Tell us about your horse, and we'll find what's near you
Only about 50%[1] of US states have a rendering plant, and equine crematories are rarer still. One short message lets us look for the ones that reach your farm.
- One form, answered by email
- Options for cremation, collection and alternatives
- No obligation and nothing booked for you
Helpful details
What to include so we can help quickly
You don't need to write much. The details below make the biggest difference to which providers can help, and to what they'll charge. Leave out anything you don't know.
- Location. Your ZIP code or nearest town, and whether the horse is at home, at a boarding barn or at a clinic.
- Size. A rough weight or a description, such as pony, Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred or draft cross.
- Timing. Whether euthanasia is being planned, is booked for a date, or has already happened.
- Access. Anything a driver should know: a narrow gate, soft ground, a steep lane or a far-off field.
- What you want back. Ashes, a portion of ashes, or no return at all, and any keepsakes you hope to save.
Photos aren't needed, but a line about your horse helps us write back like a person rather than a form letter. Tell us their name if you'd like. It also helps to know if other horses share the field, because a companion horse may need to be moved or kept close during the goodbye, and that can affect when a driver should arrive.
After you press send
What happens after you send your request
- We read your request and note the location, size, timing and access details you gave.
- We check which equine-capable crematories, renderers or fallen-stock collectors cover your area, and what they publish about prices and access.
- We email you a short summary: who serves your farm, rough price ranges, and questions worth asking each one.
- You contact the provider you choose. We don't book anything for you and nobody will turn up unannounced.
We reply by email, so check your spam folder if you're waiting. If you have a question about the reply, just answer it. For a sense of the general costs while you wait, the horse aftercare cost comparison runs the numbers in a minute.
If it's happening now
When your horse has already died on the farm
Call your vet first if they aren't already with you. Many practices have a relationship with a local renderer or equine crematory and can phone them while you stay with your horse. Send us a request too, but don't wait on an email if you need a collection today. Our guide to what to do when your horse dies covers the first hours.
Some states set short deadlines. Pennsylvania's dead-animal rules, for instance, require proper disposal within 48 hours[3] of death. Cover your horse with a tarp, keep dogs and other animals away, and save a tail lock or shoe now if you want one. Our guide on transport and logistics lists what a driver will ask.
Being clear
What we can and can't help with
We can explain options, look for providers that cover your address, point out what a quote leaves out, and suggest questions for your vet. We can also help you think through burial rules or composting if cremation isn't the right fit, using the details on our services page.
We can't collect your horse, carry out euthanasia, give veterinary or legal advice, or promise a provider will be available on a given day. We also can't negotiate on your behalf. If something is urgent, your vet and local providers are faster than we are.
What worries you most about horse aftercare?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Your information
How we handle the details you send
We use what you send to answer your request. Please don't include payment details, passwords or anything you wouldn't want in an email. If you'd rather we didn't keep your request after replying, tell us in your message.
If you're writing on behalf of someone else, such as a barn owner helping a boarder, tell us who has the final say. Only the horse's owner, or someone they authorize, can sign a crematory's paperwork. Our guide to documentation after equine cremation explains the forms.
Worth a look first
Useful pages while you're deciding
If you're still weighing options, the services overview compares cremation with burial, rendering and composting, and the cremation cost calculator gives a rough range for a private equine cremation. If your horse is boarded, it helps to talk to the barn manager before you write, because they control access and may have a provider they already use.
For context before you write, these are the reported US starting points for a horse of about 1,000 lb: cremation at $600-$1,000[4], a rendering pickup at $75-$200[5], and a rented backhoe for burial at $250-$500[6]. Your local quotes may differ, which is exactly why we look.
Free tool
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
What worries you most about horse aftercare?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Where does your horse live?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Did you (or would you) compare more than one provider?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Free tools to help you plan
Cremation cost calculator
Estimate a realistic price range for your pet's size, location and the type of cremation.
Horse aftercare cost comparison
Compare equine cremation, burial, rendering and composting side by side.
Ashes weight estimator
See roughly how much ash to expect back, by species and body weight.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to hear back?
We reply by email as soon as we've checked the options for your area. We can't promise a set time, so if your horse needs collecting today, call your vet or a local provider directly and use our reply for anything that can wait, like urns or keepsakes.
Does it cost anything to send a request?
No. Sending us your horse's details and receiving a reply is free, and you're under no obligation to use any provider we mention. Any price you pay is between you and the provider you choose, so ask them for a written total.
Can I ask about burial or rendering instead of cremation?
Yes. Many horse owners do. Tell us which options you're considering and roughly where you are, and we'll include what we can find on renderers, fallen-stock collectors or burial rules near you, alongside any cremation providers.
My horse is boarded. Can the barn owner send the request?
They can, and it's often helpful because they know the access and ground. The owner still needs to make the final decision and sign any paperwork. Mention both names in the message so we write to the right person.
Can you help me plan ahead for an older horse?
Yes. Planning ahead is the calmest time to ask. Tell us your horse's age and where they live, and we'll list the providers that reach you, so you can keep their numbers at the barn. Our planning page has a checklist too.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Only about 50% of U.S. states have rendering plants, most of them concentrated in the Midwest. Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) - Horse Disposal Options, 2019, 2019.
- [2] A 1,100 lb horse would be expected to return roughly 38.5 lb of cremated remains (plausible range 33-55 lb). Our estimate: 1,100 lb x 3.5% (range 3%-5%). How we calculate.
- [3] Pennsylvania requires a dead domestic animal to be properly disposed of within 48 hours of death. Penn State Extension - Livestock and Poultry Mortality Disposal in Pennsylvania (J. Craig Williams, updated Oct 2025), 2025.
- [4] Cremating a 1,000-pound horse was reported to cost about $600-$1,000, depending on location and the price of propane. Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) - Horse Disposal Options, 2019, 2019.
- [5] Rendering companies typically charge a pickup fee of $75-$200 to remove a horse carcass, depending on location. Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) - Horse Disposal Options, 2019, 2019.
- [6] Renting a backhoe to bury a horse costs roughly $250-$500, and horse disposal in a landfill (where accepted) costs about $80-$150. Extension Horses (eXtension national Cooperative Extension) - Horse Disposal Options, 2019, 2019.
Find equine cremation for your horse
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.