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 John Deere Green
Posts: 12272
   
Location: ~Kansas~ | We are burying him on the farm... so any advice on how to make these as easy as possible would be great as I'm already a train wreck.
We have a local guy coming Saturday to the dig hole but my main question is it best to make a ramp to walk him down in there or what ?
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | I had to put my daughters 21 year old barrel horse down. I dug the hole first and led him to it and then put him down. That way all I had to do was role him into it. I did it when all the family members were gone. They didn't need to see this. He was really starting to struggle for life.
Edited by BS Hauler 2015-04-09 10:46 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| Have them dig the hole ahead of time. Sometimes the vet can put one down so they fall right in, if not the person who dug the hole can drag them in. I always say my goodbyes & leave before that, not something I can stomach.
Sorry for your loss, hugs & prayers. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I have had several. Here are some suggestions. No need for a ramp. Lead the horse up to the side of the hole and have the vet put the horse down there. Say your good by's and WALK AWAY. The hole needs to be very large and very deep so it would be traumatic to lead the horse down into the hole. I held my horses right nect to it and as soon as they were gone I walked away. The tractor driver then basically drug or pushed the horse into the hole and covered it up. I DI D NOT want to see that part and neither do you either. If you feel more comfortable, say good by at the barn and have someone else lead the horse to the site where they will be buried. Its not easy but hopefully that helps. I have gone through it several times. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | FLITASTIC - 2015-04-09 10:46 AM I have had several. Here are some suggestions. No need for a ramp. Lead the horse up to the side of the hole and have the vet put the horse down there. Say your good by's and WALK AWAY. The hole needs to be very large and very deep so it would be traumatic to lead the horse down into the hole. I held my horses right nect to it and as soon as they were gone I walked away. The tractor driver then basically drug or pushed the horse into the hole and covered it up. I DI D NOT want to see that part and neither do you either. If you feel more comfortable, say good by at the barn and have someone else lead the horse to the site where they will be buried. Its not easy but hopefully that helps. I have gone through it several times.
This is what my husband and vet did....I couldn't BE there either!!! My husband was glad that I wasn't there. He said it was bad enough that he AND the vet were bawling......We had owned him 30 of his 33 years! |
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John Deere Green
Posts: 12272
Location: ~Kansas~ | Thank you ALL a ton..... He will be 27 on the 20th of this Month.... he has been my baby since Day 1, so yes this is very hard and I bawl every time I think about it. He has gradually gotten worse past 2 years and now he is losing weight like crazy and looks like death. Vet did tons of test and said they actually look good and his blood work is good... but has bad stomach ulcers. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I have no advice but I am so very sorry! |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | I'm so sorry... There's nothing easy about it. I dread the day that I have to make that decision with my girl.  |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | We generally euthanize ( we also say our good byes and step away) and then have the hole dug after. The person with the back-hoe generally has set the horse down into the hole with chains on his scoop.
For you all. Never easy, even when we know its right by them. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky |
I agree. |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| As you make your decision, another thing to consider is that each horse reacts differently when they are being put down. If your vet asks for sedation first, I would highly suggest it. One of my horses just basically laid down and went to sleep, the other one was not as calm. I will spare the details but his reaction to the drug was far different and you might not want to see it. I HAVE TO BE BY MY HORSES SIDE when they go. I owe that to them, I hold the lead rope, but vets will warn you to be very careful as some react very violently, especially younger healthier horses. |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | When I had to have my old bay mare put down it kind of happened suddenly, so I had the vet put her down and then I hung out and groomed her one last time, put her boots on her legs and painted the bottoms of her feet and made imprints on a t-shirt for myself and my mom who loved her almost as much as I did while my fiancé dug the hole just a little ways away. I too suggest not being there while they are put in the hole though I did go back and insist on putting the first layer of dirt over her with the shovel.
Prayers for you, not easy to do but they deserve for us to be there with them for everything they do for us. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
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 Veteran
Posts: 232
Location: Winging It in KY | Sedation first is a good idea. Most just lay down easily then. Also know that some horses, no matter how old or broke will not just walk up to a large open hole. It's like they know what it is there for. I too alway hold mine till it is over. I feel that I at least owe them that much but not everyone can stomach what goes on during euthanization. Sorry for your loss, it is a difficult decision to make. |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | FLITASTIC - 2015-04-08 12:44 PM
As you make your decision, another thing to consider is that each horse reacts differently when they are being put down. If your vet asks for sedation first, I would highly suggest it. One of my horses just basically laid down and went to sleep, the other one was not as calm. I will spare the details but his reaction to the drug was far different and you might not want to see it. I HAVE TO BE BY MY HORSES SIDE when they go. I owe that to them, I hold the lead rope, but vets will warn you to be very careful as some react very violently, especially younger healthier horses.
Agree all do not go down like in the movies...........we took ours to the spot.......even husband could not stay but our vet was great about the entire procedure.......... |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | FLITASTIC - 2015-04-09 11:44 AM As you make your decision, another thing to consider is that each horse reacts differently when they are being put down. If your vet asks for sedation first, I would highly suggest it. One of my horses just basically laid down and went to sleep, the other one was not as calm. I will spare the details but his reaction to the drug was far different and you might not want to see it. I HAVE TO BE BY MY HORSES SIDE when they go. I owe that to them, I hold the lead rope, but vets will warn you to be very careful as some react very violently, especially younger healthier horses.
I just put my old guy down 2 weeks ago unexpectedly and this is what I did too. Fortunately his went well. He did get up after the sedation, but I've been through enough geldings that I knew how to get him back down. After the sedation kicked in, he was relaxed and we gave him the 2nd shot and it only took a couple of minutes and he just fell asleep. But I have heard stories of it not going that well though - not sure what the difference is.
We didn't have time to dig the hole ahead of time, but our neighbor came to dig it for me. He was very gentle but I didn't stay for that.
Hugs....I still cry every day. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| I'm so so sorry. This is never an easy decision. When I put my mare of 17 yrs down she was already very weak from rapid weight loss due to extreme pain from a shoulder joint blowout basically. The mobile vet I used just kept telling me it was a puncture wound and after having him out twice I called my lameness vet out. I took the mare out of barn right before he got there and she collapsed. He examined her and was.sure the fluid leaking from the "puncture wound" was joint fluid from her shoulder joint. She never got up again. He sedated her and then gave her the euthasol. She died with her head in my lap. I WASN'T prepared and had to beg my dad (non horse, non animal person) to come help me dig a hole with his tractor. I stayed with her and almost four years have passed and those images of getting her on a flatbed, off the flatbed etc I cannot forget, wished I could. I don't reccommend it. Praying for peace for you in your time of loss. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| FLITASTIC - 2015-04-09 12:44 PM
As you make your decision, another thing to consider is that each horse reacts differently when they are being put down. If your vet asks for sedation first, I would highly suggest it. One of my horses just basically laid down and went to sleep, the other one was not as calm. I will spare the details but his reaction to the drug was far different and you might not want to see it. I HAVE TO BE BY MY HORSES SIDE when they go. I owe that to them, I hold the lead rope, but vets will warn you to be very careful as some react very violently, especially younger healthier horses.
I second this, sedate as well as what they are using to put done with... |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| Fairweather - 2015-04-09 1:26 PM
FLITASTIC - 2015-04-09 11:44 AM As you make your decision, another thing to consider is that each horse reacts differently when they are being put down. If your vet asks for sedation first, I would highly suggest it. One of my horses just basically laid down and went to sleep, the other one was not as calm. I will spare the details but his reaction to the drug was far different and you might not want to see it. I HAVE TO BE BY MY HORSES SIDE when they go. I owe that to them, I hold the lead rope, but vets will warn you to be very careful as some react very violently, especially younger healthier horses.
I just put my old guy down 2 weeks ago unexpectedly and this is what I did too. Fortunately his went well. He did get up after the sedation, but I've been through enough geldings that I knew how to get him back down. After the sedation kicked in, he was relaxed and we gave him the 2nd shot and it only took a couple of minutes and he just fell asleep. But I have heard stories of it not going that well though - not sure what the difference is.
We didn't have time to dig the hole ahead of time, but our neighbor came to dig it for me. He was very gentle but I didn't stay for that.
Hugs....I still cry every day.
The difference is with older horses or illness requiring horses to be put down is that not everything works as it should...organs fail or improperly work, blood flow, and the mechanisms through which drugs work get interrupted. I've seen 3 times the normal amount of euthasol (by weight) used to put down a foal from illness. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | I have to say that when I had my old boy, Woody , laid to rest I was lucky enough to have a guy come bury him that had such respect for him and sympathy for me! He worked in the septic field and dug the hole good and deep/wide, then after the vet put Woody down, this guy lifted him with ropes, adjusted them so he would travel well to the hole and then gently laid him in the hole, and then got down in there and adjusted him so he would be "comfortable" as he said it..................how awesome was that! I had cried for two days but that day I was there for Woody and it was peaceful yet sad. I've had to do this a couple times and both times this guy helped me with the burial and had such sorrow for me and the horse but the respect he showed for the horse was unbelievable! I could not have let someone just roll him in............... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | This post is making me cry! A flood of old memories from my past horses. My last one was unexpected and put down at the vet hospital. It never gets easy. Praying for you and your horse, for strength and peace. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I just did this last year with my stud we had for 12 years. It was a long time coming and even then a hard decision. We had the hole dug a couple days prior to the vet appt. I caught him and brushed him good, led him to the alfalfa field to eat to his heart's content and took some pictures of my boys holding and sitting on him. Then did the trailer ride to the arena where the hole was. We laid him down right by the hole and my father in law helped me drag him in and then back filled it. I made sure to have his head covered with a great big towel. Just something I wanted to do out of respect. Keep the dirt out of his eyes and nose. He was stoic to the end. I bawled like a baby. I plan to smooth the area this spring and plant blue flax there. Sara helped me make this into a poster that is now hanging on my wall over my bed. It has this picture of him with the cows edited out, and this poem along the sides.-if the writing is too small here is a link to it on my facebook page
if the day should come when I'm in pain
and you know I won't be well again
promise me you'll do what must be done
if this is the battle which can't be won
it'll break your heart, but please be kind
don't let your grieving sway your mind
for this is when you'll let me see
just how much you do love me
together we've had many happy years
the future now can hold no fears
please don't let me suffer
and when that day comes, please let me go
for my usual vet please will you send?
but stay with me until the end
hold me steady, speak to me
til my once bright eyes no longer see
in time I hope you'll come to see
it's the last kindness you'll do for me
one more time please stroke my mane
and know that I'll have no more pain
and don't be sad that it was you
who decided that this was what to do
we've been such buddies through the years
don't let me be the cause of tears
you'll always see me graze now
with the sun upon my back
painful limbs won't tire me now
however long the hack
I live now in your heart and mind
a lovely place to stay
and what you have in memories
no one can take away
Edited by wyoming barrel racer 2015-04-09 3:23 PM
 (vegas poem small.jpg)
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 vegas poem small.jpg (98KB - 188 downloads)
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 623
Location: /ARKANSAS | My experience was an emergency with my grandchild's welsh pony, he had no teeth and he choked on Christmas Eve. I was on my knees praying this wasn't going to happen at this time. I put him up and tried to help him with the esophageal spasms. No Vets on duty, no one on call. About 8 weeks ago, I am out feeding and everyone comes in but Black. I go find him, unable to move, abdomen tight, no bowel sounds and his little body is ridged. So I call (this is Sat am) so no vet again. Call my next door neighbor, I guess to see what I see and concurs that he needs to be put down. I took him to a place next to a fence and a creek, put him down, went and bought tarp and lime, called a friend with a backhoe, he came out dug the hole, we put the tarp underneath the pony and covered him, the guy with the back hoe pulled him in the grave and we spread lime, he was covered and I put an electric fence around him to keep traffic off the grave. Mentally I know I did the right thing, and it is hard because no one will do it for you. I still can't believe I did it, I do not like the memory or feelings at all. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | wyoming barrel racer - 2015-04-09 1:05 PM I just did this last year with my stud we had for 12 years. It was a long time coming and even then a hard decision. We had the hole dug a couple days prior to the vet appt. I caught him and brushed him good, led him to the alfalfa field to eat to his heart's content and took some pictures of my boys holding and sitting on him. Then did the trailer ride to the arena where the hole was. We laid him down right by the hole and my father in law helped me drag him in and then back filled it. I made sure to have his head covered with a great big towel. Just something I wanted to do out of respect. Keep the dirt out of his eyes and nose. He was stoic to the end. I bawled like a baby. I plan to smooth the area this spring and plant blue flax there. Sara helped me make this into a poster that is now hanging on my wall over my bed. It has this picture of him with the cows edited out, and this poem along the sides.-if the writing is too small here is a link to it on my facebook page
if the day should come when I'm in pain
and you know I won't be well again
promise me you'll do what must be done
if this is the battle which can't be won
it'll break your heart, but please be kind
don't let your grieving sway your mind
for this is when you'll let me see
just how much you do love me
together we've had many happy years
the future now can hold no fears
please don't let me suffer
and when that day comes, please let me go
for my usual vet please will you send?
but stay with me until the end
hold me steady, speak to me
til my once bright eyes no longer see
in time I hope you'll come to see
it's the last kindness you'll do for me
one more time please stroke my mane
and know that I'll have no more pain
and don't be sad that it was you
who decided that this was what to do
we've been such buddies through the years
don't let me be the cause of tears
you'll always see me graze now
with the sun upon my back
painful limbs won't tire me now
however long the hack
I live now in your heart and mind
a lovely place to stay
and what you have in memories
no one can take away
Love the picture and poem! <3 Wish I had thought of something like that. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | we sedated my mare , my vet knew her since she was 3 yrs old as well.. it was very difficult... we walked her where her buddies couldnt see her and we sedated , she laid down then vet did her thing and we both cried . its so hard. I covered her head with a towel to and then brought out her best friend whom she grew up with and let her smell her.. to say goodbye. she sniffed and whinned alil and then grazed by her head. few minutes later.. put her up and backhoe came and laid her down in hole and he put her blanket over her.. I didnt watch that part.. my one mare called for her for a week or so but wasnt as nervous and fretful had she not knew she was gone.. passed away.. if I had not done that hallie would have kept looking for her to come from that area.. or show back up.. they were really attached.. |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | I think everybody has pretty much covered in their posts what we have similarly done here at the ranch. We usually put them down and then dig a hole. I just want to post to send you hugs, prayers and sympathy on losing your friend.  |
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 Chicken Chick
Posts: 3562
Location: Texas | My old gelding was a pig, and would seriously eat anything. lol He almost killed the dog one time. We thought the dog was losing weight for all these reasons. Vet visits... meds you name it. Then one day we happened to make a second trip out to feed the dog something and found the horse, chowing down on dog food and the poor dog was a few feet away just begging for a bite. lol Locked horse out and dog miraculously gained weight!
He would steal your food if he got the chance, even had the front of his body in someone's pick up reaching for an empty chip bag one time.
One time he about mauled a woman for her arm full of hamburgers, even with me on him trying to get him to back up... he was adamant that he was getting a burger! Anyway it turned into our thing, I always gave him a bite of my burger or fries (he loved ketchup) when we were out and about.
So when he got sick the vet advised us to put him down. My husband dug the hole while we waited for the vet and I shared a burger with him, well this time he got the whole burger.
I didn't want him falling in the hole struggling so we did it about 20 feet away, plus I just couldn't make myself lead him to his grave. As a tech I had helped with enough euthanasias to know what it could look like if they didn't go down easy. Luckily he went down well. After the vet left my husband and his friend buried him. I couldn't stay for that.
Hugs to you. I know what you are going through. |
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Member
Posts: 22
Location: Kansas | I've had to put down my old barrel gelding and a dog. We did sedation with both of them and I'm glad we did. I knew the day was coming with my gelding and we had actually set the day and 3 days before we had it scheduled I went out in the morning to feed and he was down and I couldn't get him back up. He told me it was time, the vet came out and I stayed with him the whole time with his head in my lap. I couldn't leave him to go by himself, I owed him that much for all he had done for me. A good friend of ours came out a dug the hole, I couldn't be there for that part. I said my goodbyes after he was gone and went to the house. They put his blanket over him for me and covered his eyes they said. When I had to put my dog down it was pretty sudden the vet came out to the truck and sedated him and put him to sleep in the truck. I held him in my lap all the way home. I was the one to put him into the grave and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. Many hugs to you, it's the hardest thing ever. But I try to take comfort in the fact that they are no longer in pain. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1056
| It is easier on them than you....................when that drug hits them, they are gone. my vet usually gives two different drugs. very peaceful. it is harder on us because we know what's coming and they don't. when their quality of life leaves, they are ready to go. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | wyoming barrel racer - 2015-04-09 3:05 PM
I just did this last year with my stud we had for 12 years. It was a long time coming and even then a hard decision. We had the hole dug a couple days prior to the vet appt. I caught him and brushed him good, led him to the alfalfa field to eat to his heart's content and took some pictures of my boys holding and sitting on him. Then did the trailer ride to the arena where the hole was. We laid him down right by the hole and my father in law helped me drag him in and then back filled it. I made sure to have his head covered with a great big towel. Just something I wanted to do out of respect. Keep the dirt out of his eyes and nose. He was stoic to the end. I bawled like a baby. I plan to smooth the area this spring and plant blue flax there. Sara helped me make this into a poster that is now hanging on my wall over my bed. It has this picture of him with the cows edited out, and this poem along the sides.-if the writing is too small here is a link to it on my facebook page
if the day should come when I'm in pain
and you know I won't be well again
promise me you'll do what must be done
if this is the battle which can't be won
it'll break your heart, but please be kind
don't let your grieving sway your mind
for this is when you'll let me see
just how much you do love me
together we've had many happy years
the future now can hold no fears
please don't let me suffer
and when that day comes, please let me go
for my usual vet please will you send?
but stay with me until the end
hold me steady, speak to me
til my once bright eyes no longer see
in time I hope you'll come to see
it's the last kindness you'll do for me
one more time please stroke my mane
and know that I'll have no more pain
and don't be sad that it was you
who decided that this was what to do
we've been such buddies through the years
don't let me be the cause of tears
you'll always see me graze now
with the sun upon my back
painful limbs won't tire me now
however long the hack
I live now in your heart and mind
a lovely place to stay
and what you have in memories
no one can take away
That is heartbreakingly beautiful. So very sorry for all of the posters who have lost their horses. If we love them they'll break our hearts. But better to have loved them and lost them than never to have known them. |
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 Lived to tell about it and will never do it again
Posts: 5409
| Sorry you are going to be going thru this. We dig the hole with a ramp. I have to be there when they are put down, I want them to be with someone they know. I don't like watching them being dumped into a hole so that takes that out of it. Remember that older horses have a slower circulation and it can take a little longer. I worked for a vet for 10 yrs and the ramp was the choice for most.
Again prayers for you and your family
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 Texas Tenderheart
Posts: 6715
Location: Red Raiderland | Canchaser my heart goes out to you. I hate that you, and the rest of us at some point, have go through this but it is what needs to be done to cease the pain. HATE IT!
As what others have stated, "Use sedation".
We had to euthanize a yearling a few years ago and unfortunately things did not go easy. I was not there but my husband has bad memories of it. Most go peacefully. |
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John Deere Green
Posts: 12272
Location: ~Kansas~ | THANK you all from the bottom of my heart and I LOVE that poem !!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
| Like others have said this makes me cry I am thinking of my old mare I had from 14 months until she passed at 36 years old. I said my good byes them left the farm. I did cut her fore top out and have saved it to make a bracelet or something with one day.
I just want to say I am sooooo sorry you are going through this and hope your pain becomes bearable soon. If you need someone to talk to remember these folks on here are awesome always here. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | If you own a horse long enough you will no doubt go through something like this. It's good that you are asking for advice and planning for the moment. I learned the hard way and did not know how to handle it. Good to seek the great advice on this thread.
Love the poem Wyoming Barrel Racer!
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | This is making me cry too. I had to put down my good horse that I had had for 28 years, he was 31 years, 1 month, 1 week and 1 day old. My sister and I have had a pact to be there for each other's horse so you don't have that image in your head, ever. Don't be there. Let the vet and the guy who dug the hole handle it. I have held all my dogs as they died and I don't know if I can even handle that again. Guess I am getting a soft side in my old age.
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John Deere Green
Posts: 12272
Location: ~Kansas~ | Wed is the day.... I am slowing trying to prepare myself.
THANKS again to everyone for all of your advice...prayers and messages !
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Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | Thinking of you!! |
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