Draft Horse
Draft Horse
Another great place to find Draft Horse
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 WESTERN LEATHER TACK BRIDLE HEADSTALL BREASTCOLLAR CRYSTAL RHINESTONE WITH REINS  US $95.01
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 WESTERN ZEBRA HAIRON LEATHER HORSE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR CRYSTAL RHINESTONE 08 US $95.08
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 WESTERN FUSCHIA METALLIC LEATHER HORSE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR RHINESTONE 216 US $95.00
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 WEAVER BEERY 4 WAY BIT NICKLE PLATED 5 INCH EXCELLENT TRAINING AID US $10.49
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 New Weaver Draft Horse Headstall US $45.00
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 Red Leather Silver Concho Draft Size Bridle Horse Tack Equine US $29.00
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 Tack New Hand Made Parade Show Bridle Headstall Reins PA195 US $154.00
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 WESTERN LEATHER TACK HORSE BRIDLE HEADSTALL WITH REINS US $39.09
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 Western Horse Bitless Bridle Headstall Bosal Reins 327 US $61.99
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 WESTERN ZEBRA HAIR ON LEATHER ONE EAR HORSE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR RHINESTONE 6 US $95.00
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 7 WESTERN BLING CRYSTAL HANDTOOLED LEATHER BRIDLE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR HORSE US $125.74
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 WESTERN CHEETAH HAIR ON LEATHER BRIDLE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR RHINESTONE TACK US $139.00
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 Burgundy Nylon Rawhide Trim Draft Bridle Set Horse Tack US $35.00
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 Purple Nylon Rawhide Trim Draft Bridle Set Horse Tack US $35.00
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 Old Time Style Draft or Mule Bridle US $45.00 |
 AUTHENTIC Dr Cook BITLESS BRIDLE BETA HEADSTALL New US $89.90
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 WESTERN LEATHER TACK ZEBRA HAIRON BRIDLE HEADSTALL BREAST COLLAR RHINESTONE 103 US $95.38
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 Rope Bitless Bridle Hackamore Indian Bosal Side Pull US $15.00
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 NEW AUTHENTIC DR COOK BITLESS BRIDLE BETA BLACK MEDIUM HORSE SIZE HEADSTALL US $89.90
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 DRAFT HORSE BROWN BETA NYLON RIDING HEADSTALL NEW HORSE TACK US $29.99
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 XL horse Draft horse bridle leather complete w bit reins curb strap US $15.50
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 Biothane Black w Bright Red Overlay Western Bridle Breast Harness Horse Tack US $75.00
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 Used Weaver Western Bridle with Snaffle US $15.99
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 BITLESS ROPE HACKAMORE BOSAL BRIDLE COMBO W REINS great for trail riding US $31.75
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 SCALLOPED DESIGN HORSE BITLESS BRIDLE LEATHER HACKAMORE BOSAL BLACK US $29.75
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 WORK DRAFT HORSE BRIDLE BIT WITH BLINDERS HEADSTALL US $19.95
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 BLING HORSE BITLESS BRIDLE LEATHER HACKAMORE BOSAL BLK US $39.75
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 DR COOK Bitless Bridle BETA HEADSTALL w REINS New US $146.80
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 Headstall BreastCollar TAN w Hairon Trim XL Horse Draft US $88.00
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 Draft large horse sized Pink black and silver star bridle and breast collar US $30.00
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 Draft horse show bridle matching breastcollar BROWN US $125.00
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 Headstall Reins Black w Hairon Tr XL Horse Draft Tack US $68.00
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 Headstall Reins Brown Dark Oil w Hairon Tr XL Horse Draft Tack US $68.00
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 Weaver leather Draft horse bridle US $40.00
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 BLACK Draft horse show bridle 9 ft reins 7 snafflebit US $69.50
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 Black Nylon w Braided Rawhide Trim Draft Bridle and Breast Harness Horse Tack US $45.00
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 BROWN Draft horse show bridle 9 ft reins 6 bit US $69.50
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 THE PERFECT HACKAMORE BY TAMMYS ROPE TACK RIDING HALTER W LOOP REINS Yacht US $35.00
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 HORSE BITLESS BRIDLE ROPE HACKAMORE BOSAL ALL BLACK BROWN US $17.95
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 HORSE BITLESS BRIDLE LEATHER HACKAMORE BOSAL COLOR BLACK NICE US $27.95
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When and How to Put a Horse to Sleep
Although some horses (like some people) have the good fortune to die peacefully in their sleep of old age, most horses will eventually reach a stage (due to severe injury, disease or incapacity) where the most humane action is to put them down. For the horse owner, this can be a very difficult and painful decision, in terms of when a horse should be put down, as well as how. This article is the personal view of one horse owner on this subject.
Is Now the Time?
If a horse is in a lot of pain and distress, due to an incurable injury or disease, the only correct action is to put it down as quickly and as humanely as possible. However, in some cases the decision is not as clear.
For example, a horse may be in permanent pain but quite capable of happily living with it. This was the case of a draft horse pensioned with us, who had a chronic case of laminitis which made walking painful (especially over hard surfaces). As an elderly horse, he also had dental issues which made chewing uncomfortable. However, by supplementing his diet with soft food and giving him maximum time on soft pasture, his discomfort was minimised. He was a stoic horse, who seemed little bothered by pain, and obviously enjoyed life. He would trot around the pasture with his head held high and come to us for cuddles. Although retired, he was active in the pasture and obviously enjoyed life despite the constant pain in his feet and when he ate.
For me, the question is not how much pain the horse is in, but rather is he still happy and enjoying life. One can tell this not only by how the horse behaves at the moment, but also how his behavior has changed in response to injury or illness. When life changes from a pleasure to a burden, that is the time for the horse to be put down.
Economic Constraints
Aside from illness and disease, many horses are put down for financial reasons, such as:
- Competitive Horses. Many horses are bred and raised for competitions (e.g. racing), with the vast majority of these not making the grade. The ones which are not fast enough are often either put down, or sold for slaughter, or sold into questionable circumstances.
- Elderly Horses. Older horses, having reached the end of their productive life (e.g. riding), leave the owner with a decision between puting the horse down or paying for an expensive (and potentially lengthy) retirement.
- Medical Costs. Injuries and illnesses can be very expensive. For example, a severe case of colic which requires surgery can cost $10 000, with no guarantee that the treatment will be successful. With the average horse costing $3000 or less (in many cases, much less), horse owners of limited financial resources face a difficult decision.
Although the economic pressures are real, there are alternatives:
- Rescue Organisations. There are numerous horse rescue organisations, which will find new homes for horses young and old. Some of them will even take on medical costs. Your local veterinarian is a good source to ask, not only for the large organisations but also for the smaller ones and the local private activities.
- New Owners. Although a horse may have no apparent economic value, there may still be many potential alternative owners that would be happy to provide it a new home. For example, people which have purchased a horse for their private use recognise that they need a second horse as a companion to the first. For this purpose, even an old or unusable horse may be perfectly suitable. There are a number of websites where one can advertise horses for this and similar purposes, often free of charge.
One may not always be able to find a solution for every horse. However, before putting down a horse which is still enjoying its life, remember that there are alternatives.
How
When your horse has reached the point where it needs to be put down, the question is no longer 'when' but rather 'how'.
The normal methods are by injection (sedative overdose) or by a slaughter gun which fires a bolt directly into the brain. In both cases, this should be done by a professional. In particular, the use of a slaughter gun should be done by an experienced person, as inexperienced people have been known to shoot the horse without killing it on first attempt, resulting in terrible pain until the mistake can be corrected. Whatever one might see in western movies, the use of a hunting gun is highly questionable, due to the risk that the bullet may not penetrate the thick skill and immediately end the horse's life.
If the horse is at home when the decision is make, it is kindest to the horse to put it down there (e.g. have a veterinarian come out and give a lethal injection). If the horse is severely injured or ill, transport to another location adds to its suffering. Furthermore, unfamiliar surroundings may cause it distress (particularly if taken to a slaughterhouse, where the horse may panic in response to the smell of blood). The main obstacle to this approach is the difficulty of transporting the body afterwards, so prior to putting a horse down one needs to consider whether it is necessary to first move it to a more practical location.
For personal safety, if the horse is standing up, one needs to either lie it down prior to euthanasia or be careful that nobody becomes trapped under the horse if it falls while being euthanized. Professionals (e.g. a veterinarian) should have the experience and sufficient detachment to consider such practicalities.
Unless one personally knows and trusts the person performing the euthanasia, one should remain with the horse until the end, to ensure that your wishes in this regard are properly carried out. For example, it has been known for professional slaughter staff to transport horses to the location which is most convenient for them, even though it meant additional suffering for the animal. Staying with your horse allows you to ensure that your horse ends its life with minimum distress.
About the Author
This
Horse Care
article was written by Doug Stewart, owner of
Horse Sale
and breeder of Appaloosas.