Living Without Euthanasia: A Different Way to Stand With Our Horses

Living Without Euthanasia: A Different Way to Stand With Our Horses

Coexisting Without Euthanasia – Standing With Horses Until the End

"Unable to walk." "No longer eating." "There’s no recovery."
These are some of the reasons often given when ending a horse’s life is seen as an “act of kindness.”

But we must ask:

Would we accept the same reasoning for a human being?

Most would say no. So why is it so easily accepted when it comes to horses?

We’re not here to give you an answer. But we do want to share the quiet choices we’ve made through experience—choices that embody what it means to live alongside a horse until their final moment.

What Pain Really Means for a Horse

Horses do feel pain. But nature has equipped them with powerful mechanisms to keep overwhelming pain from taking over.

All mammals, including humans, produce endorphins—natural painkillers—when experiencing intense physical trauma or emotional stress.

But in prey animals like horses, this response is especially strong. For a horse, getting caught often means death. Their bodies have evolved to produce large amounts of endorphins quickly, dulling pain to survive.

This is known as Stress-Induced Analgesia (SIA). It’s the same biological safeguard that causes a person to pass out from unbearable pain.

So when a horse appears to be in visible decline, it’s possible they’re already experiencing a softened version of that pain—a bearable form shaped by biology, not desperation.

Our Definition of Coexistence: Neither Prolonging Nor Ending Life Prematurely

Instead of forcing life to continue—or hastening its end—we focus on creating a space where death can arrive naturally, with dignity.

🟢 Here’s how we support a horse’s final days:

  1. Mobile Shelter
    A quiet, protected space from wind, sun, and rain where the horse can lie down in peace.

  2. Accessible Water and Bedding
    Clean water and soft straw bedding are placed within reach to maintain comfort.

  3. Herd Connection
    The horse remains in visual or physical contact with companions, avoiding isolation.

  4. Human as Observer
    We step back—but not away. We monitor carefully, helping only when necessary. We assist with hydration, repositioning, or warmth—but we don’t interfere with the process of dying.

  5. Maintaining Stillness
    No strangers, no sudden noise, no stressors. The environment remains calm and familiar.

  6. Basic Physical Checks
    We quietly check temperature, hydration, and position to reduce discomfort.

  7. Emotional Preparation
    Everyone involved shares the mindset: This is not about control—it’s about presence.

How Horses React to the Death of a Companion

Studies show horses notice and respond deeply when a member of their herd dies:

  • Up to 89% exhibit increased alertness within 24 hours.

  • 69% vocalize more than usual.

  • 67% pace or move restlessly.

Other horses are seen approaching a deceased companion, sniffing, standing quietly beside them, or staying nearby for hours. These aren’t random behaviors—they are signs of awareness, mourning, and social adjustment.

This tells us something profound:
A horse’s end-of-life experience is not just about the individual—it’s about the entire herd.

When We Don’t Choose Euthanasia, We Choose Respect

Yes, euthanasia is often considered the “humane” option. But what if that idea is based more on what we feel than what they need?

  • Horses have pain-modulation systems.

  • They sense loss and process it.

  • They often prefer to lie down in solitude, in silence—not to be rushed.

Ending life for their sake is only one option.
Letting life end naturally, while providing steady presence and support, is another.

What Is True Compassion?

“I can’t bear to see them like this.”

When we say those words, who are we really speaking about?

The horse—or ourselves?

Is ending life compassion? Or is it a way to escape our own discomfort?

Is it truly for the horse?
Or is it to protect your own heart?

We invite you to sit with that question.

True compassion may not lie in ending suffering—
but in choosing to remain beside it.

So, What Would You Choose?

When it comes to death, we are not in control—we are witnesses.

Before rushing to relieve pain, can we trust the horse’s body, instincts, and nature’s design?

Is it really kindness to end life… or to walk with it until its very last breath?

There is no single answer. But in this moment, just pause—

And ask yourself: “How would I want to be there?”

 

Equine Notion
Tetiana V. NONAKA
Nobuyuki NONAKA

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