Horsey people please help!

[Elwynne]

I need some help.

My mum's beloved 30 year old pony has really struggled through the summer and sadly I recognise it will be kinder to let him go before the winter but here is my dilemma.

My mum has dementia,(I don't have power of attorney or anything like that - my dad is no help as he is grieving the loss of his wife to the disease) She still technically owns the little chap on his passport etc and he is registered to her address.

I've never had a pony put to sleep before and am panicking that a letter will turn up addressed to my mum to say her beloved has been murdered by her daughter. :( I know receiving this would make her very distressed. Although I know she would forget, I don't think I would forget her reaction, and I think it would drive a wedge between me and my increasingly frail dad if that makes sense?

Has anyone had a horse or pony put to sleep before? Is it like a car in the sense that you get a document other than the passport back afterwards?

Kids, ageing parents and poorly ponies, they don't tell you about this stuff at school!

Any help greatly appreciated.

Sorry op. That's hard. I'm in Scotland so not sure if same applies everywhere. Speak to vet. They tend to issue invoice to whoever instructs it. So could be sent to you. Very will generally have some input in decision that pony has had enough anyway, so can make the call so to speak. Hunt can also put a horse to sleep, again unlikely to bother your mum, just deal with you direct.

I have lost two horses over the years, just returned passport to the issuing authority for fraud avoidance purposes. That's all really. Never heard anymore.

Had to put a dog to sleep whilst owner on holiday but vet made call in that scenario.

Contact vet and talk it over with them.

Sounds like a very sad situation but you are doing the right thing putting the pony to sleep before it starts suffering. Winter can be quite tough on ponies.

There are two ways to have a pony PTS, either by lethal injection by the vet or being shot by the local hunt/knackers man. In the first case the vet administers a sedative and then a drug that stops the heart. Being shot may seem shocking but it is also very quick and a good alternative for ponies that are scared of needles. In both cases the knacker man takes away the body.

Assuming the pony is not intended for human consumption, no one will even ask you for the passport. You can write to the passport issuing authority returning the passport and declaring the death but many people don't bother. I have Nevers received a letter about having a pony PTS.

I had to have a horse put to sleep and the only document I got was the vet bill. The vet will bill whoever calls him or her out.
As for the passport you are supposed to send it back to the passport issuing agency (address should be inside it). You do not usually get this back unless you ask for it and send an SAE.
I'm sorry you are having such a hard time :(

Honestly, just have the pony PTS. I'm sorry you're in this situation.

No letters will come back, I know very few people who even inform the issuing authority.

Also, passport is not proof of ownership so there's no concerns there.

I don't have any personal experience of having it done by a vet I'm afraid, I've always had them shot by the local Hunt. It's quick, they're always fantastic with the horses and having seen horses being both injected and shot, I'd always have mine shot if I had the choice. They will also take the body for you so takes away that stress and cost. When I had my horse done last year it cost about £180 for him to be euthanized and taken away. It was an appalling thing to have to do but I couldn't have rated them highly enough, they made an upsetting situation the least traumatic it could have been.

The passport will need to be sent off to the relevant issuing body with a statement that the pony is deceased. They will keep the passport, unless you want it back, in which case they will usually return it if you request that they do and enclose a sae.

No letter will be sent to your Mum or Dad to say the pony has been put to sleep (unless ou have it done by a vet, in which case ensure you know where the bill is being sent). You may encounter difficulties if the pony's passport is not in your name though. It's probably worth phoning your local Hunt's Kennel Hutsman or veterinary practice (depending on your preference) to discuss the situation. They'll probably exercise common sense given your situation but it saves any awkwardness on what will already be a difficult day.

Thank you everyone, I knew you would know the answer. That's really reassured me that she won't find out and I won't break her heart :(

The passport will need to be sent off to the relevant issuing body with a statement that the pony is deceased. They will keep the passport, unless you want it back, in which case they will usually return it if you request that they do and enclose a sae.

You don't have to do this OP. No one does it.

Horrid situation but the only way your mum will know is if you or the vet tell her