Foxhunter wrote:
Lsrd1 wrote:
I've had one horse euthed in the last year, and was with my friend when she had 2 horses euthed this past year. I've been there when 3 other horses were euthed over the past several years. Each time it went well, if killing a horse can ever go well. Lots of tears in each case, but the euthanasia was peaceful; horse was heavily sedated, actually "out" and then the other chemical was introduced and in each case, within about 1 minute, the heart stopped.

I've heard that it can go wrong, but have never personally witnessed that nor have I ever known anyone IRL that has had it go wrong.

I don't know about shooting, I'd think if you know what you're doing that it would be pretty damn quick and efficient. However, a guy I know tried that shooting behind the ear thing. Yeah, the horse trotted away after he shot it. So then he had to chase it down and shoot it again. A week later when he was telling us about it he was still completely freaked out by it, and it just gives me the shivers even thinking about it now.


He shot behind the ear??? Why on earth would he do that?

My hubby has shot quite a few over the years. He never had a problem and they always dropped immediately.

I have no clue; apparently that's where he was told to shoot the horse.  And yeah, it trotted away.  Pretty damn traumatic for the guy, I don't know how the horse felt about it.  You'd think the sound of the gun would have really spooked it, but the guy said the horse didn't bolt off, just turned around and trotted.  And of course, it was dusk/getting dark at the time.  Bottom line, this guy went about the entire thing wrong.  Glad though, that he did finish the job within minutes.