[mftx4]

Well said, Alliekk. We don't have any facts on the situation and apparently the op doesn't either. Until those are known, none of us have the right to judge the owner.

[KristinJ]

Originally Posted by firelight27

Yes, but you can't come jumping in defending the person either, because she could have done it for the wrong reasons. Maybe she did it for the right reasons, I don't know. The OP doesn't really know and without the facts its hard to say. I'm just saying IF a person (not necessarily this person) puts down a sound horse who is not dangerous without first doing their best to find it a new home, then they should be ashamed. If, after attempting to find a home they just can't, then euthanasia becomes an option. I think it should be the LAST resort when you have honestly attempted everything else and have really put an effort forth. If it is your final option, then sadly you have to go ahead and do it. But I KNOW there are people out there who will do it just because the horse is "too much of a burden on them"...yet their double mocha latte is plenty affordable and the two hours a day they spend watching Desperate Housewives and Numbers isn't taking up too much of their time. Instead, the could *gasp* spend the coffee, clothes, etc. money on taking care of the horse they are responsible for...or, if they do not want to care for it, turn off their TV to go out and try and do the right thing by the horse and find it a new home. And I mean really try, not just snap a couple of awful photos and put an ad on CL for a week and then decide it just isn't working. Effort has to be sincerely made.

I'm not saying the person the OP is talking about is like this (Because I really don't know) but SO many people in the USA are so self-entitled and selfish I wouldn't put it past them.

I agree with you.

I believe some of you are just being a little too selfish ... I have horsie friends who I would trust with my horses. If i died today, my horses would go to my parents (who know NOTHING ABOUT HORSES), they would do what they think is best, probably hire a trainer for the yearling and make it work. If that weren't an option I'd probably give them to a few friends that I know would take care of them.

It's like your children. If I died I would not take my 4 yr old 12 yr old CHILD with me just because I am dead ... wow I can't even imagine that. I would still want them to have a life ahead of them. Not everyone is bad. Sure they may not do things 100% like YOU WOULD do if you owned the horse but MOST horse owners (such as the ones on this board) are decent and truly love their pets.

If I couldnt afford all my horses, I would sell my yearling who I could PROBABLY sell or give away and keep my older guy as I know no one would buy him. I am not selfish enough to put him down and keep the younger one. I would sacrifice my own wants and needs to keep my older one as happy as he can until HE tells me it's time for him to go.

ALSO I am not at all referring to the OP and that situation, I am saying if times were rough and I couldn't afford my horses, I would never just decide to put them down. You are all right in WE DONT know the story.

[Alliekk]

Horses live in the here and now. They do not have voices, so we must speak for them, to protect them from harm. If that means taking them with you, so be it. A horse has no fear of death. They have no understanding of why they hurt. We cannot explain to them what is happening so we protect them from what may or may not happen. Always erre on the side of caution with the horses we love. They devote their entire lives to us, why can we not protect them from pain?

[jz131]

I have to admit that if anything were to happen to me, and my immediate family could not keep my horses (or other animals), I would have them put to sleep. That may sound crazy to some of you, but I have seen it happen way too many times where you re-home a horse to a nice family, then the little girl loses interest and the horse ends up at an auction. In fact over the years, I have had 3 horses that this was the story with. One of the them being a 30 year old pony that I took in because the little boy lost interst in horses, so the family was getting rid of him....he lived into his early 40's. I love my horses and they are like my children..... I just can't ever think of them ending up at an auction, or neglected somewhere.
A humane euthanasia with someone who cares talking to them is nicer then what happens to them at an auction, then the trip to slaughter.

[KristinJ]

Originally Posted by jz131

I have to admit that if anything were to happen to me, and my immediate family could not keep my horses (or other animals), I would have them put to sleep. That may sound crazy to some of you, but I have seen it happen way too many times where you re-home a horse to a nice family, then the little girl loses interest and the horse ends up at an auction. In fact over the years, I have had 3 horses that this was the story with. One of the them being a 30 year old pony that I took in because the little boy lost interst in horses, so the family was getting rid of him....he lived into his early 40's. I love my horses and they are like my children..... I just can't ever think of them ending up at an auction, or neglected somewhere.
A humane euthanasia with someone who cares talking to them is nicer then what happens to them at an auction, then the trip to slaughter.

Just be a good judge of character of who you send your horse to. I'll admit it I trust NO ONE, I barely trust my mother to feed if I have to work late, so yes it will be tough but I know a few people who have the same passion I do and even if they didn't ride the horse they would still provide an excellent home and let them live out their days.

[Appylvr]

I hate to say this but I feel your post is a bit childlike and you're only seeing what you want to see...

I'm sure the woman had a hard time getting to this decision. With the economy and the horse market the way it is right now, people can't hardly give away their horses. A lot of horses are being abandoned... left to fend for themselves... or snuck into other people's trailers or pastures to become their problems.

I'm sure this woman was doing what she thought was best for her horse. It probably had a good life while she had it and went quietly to sleep never knowing the fear of abandonment or the pain of starvation

I myself have had to make the exact same decision for my first horse. My family hit a really rough patch a few years back and I thought I was going to have to get rid of all my animals. This mare was 28 years old and just hanging out in the backyard. She looked amazing for her age... but she had a few minor health issues (mostly due from aging) that made her upkeep very expensive. I couldn't bear the thought of giving her to someone and then find out they didn't take care of her like I had or she deserved to be taken care of... or sent her off to an auction for slaughter. So I had her put down. My vet and everyone else told me I made the right decision...

SO... from personal experience I find your post very hurtful and narrow minded.

[mftx4]

2 Ponies in Northwestern NC need a home...

Would this be better?

[lbhugg]

Ok first thing first does anyone know 100% if the horse was even euthanize?Maybe she did find him a home. The other have you ever seen Black Beauty? You may think you are giving a good home but you never know. As I like to try and always do Never judge what you do not have the whole story on.

[CJnBucksMom]

I agree. Maybe she did what she thought was best. Prime example...the newest rescue I have. A 15 year old IMPORTED Irish Sport Horse. At one point someone loved her, at one point someone spent a lot of money on her and I bet they figured when they sold her that surely the price that she must have brought would ensure a good home. A few years later she ends up at my house with a body score of 2...if that. You can never be sure. I've talked to her original breeder/owner in Ireland and she was so upset. She thought her horse was living a life of luxury only to find out how she'd ended up. I'd rather euthanize knowing they had full bellies and never suffered.

[WilsonF]

Originally Posted by Appylvr

I hate to say this but I feel your post is a bit childlike and you're only seeing what you want to see...

I'm sure the woman had a hard time getting to this decision. With the economy and the horse market the way it is right now, people can't hardly give away their horses. A lot of horses are being abandoned... left to fend for themselves... or snuck into other people's trailers or pastures to become their problems.

I'm sure this woman was doing what she thought was best for her horse. It probably had a good life while she had it and went quietly to sleep never knowing the fear of abandonment or the pain of starvation

I myself have had to make the exact same decision for my first horse. My family hit a really rough patch a few years back and I thought I was going to have to get rid of all my animals. This mare was 28 years old and just hanging out in the backyard. She looked amazing for her age... but she had a few minor health issues (mostly due from aging) that made her upkeep very expensive. I couldn't bear the thought of giving her to someone and then find out they didn't take care of her like I had or she deserved to be taken care of... or sent her off to an auction for slaughter. So I had her put down. My vet and everyone else told me I made the right decision...

SO... from personal experience I find your post very hurtful and narrow minded.

I 110% agree with the bolded. There are too many horses, young, old. Broke, unbroke, green broke. Great kids horses, crazy horses. Too many. Our most recent auction was literally GIVING horses away. Not even getting bids for 5 dollars on some. How many of those do you think went to the meat buyer.

We have a 21 year old gelding, the BEST kids horse, we have had since i was three, i grew up with him, learned everything from him. He is blind in one eye. He will NEVER go to a new home, too many people dont understand the proper way to care for a horse.

I have been playing on the idea of selling my 4 year old POA gelding. Have had interests and offers, but it all comes down to wondering on the quality of life and what kind of home he will be in, whether they will keep him or sell him, and if they sell him, how many more times he will be sold. I am not desperate to sell, so unless its someone i know, i will more than likely say no to an offer.

We dont know what the owner was thinking, but if it came down to it, i would probably to the same. Better than putting an older horse through goodness knows what for the rest of their elderly life. Think "Black Beauty" would any one ever want that to happen to their loved horse/pony?