Euthanasia

placing the pistol in a precise position against the horses head death is instantaneous.
In both cases the horse will collapse and there is often involuntary muscle movement after death. These can both be hard for an owner to witness but are quite normal.
How a horse is put to sleep is a personal choice but there may be practical considerations to take into account such as
Is the horse needleshy?
Is the horse headshy?
Will the noise of a gun cause distress to other horses animals or people close by?
Do you want to be standing with your horse when euthanasia is carried out?
How will injection limit options for disposal?
Some owners want to be present during euthanasia while others prefer not to be it is a purely personal choice. It may be an easier decision to make if you are already aware of what euthanasia involves and know which method you would prefer for your horse.

Disposal
Even small ponies are heavy animals and dealing with a body involves practical decisions. Again having a plan in place will help you know who to contact and what to expect.

Cremation usually the more expensive option but popular with many owners. Part of the crematoriums service will be to collect the body. Your vet or farrier may be able to recommend a crematorium in your area. Not all pet crematoria will take equines and some may only be able to accept ponies so be aware of where the nearest service provider is who would be suitable for you and your horse.
Burial restricted by law and requires local authority permission. Burial will need to be at a specified depth and a safe distance from water courses. It can be bureaucratic and expensive so worth investigating in advance if it is something you want to consider.
Fallen stock operators and hunt yards likely to be the cheapest option. It is a personal choice but not an option for horses that are signed out of the food chain or put down by injection.

Costs
Euthanasia and disposal come at a cost and having a money put away can be invaluable when the time comes. Part of the value of looking into the practicalities of putting a horse to sleep in advance is knowing how much money we are likely to have to find when the time comes.
Mortality insurance options are also available to help cover costs but