Having a plan for dealing with your horse's death is always a good idea.
Disposing of a dead horse can be very difficult because it may be your pet and has sentimental value to you. But the decision is also a financial one. In Maryland, there are no clear laws about dispose of a horse's body other than it cannot spread disease or endanger public health. Maryland counties sometimes have a much-clearer code to follow.
Instructions
1. Call your county and ask what the laws are for disposing of a dead horse. If the county has regulations, follow them precisely.
2. Bury the horse on your property if you can. You need to bury the horse at least 100 feet from property lines and 300 feet from water supplies. Make sure you put lime on the horse's body before you bury it, and cover it with at least 3 feet of soil. The average grave for a horse is 7 feet wide and 9 feet deep. The burial needs to be done at least 3 hours before sunset to keep away wild animals.
3. Call a render service to pick up your dead horse. The charge will be about $250. These companies will recycle the body of your horse. Renderers.org is the website of the National Renderers Association, and can help you find a local company.
4. Take the dead horse to a crematory. Many large animal veterinary universities have these. The University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center is close to Maryland, and there is an incinerator there for cremations. This is a good way to dispose of a horse that died of a contagious disease. Request your horse's ashes if you want.
5. Dispose of the horse's body on your own by either taking it to a local landfill or burning it. Before you take the horse's body to a landfill, call first and make sure this is okay. If you decide to burn the horse, avoid an open flame because the smell will be repugnant. Make sure the burning is done before sunset, and that this conforms with Maryland burning laws.
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