09/29/2026
This is such an important topic.
HAVE THE CONVERSATION NOW....about what you want family members to do with your horses if you pass away.
Our followers may be surprised how often we are contacted to take horses whose owners have passed away. We are always thankful to be asked to help in these situations. But there are a few things that are important for horse owners to understand.
*When horses are left to the care of family members who do not understand how to care for them, they may not receive the level of care that you would have wanted. We find that loved ones will try for months (or more) to care for horses whose owners have passed away, before reaching out to the rescue. In that time, basic maintenance needs like farrier care, dental care, deworming are often not met. Your family may not even know how to do those things or how to contact your farrier or vet. Horses may not be getting fed what you would have fed them. Their overall health typically declines from what was baseline in your care.
*Regardless of your age or your current health, anything can happen at any time. So please talk to your next of kin TODAY about specifically what you want done with your horses. Make sure they have the contact information and anything else they may need to follow through on what you want to have happen. Establish who will make these moves on your behalf.
*Write down the name of your farrier and your vet. If you want them to go to a rescue, write down which one and how to contact them.
*If you want them to be euthanized, don't just say "euthanize them". Leave information on HOW to do this and specifically who to contact. Please consider this option for senior horses, horses with hard to manage ailments, blind horses and horses with anxiety issues who may not handle a disruption of their routine well. Make it very clear to loved ones that this is what you want and why, so that they don't have any guilt or what-if's to work through.
*Have a folder somewhere with your horse's medical records, especially if they are on a maintenance medication. Does your loved one know how to order those meds? Do they know the dose and how to administer?
*Talk to family members about what you ACTUALLY want. We find that often times loved ones have convinced themselves that hanging on to the horse, despite the subpar care they can provide is "what you'd have wanted". They perceive holding onto the horse as a last connection to you. Having conversations ahead of time articulating very clearly what you want, can help take this burden off of their conscience.
*For the love of everything folks, PLEASE make sure that your animals are at minimum halter broke. Please. Their future is so much brighter in the instance of your passing if they have basic handling. Don't fool yourself into thinking its ok to have a dozen untouchable horses running around your multiple acres because you've got it under control. What if you pass away? Please think ahead.
*If you have a large herd (over 4 or 5 horses) please understand that most rescues aren't going to be able to absorb that quantity of horses on short notice. You'll need to have more in-depth conversations and plans for bigger herds.
We aren't here to give you legal advice in terms of wills, etc. That is a conversation that you need to have with your attorney.
BUT, we routinely see horses in a state of neglect, despite the best efforts of family members who have been left to care for horses, while dealing with grief, without any knowledge of how to care for a horse. They typically do not reach out to us until things have deteriorated to a level that they undeniably see that they aren't capable.
We don't think that is what you want for your animals OR your family.
Please save the horses and humans from that experience and PLAN AHEAD!
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NOTE: This is a reshare of a post that we originally made in July. We believe the message is incredibly important, especially headed into the harsher months of the year.
