A rather difficult question...

I agree with Milo's idea if the horses have been together. I'm not sure I would want the buddy around at the actual time of euthanasia in case he (or anyone else) freaks out. Also, I wonder if the buddy would somehow associate you with making his friend go away? I dunno, but horses are wierd sometimes.

Thank you all so much for your responses... they have all been a great help to me. I have decided to allow Smoke to see Tulsa after things are taken care of, so that he can hopefully understand better what has happened. Thanks again everyone.

SSH, welcome. Secondly, my condolences.

Is there a way for your horses to be in sight contact with one another, but not in the same fencing? That way, neither of them will panic if the other isn't around.

When I had to have my old guy put down, the other two were put in their stalls. However, mine was an emergency situation, and I didn't want the two uninjured ones milling around, getting in the way, or possibly hurting themselves or the people involved.

Once my boy was gone, I led his best buddy out to his body to sniff him. He stood there for a long time very quietly, then walked away. My other horse also got to see the body, but he and Conny weren't friends the way Conny and Casper had been.

Animals don't fear death the way we do. Their instincts tell them to stay alive at all costs, but once death has come, it's not a scary thing for the ones left behind.

I say if you can let his buddy see the euthing from a safe distance, it may be a calming influence on the horse being put down, as well as the horse left behind.

I'm very sorry about it! I think letting him there after "things" are over would be the best. Hopefully he'll figure that out...

Jill, I'm so sorry for your loss, we as well are having one of our geldings put down on the 17th. Last year I had to have my 28 yr old mare put down, then we walked the other horses over to where she was and let them say their goodbye's. I do believe they comprehend death, as when my mare was put down the two that were the closest to her whinied (or I would say cried) all night and into the next day, it was heartbreaking. Again, sorry for your loss!!!

Awww...i'm so sorry to hear that you have to put your horse down. I hope everything goes like it should, and I agree with what you are going to do to let your other horse figure out, and understand what happens to him.