When do you call the end?

When do you call the end?

The worst part of animal ownership…..when to call the end of your beloved partner. Between my own horses and clients’ horses I have been involved in a dozen or more of these discussions, none have been easy and some have left vivid memories in my mind. Whether the horse had a life time injury, old age or a disease, the situations are always unique and take a lot of thought and discussions. Most of the time a vet is involved and they are able to give educated help but sometimes it’s the relationship you have had with the equine that you are able to read and make the call. I have had two horses that I trained to Grand Prix and when the time to make the call it wasn’t easy with either one. There was countless hours, highs and many lows spent with both horses that I still reflect on and both horse have left me with wonderful knowledge and memories. But when it came to make the decision to send them over the rainbow bridge, I have two very different memories of them. Both were in their 20’s, had successful careers and lived good lives. But when fall rolls into Montana you have to take a hard look at each individual and think about what the winter could bring for the older horse. Winters can be long and treacherous for the fit and young, but if the older horse has a hard time keeping weight on and is arthritic, the days and months can drag on. I made the call to put Quincy down in the fall as he was having difficulty keeping weight on and at that time I didn’t a good facility to keep him in over the winter. When the day came to catch him in the field, he took off running across the field, probably because he could read my sadness. He was always smart with a good sense of humor! At the time I was upset at him and questioned my decision but now I can smile and laugh at this memory. He left with a smile. Iron Forge Starman’s last moments were not as fond because the situation ended differently. In the fall before his last winter I couldn’t bring myself to make the call. Looking back I knew I needed make an appointment but Starman and I had an amazing relationship and he was so influential in our breeding program, I couldn’t let go. His weight wasn’t good going into the winter, he coliced on Christmas Day, he was arthritic and the ice and snow was difficult for him. In the spring he was looking like a bag of bones, lame and not his perky self. Once the ground was thawed I made the appointment with the vet and gave him a bath and sent him over the rainbow bridge. My last memories of Starman don’t make me smile like watching Quincy gallop across the field and in hindsight I wish I would have had the guts to make the call in the fall on Starman. Letting go isn’t easy. As a trainer, I try to give my clients real and sometimes hard truths about the death process. I try to be honest with them that most of the time the horse will let you know if you have the courage to take yourself out of the equation and listen. Each situation is unique and sometimes you don’t get to gracefully age with your horse but I have found the last memories are important not only for you but the horse.