Page 1101 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

NATIONAL FALLEN STOCK COMPANY (NFSCO)

This is a nationwide organization for the collection and disposal of fallen stock. In addition to
VetBooks.ir farm animals it will also deal with horses. These companies will collect a horse after a vet

has put it down or arrange the euthanasia for you (www.nfsco.co.uk).

BURIAL
You need to check with your local trading standards office and the Environment Agency

(www.gov.uk) whether this is permitted.

At the time of writing Defra does allow burial of pet horses in England, Scotland and
Wales. Each case is considered on an individual basis, as ‘minimum groundwater protection

requirements’ must be followed. The body must be buried a minimum distance from a
watercourse and above the water table. The local council may ask for a map with the burial

site marked.

Advance considerations

Having any animal put down is a distressing experience, so it is a good idea to plan ahead in

order to avoid rushed decisions under difficult circumstances. If you have any questions or
worries, discuss it with your vet who will be accustomed to helping with these difficult

situations.

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME?

Most people ‘just know’ when the time has come for their horse to be put to sleep. The most
important consideration is your horse’s quality of life. If it is suffering from a disease which

affects its quality of life or is experiencing chronic pain from which there is no hope of
recovery, then it is time to make the decision and prevent further suffering. If you need to

discuss it with anyone, consult your vet.

SHOULD I BE THERE?

Rest assured that everyone concerned will want your horse’s last minutes to be peaceful. The

people involved are professionals who care about animals and are used to dealing with this
sensitive task. If you are able to be calm and relaxed during the procedure, then your

presence is likely to be reassuring for your horse. If you are visibly distressed, then it may be
better to ask a trusted friend to do this for you. Your vet will require you or someone on your
behalf to sign a consent form. In a yard with several horses, it is essential that someone is

present who can advise the vet which horse is to be put down.