When is it the right time to say goodbye?

It’s always that difficult question when you have an older horse or pony. They are getting progressively stiffer and struggling to hold their condition as well as they used to. You start to ask yourself, is it time to let them go?

Sometimes, the decision is taken out of our hands as the result of a catastrophic injury or inoperable, incurable colic. Occasionally, horses pass away due to natural causes. However, studies have shown that only 9% of horses will die from natural causes. This means that there is a high likelihood that most owners will have to make the heart breaking decision to put their horses to sleep.

Thinking about your older horse’s quality of life

Here are some things to think about when considering your older horse or ponies quality of life:

Can your horse easily get to and from their field, graze, walk, trot, lay down and get up?

If your horse is unable to cope with their daily life, it is time to consider their quality of life and happiness.

Is your horse maintaining their weight without having to eat disproportionate amounts of hard feed?

Is your horse lame and stiff even after being given a low dose of a painkiller, such as Bute?

A lot of older horses struggle with arthritis more in the winter. This is because they are sedentary for longer in stables or shelters, or are ridden/exercised less. If your horse is struggling to remain sound and free moving, especially or even if they are on Bute, it is highly likely that they are in pain.

Is your horse finding it increasingly difficult to stand up after rolling or lying down, or is no longer rolling or lying down?

Horses that are struggling to rise, can often be struggling from joint pain. Whilst those not laying or rolling at all have usually deemed it too difficult to stand up again.

Making the decision

If you are having to think about some of these questions, it may be a sign that your horse is struggling to cope and that it may be time to let them go. This is an extremely difficult and personal decision and not one that can rushed. Owners should always try and prioritise their horse’s quality of life. If this is diminishing with no chance of improvement, the kindest thing to do is to let them go. You can always discuss your older pony or horses quality of life with your vet.

It is always better to let them go a day too soon rather than a day too late.