nineteenth-century driving question

I would think shooting would have been the most common way to euthanize a horse in the 19th century...that's what I remember from "Black Beauty" (published 1877), anyway. :) If no one in the party had a gun, some of them could stay with the downed animal and someone else could ride ahead to get a veterinarian, who could then put the horse down.

I believe they would shoot the horse in the head.

Anyone driving a carriage would have a knife. While shooting would be the preferred method of euthanizing the horse, there were at least 3-4 different methods of slaughtering a horse with a knife in wide use in the early 19th century. (Don't ask me how I know this... OK... I read a book all about the horse slaughtering business in France, published ca. 1816...).

A vet is not a likely option, given that there weren't that many of them to go around, and anyway, a talented vet is most likely to be on the Continent with the British cavalry fighting Napoleon.

Also, the odds are that the horse owner is going to send for the knacker to retrieve the carcass. A whole horse body would not be negligible in its value from meat (for the hounds), fat, bone, sinew, horse hair, hide, etc.

You'd also need to consider how the picnicking party is going to get home. Is your vehicle with a pole for a pair able to be converted to a single hitch with shafts? Or are they going to have to find another horse to put to the carriage?

Wow, thanks loads for your reply. I've been working, off and on, on this scene for months now, as I find a problem, work on another scene until I can fix the problem, begin writing again on the scene, find a problem....

The situation as I see it is this:

The picnic party is broken into 3 vehicles--2 chaises and 1 barouche. The horse pulling the 2nd chaise breaks one of its legs. Incidentally, does your research reveal anything about this? What it sounds like, particularly--a friend says he thinks he's read somewhere that it's loud like a cannon shot; I can't seem to find any real descriptions. I'm assuming the chaise comes to something of a lurching halt.

The first chaise stops; the driver and passenger must hear something--from the horse if nothing else. The barouche catches up, maybe 5, maybe 10 minutes later. In the intervening time, my male MC who was driving that 2nd chaise jumps out and attacks the driver of the first chaise--the male antagonist who at the time is driving my (unwilling) female MC. Male MC is pissed at antagonist for driving recklessly, necessitating his keeping up (for potential rescue of female MC) and blaming him not only for frightening female MC but for causing this breakdown of his favorite horse.

When the female MC or the approaching barouche (with the parents) catches up, male MC, recalled from rage to necessity, must deal with the horse. I can get everyone home ok, it's a matter of how to deal with the horse. I was imagining a shot to the head, but then wondered if a pistol would have been on him or anyone else. A knife, for the picnic if nothing else, but wondered about a pistol.

So, to follow up on your post--this knife that anyone driving would have with him, this is for what, carriage potentials (cutting harnessing)?

Also, I can't see your post on this screen so I'm not sure if you've answered this. The horse is hauled off by a knacker? I wasn't sure what to do with her! The horse owner gets the money from any sale of carcass? Any of the carcass itself for his own hunting dogs?

Grisly, I know. But life was.

Yes, between the eyes. It is the weakest part of a horse's head. Using a knife could be problematic - this will cause a high blood loss if not done correctly.

Alirion war nicht alleine, dass sagte ihr ihr Verstand, auch wenn sie es nicht fühlen konnte.

True - if you're aiming at instant death, I'd say you'd have to cut the horse's throat, and get splattered with blood in the process. Not sure your male MC would do that, especially if there are ladies present (who might be dismayed at the sight of so much blood, after all).

Besides I'm not sure he'd get at the horse's throat in the first place - I can't see the poor animal lying there without moving, waiting for someone to kill it off. Shooting it sounds like the easiest option to me. You'll just have to find a reason for your male MC to carry a pistol.

Thanks again, everyone, for your help. I want so much for this scene to work.

Was it the Little Engine who Could that said "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can"? Anyway, I think I can. :-)