Facing the end of an era.....

[BayandBlonde]

My vet and I have decided to let my 19 year old TB mare have a good summer and then we will let her go. She will go before if need be.

She is an ex flat racer, raced as a 2 year old, came to me at 7 years, ridden until 17 years and retired 2 years ago. I'm not going to list all her issues here, the decision has been made and thank you but I am not looking for alternatives.

I'm usually very pragmatic when it comes to my animals but I am struggling with this one, we have been through so much, good and bad and it will be the End of an Era for me. I do have a companion Shetland who will go on full livery as he cannot stay here alone (they currently both live at home with me). There will be no more horses in my life.

This is going to a massive life change, what do I do with myself when she isn't here anymore. No more stupid early morning starts, mucking out, turning / out bringing in in the pissing rain and all weathers. Mud, flies, more mud and flies.........I will be lost without this

Oh I'm in almost exactly the same boat so big hugs.
21 Yr old ex-hurdler. Owned him for 9 years on DIY, going up twice a day every day and nursing him through numerous injuries and illnesses.
I've made the decision to have 1 last summer with him and then he is going to a massive 10 acre field with 2 friends to live out the rest of his life.
He is my once in a lifetime horse, I have achieved everything I could ever want to achieve with him and he has ruined me for any other horse. My instructor said "you can't go from a ferrari to a fiesta!".
He could go on being ridden for a few more years but I owe him a good chunk of a retirement.

I am dreading the no more horses in my daily life feeling. I can't afford to buy another one until he dies.

It sounds like you have given her a wonderful life and it is always better a day early than a day late. They become our whole lives and nothing more I can say apart from you are not alone! I'm quietly hoping that one of my horse friends will have a horse for me to ride but I know it won't be the same and literally no horse has ever given me the feeling that he does.

Hugs to you. So hard isn't it and I'm finding because it is such a personal decision I can feel very much alone although my close friends who have all been through this are being rocks. My vet has been fantastic and will still be there long after.

I still own the Shetland but he isn't the same, he is very much 'i don't need you I can look after myself' type.

I am in my late 40's, not old but too battered and bruised to be doing this all over again!

Same age as me! Never say never

It's the right thing. You know when they're done. They know. Better she have a good summer and go peacefully than go down in the cold and mud or have some kind of health crisis.

It's a shame you are losing her so young but when they have health problems, I think its better too soon than too late.

My favourite horse at the riding school is getting on in years, he's 18 and does still work in the school and compete with his learners and he loves a race but he is gradually slowing down and I'll be devastated when he goes. I won't know what to do with myself as I spend whole days down there hanging out with him.

I really feel for you. Enjoy the summer with her. Play games and feed her treats she probably shouldn't be eating and spoil her rotten.

I lost my ex racehorse in 1997 , she was 27 , retired for 9 yrs and had numerous health issues , we used to joke that we had bought our vet 2 land rovers with what we had spent . I was in my early 30s when she died and I’ve never bought another horse for me because it wouldn’t be the same . We still have a 31 yo pony on full livery that was my sons as a child . As for what you do with yourself @BayandBlonde , how about a couple of alpacas ?

I became horse-less a year ago for the first time in 40 years (except for a few years off when the children were very small). It took a lot of adjusting to. I don’t miss the mud, ragwort or mucking out. I also don’t miss the people who were batshit crazy that I came into contact with as a part of having the horses! I do miss the horses though, that connection, the smell, the fresh air and I became more unfit. I wouldn’t have any more now but I feel a little part of me will now always be missing.

I'm sorry about your mare, there's nothing like the heartbreak of losing a horse . I have to say I've got nearly 20 years on you and have had at least 3 'last ever' horses as I'm always completely heartbroken every time I lose one, but then I keep getting tempted back in! My current boy really is my last though, I honestly never meant to have another after my rescue mare went 5 years ago now, but the opportunity to full loan him was too good a chance to turn down as although he's not the type I used to like, he's truly safe as houses which is what a creaky old bird like me needs to still be going at my age. You do learn to love another horse if you give yourself enough time and space after a loss.

Personally I'm hoping for a few more years from my boy before he or I are forced into retirement and that really will be that, I may have the odd hack out at the riding school on their safest plod, or go on a riding holiday and I plan to help out at the odd competitive occasion by stewarding, fence judging or writing at local comps, just so as not to lose the social side entirely - there are ways and means to enjoy the nice side of horses without having to own if that's your choice?