The Unwanted Horse:Commodity, Companion, or

Commitment?

What does a horse mean to an owner?

• Lifestyle• Investment (occupation vs. hobby)– Racehorse – if horse doesn’t win, no $$$– Breeding, seller – variable sales– In general – bad investment• Love for the horse

• Family member!!!• Lawn ornament

What does an owner mean to a horse?

• What is an owner’s responsibility?• What is a breeder’s responsibility?• What is the responsibility in the case of a

dangerous horse?• How does a horse become unwanted?

Who Creates Unwanted Horses?

• We all do?• Avg. horse owner keeps horse for 4.5 yrs.• Livestock vs. Companion Animal– Owners breed, raise, train, sell & buy horses– Most dog/cat owners plan on keeping their pets

for life– Horse sold to new home – will another be found

next time?

Unwanted vs. Unuseable

Unwanted• No longer fit into their owners’ lives– Healthy enough to enjoy life– Maybe diminished capacity, need new or any

training, owner can no longer afford, owners’ needs changed

• Unuseable– Poor health – illness, age, or injury– Unmanageable or dangerous

The Unwanted Horse CoalitionA broad alliance of equine A broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined organizations that have joined together under the American together under the American Horse Council to raise awareness Horse Council to raise awareness of the unwanted horse issue and of the unwanted horse issue and its consequences to horses and its consequences to horses and the industrythe industry

UHC Mission

To reduce the number of unwanted horses and to To reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare through education and the improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, efforts of organizations committed to the health,

safety, and responsible care and dispositionsafety, and responsible care and dispositionof the horseof the horse

UHC Goals•Reduce the number of unwanted horsesReduce the number of unwanted horses•Raise awareness of the issue and its consequences Raise awareness of the issue and its consequences •Educate horse owners and potential owners Educate horse owners and potential owners •Facilitate the exchange of informationFacilitate the exchange of information•Highlight “alternative careers” available to horsesHighlight “alternative careers” available to horses•Provide information on end-of-life decisions Provide information on end-of-life decisions

2009 UHC Survey

• Study commissioned by the UHC• Goal to answer questions surrounding the

UWH issue – Who are the horses (breed, sex, age, recent

occupation, value)?– Do they become neglected, abused, or processed?– Who is responsible?

• Results available on UHC website (36 page PDF)

2009 UHC Survey

• > 27,000 responders statistical sig. > 95%• Most responders:– Cited familiarity and concern about the UWH issue – Felt that the number of horses that are neglected

or abused has increased

• Veterinarians who responded are more familiar w/ the issue then other responders

2009 UHC Survey

• Horse Owners perceived value of their horses– 32% -- $1 to < $1,000– 38% -- $1,000 to $3,000– 30% -- $3,001 to $80,000

• Based on value at time of acquisition• Cost of disposal – Avg. cost is $385 for euthanasia– Avg. cost to owner for adoption is > $1,000

Current Situation for Rescue/Retirement/Adoption

• 2007 Est. # of UWH in the USA = 170,000 / yr• Avg. annual budget of $2,300/horse• ~430 U.S. facilities x Avg. 42 horses per facility

= 18,060 horses• Cost to care for sheltered horses (full capacity)

= $41,538,000• Cost to care for 170,000 unwanted horses/yr

= $391,000,000

Different Viewpoints

• Magnitude of the problem appears to be staggering

• Further complicated by the intensity of different viewpoints & opinions throughout the horse industry (& beyond)

“There’s a public disconnect from the reality of owning livestock & the truth of having the responsibility to deal with livestock that is no longer useful or healthy.” – UHC Survey response

There are three ways you can get to the top of a tree:

1) sit on an acorn 2) make friends with a

bird 3) climb it

Finding Common Ground

Top 4 Most Appealing Solutions – 2009 UHC Survey

• Horse ownership education focused on buying & owning responsibly (top priority for all groups)

• Increase ability of rescue/adoption/retraining facilities to care for UWH

• Reopening U.S. processing plants (most controversial)

• More resources for humane euthanasia

Finding Common Ground

Top 4 Least Appealing Solutions – 2009 UHC Survey

• Expand legislation or regulation to control horse ownership

• Federal funding for carcass removal• Increase awareness of animal welfare rights• Federal funding to expand horse adoption

““The possibilities are The possibilities are endless once we decide endless once we decide to act and not react.” to act and not react.”

Gloria AnzalduaGloria Anzaldua

Responsible Breeding

Responsible Sales

Where is the horse going – is new owner educated in care, is there adequate husbandry, what are the terms for a resale?

Responsible Adoption

• Whether to a private individual or welfare/rescue

• Learn as much as possible about person/group• Unscrupulous individuals & groups who adopt

under false pretense• Also, research organizations prior to making

donations (money, equipment, or horses)

Responsible Retirement

• Retired horse not just no longer ridden – also getting older with eventual health problems

• High risk for neglect/abuse• High risk for laminitis may need dry lot t/o• Still need farrier, veterinary care & dentistry• May also need daily meds “I never could have sold him to a stranger or put him down just

because he had a hitch in his giddy-up” – Barbara Stevens boarder at Last Chance Ranch

Euthanasia

• Euthanizing a horse has an emotional component different from euthanizing cats and dogs– Many vets are unwilling to euthanize a horse just

because it is unwanted (daily procedure for SA)

• Legislation has basically removed end of life for horses in a slaughter facility

• Need for an alternative mechanism to provide affordable and humane end of life options

There are worse things then death…

Authorities Search For Owner of Ill-Fated Horse Found Wandering

– Headline in Horse News January 2009

• Old emaciated horse found wandering in Manalapan Twp, NJ was brought to Helping Hands rescue where he died one week later

• No reports of missing horses • Owner was never found

“The equine practitioner becomes the voice of reason when dealing with someone who just can’t afford a horse anymore.”

-- Dr. Tom LenzUHC Chairman & AAEP Past President

Who is Responsible?

WE ARE! WE ARE!

This means every individual horse owner, This means every individual horse owner, breeder, trainer, veterinarian, horse industry breeder, trainer, veterinarian, horse industry

organization, and service providerorganization, and service provider

All must learn to “Own Responsibly”All must learn to “Own Responsibly”

How to “Own Responsibly”

• Before you buy or breed a horse, consider the Before you buy or breed a horse, consider the responsibilitiesresponsibilities•Understand and consider all options available to your Understand and consider all options available to your

horse horse beforebefore it becomes unwanted it becomes unwanted• Don’t use up your horse so that it is unable to have a Don’t use up your horse so that it is unable to have a

future careerfuture career• Consider end-of-life decisions Consider end-of-life decisions beforebefore you buy or breed you buy or breed

Spread the Word““Own Responsibly” Handbook andOwn Responsibly” Handbook and

Awareness BrochureAwareness Brochure

“Be part of the solution, not part of the problem”

– Stephan R. Covey

How You Can Help

• Learn the facts & share them w/ horse owners, saddle clubs, breed assoc., others

• Encourage the est. of breed specific rescue & adoption programs

• Encourage clients to own responsibly– Consider the consequences before breeding or

buying– Take responsibility for horses after they are no

longer wanted or needed

How Can You Help

• Information on your website– Links to resources – incl. UHC website using their logo – gives people

info on resp. ownership; lists rescue, retirement, & retraining facilities; options for horses

– Include section for horses needing homes– Link to news stories about unwnated horses &

related issues

Veterinary Educator

• Educate owners & potential owners about “Owning Responsibly”

• Highest risk group are 1st time horse buyers– Unrealistic expectations– Buying on a whim– Not understanding costs– Unbroken horses or breed own horse – too difficult

to train

• Encourage adoption of experienced horse

Veterinary Educator

• Outreach programs & public education– Caring for horses– Rehabilitating UWH– Finding new purposes for horses UWH

Veterinary Bottom Line Benefit

“Providing medical expertise & guidance at adoption can lead to a long-term relationship with the horse owner. You might end up providing a lifetime of care for that horse.”

– Dr. Cynthia Gutierrez ISPAH

Vets Helping Rescues

• Doesn’t necessarily mean charity work• Can choose to charge usual fees, discounted

fees, or no fees• Efforts send message of compassion and care• Can spur word of mouth business

A Helping Hand

• AAEP partnered with Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health to develop a program to help overburdened retirement & rescue facilities

• Provide free vaccines to approved facilities to use when providing care for rescued horses

• www.uhvrc.org• A portion of all 2009 ISPAH sales in 2009 will

go to providing ongoing support

Spread the Word

• ISPAH program has press releases that participants can send out– Raises awareness of problem & response

• Contact your local newspaper to suggest story or news brief– Raises awareness– Promotes your business through your

participation– Positions you as an equine community leader

“The pessimist complains about the wind.The optimist expects it to change.The leader adjusts the sails.” John Maxwell (Developing the Leader Within You)

Finding New Roles

Second Careers

• ReRun• Bloodhorse.com & TheHorse.com teamed up– Any registered TB, of any age – eligible for

placement in database of FREE horses– www.TheHorse.com

• Standardbred Retirement Foundation– Rehabilitation, retraining and adoption

Equine Educator

• Grace Foundation in No. California• Provides critical care & rehabilitation for

abused & neglected horses• Uses them in learning & therapeutic programs

for children & youth• 5,000 children have benefited• Permanently housing 50 horses• Full time vet on staff

Prison Programs

• BLM Wild Horse – Inmate Programs– Saddle trained horse adoptions – horses green

broke at correctional facility– Some offer boarding/training options for

continued work

• GA Prison Horse Rescue Farm– Rehabs rescued horses– Women learn skills for VT certificate

Project Redirect

• Run through the SRF• Program serves as a learning & work situation

for youth who are court ordered to serve community service hrs

• Learn respect, responsibility & companionship– Qualities often lacking in their lives

• Juvenile Justice Program– Uses SRF horses to teach social skills– Located at Jamesburg Home for Boys

Other SRF programs

• Youth programs • Therapeutic Riding & Driving Program• Youth in Focus– Help youngsters in need of direction to focus &

channel their energy

• Vocational Training Program – in development

Rutgers Programs

Premarin Weanlings• Selection, training, research, auction –

involved students– Become educated about industry– Increase awareness of these horses on student

level and then on public level through auction/PR– Not so much in need of rescue as increased

awareness

Rutgers Programs

BLM Yearlings• Selection, training, research, auction – will

again involve students– Document training & selection process– Quantify behavior to trainability

• 4 PU yearlings (trained) kept from prev. yr & will receive 4 PU sibling weanlings (untrained)– Compare all 3 groups on behavior/trainability &

also will conduct comparative nutrition study

Equine Shelters

• Proposal to establish shelters similar to dog/cat shelters to handle unwanted horses

• Need system to offer options for continued care for these horses in a humane manner

• Offer options for unadoptable horses• Cost is relevant but ignoring issue is not

economically or morally an option

Equine Shelters

• Adoptable – Placed in one of four groups– Immediately useable– Rehabilitation required– Needing permanent housing & retirement– Used for outreach education

• Unadoptable – Designated for humane euthanasia– Carcass salvaged for zoo feeding, nutritional use for

animals or rendering– Carcass disposed by tissue digester, composting or

cremation

Ethical Questions

• What is owner’s responsibility to horse?• Does this contract extend beyond usefulness?• Can we separate the slaughter issue from the

unwanted horse issue?• Is it possible that there are worse scenarios

than slaughter?• Could things get still worse?