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Planning ahead for your horse’s end of life
In short: make a plan before you need it: who to call, how your horse would be put to sleep, what happens afterwards and what it costs. The British Horse Society’s Friends at the End scheme and World Horse Welfare’s Just in Case guidance are free.
It’s not easy to think about, but planning ahead means you won’t have to make every decision in a hurry. World Horse Welfare encourages every owner to make an end-of-life plan, and says rushed, unplanned decisions can make grief harder (World Horse Welfare).
Free guidance and support
- British Horse Society: Friends at the End. A free scheme. The BHS Horse Care and Welfare team will talk through your options, and a trained BHS Friend can be with you on the day (BHS Friends at the End). Phone 02476 840517 or email friendsattheend@bhs.org.uk.
- BHS emergency care plan. A form to record what you’d want if your horse needed to be put to sleep in an emergency (BHS emergency care plan, PDF). The BHS suggests making sure your yard owner or a friend can find it if you can’t be reached.
- World Horse Welfare: Just in Case. Guidance and an owner’s plan you can fill in, plus an end-of-life helpline on 01953 497238 during office hours (World Horse Welfare).
Things to decide in advance
- Who you’d call. Your vet’s number, and who should be contacted if you can’t be reached.
- How your horse would be put to sleep. Your vet can explain the options.
- What happens afterwards. Individual or communal cremation, collection, or burial.
- The cost. See our price guide. Check your insurance policy too: the BHS notes that some insurers need to be told before a non-emergency euthanasia, and that in an emergency, euthanasia should not be delayed for insurance reasons (BHS).
- Keepsakes. Whether you’d like a plait of mane or tail, or a shoe.
Talking to a crematorium in advance
You can contact an equine crematorium before you need it, to ask about prices and collection. If you’d like help finding one, request a callback.