Companion horse to be euthanized!

[mybelle]

:cry:

Can anyone help this horse? I saw this ad on the Craigslist in the DC/MD/VA area. The owner has to put the horse down if he cannot find him a home. The horse is unsound and cannot be ridden.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/grd/1454539665.html

[Woodland]

:cry:

Can anyone help this horse? I saw this ad on the Craigslist in the DC/MD/VA area. The owner has to put the horse down if he cannot find him a home. The horse is unsound and cannot be ridden.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/grd/1454539665.html

If he is unsound euthanasia might be the kindest thing for him.

[baylady7]

she should consider donating him as a tax writeoff to a vet center. He would be taken care of until the end but could help other horses.

[analise]

I don't know, I'm not sure euthanizing is the worst thing that could happen to the horse in the situation. I'm currently imagining if they just give the horse to the first person that wants him and that person hauls him off to auction or the meat guy or whatever.

[LauraKY]

If he is unsound euthanasia might be the kindest thing for him.

Amen. Let's hope it's not just a ploy to pull on everyone's heartstrings (you all know they do it) and that owner really does euthanize him rather than send him to auction (which is actually the more likely scenario).

Still kicking myself for not putting down an old polo pony with recurrent uveitis. She spent a summer with us...college club kept treating it, but it would have been kinder to euthanize, which I recommended, but in hindsight, should have been a lot more forceful. She was in a lot of pain when it flared up and had some serious arthritis problems and was blind in one eye. At least we know she had a good summer here. Spent the days in a stall parked right in front of her fan with deep bedding and out after dusk (because of the uveitis). Sweet little thing. One of my biggest regrets in the horse business.

[mybelle]

Very true. I should amend to say that the Craiglist poster says the horse is unsound for riding, but not necessarily unsound for the field. The Craigslist poster does not say the horse is in any pain either.

Anyway, I was just thinking if there was someone out there looking for a companion horse, they could give the horse a home. I know that there is always the possibility that the advertiser is lying (for whatever reason). The advertiser doesn't sound super savy to me, so it is completely possible the person did not word the ad as carefully as someone else would have.

[sisu27]

"really do not want to put him down but we can not keep paying board for a horse we can not do anything with... "

So does that mean that you could pay board for him if he was rideable though? I hate people.

[CosMonster]

If they are honestly going to humanely euthanize him if they can't find a good home for him, I don't think there is anything wrong with that even if they were doing it so they could keep a useful horse (which it doesn't sound like they are, since they are also selling the trailer). He's five years old and apparently permanently unsound (again, taking the ad at face value here). Are they expected to have to keep him for the next 20-30 years and pay board on him that entire time?

I don't know, I just don't see why someone should be obligated to keep a permanently lame animal if they are financially unable to do so without making major sacrifices. As long as they find a good home or provide a good end, I think it is perfectly fine.

[Brandy76]

"really do not want to put him down but we can not keep paying board for a horse we can not do anything with... "

So does that mean that you could pay board for him if he was rideable though? I hate people.


Though if he is permanently lame, maybe the euthanasia is the kindest thing, better than even finding a home that may decide down the road to "find him a home", etc.

[Nikki^]

"really do not want to put him down but we can not keep paying board for a horse we can not do anything with... "

So does that mean that you could pay board for him if he was rideable though? I hate people.

Really? Then why don't you pick him up and take care of him?

Some people want a horse that they can enjoy and ride. Do you think most of BNT's out there keep lame horse's in their barns? How about the show riders? Do you hate them too?

[CoopsZippo]

IMHO... If they truely loved him they would euth him and not be chicken farts and leave the nasty job for someone else. I have no problem with the owner maybe wanting to relieve some expense to have another horse. But you do right by the horse you own now. The odd's of an unridable geldings having a good long life are not high.

I am sorry but there are only so many pet/pasture puff homes. Heck there isn't enough homes for the ridable horses of the world.

[mvp]

Maybe I have "compassion fatigue"-- is that fancy-sounding term the right one that fund-raisers talk about among people who have been asked to help just one too many times?

I don't know what's wrong with me, but ads that say "Do better than we will for our animal or else he dies" are starting to categorically piss me off.

Really, I don't mind someone trying to unload a horse they don't want. But don't include the "or else" statement. That's not your reader's problem, business or responsibility.

Oh, and another mean thing I recently thought of after reading many threads about this swarm of issues: The advent of the "horse rescue" seems to have made people think they didn't have to Man Up and euthanize their own animals. Perhaps it makes it politically incorrect to euthanize horses since someone might say "Why, oh why, didn't you find a rescue organization for him?

See how wack I am just now? What is *wrong* with me, people? Jeez.

[monstrpony]

Maybe I have "compassion fatigue"-- is that fancy-sounding term the right one that fund-raisers talk about among people who have been asked to help just one too many times?

I don't know what's wrong with me, but ads that say "Do better than we will for our animal or else he dies" are starting to categorically piss me off.

Really, I don't mind someone trying to unload a horse they don't want. But don't include the "or else" statement. That's not your reader's problem, business or responsibility.

Oh, and another mean thing I recently thought of after reading many threads about this swarm of issues: The advent of the "horse rescue" seems to have made people think they don't have to Man Up and euthanize their own animals. Perhaps it makes it politically incorrect to euthanize horses since someone might say "Why, oh why, didn't you find a rescue organization for him?

See how wack I am just now? What is *wrong* with me, people? Jeez.

Well, when you find out, let me know.

There are enough sound, useful horses going begging these days. We all have to take our turns paying the price for irresponsible breeding and unfortunate acts of nature. We each have the choice of giving a permenant home to some unfortunate creature, or doing the difficult thing. But doing that difficult thing IS one of the options, and a not-unreasonable one for an otherwise doomed creature, be it young or old. There are too many wrong turns possible for an animal like this, and there's only one way to make sure that none of them are taken. Hard truth, but a truth, nonetheless.

[BEARCAT]

It is a bit hard for me to be compassionate about these kinds of ads as I have one of those horses with a knee the size of a grapefruit that I am paying board for and do wrestle with the thought of euthanasia when he becomes too uncomfortable (he is fine as of now, but arthritis is getting worst and the knee bigger)
I would think that the best for that horse would possibly be to go that route. Who knows where he will end up if he gets picked up on craig's list...

[gettingbettereveryday]

If they are honestly going to humanely euthanize him if they can't find a good home for him, I don't think there is anything wrong with that even if they were doing it so they could keep a useful horse (which it doesn't sound like they are, since they are also selling the trailer). He's five years old and apparently permanently unsound (again, taking the ad at face value here). Are they expected to have to keep him for the next 20-30 years and pay board on him that entire time?

I don't know, I just don't see why someone should be obligated to keep a permanently lame animal if they are financially unable to do so without making major sacrifices. As long as they find a good home or provide a good end, I think it is perfectly fine.

This. Not every animal should be "saved."

[snkstacres]

Amen, if this guy is only 5 and permanently lame, he is absolutely not going to a forever home anyhow. It costs more to keep a lame horse than it does a sound one 99% of the time. Sadly, it makes a lot more sense to put this guy down than it does a 30year old lame pasture puff. The old one stands a chance of a forever home because people taking it realize it is short term.

At only 5, there is way way way too much for this guy to go through yet. I am for euthanazia all the way and I already like this guy. Not a tough choice, a tough act to carry through.

[Woodland]

When I see ads like this i think the people are just too cheap to put them down and want to pawn misery off on someone else. Poor animal!

[mvp]

The age of this horse matters. snktacres makes a really good point: A crippled 5 year old has much worse odds that a 20 year old of finding decent care for the rest of his life.

Again, I'm wack, but when I heard of the low-cost euthanasia clinics offered by a group in California, I thought it was a really brave and decent project.

I'm curious about how they are doing. Are there enough people like me out there who would rather see a horse have a good life and meet a peaceful end than risk worse?

Making euthanasia available says nothing about the criteria we use to decide who lives and who dies. I do understand the "slippery slope" argument that invariably ends with someone's grandmother being offed for nefarious reasons. I just don't buy that the slope is so close to 90 degrees and covered in slick snot.

I think it's honorable to squarely accept the responsibility for both maintaining a horse and making the decision to kill it. Since I'm not a policy wonk, my job isn't to make broad rules that will cover both decent people and casual, heartless or careless people who won't take quality of life and also euthanasia seriously. (Thank God this isn't my job!) But I do see how people who don't trust others want to make euthanasia a bit taboo. I just think that with horses, we are past the point where we can collectively afford to not make euthanasia a more middle-of-the-road, acceptable option.

[equineartworks]

"really do not want to put him down but we can not keep paying board for a horse we can not do anything with... "

So does that mean that you could pay board for him if he was rideable though? I hate people.


sad but true.

[magnolia73]

I think there is nothing wrong with euthanizing the horse. Between shoes, board etc., my horse costs more than my mortgage and utilities each month. It's fine, I love her, ride her, enjoy her. But she is a big commitment of resources. Would I euth her if she was unrideable but comfy? Probably not- I have affection for her, but I could see choosing to euth a horse that was less friendly.

Not everyone has the unlimited resources to provide care no matter what. Not everyone wants to stop riding for 20 years to wait to afford a new horse.

Yes, all horses should get 30 years of pain free bliss of being catered to. Not all do, and a few good years and fast death is a good deal better than what many go through.

[ablibby]

As someone who speaks from experiance ( my horse was retired at the young age of 6 and is now going on 11) I have to say it gets tuff paying board and expenses on an animal that pretty much does nothing. I am lucky that I have found a good/cheap situation for him but for a couple years I was paying full board and it was tuff. It's also hard to explain to my husband why we are paying out money evey month for a lame horse. He trys to understand and I am thankful for that but I am sure there are plenty of SO that would not be soo understanding. I guess unless you have been though it yourself first hand it's easy to make unfair judgements.

[JSwan]

There's nothing wrong with you. Or if there is - I've got the same thing wrong with me.

Color me pissed off as well.





I don't know what's wrong with me, but ads that say "Do better than we will for our animal or else he dies" are starting to categorically piss me off.

Really, I don't mind someone trying to unload a horse they don't want. But don't include the "or else" statement. That's not your reader's problem, business or responsibility.

Oh, and another mean thing I recently thought of after reading many threads about this swarm of issues: The advent of the "horse rescue" seems to have made people think they didn't have to Man Up and euthanize their own animals. Perhaps it makes it politically incorrect to euthanize horses since someone might say "Why, oh why, didn't you find a rescue organization for him?

See how wack I am just now? What is *wrong* with me, people? Jeez.

[lcw579]

Anyone else remember when it was perfectly acceptable to put down a lame horse? When people weren't expected to pay for years for young unsound pasture puffs? Sure, there were people who did, people with large amounts of discretionary income or their own farm, but the average horseowner put down the unrideable horse and got a new one.

This may be an unpopular opinion but I don't think anyone should be condemned for making that decision today. Everyone wrings their hands over the poor horses going to the meat man, well, maybe if more people put down the lame horses they were supporting some of those rideable horses would find homes.

As much as some people don't want to admit it, horses are not the same as cats and dogs. They are livestock, they were working animals and most are happiest when they have a job to do. There should be no shame attached to kindly euthanizing an animal who can no longer do his job. There are just too many horses....

[equineartworks]

I have one here right now that might not ever be ridable again, and you know what? That's ok. He deserves to be loved and cared for as much as the ridable horses. And the children will love him just as much from the ground as they would in the saddle. I don't think anyone will be tacking up my mini's any time soon either. :lol: They eat little but they have the same vet bills as the big horses.

Yes, a 5 year old permanently lame horse is going to have a rougher time than a 20+ year old puff finding a home. Why? Because he isn't worth anything. Sad. Because what defines worth? Is he a happy lovable sweet horse? Then he might certainly be worth something to someone.

I was not afforded the luxury of having horses in my life until I was old enough to seek them out for myself. My parents always told me that they could not afford a horse when I was young because they require care for 30+ years. . It's like gambling...you pay your money and you take your chances. You care for what you raise and you take responsibility for it no matter what. I took that lesson to heart. Maybe that is why I don't see things the same way others do. But to me a horse is not about the ride. It is about the horse as a companion. I do not believe a horse is something that is put on this earth for my personal enjoyment. I don't believe in disposable. I was raised to take care of what I commit to, and a horse is a lifetime commitment to me.

[equineartworks]

As much as some people don't want to admit it, horses are not the same as cats and dogs. They are livestock, they were working animals and most are happiest when they have a job to do. There should be no shame attached to kindly euthanizing an animal who can no longer do his job. There are just too many horses....

The sad part is that they are "pets" and are ZOMG!!! I LOFF MY HORSE until they are lame. Then they become livestock that can't do a job anymore so call the vet or the meat man and get it gone....NEXT!

If you are out working cows with your horses and they are indeed work horses then yes, that is different. They aren't your pet or companion. But seriously? How many of us can say that? They are pleasure creatures for us. They make us happy. We get to dress up and prance around and show off. They make us happy and they cost us money, not make us money lol!

ETA: I do feel euthanizing a horse that has no quality of life is the fair thing to do. But I get so tired of people throwing breathing creatures away because they just don't do anything for them anymore.

[equineartworks]

There's nothing wrong with you. Or if there is - I've got the same thing wrong with me.

Color me pissed off as well.

I don't like being emotionally blackmailed either. Color me as well.

[rmh_rider]

Woodland:

Amen!

You are so right.

They can't do it, they don't want to fork out the money. Drives me nuts when people think "somebody else will want the horse". There are not enough homes for the sound horses. Like the OTTB, standardbreds, PMU mares/foals, etc.

Very sad for the horse.

Only YOUR home is a forever home, or a good home forever.

Sorry for the horse.

[danceronice]

I don't like being emotionally blackmailed either. Color me as well.

Me, three/four/five whatever. I will on occasion help bail a horse out of a bad situation. Guilt trips tend to have the opposite effect.

I knew people who sent their permanently ill/unsound horses to the vet school (this isn't always an option, obviously) where they were studied, euthanized, and necropised. These were people's well-loved horses, but they were no longer useable and especially when you have to board, what else are you supposed to do with them? If you don't want to sell them to Canada or Mexico (I would feel differently about slaughter if a local option were available) and you can't keep them, what are you supposed to do with them? Stick them somewhere until they starve to death? Pass the buck to a rescue and whine when they're full and broke?

[sisu27]

Really? Then why don't you pick him up and take care of him?

Some people want a horse that they can enjoy and ride. Do you think most of BNT's out there keep lame horse's in their barns? How about the show riders? Do you hate them too?

Because I have a horse.....just one because that is what is in the budget at the moment. Lame or sound he is my responsibility.....not someone elses. If he becomes unrideable then I guess I decide what is best for him. I don't try to guilt him off onto someone else because I am too chicken $hit to euth him or because it is way more convenient and fun for me to have a horse that I can ride and compete on. Get it?

Yes, I do hate anyone who thinks that once an animal is too expensive or not useful or fun enough that they can just pawn said animal off on others. Answer your question?

[equineartworks]

Me, three/four/five whatever. I will on occasion help bail a horse out of a bad situation. Guilt trips tend to have the opposite effect.

I knew people who sent their permanently ill/unsound horses to the vet school (this isn't always an option, obviously) where they were studied, euthanized, and necropised. These were people's well-loved horses, but they were no longer useable and especially when you have to board, what else are you supposed to do with them? If you don't want to sell them to Canada or Mexico (I would feel differently about slaughter if a local option were available) and you can't keep them, what are you supposed to do with them? Stick them somewhere until they starve to death? Pass the buck to a rescue and whine when they're full and broke?

exactly...take care of them or do the right thing. Even if it is to euthanize.

[Threebars]

(Assuming that it is the true colour of pissed off!)

I too will help where I can. I've donated my dribbles to rescues - the hardest (emotionally) was sending money to Nor Cal's Euthanasia fund, but I put my dribbles where my mouth was.

Part of caring for your animals "to the bitter end" sometimes includes "the bittersweet end", whether that animal is 5 or 50...

Such an add smacks of dumping your unwanted dog or cat 'out into country' with the attitude of "Oh, they'll live the life of riley on some farm..."

:mad:

[Iron Horse Farm]

ok, how about playing devl's advocate??

I can't tell you how many "lame" horses come into the vet clinics to be euthanized that have something VERY VERY fixable wrongwith them. Whether that be an abscess making the horse 3 legged lame or a bone chip that would give the horse 10 more years of soundness if it was removed, MY compassion fatigue comes from people being quick to euthanize instead of treating things that are TREATABLE. And....I'm not talking about throwing thousands of dollars at a problem that you are only "managing". I'm talking about things that can genuinly be fixed that people just aren't willing to pay for something.

[Cloverbarley]

I like to think that people do what they are able to. If they are not able to keep the horse any longer then why not offer it in public? Maybe there will be someone who is quite happy to take a pasture sound only horse as a companion for their own riding horse? Maybe the unsoundness isn't an issue for them and so long as the horse is happy and comfortable just wandering around a field for the rest of its life and the owner is also happy for it to do so, then I can't see the problem. This particular owner on the advert can't, but it doesn't mean she shouldn't try to find someone suitable before the euth booking at the end of the month. Who says she will give the horse to anyone anyway? Perhaps (and hopefully) she will be incredibly picky about where the horse goes. I viewed the advert as a last ditch attempt at saving this horses life, but I didn't view it as she would give it away to the first person to step across her threshold.

People have horses for many different reasons, no reason being any more worthwhile or worthless than any other reason, so just because the owner and many on here wouldn't give the horse a home, it really doesn't mean others won't. If the owner is unsuccessful in finding a suitable home then her only real option beyond this is to have the horse euthanized which is just as responsible an action. Either way, I hope she finds a solution that can give her some peace of mind.

[Alagirl]

ok, how about playing devl's advocate??

I can't tell you how many "lame" horses come into the vet clinics to be euthanized that have something VERY VERY fixable wrongwith them. Whether that be an abscess making the horse 3 legged lame or a bone chip that would give the horse 10 more years of soundness if it was removed, MY compassion fatigue comes from people being quick to euthanize instead of treating things that are TREATABLE. And....I'm not talking about throwing thousands of dollars at a problem that you are only "managing". I'm talking about things that can genuinly be fixed that people just aren't willing to pay for something.

Well, yeah, one thing to throw away a fixable horse, but pulling heart strings on the broken one?

Hey, I got an old horse, can't/won't pay his bills, you do it...

Too bad it has become a marketing tool. And obviously a very good one. Milking the bleeding hearts for every penny they've got, through tear jerker adds and and over emotionalized fundraisers.

Heaven help us, we have lost touch with reality.

It's about time that everybody remembers his/her own responsibility and stops looking for others to clean up after them.


(anybody wants this stray cat that is wanting to move in with me....)

:lol:

sry, could not help it, I am in a cranky mood this week, have to remind myself to lighten up before I explode.

[Cloverbarley]

Too bad it has become a marketing tool. And obviously a very good one. Milking the bleeding hearts for every penny they've got, through tear jerker adds and and over emotionalized fundraisers.


The horse is advertised as "free". She isn't asking for any money for it.

[kmp2707]

I've never seen a trailer with 3 or 4 inch thick rubber mats in it.

[Alagirl]

The horse is advertised as "free". She isn't asking for any money for it.


considering the costs being saved when said horse is moved off the farm...not to mention the lack of bad feelings, it's a good marketing tool still.

but it was more in a general setting, you know 'ZOMFG, pay 'randsom' now or dobbins goes to Canada/Mexico'

yada yada yada.....


At one time rescue was meant to pick up the pieces when the road apples hit the fan, not eleviate personal responsibility. Yes, I know, private individual, trying to unload lemon privately on bleeding heart....

At one point you have to say the buck stops here, dobbins has a snowball's chance in youknowwhere and I do right by him, tears be damned.

It's a case of pawning the hard decision onto another person. The easy way out.

[Alagirl]

I've never seen a trailer with 3 or 4 inch thick rubber mats in it.


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA


random much? :lol::lol::lol::lol:

(made my day, ty)

[catknsn]

I never consider it a crisis worthy of rescue intervention if the owner is willing to euthanize - not even if it's a healthy horse. It's not like a human going to the electric chair. A horse has no idea past a shot that makes them sleepy. It's not cruel even if it is for financial or convenience reasons.

Slaughter is cruel. Starvation is cruel. Those are outcomes that I think horses need to be rescued from.

Most ads like the original are written because the owner wants to foist their responsibility off on someone else. I hate to see people buy into it.

[Cloverbarley]

it's a good marketing tool still.

......

It's a case of pawning the hard decision onto another person. The easy way out.

Yes that's what I think of a number of "rescue" outfits and people who advertise that their horse will "go to auction if not sold by the end of the month" (which to me is a far worse option than euthanazia for an unsound horse). I don't personally see this advert as a plea for "rescue", just a last ditch attempt at trying to find a suitable home for the horse. If the horse can't be found a home then she's already booked the vet, so horsey will be off to the rolling pastures up in the sky; not such a bad end, but I can still understand why she is trying to not let this happen.

Anyhow it's all speculation as none of us really know the exact details of this situation.

[AiryFairy]

The horse is advertised as "free". She isn't asking for any money for it.

Yeah, and she's probably not paying any money to keep him comfortable, like on pain meds either. There is no such thing as a "FREE" horse. He probably isn't being cared for properly, and will likely cost the sucker who takes him more than they ever dreamed. All because the yellow bellied cowards who own him won't take responsibility for his life but want to palm him off on someone else. I hate people too.