How are horses put down?

What happens to my horse’s body afterwards?

If the horse has been euthanised by lethal injection, you can arrange for incineration (with or without recovery of his ashes as a keepsake), or you could choose to bury him. Bear in mind that burial can involve significant costs, time and require special approval. 

Horses euthanised by the free bullet method could later be incinerated, buried or, potentially, allowed to enter the human food chain. Only horses fit for human consumption may enter the food chain. This means the horse’s passport must indicate as such – in section 9.

However, in many cases, the horse will have been signed out of the human food chain automatically because of medication that it has received during its lifetime, preventing this from being an option. Additionally, to be fit for human consumption, the horse would need to be sent to a licensed slaughterhouse for euthanasia and management of the carcass, something which may deter many owners. 

Either way, you can make these arrangements yourself or, alternatively, your veterinarian can make them for you. It’s probably best not to be around when your horse’s body is removed because it can be distressing to see. 

A note on insurance

If it is not an emergency, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your horse’s insurance company beforehand, if you’re thinking that he might need to be put to sleep. They will be able to inform you of any steps they need you to take, or your policy’s requirements (such as a second opinion, or a post-mortem). This way you can prepare yourself should the situation arise.

Following emergency euthanasia, the insurance company should also be contacted. They can advise you whether the horse will require a post-mortem. It’s important to not make arrangements for the disposal of the horse’s body until the insurer has been contacted, in case they will need the results of a post-mortem examination to validate a claim.

Euthanising your precious horse or pony can be a heart-wrenching task. Careful research prior to the time and a thorough discussion with your veterinarian or with other horse owners, for their experiences, can help make this time a little easier.