I think the person closest to the horse knows whether it's cruel or not, my mare had a severe bout of lamintis 5 years ago, she spent most of her day lying down on a heavy Bute regimen, I was just waiting for an appointment for a specialty hospital, BUT, my mare still had a bright expression and would nicker every time I came in her stall for her peppermint, she wasn't showing me she wanted to give up, and believe me they do, I finally got her into the Clinic where they informed me her chances were not good, I still insisted on surgery and after a long, long rocky road she is now a happy horse that can run and be turned out in her paddock every morning and enjoys her life. I know there are people who would have considered her early condition cruel, but I knew she wasn't ready to die and we fought and won.
|