Really awful question... regarding animal buriel

[bkreugar]

Okay if you opened this thread, then you have an idea what its about. Last March (16 months ago) we had a very beloved arab mare put down. We buried her under her favorite tree. Hole was dug had a guy we had do some work for us including flattening out (scraping ) ring.
I was not there for the burial part. So this was NOT the guys usual thing. He REALLY mounded the dirt over the grave as DH and he THOUGHT it would sink with time. Well it has somewhat , but I still have a pretty good mound, And it is much farther out into our riding area.

So my question is can I have it flattened now? or will it continue to sink? I dont want to flatten it out and then have a bowl. Anyone? TIA.

 

[EweSheep]

Give it some time. It takes a while for the body to decompose and you can remove a bit of the mound. Fortunately I never had any horses to be buried or died on me but had friends that did suffer a loss or two.

 

[CapricornFarm]

As the body decays, the mound should sink. But you could pack it down some or scrape some off the top if you want to.

 

[bkreugar]

So it will take more time for the body to decay? I had it in my head that it would be a year, but that was NOT based on anything but my thought.

 

[bt03]

I think you may want to wait another 6-12 months so that the seasons have another cycle and chance to do things naturally. After that then I would level it out myself. Sometimes it takes dirt a while to settle and a body to decompose, especially if there has been nothing on top. You my find that if you try to level it now when it has been worked over you may have a dip in the ground. Sorry about your horse

 

[EweSheep]

As I read a book, I believe for humans, it takes about two to five years for the body to decompose.

 

[bkreugar]

Quote:
Thank you that is very helpful.

After 30 years in horses it wasn't the first horse I had to put down, but it was the HARDEST as I had to help dd then 12 and ds then 7. DD just did NOT want to let go as it was her first horse and the first time she had a loved animal put to sleep.

I did what had to be done and was with her till the end, But I can just NEVER watch as they are put in the hole. DH and this guy took care of that. Seeing the mound isn't so great AND we are planning on giving her a statue/headstone and it must be flat for that.

 

[EweSheep]

Flat headstones are GREAT for the land and people! You did good!

 

[Bec]

I know this is morbid but, how deep did he go with the hole?

 

[bkreugar]

Quote:
WOW okay thanks, I would guess longer for the horse. I just had it in my head that a year would be enough, guess not.