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Discussion on Best way to move a dead horse
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Member:
Nightwin
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Posted on Friday, Sep 29, 2006 - 8:36 pm:
I own a boarding facility, and recently had a horse put down; a first for our facility. (Freak accident; another horse kicked her and cleanly broke her leg. A real tragedy.) We were able to load up her body into the front-end loader of our tractor to transport her the 2,000 plus feet from the pasture to our designated cemetery on the property. We realize that had she been any larger, we would not have been able to use the front-end loader. We think the best bet would be to hang a "cow-sling" from the hook we had soldered onto the loader and move the body that way. Does anybody have any advice as to what type to get, or where to order such a piece of equipment? Or other suggestions? Many thanks.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Oct 1, 2006 - 10:41 am:
If the idea of dragging the body upsets you, I would roll the horse on a tarp and drag the tarp.
DrO
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Member:
Mleeb
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2006 - 4:49 pm:
Hi
I used to work in a barn where we occasionally had to deal with the same problem. We had a system of straps that hung from the fork on a tractor, or bucket. I believe the straps to support the horse were nothing more than the 4" webbing type tow straps you can buy for towing a vehicle. Chains were run through to hook to the tractor forks or bucket, and there was a simple piece of twine connecting the two straps in the same way a keeper would connect a front and rear cinch on a western saddle. This worked quite well. (Rather a morbid topic, isn't it?)
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Member:
Sjeys
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 1:14 am:
It is kind of morbid, but thank heavens for barn people that know how to deal with this kind of thing. I had a horse literally DrOp dead (probably from some kind of aneurysm, but we didn't do a post) and I was so thankful to the barn owners for being able to quickly handle it. Kudos for thinking about the future and how to quickly handle this. The tarp idea sounds good to me. Of course, if they pass away in a stall, that's something else to consider.
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 8:43 am:
I've seen this go bad a few times... its so upsetting to the owners, that they would try to keep them in the office when it happened.
I designed my stalls with large enough doors and paddocks too, in case this ever happened. I do have a geriatric horse.
One time the vet and the crematory were there and had a brilliant idea of putting the horse down already loaded in the truck.. Horse of course didn't go down head first it laid down butt first, then slid off the truck. Best laid plans still turned into a nightmare...
No one at the time (the ones involved) had the wherewithall to cut a clip of hair from the mane and tail. Which is always nice to do for the owners even if they don't do it themselves or ask for it. Later when they calm down they appreciate the gesture.
yes morbid.. but a reality...
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New Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 9:29 am:
We are very lucky to have a pet cemetery called Pine Hill that will come pick up your horse (or any animal) from the vet or your place. They offer several types of burials, general plots or private. We were totally surprised to receive a bill for only $125.00. They came 75 miles to pick ours up. We have buried several of our donkeys on our property but the horses are too big for our equipment and I'm not sure but there maybe health laws. My vet told me that Pine Hill is the only one in our area of Texas that he can get to come to the clinic, all the other outlets have closed down. I like the idea I know what is happening and where they are going.
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Member:
Sjeys
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 10:51 am:
Hi Peggy, one of my horses we put down at 25 went to PineHill...the guy there is great.
jojo, on the clipping of the mane and tail, the one who DrOpped dead, Annie, they clipped her tail off for me and it made me so sad  that she wouldn't have her tail in heaven. So, clipping a small part of the hair is better...to this day I wish they'd left her intact, but I think that most owners appreciate the gesture.
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Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 11:20 am:
Hi Susan, I was impressed with Pine Hill and the services they provide. I wondered how they could possibly stay in business until our friend had them handle the cremation of their rabbit. They bought a package which was over $300 but they wanted the best!
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 11:33 am:
yes that does sound like too much. just a small grouping of it so you can make a horse hair remembrance, like a bracelet or put in a keepsake... all the hair just is too much, unless they donate it to people that use it...
I'm always donating my macaws feathers to reservations that want them.. mostly in the S. america areas. this way they don't disturb the wild macaws...So donating the tail hair is an option, i'm sure...
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Member:
Kathleen
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 12:03 pm:
Hi all,
Where in Texas is Pine Hill? I have located a place in Bulverde, which is near us, but want to keep my options open.
Thank You
Kathleen
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Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 12:27 pm:
Kathleen, Pine Hill is located NW of Ft. Worth. Your're close to San Antonio I believe but there might be something similar around there. A good place to check is with small animal vet.
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Member:
Sjeys
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 12:31 pm:
Who could I donate horse tail hair to? That might be better to have that part of her out in the world than in my drawer.
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Member:
Mleeb
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 1:05 pm:
Instead of donating it (unlike macaw feathers saving the lives of wild birds, this won't save any horses), why not take that hair and have it braided into something useful? I don't know if you ride western, but if you do, there's hat bands, stampede strings, reins etc. If not, have it braided into a rope and form a nice wreath out of it, hang it in the tack room for sentimental value, or if it's nice enough, put it in your house.
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Member:
Kathleen
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 1:30 pm:
Thanks Peggy,
I have the number of a place that picks up the body and buries it on their property in Bulverde (about 25 minutes from my house). Haven't called yet to see if there are options. Just like to consider these options before I need them.
Kathleen
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Member:
Peggyr1
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 1:59 pm:
You are welcome Kathleen. When our Scout was dying we didn't know what we were going to do. But when the vet was out the last time his tech told me about Pine Hill. It was just what we needed and wanted. They have a website www.pinehillpet.com that might give you an idea of services to look for.
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Member:
Nightwin
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 4:17 pm:
Well, I thought nobody wanted to deal with the issue and that's why I didn't get any suggestions other than the tarp, which I had already decided against because of the distance. Michelle, thank you for the webbing idea. I think that is what we'll do next time. Out here is southeastern Virginia there is a crematory that is large enough to fit in a horse without dismemberment. You can reserve it for just your horse, so you know the ashes are totally horse, or, for a cheaper price, share the oven with various other animals and understand that the ashes are a blend. Sure beats rendering.
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Member:
36541
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006 - 7:02 pm:
In a situation where the death was acute, and the body had to be moved to the grave several hundred yards away. we circled a rope round the barrel where a girth would be, then ran it up along the neck and passed it through the throatlatch and noseband of the halter. We then tied the rope to the front end loader and lifted it several feet, so as we moved the body, the head didn't catch or turn under. This was a useful tip I had known at the time, rather than figuring it out by trial and error. If you didn't have a tractor, I think you could use your truck as long as you snugged the rope end up off the ground to control the direction of the head.
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