What to do when your horse dies

Making the decision to put your horse to sleep can be very difficult and stressful especially if the time comes upon you suddenly. However it is important to be prepared and ensure a plan is put in place. This is important to do even if your horse is young or has no current illnesses or injuries as horses can soon find themselves getting into trouble.
Although you may have an idea of how you want things to go it is definitely worth speaking to your vet as they can talk through the options with you and explain how things might happen on the day.

How euthanasia is performed
First you will need to decide how you would like the euthanasia to be performed. 
The most common way of putting a horse to sleep is by injection. In this case the horse is given a small amount of sedation a catheter is then placed into the jugular vein in the neck. The injection is administered into the catheter. After 3090 seconds usually the horse will fall to the ground and the heart will stop. There can be muscle twitching and a gasp as the air leaves the lungs and the body shuts down but they are unconscious before they even hit the floor. 
Less commonly vets will be asked to use a firearm to perform euthanasia. This can be more distressing to watch due to the loud noise the involuntary movements following death and the amount of blood that can be produced. However it is virtually instantaneous for the horse. Not all vets have a firearm license and there are some situations where it isnt appropriate to use one. So make sure you check with your vet before arranging the appointment
What happens to the horse after euthanasia?
You will then need to decide how your