Weddingbee boards

I got a call from the vet who takes care of my old, old mare today.  She said she had an "episode" similar to a stroke on the weekend.  Thought maybe it was heart related.  Vet was on her way to the farm to assist when the mare got up and seemed to be perfectly normal, so the caretakers called the vet off.  Today, I guess she has been acting weird, exhibiting strange behaviours, neurological in nature, loss of balance, head shaking, droopy lips, "out of it" behaviour, nickering randomly.  SO the vet is on her way there, and called me to prepare me that it may be time to make the call to euthanize her.

Back story...She is 33 this year, purebred Morgan mare,  I have had her since she was 13.  I retired her from eventing, and she has spent a number of pleasant years helping a young girl learn to ride, and was then pastured out.  My plan was to put her down last winter, but she was doing so well it didn't seem right.  So (of all weird coincidences) I decided last week that she could have the summer, and I would put her down this fall (2012) as she had a harder time through the winter keeping weight on and some soundness issues too.  Now this.  Though I made the decision to put her down in the not so distant future, it's really bothering me that the decision may have to be made sooner, like it's not MY choice any more.  Sucks...

I'm so sorry. I had to put my horse down before. It's very sad and never easy, but sometimes it just has to be done :(. If you can, try to focus on the good full life that you gave her. While it's sad it has to end this way, I'm sure that you gave her love and a happy life.

I'm so sorry :( My husband's horse died last Easter. We went over at about 6am because the horse was lying down and his dad wanted to see if they could get him back up. The poor thing was suffering so much, they decided to call the vet. Once he got there he shaved a spot on the horse, went over to get the shot ready, walked back over to him and he had passed on his own during those two minutes. He was 35, DH had had him for about 24 years. It was very upsetting but DH was just glad he wasn't in pain anymore. Not that that really helps at a time like this, but just know that as upsetting as it is that it's not your choice anymore, she may just be telling you she's ready to go.

@Eva Peron:  Well, there were a few reasons, but she is definietly not suffering in any fashion, other than whateer weirdness is going on now.  The first time I was going to do it, I picked her up from the home she had been with for 8 years, and she was in really poor shape.  Not sure if you are familiar with the BCS system, but she was maybe a 3.5.  I was paying all her vet bills while she was in the care of these people, but they didn't want to seperate her to feed her, and kept her in the herd of younger horses, so she got picked on and pushed off the feed, plus they wouldn't grain her.  That was May of 2011, and I made the decision that is she didn't pick up over the summer, I wouldn't put her through another winter.  However, she came roaring back to health in a short time and was doing really really well, so I just didn't feel right doing it last fall.  I found a family who wanted a horse for their handicapped son to play with that was safe and quiet, so thought it would be a perfect final home for her, and best part, she didn't have to change farms again.  She has had a few minor issues over the past 2 years, an abcess in one foot that became chronic (since cleared with regular care), swelling in her legs (lymphatic drainage issues most likely), she is getting harder and harder to get and keep weight on, though her teeth are in great shape, she has arthritis in a knee and one hip, and started to affect her ability get up and down in the colder weather.  Overall she is OK (until this most recent call from the vet that is), I am just super sensitive to people keeping animals alive for their own benefit, and ignoring the needs of the animal.  So I try really hard to be a responsible horse owner and prepare myself to make the decision as to whats best for her, not me

Thanks all.  I know this will be tough, I am just hoping she goes peacufully on her own, but I definitely won't lalow her to suffer, and my vet is awesome too so won't beat around it if things are bad enough to put her to rest, she will tell me straight.  I've thankfully been pretty lucky with my horses.  I was involved in several situations that ended in death through the barns I worked in, a colic, a troubled foaling, a tetnus infection, a TB who had a heart attack while I cooled him out post race.  But other then the TB, I wasn't physically there when the call was made to euthanize, I was just assocaited with them through work.  That was hard enough.

Well, the vet went and did a full exam, found nothing obviously amiss.  Her heart sounds great which was our number one concern, she was full of life when the vet was trying to examine her!  She thinks it could be that my mare is losing her vision some as there is some cloudiness in both her eyes, and that it's causing her to develop an anxiety disorder of some kind.  As soon as it's dark and the barn lights are out, she starts getting panicky, running the fenceline frantically calling to her buddy who is just opposite her in a seperate paddock.  They have to be seperated so my mare can eat more overnight and the fat friend is kept off the high end feed.  The farm has changed her stabling arrangements, and will be leaving a night light on for her to see if that helps.  All the fence running has caused her to lose some weight, and she is down resting a lot more during the day when she is secure than usual.  The vet and caretaker are keeping a close eye on her to see how she does.  If it gets too bad or something that we can't manage, I will make the call, but as of right now, she is OK health wise as far as a basic physical exam can tell.  My prayer is she goes peacefully in the night when she's ready.

Thanks to all for your support.

Context: I grew up on a horse farm (polo ponies and racehorses) and my dad is a polo player/blacksmith/racehorse trainer. I've never (that I remember) been around when a horse was euthanized but I have been there lots of times when horses have had strokes/heart attacks/etc and died as a result. It's not pretty and never expected. It sounds like your mare is getting old and will likely go quietly, not suddenly like younger performance horses sometimes (unfortunately) do. If she's not in pain, let her slip away. If she is in pain and doesn't have a spark in her eye, it's time for her to go. Either way, it's a tough decision. Most of the horses I grew up with were, until recently, still around and they are like members of the family. Enjoy your time with her and give her a treat from me. 

@JeniRae:  Thanks, I am hoping she does just let go one day, a fitting end to grand old lady!

I've always wanted to work with polo horses, one sport I have never been exposed to.  Someday maybe!

@Take The Reins:  I don't know where you are in Canada, but we (the team) have played a lot in Toronto and Montreal, and frequently in Buffalo. My dad won the Canadian Cup one year! It's a great sport, a huge challenge for the players and the horses, and has a real "tribe" feel (everyone feels like family, hang out together after the game, etc). I hope you can experience it one day! 

@JeniRae:  That's awesome!  We are in Northern Alberta, I know Calgary has a polo club, but I've never been there.