Memorialization – Planning Ahead for an Inevitable Loss
By David Bielski
This article focuses on something all of us with older horses will inevitably have to face the death of our beloved companion. We would rather not think about it until we have to but pre-planning will lessen your anxiety. Knowing what you’re going to do and having already made a decision will bring a measure of comfort at a very difficult time in your life.
Memorialization can take many forms from cremation to burial to taxidermy, (remember Roy Rogers horse Trigger?), to nearly anything that will keep your horse’s memory for you. As a horse owner, you are aware of the expense of owning a horse, renting pasture, feed, vet bills, tack, etc. Euthanasia, memorialization, and aftercare are extensions of ownership. Just as memorialization of any other family member is important, so it is with your horse. It’s a matter of personal choice as to how that memorial is accomplished.
Let’s take them in reverse order listed. Taxidermy is very expensive, and not for most horse owners. Besides the expense, do you really have room for a fully-grown stuffed horse in your home?
Burial can take place in the pasture the horse ran in if you own the land or have the permission of the landowner, AND it is allowed by local ordinance. Many counties have banned pet burial of any kind outside a dedicated pet cemetery. If pasture burial is an option, it will probably be the least expensive method of disposing of your horse other than rendering. Burial in a dedicated pet cemetery will likely be the most expensive, and may not be an option at all because of the space necessary. There are three or four such cemeteries in Washington, only one that I know of in Oregon, none of which currently accept horses for burial. The properties are small, and usually set up for companion pets. I don’t know of any dedicated pet cemeteries in Idaho, or British Columbia. I know California has pet cemeteries, but I don’t know what provisions they have for horses. For more information about burial, and potential burial options, contact the International Association of Pet Cemeteries. They are on the web at www.iaopc.com. It is a primarily East Coast based group but has national and international affiliates.
Cremation is a very valid method of disposal for the horseman unable to bury their horse. It can be done as a non-private cremation where the family has the horse cremated with a group of other peoples pets and the remains then buried. It can also be done as a private cremation where the cremated remains are returned to the family. They can be returned in a simple cardboard box for scattering in an appropriate place, or in an urn. Urns can be simple wooden boxes, or any other container the family would choose to store the remains in. The website www.urnsrus.net has several choices for people and pets. The urns shown here are from Petland Cemetery in Aberdeen. Petland has been doing equine cremation and memorialization for 8 years. Urns for memorialization of a cremated horse need not contain the entire 35+ lbs of remains although there are urns large enough to. A large companion pet urn with a portion of the remains is usually sufficient. The balance of the remains can be returned to the family for burial, scattering, or whatever other way they would choose to memorialize their animal. The Petland website is www.petlandcem.com. Currently it is being updated, and has very little information about horse cremation. There is a phone number, 800-738-5119 or 360-533-2931 outside Washington and Oregon. There are people there who can answer the phone, and questions you may have. Service area extends from Blaine, Bellingham, and Ferndale WA. To Roseburg, Medford, and Ashland, OR., east to Spokane, WA. and vicinity. Outside the described area, call the 360-533-2931 number for help and answers.
Costs for cremation will vary depending on the size of the horse, the distance from the facility, and the services and or products requested. Non-private cremation will cost between $350.00 and about $700.00 (US). Private cremation, at Petland, is $.85 per pound (US). At this time, Petland is the only known cremation service that will do a horse, intact. There has been a service that will cremate the horse’s head for the family. I do not know if it still exists, and that still leaves what to do with the remainder of the body.
Memorialization need not be complicated, but it does require some planning. The more planning, the easier it will be when the time actually comes and the decision has to be made. There are a number of resources to help you make your decision. Your veterinarian, Petland or a comparable service, the Internet, friends and family can all help. Call or contact any of the resources available, get the information you need to make an informed decision, and then do as much pre-planning as possible.
David Bielski has over 30 years experience in the cemetery and funeral industry and understands that people need to grieve. He owns and manages a human cemetery as well as Petland. As a service provider, he can help with the emotional issues you might face and give you advice on how to deal with them. David will provide you with information about procedures and/or pre-planning and assist you with the physical aspects of dealing with a death.
