And then there were two

QRTRHRS · Tuesday at 10:57 AM

Horses that is. We had to make the difficult decision to euthanize our big Arabian gelding yesterday. He was 24 years old this past May. (Arabians live to an average of 30 years) Although hard to tell by the following photo, he was big for an arab at around 1200lbs.

He had a sarcoid (tumor) over his eye. We had it removed in April but it came right back and was no longer operable. He also tested positive for EPM (equine protozoal myeloencephalitis)this past winter. When he was at one of the large animal hospital's in Lexington, KY to remove the sarcoid, they also identified him as having arthritis in his neck and EMS (equine metabolic syndrome). So, although he was eating well and doing all of the things that horses do, we did not want to let him suffer as he was continuing to decline.

Actually black in color, his face looks bleached out from wearing a face mask. The sun bleaches the black color so that it appear somewhat orange. I had trimmed back his mane while treating the sarcoid.

Enjoying a last bit of grass. For those of you whom keep horses, note the swollen tendon on his left leg. Not sure if that was from the EPM or just being clumsy? He also had a big lump on his right rear ankle. That was a soft tissue injury that he suffered nine years ago.

HamishMacCheap · Tuesday at 11:03 AM

Horses are beautiful animals. I know this was hard for you and you have my condolences.

ponytug · Tuesday at 11:38 AM

My condolences. I know how hard it is hard to lose an equine buddy, but it sounds as if it was time. We lost our last arabian, a 26 year old, a year ago to pigeon fever that ruptured internally giving him what amounted to sepsis/toxicshock. His pasture buddy died two years previously a few days before his 38th birthday, happily trotting down the trail.

We are between horses for the moment, though we definitely miss the companionship.

All the best,

Peter

drssg · Tuesday at 1:30 PM

It never gets any easier. If your horse was paired up with a buddy, I suggest giving him some more attention and activity for a while.

We had two old horses go within a couple of weeks. The second one looked so young at heart that he seemed like he would live forever. Once his buddy was gone, he just looked lost. He ended up with a severe colic and had to be put down in an emergency late night vet call.

QRTRHRS · Tuesday at 2:54 PM

Thanks for the kind thoughts. We put down a mare last January that was three weeks shy of 30 years old. Her pasture buddy missed her so we would put our two geldings next to her when on pasture. We have been there done that many times usually due to age/colic. This was different because he was still eating and doing the things that horses do.

I have been pretty busy today moving corral panels to set the mare up next to the other gelding whom has been quite upset. All three were born the same year, 2001. The last two are half brother/sister. Where we lived in 2001, the market for Arabian's took a hit so we kept them all these years. Those were the last babies that we bred.

In a few days, we will put these two together and watch the fireworks.

Cub 7274 · Tuesday at 10:06 PM

RIP Buddy

Wagtail · Wednesday at 5:25 AM

I feel for you, Mate. It's not easy.

When I had to have "Jack" put down, a companion horse who I'd never ridden, I still insisted that I hold him and 'be there' for his 'putting down'.

I still 'stays with me' to this moment. But, when they need to go...

John0829 · Wednesday at 9:23 AM

It is hard to let em' go, still missing my 32 year old Appaloosa. He was happy, alert and as the old saying goes: Healthy as a horse, except for his feet. The vet we had treating him always talked about how healthy and what good shape he was in, just not the feet. Never did figure put what exactly caused the problem.

He had a companion or two for most all of his life but he actually seemed more content after the last one, a mare, was put down. But then he had his people, from early on with him you could not be out anywhere he had access to you that he was not there and in the middle of whatever you were doing. There are so many stories I could tell about things he did, my "Man in a horse suit".