Is shooting the kindest way to euthanise horses?

Whilst this is a tough subject for us to think about, it’s important to be aware of the euthanasia options for horses, so that owners are prepared practically and mentally for when the time comes. 

How is it done? What are the options?

Because horses are so big, euthanasia is usually carried out in the area where the horse is living; at the livery yard, at home, or in the field. The horse is generally taken to a safe area, away from other horses or disturbances. This is to try and ensure that the whole occasion is kept as calm as possible. It’s also important to make sure that the area is appropriate in terms of other people that may be around. So a screened area or indoor arena with wide door access for a vehicle might be suitable. Safety is a really important consideration, as well as making sure the horse and owner are as well looked after as possible. 

When it comes to putting the horse to sleep, owners have a couple of options and your vet will be able to talk through these with you to help you decide which is the right course of action for the individual horse. 

The first option is a lethal injection

This is similar in many ways to the injection that you might be familiar with in dogs and cats and may only be carried out by a vet. It is a concentrated anaesthetic drug, which is given to the horse via the large vein in their neck. This causes them to rapidly lose consciousness, and then their heart to stop beating. Often, a plastic cannula will be placed into the vein before the injection, and some sedation might be administered too, to help the horse feel relaxed before the final injection is given. The vet will double check that the horse has passed away before anything further happens. 

Rarely, there can be complications (for example, in horses with poor circulation or heart disease). But in most cases, this is peaceful and straightforward.

The second option is euthanasia with a free bullet

This may be more suitable for some horses. There are some health and safety considerations with this method. And it must be carried out by a suitably trained and licenced person, who will ensure that the area around the horse is safe for the procedure to be carried out. During this procedure, the horse may or may not be sedated beforehand, and the gun is quietly placed against the forehead of the horse. The person carrying out the procedure will be the only person handling the horse at the time. And they will calmly discharge the bullet into the forehead of the horse. It is important to understand that there will be