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Expert
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| I had to put my horse down at 25 had him since 2 or 3 to me he is part family so it's very hard.how do you all cope?I feel guilty. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
  
Location: OH. IO | As hard as this may be to hear...don't feel guilty FEEL BLESSED. Feel blessed that you could do what was right for him.We are their voice and we have the responsibility to do what is right by all of our loved ones.He was blessed to have you.Im very sorry for your heartbreak and loss.I do know how bad the pain is for you.Thank you for doing what was best for him even though it doesn't feel like it to you. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | Hugs. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| Thank you. |
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 Knowledge is Power
Posts: 4051
Location: wherever my daughter's running | IT is hard - no doubt about that. Please don't feel guilty. Be thankful for all the years you had together. What has hepled me with the guilt is realizing that I was doing the greatest act of love I could for them by not letting them suffer. Hugs to you. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Hugs. The greater guilt would be to unload him on some one else and let them deal with it. I deal with it by knowing that I gave them a loving home and the best care until life got too difficult for them. My vet has always tried to get me to leave before giving them the shot and I tell him that I am not leaving them, they never abandoned me in life. Not everyone can do that but it is what works for me. Then I wait until I am by myself and bawl my eyes out....everyday...for awhile. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I am so sorry for your loss; many hugs and prayers for you. I haven't had to make the decision for one of my horses, but I hope i can be as brave and honorable as you when it's that time. God bless you for giving him the final act of love. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | rodeoveteran - 2016-11-09 7:01 PM
Hugs. The greater guilt would be to unload him on some one else and let them deal with it. I deal with it by knowing that I gave them a loving home and the best care until life got too difficult for them. My vet has always tried to get me to leave before giving them the shot and I tell him that I am not leaving them, they never abandoned me in life. Not everyone can do that but it is what works for me. Then I wait until I am by myself and bawl my eyes out....everyday...for awhile.
This is such a special sentiment. . . . |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| I am thankful he had a good life.he had a horse who was very close to him so she laid with him when he couldn't get up and laid on his grave yesterday and today. |
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I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| myhre - 2016-11-09 7:37 PM
I am thankful he had a good life.he had a horse who was very close to him so she laid with him when he couldn't get up and laid on his grave yesterday and today.
Now you 're making me cry for that mare. |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | I had to put one of mine down the end of September. He was 16 and I had him since he was 9 months old. He had squamous cell carcinoma which we battled for 4 years. It finally came to the point that he didn't have quality of life. We knew he deserved to be pain free. It was heartbreaking and I still struggle most days, but I take comfort in the years we had together and knowing he had a one family home. Most horses are not that lucky.
Dont feel guilty. Sometimes the right choice is the hardest. Your boy is running pain free across the Rainbow Bridge. Sending you hugs and prayers. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| It's just hard to do my better half thought I should leave but he's comfortable with me so i didn't . |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | myhre - 2016-11-09 10:16 PM
It's just hard to do my better half thought I should leave but he's comfortable with me so i didn't .
As long as you did what you thought was right and what you were comfortable with, then it WAS the right thing.
People that say animals don't "feel" or are dumb, don't get it. I promise you that mare is grieving for your boy just like you are. He was a lucky to have such a loving owner. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas |  |
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
Location: So. Cali. | It is extremely hard. I put my first horse down 7years ago. I was younger and chose not to be present. That is the only regret I have til this day. This year I've had to put down my childhood dog and cat and stayed til the end with both of them. I will always be there from now on, no matter how hard it is on us, they deserve that comfort in the end. Many hugs to you. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | So sorry for you loss.. Prayers for you. |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Like others have said, do not feel guilty, feel blessed you had him for that long and all the things your family got to experience with him. I 've heard that Grief is the price of love and I think that is very true. I ve owned 2 that we had to put down, one when she was 33, the other when she was 27. The other we owned I had the vet out , he was diagnosed with arthritis at 24 and was recommended to be put down. It was my first horse to have to make that decision, I wanted to think about it. In the meantime my dad apparently took him up to the sale yard. Trust me, I would rather make that decision and stand with them a million times then to see my horse in that situation again EVER. We are their caretakers and as such I believe its the greatest thing we can do for them when the time comes. Also, have a little memorial or a tradition also seems to have helped me over the pain of the loss. I don't leave the yard without honking to my girls, its my way of asking them to watch over the crew while I'm gone. They get a honk as we pull back in as a "Thank you".
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| Memorial is a good idea. |
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| Sorry for your loss. I took some hair from my mare to have made into something someday. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Sometimes the hardest things we do for our animals is the kindest. We kept a dying dog alive for a year since we were too selfish to let her go. I will never do that again. Sending hugs and prayers. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | I am so sorry. Sending you a hug. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | do you have any photos you want to share? I would love to see him. I hope your heart isnt as heavy about your decision now,I know your heart is broken,but you should not feel guilt,you did what was best |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| I do feel guilty because I made the choice to end his life. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| I do feel guilty because I made the choice to end his life.
It won't allow me to post picture . |
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I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| myhre - 2016-11-10 5:53 PM
I do feel guilty because I made the choice to end his life.
You made the choice to not let him live in discomfort and pain. I have no doubt that it was not a decision you made lightly or easily. You cannot do better by an animal. You spent enough time in agony BEFORE you made the decision, now give yourself a break and just grieve your loss, then try to remember all the good and special times you had with him. THAT is his legacy, don't ruin it by beating yourself up. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| Thank you. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | myhre - 2016-11-10 5:53 PM
I do feel guilty because I made the choice to end his life.
You made the choice to end his suffering, and I think there's a big difference. You showed pure love. Please don't beat yourself up. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | As a senior citizen who has been in the horse business since I was a pre-teen, I have been faced with this decision many times. It does not get easier. But as a responsible horse owner you have to make the call in your friends best interest when their quality of life is more negative than positive. It is an act of love. Focus on knowing that you have always acted in the best interest of your horses even when it breaks your heart. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 705
Location: Weatherford, TX | myhre - 2016-11-09 7:37 PM I am thankful he had a good life.he had a horse who was very close to him so she laid with him when he couldn't get up and laid on his grave yesterday and today. Many hugs and prayers. It so very hard and so very emotional. And, it also does take a while before you can remember their great life/fun times without crying. Again, many hugs.
Edited by Gator Bug 2016-11-11 12:56 PM
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | I'm sorry you are hurting so.I do know the feeling.i cried for days on end.I had a headache the size of Texas for a month.It will take a lot of time for you to be able to smile again.Does the pasture mate have another horse with her now?I would keep a close eye on her and give her a lot of attention. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| My mare that was so attached to him has other horses butnshe is still looking for him. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Thinking of you tonight. |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bless your heart; I pray each day gets a little easier for you. And for your poor mare. |
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Expert
Posts: 1255
| Thank you. |
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Euthanize