What To Do With An Old Horse?

One of the things every horse owner should consider is the fact that horses don’t live forever, nor do they stay rideable forever.  It might seem overly simple to state it in that fashion, but we really don’t like to think about horses getting old, getting hurt, or dying.  Our imaginations enable us to envision the Black Stallion living in endless glory…and even though we understand the old gray mare “ain’t what she used to be”, we like to pretend that she is still quite comfortable and able.  The truth is far uglier at times, and a responsible horse owner will understand and plan ahead of time.  What should you do when your horse is too old to be useful?  What are the best options for owners of aged equines?

I learned to ride on a horse named Chigger.  He had been a useful cowhorse on our ranch before I was born, and when I began riding at the age of five, he was nearing the end of his run as a riding horse.  I remember him always being very tall and thin….the type of horse that’s hard to keep weight on.  I don’t know how old he was, but he had bad teeth and was starting to go downhill, so my dad sold him at a horse auction.  I was very young, so I didn’t really mind so much, but I remember that my teenaged sister was in tears because Dad had sold Chigger to a “kill” buyer for $350. 

I sometimes refer to the period of time when you could still send horses to slaughter as “the good ol’ days”.  That might go against the grain with a lot of people, but when you consider the frugal mindset of that time period, it makes sense.  In those days, there was a use for everything.  Nothing was wasted.  There were so many byproducts for the body of a dead animal, and it didn’t seem quite so bad to have a horse’s usefulness extend past the point of its death.  But that was before there were so many regulations.  Now I don’t even think they make glue or dogfood out of horse meat.  A dead horse will cost $400 – $500 to dispose of, and it is simply buried or burned.  Keep that in mind when you are thinking of purchasing a horse…sometimes it costs more money to get rid of one than it cost to buy one.  We see unkempt horses come through the sale ring at the livestock auction every weekend, and I always wonder where they go from there, when the winning bid is $10.  If I could afford to, I would save every horse….my husband always tells me when we’re on the way to the auction that under no circumstances can I bring a horse home!

I don’t think Dad ever knowingly sold a horse to a kill buyer since that time he sold Chigger.  One of our mares had cancer and had to be put down in her old age.  Every other horse my dad has sold has gone to a good home, and every horse that has passed on has died on the ranch.  When my little sister Karmen, who still lives with Dad and Mom, was about five years old, she requested that Dad never butcher her favorite rooster.  She said, “Let’s just keep him till he dies.”  And that phrase has been the family motto regarding favorite animals ever since.

Our old gelding Kokomo died a few years back.  He was 28 years old and in good health.  Every single one of us seven kids had ridden him, and before that he had been my dad’s #1 ranch gelding.  So we would never have sold him, or even given him away to another owner.  He was precious to us.  In the last few years of his life, he didn’t like being ridden too fast downhill, due to arthritis in his joints.  But he would still take grandkids around the ranch, and he maintained his “boss horse” status among the rest of the herd up until the day he died.  One morning he was found out lying beside his hay bale, peacefully gone.  We miss him still, but he had lived a wonderfully satisfying life, and never lacked for love or attention.  I think this is the best way possible for a horse to go.

The second best way for a horse to die would be with veterinarian assistance.  I have never had a horse euthanized, but I would definitely take that option before sending a horse into a bad situation.  Selling at auction is a bad move, unless you can keep a close eye on the bidding and know whether the horse is going to a home or a kill pen.  Even selling an older horse by private treaty doesn’t guarantee that it will have a good forever home.  When I was a kid, if a horse got injured, my dad would just go out and shoot it.  I have always wondered if I would be able to shoot a horse if necessary.  I think if the situation were bad enough, I would.  I have heard that a well-placed bullet by a knowledgeable person has more immediate and foolproof results than lethal injection by a veterinarian.  But it definitely isn’t for everyone…I have hunted and shot deer many times, but it would take a lot of nerve, and a firm resolution to end its misery, for me to be able to pull the trigger on a horse.

There is a big trend in horse retirement homes.  I was amazed at the results I got when searching “horse boarding retirement”.  Many big ranches offer a type of boarding contract for older horses, and even injured ones.  For a monthly fee you can ensure that your horse lives out the rest of his life in the wide open spaces he deserves, with the companionship of other elderly horses.  Many of these facilities offer vet care and farrier work as needed, and you are also allowed to come visit.  One ranch in Colorado allowed visitors to come look for their horse, but noted that they might be hard to find because the pasture was over 10,000 acres.  I think I would be very reluctant to board my horse where he may or may not be found!  But the whole idea of horse retirement is a great one….if you can afford it.

I think it is important to be able to plan for your horse’s future.  If you have done a good job raising and training the horse, its usefulness for riding should extend well into its twenties, ensuring its value even during old age.  Keep in mind, though, that not every horse will remain sound, and an older horse may require expensive supplements, veterinary care, and special accomodations to keep him healthy.  It would be wise to plan financially so you aren’t taken by surprise when it becomes much more expensive to care for him.

We have a mare that is getting older, and I do worry about her.  Cricket joined our family in 2006, and she wasn’t a young horse then.  Since she is not registered, we have no proof of her birthdate.  Our veterinarian guessed that she could be anywhere from 15 to 20.  She maintains good weight, but her muscle tone has slacked considerably over the last few years, and she shows a slight limp when trotting.  We don’t ask for much from her, usually the kids ride her at a slow walk around the farm, and then she is put back in her pen.  She is very attached to our other horses, and is a good buddy to them.  I don’t know how long her health will last, but I cringe to think of putting her down or having her die.  But she is one of whom I think we will “just keep her till she dies.”  We plan on keeping all of our horses for a very long time.

Tagged as: horse advice, horse auctions, horse care, Horse Health, horse injuries, horse slaughter issue, selling a horse