Why must they kill a horse when it breaks a leg or ankle?

Question

I know the horse won't be good for the usual stuff anymore. But can't he/she just live out it's life? It seems cruel to kill something just because you can't ride it anymore.

Answer 1

Horses don't heal well from those injuries (actually, in cases like this, they don't heal at all).  And it has nothing to do with riding.  If the horse can't stand, it can't do anything.  Killing it would be the only sensible thing to do.

Answer 2

A horse is an animal. It wants to walk and feed. You cant put two casts on a horse and ask him to lay still for 2 months. It's worse to try and save the horse then put it to sleep.

Answer 3

These injuries she sustained would be like snapping a twig off a tree. They were that hideous and there was nothing that could have been done to save her.

Answer 4

Unfortunate circumstances.  Must believe the folks who know horses, but still tough for a 6-pet owner.  Concur - Nandina, get over yourself.

Answer 5

Horses can't be put on bed rest like humans can.  They have to remain on their feet for the duration of the healing process.  As seen with Barbaro after his injury, when a horse is forced to put his/her weight on the other three legs, lamintitis can develop, and that can be deadly in itself.

Also, the blood flow to the leg of the horse isn't good, so an injured leg is more prone to infection.

Although it may seem cruel to euthanize a horse because of a broken leg, in most cases it's better for the horse.