This is going to be the most difficult thing i have ever done, having two young children is easy. My father in law bought my wife this amazing bright white arab horse call dollar on her 1st birthday. That will make dollar 32 years old, he is fit as a fiddle, i rent a 3 acre field so burying him their is not an option. Please advise also dollar has a friend for more then 26 years old her name is fudge, can you also advise. Unfortunately buying another horse isn't the option.
Answers:
I am so sorry these things are aways hard. When it comes time to euthanize Dollar and fiddle, or they go on their own, In most places burying your horse in your yard is illegal, but most people do it anyway, just get a trusted friend or neighbor with a backhoe to dig you a hole in the middle of the day when no one is around, lots of farmers where I live have let neighbors bury their horses in their pastures and on the edges of their cornfields because they did not have enough land. If you live in a tight community and one of your neighbors will rat you out, composting is legal, if your manure pile is big enough the remains will be gone within 18 to 24 months. Again maybe a local farmer will let you use their manure or compost heap. Also cremation is an option, but a bit pricey and difficult as the horse's remains must somehow be transported there, but I understand you are limited to the options available in your area. Call your vet and ask, they may be able to help you.
Check with regulations where you live (where do you live?!?!). I know a friend of mine here in Missouri whose horse was struck by freak lightning was able to rent a backhoe to dig the hole. Others have used the front end loaders of their tractors to somewhat dig holes when the ground was wet. Some local backhoe companies may also be able to be hired to dig. You may want to call in advance to see if they can do this.
Edit- sorry, did not see that you rent the 3 acres. Maybe look into a pet cemetary. I've seen several that will allow horses. You could also look into any farm friends letting you bury him there. The poster after me had a good idea as well. Have you talked to the owner of the 3 acres? You say burying is not an option, but the owner may if you ask and are planning on continuing to rent. Especially if you take care of the expenses of the burial and the reseeding of the area of the field.
If it were my horse (and I did use to have one), I would cremate it, and take it to a field where other horses roam, and spread its ashes there.
I wish you luck, it a difficult time.
First of all, my condolences to you on the incredibly difficult situation you are facing and the choice you must make. It sounds as though you need to check around and see if there is some other place where you can lay Dollar to rest, since you don't own the field where he and his companion currently live. I would ask your vet, your farrier, the people you rent the land from, your feed and hay suppliers, if they know of anyone who would be willing to allow to you to bury your old friend on their property. I would also check with the local health and public works department in your area to be sure that the disposal of animal carcass ( I know that is a brutal term to use when I'm probably talking about yours and your wife's best friend, and I'm sorry to have to say it) on private property isn't prohibited by law. Most communities have regulations concerning this in place to protect public health and safety. Another option, if you can't find anyone willing to allow a private burial, is cremation- but I can tell you that this is quite expensive to do, and even then, there are rules that govern where and how the ashes can be stored and disposed of. This process will save you time and space, and it will eliminate the worry about what to do with Dollar once he crosses the Rainbow Bridge. Still another option is to send the carcass ( there's that ugly word again) to the nearest rendering plant to be turned into glue, or to the taxadermist to be stuffed. And lastly, I can think of one other option, which I know you probably will not consider ( I know I wouldn't unless I had no other choice) and that is to send the horse to an auction before he dies. As for Dollar's companion, perhaps you can get another animal, such as a goat, to keep her company after he is gone. I commend you for making plans now, while both horses are still in reasonably good health- this will make things somewhat easier on you when the time comes. I wish more horse owners had the foresight to do what you are doing- this world would be a better place if that was true.
Have Dollar cremated. You can keep the ashes in a nice urn. Also ask if they can save your wife one of his shoes, or a small piece of his tail/mane, its a nice senimental thing to have.
For the other horse, if getting a second horse isn't an option try getting a large older goat. This horse will need company, horses are not happy alone. Some goats make good companions, they are cheap and easy to care for, but they escape easily. Make the goat where a dog collar and tag incase it gets out. Also make sure you get a goat that is not overly attached to people. Get one that has been raised around other animals. I had one that was bottle raised and it would never stay with the horses, it would always try and find people. You can also get an old donkey. They are lower maintinance than a horse, cheaper, and are very sweet animals. Donkeys are sturdy animals, and very hardy, plus they are great company to horses. Don't get a cow as a companion, this almost never works out well. I have heard of people getting llamas as companion animals, but I would figure that a llama would take the same ammount of time and money to care for as a donkey...
You could also offer to share the rent of the land with another horse owner. This would lower costs for you, and give the remaining horse a friend.
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