arent here anymore so will probably send his remains off to the lion sanctuary and lie about it. I feel sick about having to get the deed done. I keep wishing he would just go down and not get up but that never seems to happen and we have to make the decision for our four footed friends.

[wolf63]

If you bury him then somebody might just decide to dig him up again.

If you feel okay about donating his remains to the animal sanctuary then do it.

I hope that the end is painless - for both of you.

[B00]

I think that is a kinda nice idea that his body will be useful even when passed on, so agree that the animal sanctuary idea is a good one.

[jules77]

My friend has done both. She was able to have one buried that was pts by injection, but due to circumstances with the other one, he was pts by the local huntsman with a gun and taken for the hounds. I dont like the idea of the latter.

[rsvp]

if he is not put down via an injection the local lion park is the best answer - you are going to have to get a digger in to make a hole big enough if you decide to bury him - be absolutely awful if he was dug up. Of course the children aren't keen on the idea but it is part and parcel of owning a horse (I've been in exactly the same situation with my kids btw) - also better get it done asap cos it would be awful if he went down and couldn't get up again and was maybe stuck all night as has just happened to someone I know. Terrible situation and very distressing for the horse. Don't envy you but really, do it now. xx

[Brinjal]

Thankyou everyone. It will be done tomorrow. The vet will come and use the gun thing they use. The people from the sanctuary will then come and collect him. My poor old boy.

[rsvp]

the best decision for all Brinjal, especially the horse - hope it all goes as well as can be expected. x

[brenda]

Brinjal-- so sorry. Think of all the good times--- it will help.Sanctuary a good idea , he will live on in others and in the ground as well.

[rsvp]

just to add, in my old job I was required to be present quite often when horses were being put down - it's absolutely instantaneous and they know nothing about it - you know what's going to happen tomorrow but he doesn't. Give him a carrot and wish him well on his way from me.x

[B00]

Hope tomorrow passes as well as can be expected Brinjal, we're all thinking of you as we've all been there with our pets.

[saxy_jag]

It used to be traditional to offer the remains to local hunt for the hounds.

If the kids are set on burial and you have the land, many farmers either own or know people who own diggers and who may be able to provide their services reasonably cheaply.

[jules77]

Our local hunt wont accept carcasses unless the gun has been used as with the injection the meat is poisoned. I will be thinking of you tomorrow.

[rsvp]

I doubt Zimbabwe has any hunts.

[Brinjal]

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts. You have helped ease my mind about the decision.

[wildwood]

If it becomes an issue with the kids you can emphasise as mentioned above; the horse will live on as part of the lions.

[ruthann58]

we faced this last year our old boy was about 30 , he was very arthritic and having the maximum dose of bute daily but was getting worse ,the vet came out to see him and said it was a downhill slope he was happy to let him carry on a bit longer but said that winter was coming and before long i would find him down in the mud and rain and unable to get up , so i made the decision to let him go ,he was put to sleep in his paddock with the sun on his back munching grass and polos it broke my heart , but it was the best i could do for him , he is buried in his paddock ,it didnt take long to bury him we had a man come in with a digger he dug a really deep hole we lined it with straw and laid one of his rugs in then they lifted him in with the digger and we covered him with another rug and the digger filled in , you are doing your best for him , i will be thinking of you tomorrow xxx

[sallybb]

Thinking of you Brinjal, we lost two within 5days of each other earlier this year. Fortunately we were able to use pet crematation services, but I doubt you have them in zimbabwe. . Big hugs xx

[Brinjal]

Well the deed is done and Billy is on his way to heavenly pastures. Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts.

[sallybb]

You did the right thing, Extra Big Hug XXXXXX