Digging Horse Graves
- Thread starter cddva
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TrippleT
Gold Member
No, but if it is a full grown horse you will have to dig it pretty wide, and fairly deep. I did take my loader bucket and dug a hole to bury a deer I found on the lower end of my yard. It was spoiled so could not dress it out for the meat. Someone had hit it with a car or truck and it ran into the yard and died.
A friend had his horse get on the highway and it got hit with a car and he got a full sized backhoe to bury it. They dug a pretty good sized hole. I don't know what your ordinances are there. But good luck.
A friend had his horse get on the highway and it got hit with a car and he got a full sized backhoe to bury it. They dug a pretty good sized hole. I don't know what your ordinances are there. But good luck.
shaley
Platinum Member
Block out your afternoon appointments also. It's going to be a big hole.
I'll bet your L39 will dig it pretty quick. I rented a small excavator when buried our horse, went down about 7-8'. An excavator will usually out-dig a backhoe, but this was just a small machine with a 24" bucket and 10' max depth.
curtisfarmer
Gold Member
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- Southern NH
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- M7040, L48, KX121-3, RTV 1100 and a couple of older Fords
Make sure you account for decomposition and ground slumping as the animal is fairly large size. We have buried many a cow here at our farm and try to do it away from farmed land and usually near a wall or in the woods. Large rocks help too to keep out unwanted burrowers.
jfh0jfh
Silver Member
I've done a few for my neighbors but with a larger backhoe. The hardest part is often moving the animal - getting it into the bucket, making sure the kids aren't around. I usually allow 4-6 hours for it: they haven't found a good spot, the animal is in an awkward place and hard to move, the ground has surprises.
Hardcore folks put all dead animals (horses, cows, sheep, deer) way out back and then later sell the skulls to local artists/ antique shops. But some folks think of horses as pets to be buried w/ dogs & cats.
Hardcore folks put all dead animals (horses, cows, sheep, deer) way out back and then later sell the skulls to local artists/ antique shops. But some folks think of horses as pets to be buried w/ dogs & cats.
curtisfarmer
Gold Member
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- Location
- Southern NH
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- M7040, L48, KX121-3, RTV 1100 and a couple of older Fords
I recommend handling with forks for such a large animal, and doing it in private as handling may cause visible damage to the carcas. Dragging with chain can be ugly.............do not attempt near owner of animal for sensitivity of owner.
Put it down about 6'. Stay away from your well....If you hit ground water, don't bury it. Check out the local landfill instead.
When you get it in the hole, pour a couple of bags of hydrated lime on it before you cover it up. Keeps the bacteria down. Mound the dirt or you'll have a hole in a few months.
When you get it in the hole, pour a couple of bags of hydrated lime on it before you cover it up. Keeps the bacteria down. Mound the dirt or you'll have a hole in a few months.
I appreciate all the reply's. Well the deed is done and it really went very well. The owner was present the entire time and she picked the spot, which was adjacent to where the horse was lying in the pasture. The excavation went pretty quick for using the L39 with a 16" bucket, took about 90 minutes to get about a 7' deep hole that was more than long and wide enough in the end. I had thought of using forks to lift it into the hole but I was concerned it may pierce it which is what she was concerned with too. She decided to tie a rope around it's front legs (tied them together) and then run rope out in a big loop and then tied around back legs (together). The rope was doubled up. I cleared some of the pile of dirt away from the hole (was piled all to one side) and then looped the rope around the backhoe bucket to drag the animal into the hole. I did notice the owner turned and walked away so as not to watch. Fortunately the horse dropped in just right and no real mess. I covered it with most of the dirt and she said she would use her Bobcat to finish off backfilling and grading. The whole grave digging/burial took 2 hours. The owner was very thankful and insisted on paying me for the help. As stated it is a sensitive operation with the owner present. I was very glad all went smoothly.
