Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

Re: [RC] Old Horses and weighing decisions - rides2far



For me, "if they are in too much pain or discomfort to enjoy life," 
then> it is PAST time to have let them go.


There is a  horse where I ride who has very painful Navicular disease. He
probably weighs 1400 lbs (really). He has a huge cresty neck and a broad
flat back. The owner has plenty of money and pays for accupuncture, MSM,
bute, special shoeing etc. etc. Anything the vet says will help. He wears
a hot itchy grazing muzzle during the day trying to control his weight.
He is bright eyed, but stands with much of his weight on his rear feet
most of the time. He does a hop to turn sharply and likes to lay down a
lot.  

I think the owner feels benevolent to be willing to spend so much money
on him. I  think it's cruel. The horse has NOTHING to look forward to. A
person who is willing to go through painful treatments, etc. may "want to
see their grandchildren" or write their memoirs...*something* to make
getting up every morning a thing to look forward to. This horse has pain
and hunger. Just because he's fat doesn't mean he doesn't get hungry.
He's 15 years old and could have 15 years of pain and dieting ahead of
him if he doesn't get lucky and get hit by lightning.  

Death is NOT the worst thing that can happen to an animal. We are
programmed to try to stay alive, to want to live, but that's an instinct
that was put there for the sake of the species. People really need to
realize that with nothng except existing (no future plans, fantasies,
etc) to occupy the mind a horse pretty much has "ouch",  "I'm hungry", "I
feel scared because I know I'm weak", and "I'm lonesome".  

Another retired horse that I take care of has a huge swollen arthritic
knee but it only bothers him when he trots & canters (which he still
does). I have no problem with that, he doesn't *have* to canter, but the
first horse does have to stand. If existing is painful; it's time!

Angie

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=