Four Final Options: Dealing Humanely with a Deceased Horse's Remains

Horse lovers dream of scenic sunset rides, soft nuzzles and lovely trots across fabulous sand footing with their treasured mounts. Surely, equines can gallop into our hearts and stay forever. However, as every long-time horse owner knows, humans often outlive their horses.

My first horse passed away recently. As a family, we had to face the dreaded decision of determining what to do with the remains of our marvelous mare. This heart-rending process is surely the most difficult season in horse ownership.

What are the options for dealing with the remains of a horse that has died?

In most areas, three or four possibilities may exist. Legal ramifications and costs may vary locally, so horse owners will need to confirm the details of each option with equine veterinarians and the appropriate government agencies. State laws vary, but most jurisdictions require animal carcasses to be removed within the first 24 to 48 hours after death.

Essentially, these are the basic choices a grieving horse owner may consider for caring for the remains of an equine that has died.

Equine Burial

Obviously, a 750- to 1,500-pound horse cannot be buried in the backyard, as many family pets may be (in certain locales). However, some horse farms with sufficient acreage may be able to allot large enough areas for equine burial. In many cases, grieving horse owners must hire contractors or rent backhoes to accomplish this task. This can cost $300 or more, depending upon local costs.

Governmental agencies, such as the state's Department of Natural Resources, spell out requirements for the burial of horses and other livestock. Buried pipes and utilities must have sufficient clearance, and animals must be covered with specific depths of soil.

In-ground burial of an equine may be a natural choice for a grieving horse owner, who may choose to install a stone or marker on the spot. However, if the horse owner should relocate, the horse's remains may not be excavated.

Some cemeteries may allow horses and other pets to be buried near their humans. This shared interment option is fairly rare, however, and it tends to be quite costly.

Equine Cremation

Cremation is a common practice for dealing with horse remains. Large animal veterinarians can usually facilitate this process or recommend specialists to perform the service.

The grieving horse owner must choose between private or collective cremation, and prices vary considerably (often ranging from approximately $350 to $1,500 or more). Private cremation is essential, if a single horse's ashes are to be returned for burial or keeping. Keepsake boxes, urns and other commemorative containers may be purchased as well.

In addition, the equine owner must make arrangements for transporting the horse's body to the cremation facility.

Equine Rendering

Horse rendering may sound particularly unappealing, but this is a commonly chosen option for dealing with equine remains as well and usually the least expensive choice.

Essentially, an equine renderer will pick up equine carcasses and transport them to a facility for communal disposal. This process usually ranges in price from $75 to $250, based on mileage and local fees.

Grieving horse owners who choose to call a renderer will likely want to step away from the stables when the truck arrives to load the horse. Renderers often make rounds for multiple animals, and the process is not one any horse owner needs to see and remember.

In our own barn, we habitually detain one another when a renderer's truck pulls in, so none of us will accidentally catch a glimpse of the cargo.

Equine Taxidermy

Historically, the bodies of a few famous horses have been preserved by taxidermy. Napoleon's Arabian steed, Le Vizir, has been displayed this way. Christie's Auction House sold Roy Rogers' taxidermy Trigger for over $266,000 in July 2010.

Taxidermy of horses is costly, though, and this option has limited availability.

Equine owners seldom select this option for dealing with the remains of their dearly departed horses. Many horse lovers may prefer to remember their horses in their full-life glory, rather than viewing their preserved and mounted bodies in taxidermy form. (Wild game is one thing, but an equine companion is another consideration altogether.)

Advance planning is important.

Ideally, a horse owner will address the eventually inevitable possibility of the equine's demise (at least theoretically) long before such a tragedy occurs. This responsible step, often called pre-need planning, can make the process somewhat less stressful, when the sad event actually happens.