He is 38/39 now. I have had him since he was 15 (a rescue) and he hasn't been ridable for a long time due to stifle problems, but he has had a good look in his eye, a slick coat, enjoys his treats. Any way, winter is coming, his arthritis is getting worse, it seems that in the morning, someone has to help him rise to his feet. Rock him a little.

I am worried that when they start bringing the horses into the barn at night, someone will get hurt trying to help him up if he is down in the stall. In the field it is very different, you just sort of roll them over so their legs are down hill and rock them a bit. That works most of the time if the ground isn't slick.

If he goes into distress, I can't scoop him up and take him to the vet, it might take a vet hours to come, and you have to have a back hoe to bury them (1,000 lbs).

It makes good sense to make a decision and plan this through before the ground freezes.

I am not laying this on any of you to tell me what to do, I think I know what I have to do. Just thinking about it makes me feel so damn lousy, I can't hold it in.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobcat,

Thanks, MB, if I could have stayed home with him and brought him into the house to be cared for, maybe I could have put it off for a while, but at 200 lbs it was really not an option to let it be an emergency.

It WAS
a lousey way to end the day. But at least I didn't have to do Hair Day for Mom and worry about him shivering alone at home. My H helped me so much with his strength and courage. In truth, I am not sure which of us took it the hardest. It helped me to comfort him. We have not been "goatless" for 30 years.

The furnace issue at Mom's house though is another topic with a great out come I need to share.

Awwww, BC, I am sorry about your losing Dale. That was a lousey way to end the day, eh?

I remember Christmas of 2004, my dog, Gabriel, was diagnosed with an aggressive throat cancer. He finally gave me the green light to put him down the following May. Between nursing him through the final stages of cancer and caring for Mom, this house felt like a tomb!!

Gotta ALWAYS remember: each of us is only ONE person and we can only do X amount before the "Check Engine" light comes on. Ya don't wanna push it further because immediately following is the "Systems Overload" light and that's when things can really get ugly...

Many blessings to you, BC, for the loving care you gave to one of Ma Nature's children for so many years.

MB, I never thanked you for the links. I thank you now. He has had Ani-prin (a low dose asperin, it is funny I guess how I have watched for signs of digestive problems that may be related) for about 7 years and Ani-Flex (glucosamine and MSM). I expect to get yelled at for not using the vet much, but all the horses I have known that lived into their 30's see a vet only for basic innoculations. Ones that NEED the vet rarely get that far. (What comes first, the chicken or the egg?)

MERRWID, this is old. I have known a few that were older, but upper 30's is more common than it used to be. Better nutrition, better parasite control, makes a huge difference. Plus he is good old stock quarterhorse, that gives him an advantage. He needed rescuing from neglect not the whip, so he didn't lose his trust and it is amazing he regained his health. A friend of mine (very experienced) saw him in dry lot (small fenced in place with no grass), 250 lbs underweight and loved his eyes. She paid for him, and nursed him back to health. I fell in love with him and she sold him to me for what she paid. She didn't want to keep him, just had to save him.

Oddly at this time I am missing my only goat. Got home from an overnight at Mom's and a morning of getting her furnance fixed to have H tell me that Dale barely touched his grain and wouldn't come out of the shed. It was the same for me when I went out to see him. He was glad to see me, but his good days were over. His twin died 1½ years ago. I can't nurse them and Mom.

We put him down this afternoon.
My boy Dale:

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobcat,

A 38 year old 'rescue' horse?
I was not aware that horses could live to be that old. That in itself is very strong testament to the care he has received from you all along.
I'm sending you hugs, and will add green pastures and "just enough" horse treats to my prayers tonight.

So many of us keep a lot of energy and self invested in our fur babies, for better or worse, (regardless of size) ounces to tons. Any way, an update.

My long term friend who now acts as farm owner since his late 80's Dad rarely leaves the house anymore, was on a "vacation" (I say that because he had some surgery on his foot and used the time to go out of state to visit other family) when one of the farm hands called me and expressed concern.

I waited for Mark to return to make some plans (yesterday). It has been 2 weeks since he has had the chance to watch my old one, and wants a few days to do so before we make anything "real". He had plans to put my guy in a different field for winter where he can go in and out of shelter as he chooses and a wall can be taken down if there is a problem.

King has friends there I haven't even met. When I got there and was waiting for Mark I saw a couple with their little daughter out visiting with him in the field. I went out to meet them and right away they were saying they were sorry to trespass, but he looked like he wanted to rise and was having trouble so went to see. The little girl was on her knees at his head between his front legs. (What are her parents thinking?)

I thanked them for being his friend and then asked the little girl for a promise. She could come in the pasture with her parents only if she promised to stand back out of the way if he tried to stand or (if standing) started to wobble (and she would have to be ready to move quick). She had to understand that she could not help him and it would hurt his feelings terribly if by accident he was to hurt her. Granted this was pointed at the parents.

Bless her little heart, smart little whip. She asked if I was going to put him down soon, (I swear she couldn't be more than 8) and told me they had to do that for her old pony last year, and that sometimes you had to do that.

Then King pivoted around on his rump, got his feet under him and stood up, no help, just not pretty. He braced his head on my shoulder and peed for what seemed like 5 minutes. No wonder he wanted to get up. The rest of the time I was there he went about normal horse stuff, eating grass, pooping.

Well, I have some time before the ground freezes and King has friends even when I am not there. How does one old bony horse have a fan club like this?

I still think I need to do this. He didn't put on any weight this summer and is going into winter with no surpluss fat.

Our fur babies don't have any plans for tomorrow, no bad business to set straight, no apologies to make, no regrets to atone, they leave this world as pure as they entered. Is it any wonder that we are in awe of them, and they mean so much.

Thanks Mar.

I'm so sorry. I know it's hard after all these years especially....{{{HUGS}}}

I have had him on the best feed for an old guy that I could find, lots of beet pulp, Had his teeth floated regular, no more to float. He has been on the best joint ease supplement I can find. Heck, Darling H takes some of the same stuff. He is really old.

Yes, it is my job to choose his exit plan,

CRAP, It is probably time to suck it up, and let him go

Oh man... that really sux to the max. Is there anything they can do for his arthritis?
Found some links...
http://www.flexicose.cactuscanyon.com/equine-arthritis.htm
http://www.moronacity.com/horse-journal/equine-arthritis.html
http://www.equinearthritis.com/
http://www.recoverblankets.com/equine-arthritis/

I hope the vet can fix him up to where he won't be miserable nor risk anyone handling him...
Keeping fingers crossed...

quote:

I just don't think it is fair to put him through another winter. Nothing about this is about "fair".

Aww sweetie Im so sorry thats a tough one I know all too well...(((HUGS)))

I will have to face this soon, probably within the month.. Since I became full time Mamma care, I have distanced myself from him. Now, I think it is time to just do essentials for Mom. visit her, keep her appointments, shopping etc., but not stay over. I need to spend time with my old horse and then make arrangements to have him planted. I am just talking about a week or two.

He never bit me, kicked me or stepped on me. I fell off a few times but that was my fault. I have known the people where I keep him for more than 40 years. Mom babysat the Big Daddy of the place when she was a teen. I think I am afraid to lose my reason to be there almost as much as saying goodby to old King. I know I will always be welcome there as long as they have it.

I just don't think it is fair to put him through another winter. Nothing about this is about "fair".

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bobcat,