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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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Folks on-line