Glad That January Is Over!

I went out as usual in the morning to feed Tim who was always waiting at the gate by the back door. Strangely, that morning he wasn’t there. When I went out, I saw he was at the top of the field, but when he saw me came running down. However Ginger (miniature Shetland) his little pal, was nowhere in sight. I had a horrid feeling he may be dead at the top of the field.

I put Tim’s feed in, kept shouting Ginger and then started to walk up and phew he came running down the field. My relief was very short-lived. Within a few hundred yards of me he just keeled over and starting rolling. At first I thought he was just being daft (he was like that!), but then I saw his body caked in wet mud and his eye very swollen and ear flattened to his head on his left side. I coaxed him into the stable where he started rolling violently and his abdomen was so distended. I immediately suspected a twisted gut or some sort of neurological problem as he was also staggering round flinging himself into the walls.

Clearly Tim had been guarding him at the top of the field – how lovely are horses?

I knew I had to get Ginger put out of his misery as he was clearly in a lot of pain and being an old pony the prognosis wouldn’t be good.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get hold of the man we use to humanely destroy so I had to resort to contacting my vet.

I know this is a very sensitive subject and each to their own. No one likes to make the decision to have a horse pts but sometimes its the only option and often the kindest. I have always felt the humane gun to be the kindest and quickest as they are dead before they hit the floor which, yes to some seems barbaric but its not often that simple and everyone must do what suits them and their horse when this sad time comes.

My vet arrived about 15mins later and did the absolute best he could in the circumstances. Ginger had that much matted with mud wet coat (he’d clearly been struggling in the night, which made me feel immensely guilty but what could I have done? He lived out with Tim and they have access to stables all year round.

We tried to clip the hair so the vet could access a vein however the clippers kept getting stuck in his fur and even though he was in a lot of pain he fought like mad. Trying to get a vein was a nightmare as his little body had started to shut down. So obviously when the vet tried to inject Somulose into the vein it was an almost impossible task. He tried on both sides and in the end he had double the amount used to euthanise a 16.2hh horse and still he fought it all the way it was so distressing both for him and for us to see.

Please don’t get me wrong I am in no way criticising the vet as he had a very difficult task, but I really don’t understand why they are not licensed to keep and use humane guns. Perhaps the laws should be changed on this?

Eventually he was still though his agonal breathing carried on for a while. I am not documenting this to upset anyone but its just helping me come to terms with it too and may make others think about how they will have their horse pts if sadly it becomes necessary.

After the vet had gone, I wanted to let Tim see his little pal had passed so he could realise he’s gone, as they say this is the best way for them to accept it. It was so sad to see him keep biting his ear as if trying to lift his head up and then licking his nose.  It makes me cry just thinking about it. Tim hovered around the stables that night and the next day, and only when he left and ventured up the field did we get Ginger’s body removed. 

So Tim is by himself now so I’ve got the dilemma of finding him another home or getting him another companion? He was very ‘down’ for a week or so but now seems to be bouncing back and galloping and playing about chasing pheasants all over the field. Perhaps I’ll reassess when we get some better weather?!