What to do when your horse dies?
Making the decision to put your horse to sleep can be very difficult and stressful, especiall if the time comes upon you suddenly. However, it is important to be prepared and ensure a plan is put in place. This is important to do even if your horse is young or has no current illnesses or injuries, as horses can soon find themselves getting into trouble.
Although you may have an idea of how you want things to go, it is definitely worth speaking to your vet as they can talk through the options with you and explain how things might happen on the day.
How euthanasia is performedWhat happens to the horse after euthanasia?Will my insurance cover the cost of euthanasia?Remembering your horseBereavement SupportFurther reading:
How euthanasia is performed
First you will need to decide how you would like the euthanasia to be performed.
The most common way of putting a horse to sleep is by injection. In this case, the horse is given a small amount of sedation, a catheter is then placed into the jugular vein in the neck. The injection is administered into the catheter. After 30-90 seconds (usually), the horse will fall to the ground and the heart will stop. There can be muscle twitching and a gasp as the air leaves the lungs and the body shuts down; but they are unconscious before they even hit the floor.
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What happens to the horse after euthanasia?
You will then need to decide how your horse will be taken care of after the euthanasia has been performed. Depending on the landowner, you may have the option to bury your horse in some situations. But in most cases your horse will need to be collected. Before your horse is euthanased, it is important to walk them to an area that is easily accessible by machinery so that they can be moved easily after they have died. This includes taking into account narrow gateways and sharp corners. Once your horse has been euthanased, there is the choice of either having them cremated so that the ashes can be returned to you, or having them cremated with other animals (communal cremation). If a firearm has been used, there may also be the option of taking the horse to the hunt kennels for disposal.
Will my insurance cover the cost of euthanasia?
Before deciding to put your horse to sleep, it is important to check your insurance policy to see what is covered. Not all policies will cover the cost of euthanasia and disposal; so this may affect your decision when looking at the different options. Some insurance policies also request that the vet makes a statement on whether or not the horse was euthanased on humane grounds. Although it may seem necessary to you that the procedure is performed, it is worth contacting your insurance company before making the decision, as performing euthanasia for some conditions can invalidate your insurance policy.
Remembering your horse
Although you can choose to keep your horse’s ashes after they have gone, the individual cremation that allows ashes to be returned can be very expensive. An alternative is to collect pieces of mane or tail hair, or even their shoes, after they have died. If you would like to keep something, ask your vet and they can help you. There are also a number of websites that can make jewellery from the hair or ashes that you have collected.
Bereavement Support
Losing a companion can be extremely difficult, especially if they have been in your life for a long period of time. Many people suffer from grief following the loss of a horse. It is important to reach out to someone to help you come to terms with what has happened.
