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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

I think it might be time

53 replies

ExitPursuedByABear · 08/10/2014 19:30

I am heartbroken. Bastard bloody animals.

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mrslaughan · 08/10/2014 19:53

Oh....I feel for you. The hardest decision to make.
What's happened?

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ExitPursuedByABear · 08/10/2014 20:24

One thing after another. Laminitis. Then suspensory ligament failure in right hind, abcess in front then today she has gone lame in left hind and is resting it. Basically she hasn't got a leg to stand on .

I am going away a week on Saturday and feel I may need to do the deed before I go.

But my heart bleeds .........

Sob. Sob. Sob.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 08/10/2014 20:25

And sob some more.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 08/10/2014 20:25

My poor sweet girl.

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flipwit · 08/10/2014 20:34

for you. Poor girl. Although it doesn't feel like it, you are doing the best for her

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ExitPursuedByABear · 08/10/2014 20:40

Am I?

It's so hard.

18 years together.

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OscarWinningActress · 08/10/2014 22:09

Oh, Exit .

Good luck with whatever you decide .

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Plomino · 08/10/2014 22:39

Oh Exit , what a shame . You're right , it is so hard .

We have them all these years , we love them and then they break our hearts. Like I said to my DS when we lost our first pony , we have to make these decisions because we love them , no matter how much it hurts , and sometimes , you just know it's time .

Im so so sorry .

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ExitPursuedByABear · 08/10/2014 22:56

Thank you. I just don't want to feel rushed because of my holiday.

This time of year is always shite for me.

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Zazzles007 · 09/10/2014 09:28

Oh Exit that is heartbreaking.

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Flexibilityisquay · 09/10/2014 09:56

Sorry to read this! Lucky horse to have you there willing to make tough decisions for her though.

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mrslaughan · 09/10/2014 11:55

You know, one day my instructor and I were talking about an elderly pony at the yard, that had had to be put down. He had had one thing after another. The owners couldn't bring themselves to make the decision as he had such a feisty personality. When he was put down it was because he got to the point that he literally couldn't move.
It was a shocking winters day, the field had got muddy, and his legs wouldn't work any more.

My instructor was sad he was gone, but was sadder that it had got to the point he was literally stuck in the mud. I remember she said to me, wouldn't it have been nicer, knowing that he wouldn't in all honesty (something that they wouldn't face up too, even though the vet was telling them this) survive another winter, pick a nice day, let him feel the sun on his back, him be happy, give him a carrot and his last thoughts be happy. than literally unable to move (he had terrible arthritis) and miserable. That is what I will keep in mind when we get to this point.

A better a happy day to soon, than a day too late.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 09/10/2014 12:08

Well I didn't do it. Vet came and found a bruise on her left hind sole. He thinks she looks really well and it is not yet time. He says I will know. I do want her to have a few more days in the sun and as I said I don't want to be pushed into a corner because of going away.

So, the witch lives to fight and bite another day.

Thanks for your kind words. I feel completely wrung out!

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frostyfingers · 09/10/2014 13:38

Don't you just luv em?! I'm so glad though that it's just a bruise for now, what a relief. You can breathe a sigh of relief and go away with a clear head.

Dpony has just had his 2nd bout of colic in 4 weeks and on Monday morning until Monday lunchtime we were sitting with him waiting for an improvement - vet said that if nothing had changed by then it was time to say goodbye......

He perked up just in time, and is now tearing around his field as if nothing has happened - I on the other hand am watching his every move like a hawk - if he has a snooze I go out to prod him, if he rolls I make sure he gets up, if he's not eating I go and check why, and I'm knackered. The vet has advised that if it occurs again in the next few weeks we have to consider whether to continue treatment - I'm dithering between waiting and seeing if it happens again, and having to deal with him as an emergency, or picking a time when he's ok - nightmare.

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mrslaughan · 09/10/2014 13:55

you will know when it is the right time, just don't beat yourself up when it is. I think PTS is the ultimate act of kindness we can offer our animals when it comes to that.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 09/10/2014 14:07

I am constantly in a state of dread. Now the weather has turned I worry about her slipping or ripping one of her heartbar shoes off and knackering her feet even more.

But when I arrive at the stables in the morning and she rushes to her door with a big whinny, even though she has already been fed and hayed - well, that's what makes all the heart ache worthwhile.

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frostyfingers · 21/10/2014 09:50

Exit, I saw on a Doghouse thread that you mentioned you'd had to have your pony PTS - so sorry, best wishes and all that.

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mrslaughan · 21/10/2014 10:42

I saw it too - I am so sorry, but I am sure it will have been the right decision, though painful.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 21/10/2014 16:01

Thank you.

It was horrific and I am struggling to get the memory out of my head.

But I know I did the right thing.

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frostyfingers · 22/10/2014 08:31

It's very hard to deal with for the first few weeks, don't beat yourself up. My last incident of PTS was an emergency and it was grim but after bursting into tears at random moments for several weeks I began to replace the awful last few hours with memories of the happy times.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 22/10/2014 17:35

She hit the ground like a fucking ton of bricks. And then her ear twitched.

Sob sob sob fucking sob.

I think I may need to talk to someone at some point who knows more about what goes on.

Or maybe time will heal.

Of course it will.

I am on the road.......

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frostyfingers · 22/10/2014 17:53

Any twitches, moans and movements of the rib cage are all post mortem - she would not have been alive (presume it was injection?) when those movements occurred I promise. It is horrid to see a horse go down, but try to remember that they don't know what's coming and they're no longer in pain.

My vet took me aside to explain all that before he injected, even though it was an emergency, and I'm very grateful to him for that otherwise I would have been pretty shocked.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 22/10/2014 21:01

My vet was fab. He did explain that there could be movement etc. it was just the enormity of the actual event. I was hoping it would be more gentle. And that ear twitch is seared into my soul.

Not an experience i would wish to repeat

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ExitPursuedByABear · 22/10/2014 21:02

But thank you.

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Plomino · 22/10/2014 21:51

Oh I am sorry . When I had to have my girl pts (she'd collapsed in the field under the trees ) after getting up and running about several times before collapsing , I said to the vet 'what on earth is she doing? ' and the vet said , 'I think she's trying to die '. At this point she was laying down , but she turned her head to me , and whickered . I still hear her to this day . In fact even typing it has started me off again .

It will get better , I promise . But even knowing that you did all you could , and that you made the right decision because you loved her so much , doesn't make it any easier at first .