You face a difficult situation if your horse has sustained an obviously catastrophic or fatal injury, appears to be suffering greatly, or poses a risk to handlers - and you cannot reach your vet for assistance.

Equine vets are generally very accessible, but sometimes they are not. When absent, most vets leave emergency contact information or refer to another local vet. But mishaps do occur. In my own case, my answering service has broken down or I have been out of cellular service and unreachable.

Keep in mind that sometimes a horse may appear to be in terrible pain with little hope for recovery, when in fact the problem is easily resolved. I have been asked to euthanize horses that looked like they were suffering terribly, but ended up having nothing more than a severe sole abscess or intestinal gas accumulation, both being very treatable conditions. As I emphasize elsewhere, this is why a diagnosis is so important.

In contrast, catastrophic injuries that warrant consideration of euthanasia include wounds to the belly with intestine exposed, loss of a limb, or open fracture of a limb with protruding bone. Euthanasia may also be necessary if your horse is a significant hazard to itself or its handlers based on violent or uncontrollable, self-destructive behavior.