Had to put our 26 yr old horse to sleep....

[TriciaHowe]

Our old horse Boyd went down about a month ago - he is an ex-racehorse and had very serious arthritis in his hips and spine - the vet came out and we were finally able to get him up. She gave him a steroid shot but we were told he was on very limited time. The next time he probably would not be able to get him up. He was good for a month and able to get up and down by himself. I should add that he had also been loosing an insane amount of weight over the last year. Nothing we did would help. He was also on 18 sulfa antibiotic pills a day for his chronic bladder issues. He had been urinary incontinent since his arthritis got so bad about 5 years ago.

So on Wednesday I went and picked the kids up from school and when I came home he was up. I was standing outside when I saw him lay down. Not unusual for him, he liked to lay in the warm sand. The problem was when he wanted to get up a bit later he fell twice and then fell into the fence. He had cast himself
against the fence. I immediately called the vet and told her it was time. She was there in 20 min. I was hosing him off while waiting for her to arrive as it was 85* out and in the hot sand. When she got there she gave him a sedative and he fell fast asleep (still alive) and then asked me if I was ready. I nodded yes and she gave him the medication. 2 deep breaths later and he was gone. Very peacefully and with dignity which is the least he deserved. The vet braided a piece of his tail and gave it to me. They are also making a donation to the Horse Protection Society ( ? I hope I have the name right) in his name. I know he is at peace now with no more pain from his arthritis.

I think the hardest part was with our pony....she was so upset when he was put onto the truck. We opted to not bury him here on the property and had him picked up instead. She was fine until she couldn't see him anymore. She was still calling for him this morning

 

[chicmom]

So sorry for you loss. You did the right thing.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I'm so sorry about Boyd. It sounds like he had a good long life, but it is always hard when it is time for our dear animals to go.

 

[coberdor]

I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is to put down an old friend and companion.

I had my arabian gelding until he was 33 yrs. old. He broke his jaw (bone cancer). I can remember my vet asking when we discovered why he was bleeding from the mouth if I'd like more time with him and he'd come back in an hour. I said "No, he's in pain. This horse has trusted me for 33 years to do what is right for him and putting him out of his misery was the right thing to do.

Take care and remember him well. Go to this website where I got this poem, there are many more like it for those of us who miss our horses.

http://hoofbeats-in-heaven.com/HIH/

Gallop On
Written & Contributed By
Paige Cerulli


My brown and white beauty, my great steed, my friend.
It seems that our time here has come to its end,
And now is the moment I have come to dread
Where I must release you to go on ahead.

You have been faithful, I ask nothing more,
Except for a minute like the ones before.
But your ears are lifeless, your eyes lost their light,
And it's time to surrender to this final fight.


Those feet that have carried me feel only pain.
The back I have mounted won't be burdened again.
Your tail now droops downward where you once held it high,
And you can't gallop freely, despite how you try.

But I still remember the days long before.
The trail rides and races. There won't be any more.
The days of our journeys, the horse shows and thrills.
The racing the wind and the galloping hills.

Remember the long walks just after it snowed?
And when it rained and left puddles, but of course we still rose!
You snorted and pranced to show your great pleasure-
Your hoofbeats a cadence to each passing measure. ​

So much time has passed, but this moment is caught
In between living, breathing, and not.
I know that it's time but it hurts just the same.
There's a crack in my voice when I whisper your name.

But I take off your halter - it's time that you go.
I can't ask you to stay here forever, you know.
With a last hug, a kiss, and a stroke of your face,
I hope to send you to a far better place.

A place without fear and a place without pain
Where all days are sunny and none of them rain.
Where you can run free with no fences or walls.
You will live in the fields - no more paddocks or stalls.

So gallop on, gorgeous. The world's at your feet.
Your eyes shine again, your legs become fleet.
Age will not matter and you will be strong.
So come now, my beauty. It will not be long.

Are you ready, my boy? It is time you were free,
But during your journey, keep remembering me.
Erase all the problems. Erase all your fears.
And allow Heaven's wind to blow through your ears.​

 

[dewey]

I am so sorry for your loss of Boyd.

 

[un-named543]

I am so sorry. It is so hard to set our companions free.

 

[verity]

Boyd is running in sunshine --- never easy --- thinking of you and your family

 

[horseshowmomnv]

So hard to say good bye even in the "right" circumstance. They are our best friends, they know our darkest secrets, yet they love us unconditionally. Having lost my 7 year gelding to colic four years ago I have not found my once in a lifetime horse again, not sure I ever will. You are an awesome steward for Boyd, you did what he needed you to do, that is the worst part about being an "owner/[partner". Hold fast to your memories, allow the tears, and share the joy of the history you and your family shared!

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Where to Bury a Horse[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already
have,
he will come to you when you call; come to you over the far, dim
pastures of death.
And though you ride other living horses through life,
they shall not shy at him, nor resent his coming.
For he is yours, and he belongs there.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by
his footfall,
who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears.
People who may never really love a horse.
Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from
them
and which is well worth the knowing...[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The one place to bury a horse is in the heart of his master.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Unknown[/FONT]​

 

[gotpotbellypig]

so sorry for your loss.

 

[booker81]

So sorry for your loss. Ex-racer are a kind of their own - my family has had a few, and our last one was in his 30's when we finally had to make that choice. Since I was little, we always had an ex-racer TB on our farm as a retiree and "babysitter" for our Shire weanlings.

I hope your pony recovers as well from her loss - I've seen first hand and KNOW horses do feel loss. Give her lots of love. It's hard.