Hosspuller,

My response was to explain that the use of the needle for euthanasia, in my experience with 7 horses, was not negative. Your post mentioned a possible struggle with the use of a needle. The military reference to the horse with the broken leg was in regards to his experience with a gun. No one else in the group except the policeman had firearm experience.

Brenda

i see, thank you for responding. 

IMHO in a "open high plains country" type drive/ride/camping  situation it is a bit irresponsible not to have a gun(and preferably someone that can use it) along just for such an occasion. but i suppose that is what this PC country has come to. i believe i may have been born about 100 years to late, or maybe 100 years to soon.

There once was an old farmer who got in a terible wreck. Some time later he decided he needed to sue the other party for the accident.  In court the opposing attorney questioned him.

Attorney: Didn't you tell the officer at the scene you were just fine?

Farmer: Yes, But!

Attorney: See, he was fine,

Judge: I want to hear the but.

Farmer: I could hear my mule in the other ditch. I could tell from her calls that she was hurt bad. When the police officer arrive he checked on the mule first and then came over to me, he said. Your mule was in pretty bad shape, I had to shoot her, How you doing?

* * * * * * * * * * *

I carry a gun on the trail. It's a large caliber pistol. Small caliber pistols are not very effective against bears. But even with bears I'd hope the noise from a warning shot would be sufficient vs actually shooting a bear.  In an emergency on the trail. Yes I would use it. But at home I wouldn't. First of all, they have pretty much banned discharging any firearm with in city limits. Firing a large caliber fire arm would just get me thrown in jail. Second, I would have to worry about the bullet passing through the animal and just where the bullet would terminate. Third, I'be the meanest man in the neighborhood to all the local kids when the store got around that I'd shot my horse.

I've shot a few cows for the butcher. A 22 cal bullet in the brain and they hit the ground instantly. I suspect a horse would not be much different. Short of being miles back on a remote trail, I'd opt for the vet. The vet would probably be present anyway for the final assessment that the animal was beyond saving.

I have been on pack trips in the Gros Vende (sp?)wilderness area in Wyoming. I ask the guide if they carried a gun......no. I was surprised. Bear and an injured horse are always a concern on wilderness trips. On an Alaska widerness pack trip, we had a guide with a rifle readily at hand at the front of our group, and another at the back with rifle readily at hand. This was primarily for grizzly protection.

Brenda