Got to say that I congratulate you for posing this question at a most difficult time.

To me these are the sort of things that horse owners should think about long before they have to make the decision. Because when you have to make it, emotions are high and its difficult to think straight. So raising it might lead to others thinking about the practicalities.

I've been with a lot of horses when they've been euthanased and with the lethal intravenous injection, captive bolt and gunshot method.

Personally speaking I'd rather stay with one of my animals to the end and ensure its o.k. I'm absolutely assured they will be calm with me because they trust me and its just something I feel I should do for them. So long as you can hold it together until they're dead you can do what the heck you like after.

I strongly recommend whiskey (large quantity!) listen to Puccini opera, either Tosca or La Bohemme (for total self-indulgence) and a huge box of tissues And whenever someone asks if you're o.k. then snap back "of course I'm not"

Remember though that if you can't hold it together then there will always need to be a handler. So either the vet nurse or you may need to make arrangements for someone else to do it for you. Indeed one of the reasons I've seen so many is that I've handled horses for other people and because they've been too upset. And for the horse its better to be handled by someone calm - in death as in life.

IME its true to say that when you suffer a bereavement that for some time you dwell on the final events and picture in your mind your last experiences and it takes time (sometimes a long time) to come to terms with the bereavement and remember the good and happier times in the past. For some people - and I've got to say, particularly when you're younger, that there's absolutely no need to put yourself in the position of having the final picture of death in your mind. If it doesn't feel right to YOU then don't do it. However my experience is that once the horse is dead they are at peace and the act itself is never as bad as you fear and imagine. But if you know that you can again be confident that when you leave your horse he'll be o.k.

And you should never beat yourself up no matter which course of action you choose. Indeed I think the worse case scenario is doing what you feel uncomfortable doing and then regretting it and filling your mind with "what ifs". To your horse, it truly makes no difference and the important thing is that he's handled calmly and confidently and with kindness and consideration and compassion right to the end and no different as it should be in life.

I've used both gun shot and captive bolt out of necessity and arising from catastrophic accident but with euthanasia that isn't an acute emergency I'd always choose to use lethal injection and purely because its so quick and calm and easy and the aesthethic effect is just altogether less disturbing and upsetting - with no blood, considerably less chance of body movement and no noise. The horse can be sedated beforehand too so its not under stress.

Ordinarily I've had them sedated first which is the preferred and normal procedure and then given the lethal injection and without exception all have just quietly and very quickly gone down and died. This is the typical experience and is always what I've personally witnessed. And trust me, I've been with too many over my lifetime of working with horses. In rare circumstances there is involuntary action as the drug is administered and the horse moves (see later).

Most vets will sedate the horse with a tranquilizer and you can ask about that. This allows the handler to better control the fall and reduces the horse's unconscious and reflex movements. A violent fall and reflex movements can be very disturbing to the horse's owner and observers who are not familiar with a horse being euthanised. The drug overdose is delivered via an intravenous injection in the horse's neck. The veterinarian will administer 120ccs a massive dose of barbiturate and anesthetic, directly to depress the central nervous system. The overdose leads to a depression of breathing and cardiac arrest. (NOT suffocation as I've occasionally read on forums and posted by the ignorant) And its instananeous.

The horse may or may not become ataxic (wobbly) upon delivery of the drug. The drugs will cause the horse to lose consciousness and collapse. Due to their large size most horses tend to drop rather suddenly. Some horses may go over backwards or lunge forward. It is helpful to realize that a horse that is being put under anesthesia for surgery also collapses to the ground in much the same manner. During surgery a horse's eyes will remain open, the same as a horse that has been euthanised. The horse's mouth will open and often their eyes will roll back in their head. This can be very disturbing to the owner and or the horse's caretakers. Again, it is helpful for the observers to understand that these same actions and movement occur when the horse is going under for surgery. The horse is unconscious and feels nothing.

Sometimes following euthanasia, muscle tremors and involuntary jerking take place. The horse's legs may move and there may be an exhalation or gasping sound. The owner and observers may be disturbed by this, but should understand that these are unconscious movements. The horse is actually unconscious and feels nothing just before the initial fall. If you've ever had general anesthesia you'll realize just how quickly the drugs take effect.

The horse's breathing stops and then the heart. Owners and observers must also remember that in a non-emergency euthanasia the horse is in a familiar surrounding. The horse is led outside by a familiar handler and receives an injection. The horse does not realize or know what the veterinarian has in the syringe. There is no panic. There is no pain. There is no trauma.

Some folks do of course own ill trained pukes that you can't do anything with ever and that includes handling and getting to stand quietly or to have an injection and in those circumstances you realise why its a huge disadvantage not investing the time and effort getting them manageable. And then the captive bolt or gunshot method using a restraint would be necessary. Likewise if the horse is injured and in pain then those methods might be quicker and safer for the handlers.

Gunshot and captive bolt is also instaneous but the noise and appearance is as if the horse is shot in the head and that can be more traumatic or disturbing for the owner.

Be absolutely assured that all methods though including gunshot is genuinely quick and genuinely humane. ALWAYS the most difficult decision and the hardest thing you can do for a much loved horse but the horse genuinely does not suffer and is never distressed.

And in my mind, its not the act of death that is so painful, its the gap left in your life and heart afterwards. Be assured though that in taking the decision to end suffering through euthanasia you are making the biggest and most difficult decision possible. IMO if you treated it casually or were emotionally unaffected by it, I'd be more seriously concerned and worried. And so I highly recommend the uncontrollable sobbing and feeling of total self pity and sadness.

Finally, no matter what you decide to do, my thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Last Edited By: Spooksandbolts Sep 21 11 7:51 AM. Edited 2 times.