COPING WITH THE LOSS OF YOUR HORSE

You may have spent 30 years with your horse by your side, or only had him a short time, it really doesn’t matter when it comes to grieving. Many owners feel both grief and guilt when the time comes to say goodbye to their beloved horse. This is to be expected, says Liz Ormerod, a vet who pioneered pet loss support for her clients back in 1989. “A wide range of conflicting emotions usually occur in connection to the death of an animal,” says Liz. “The strength of emotional response can be overwhelming and sometimes frightening for owners. There may be denial, anger, guilt, and eventually acceptance. Failure to euthanase an animal can also induce guilt. Clients need support through this difficult time.” Dealing with grief is a very personal

experience and it’s important to find something that helps you. “Some find it helpful to create a shrine, to write their horse’s life story, to paint the animal, frame photos or write a poem. A donation could be made to an equine charity in their memory. Many struggle with what to tell children, but they must be told the truth or trust with adults could be lost. Though a child’s understanding of death depends on their age. It can be helpful for a vet to write a simple card, in age appropriate lettering and wording, to a child, explaining why euthanasia was necessary. Support can also be sought from GPs. Those needing more specialist support can be referred to a grief counsellor,” advises Liz. Whatever the circumstances of your horse’s death, grieving is part of the healing process and shouldn’t be ignored. It takes time and there are

sources of help and support available, most of which are free services.