Crematorium for Horses?

A call from a friend has me pondering questions about what to do with the remains of our equines when they reach the end of their lives. For one thing, can we legally bury them? I have been trying to find out the answer to that. Seems to be some confusion about which regulatory board handles these things but I’m sure we will get it figured out. Right now in our area the water table is pretty much at the surface. If you dig a hole, you soon reach water. So even if we do have that option most of the time, we certainly don’t right now.

And watching the coyotes tear your long time horse companion to bits isn’t really an option.

And putting him on the dead animals truck isn’t always the best way to say “Goodbye”.

My last saddle horse, George and I checked cattle together for 18 years. I had the immense enjoyment of riding him home from the north pasture bareback last week. He is 25 now and has enjoyed 5 years of retirement. Getting a little arthritic but takes good care of the yearlings and dry mares that share his pasture in a normal year. Right now he is in the “Jenny Craig” pen with a dry mare and Danny, the kid’s pony. Just too much grass from all the rain. But……

I have spent almost half my life with this horse. And if I did have to put him down tomorrow what would I do with his body?

Any ideas? Any crematoriums for horses? My friend needs to know soon. I think she had her equine friend for over 30 years. You can reply here (you do have to register) or you can email me at lynn@northernhorse.com