When Your Horse Outlives You

>In another sad situation, my colleague's friend,
after discovering that she was terminally ill, spent
As horse owners, we are sometimes faced withsome of her last months worrying about how she
difficult life or death questions regarding horses incould place her horses in new homes.
our care. But we rarely ever consider theBoth situations ended up well for the horses, but
reverse: what plan do we have if our horsesthey could have just as easily ended in further
outlive us? This article describes how you cantragedy.
ensure that your furry and hoofed loved ones areBecause horses, like dogs and cats, are
cared for after you're gone.considered property, you can specifically address
On New Year's Day, my friend Sue sat in her oldthem in your Last Will and Testament. You can
mare's stall with her horse's head in her lap. At 39,also bequeath money to be used specifically for
the former racehorse-turned-eventer couldn'tthe care of your pets to the designated person.
continue to outrun old age. She had had a few(Don't leave money to the animals because they
bouts previously, and Sue had painfully wrestledare legally property and can't receive money.)
with whether or not to euthanize the mare.Since horses are more costly to maintain, you
Philosophically, she was opposed to taking a lifemay also wish to get the approval of the person
and preferred a natural end. But that day sheyou wish to be named as new owner. Different
made that difficult call to the vet; the horsestates have different laws regarding the language
passed on before he arrived.required for Wills, so do some research about
As horse owners, we are sometimes faced withwhat your state requires.
difficult life or death questions regarding horses inIn another case, I remember hearing a strange
our care. We might debate what we would havestory about a horse owner who became unable
done if we were Sue or if Barbaro had been ourto make decisions for his horses and was
horse. But we rarely ever consider the reverse:hospitalized. His companion grew tired of caring for
what plan do we have if our horses outlive us?the animals and gave them all away. When the
Being a member of the U.S. military, I am oftenowner recuperated and returned home, he
reminded by senior officers to update my Will.discovered all of his horses were gone.
The first time someone mentioned it, I shruggedWhat provisions do you have to ensure that good
it off. I thought that since I was unmarried, didn'tdecisions will be made on the part of your horses
own a house and didn't have children that it wasn'tshould you become incapable of making those
all that necessary. Besides, it was a morbiddecisions?
thought that I didn't want to address.You can ensure via a Living Will that your wishes
But a fellow single female officer explainedare undertaken for your horse's welfare even if
something very important.you are incapacitated.
"You have horses and cats," she said. "Don't youThere are several online sources that have forms
want to know that they'll be cared for?" Sheyou can create for a Will, Living Will or Power of
explained that she had provisions in her will for herAttorney.
beloved dogs.It may seem a morbid thought now to consider,
Her point struck home. I had come to own onebut once you've put to ink your decisions
of my horses because her previous owner diedregarding the care of your horses (and dogs and
after a long bout with cancer. After his wife'scats!), you can feel better knowing that should
death, the husband sent the horse back to itsyou proceed before them across the rainbow
previous owner-my then instructor who later soldbridge, they'll be in good hands.
the mare to me.