Our long relationships with our horses make planning for the end of your horse’s life difficult. Making the decision to euthanise a horse is understandably emotional. Planning the logistics of how this will be done ahead of time can be helpful to reduce some of the upset when it is finally time. The decision might often feel more complex if you don’t plan ahead. 

Steps to take for the End of Your Horse’s Life

It is important to decide who will perform the euthanasia. If it is an elective decision rather than during a crisis, decide where it should be done. You might wish to ask for advice from your veterinarian to help plan this.  

If you have never witnessed a horse being euthanised before, then it is helpful to ask your veterinarian to talk you through exactly what to expect. 

Take time to be sure that all parties involved are in full agreement about the decision ahead of time. Also make sure all have had a chance to visit the horse and to say their goodbyes as appropriate. This might take a few conversations or visits until all agree. This is especially true if some parties have not seen the horse for a while. 

You might need to make and file some simple written documents that are agreed upon and signed by all, if multiple owners are involved.

You will need to contact your insurance provider prior to euthanasia. This generally is required of your policy. Issues if you don’t do this might include the impact on insurance coverage or mortality claims.

On the Day

When the time comes for the end of your horse’s life, ideally the horse should be relaxed, calm, and none the wiser as to what is about to happen. This should include right up until the moment that an injection of the euthanasia agent is performed. 

Taking a horse for a quiet walk into a neighbouring field or along a grass track, where they can graze in hand or be fed treats, might be one choice that allows you to quietly separate the horse from its field companions. Other horses might stay more relaxed if they are moved into a quieter area with one companion alongside them to help them stay calm.

What Happens

Your veterinarian will place an intravenous catheter into the horse’s jugular vein within the lower neck region, ready to receive the injection. Having done this, there should be time allowed to let the horse relax again and for owners to say goodbye.

Planning on who will hold your horse as the euthanasia injection is performed is important. You might want to do this, or you might feel unable to. 

Most veterinarians are able to bring an assistant or nurse along with them for these procedures if an owner prefers to step out of sight whilst euthanasia is performed. 

It is important to provide enough free space around the horse to allow the people involved in the procedure to step a safe distance away to avoid inadvertent injury to personnel. The handler will allow the horse to sink to the ground post injection in as controlled a manner as possible.

Following the final injection, your veterinarian will stay with the recumbent horse for some minutes and perform checks such as listening to the heart beat and testing of ocular (eye) and palpebral (blink) reflexes to make absolutely certain that the horse has passed away. Once the horse is declared deceased, owners might wish to come back for a last look.  

After Euthanasia

Moving the body is the next hurdle. This will require a mechanised winch and vehicle. In many countries, it is not permitted to bury an animal as large as a horse on your own land. Thus, the services of an animal disposal company will be required. You could either line this up ahead of time to coincide with the veterinarian’s visit, or arrange for the body to be collected a short time afterward. 

Covering the body in any interim period with a tarpaulin or a rug might be advisable if the horse was euthanised on a livery yard rather than at home. This can spare other people in the vicinity any upset.

It is worth deciding ahead of time whether you will want to see the body again after death. Some owners prefer that the removal be done without their presence. 

Some owners request a small piece of mane or tail as a keepsake. It is important to do remember to do this small task before the body is removed. You might choose to receive your horse’s ashes back post cremation. This decision must be made ahead of the removal.

Finally, allow yourself time and space to grieve. Remember the undoubted joy that your horse gave you during its time with you. 

Further Reading

  • Merry Smith, MA, VetMB, PhD, Cert ES, DipECVS, AECVDI, MRCVS, works as a freelance equine diagnostic imaging and surgery consultant based at her home in Hertfordshire, U.K. She is a Trustee for World Horse Welfare and chairs that organization's Veterinary Advisory Committee.
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