Unwanted Horses

[appendixqh]

Ugh...where to begin Country Lady.

No, the TB "industry" does not do a good job of placing their horses. PRIVATE rescues, people like CANTER, do a good job of helping place the OTTBs that are a by product. Jockey club took one step in the past year to help rescues by offering free tattoo ID. And now some tracks are stepping up to ban trainers that send the failed horses to slaughter.

AQHA does have HYPP registration restrictions, I believe it was in 2007 that you could no longer register an H/H foal. - but that was not your point.

In the Quarter Horse Journal, there was an article recently about a program that has been implemented to help unwanted AQHA horses. Owners and breeders can privately place their name on a list as a forever home for that animal...the personal contact information will be used by AQHA to contact you if a horse you have on your list pops up. You would then have the option to take possession of that horse. If you own an AQHA horse, you can contact them if you want to be done with your horse and see if it is on someones list. They probably aren't returning your call because they recently laid a ton of people off due to significant drops in revenue...and a main source of revenue - registration. Numbers are dropping.

As for the kid at the dump...weak argument. You don't see all the dead deer and other animals that are taken off the side of the highway. And if by chance Johhny sees Mr Ed laying in a pit...perhaps it is a good opportunity for a real life lesson. Dead things just don't dissappear. Or if the kid is real young...then Mr Ed is sleeping in the pit! :)

JMO

[appendixqh]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

They won't see Mr. Ed on a compost pile because in order to compost properly, the horse has to be completely covered. A properly maintained compost pile does not stink, and you do not see the dead animals.

Exactly, besides...the dump doesn't exactly have that Fresh Scent anyway!

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by appendixqh

Ugh...where to begin Country Lady.

No, the TB "industry" does not do a good job of placing their horses. PRIVATE rescues, people like CANTER, do a good job of helping place the OTTBs that are a by product. Jockey club took one step in the past year to help rescues by offering free tattoo ID. And now some tracks are stepping up to ban trainers that send the failed horses to slaughter.

AQHA does have HYPP registration restrictions, I believe it was in 2007 that you could no longer register an H/H foal. - but that was not your point.

In the Quarter Horse Journal, there was an article recently about a program that has been implemented to help unwanted AQHA horses. Owners and breeders can privately place their name on a list as a forever home for that animal...the personal contact information will be used by AQHA to contact you if a horse you have on your list pops up. You would then have the option to take possession of that horse. If you own an AQHA horse, you can contact them if you want to be done with your horse and see if it is on someones list. They probably aren't returning your call because they recently laid a ton of people off due to significant drops in revenue...and a main source of revenue - registration. Numbers are dropping.

As for the kid at the dump...weak argument. You don't see all the dead deer and other animals that are taken off the side of the highway. And if by chance Johhny sees Mr Ed laying in a pit...perhaps it is a good opportunity for a real life lesson. Dead things just don't dissappear. Or if the kid is real young...then Mr Ed is sleeping in the pit! :)

JMO

Actually, improvement is needed everywhere, with regard to the unwanted horse.

The Jockey Club would in the past look up the last owner/trainer/breeder of record even before the recent steps this past year of id'ing for rescues. I think that the further step they took was to contact the last person of record to let them know of the status of the animal to offer it back to them.
That is a step in the right direction. Because usually the breeders and trainers usually have the acreage to pasture their off the track TB's.

But also they need to think about helping a potential new buyer/rescues reregister the animal if desired.

Yes CANTER does a great job, as does Re-RUN, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and a ton of others. WHAT ABOUT QH's

Days End Farm Rescue, Freedom Hill Horse Rescue, HoseNet Rescue, are local MD facilities, and help to facilitate a lot of adoptions for a potpourri of breeds.

Kid at the dump issue was not meant for an argument. It is merely looking at a different point of view. There are going to be people throwing a fit to find out there will be composting of horses in the local dump!

I put this question out there for people to think about. It is not productive to attack any one group, large breeders, small breeders the occasional back yard breeder, the problem does not stem from one group. The problem we may be facing is one of unexpected circumstance. Many different circumstances can produce the unwanted horse.
Say for instance you lose your job, in the economy down turn how will you continue to pay for your horse, especially if you are unable to find another job. A lot of people in boarding situations are finding themselves in quite a predicament. Ok, so you think I guess I sell my 45,000.00 horse. To who? In MD we are very fortunate to be surrounded by the lucrative areas such as DC etc.. In southern MD we have Pax River Naval Air Station, Indian Head is not too far, Andrews Air force Base, ..... A lot of folks that make decent money that may lease your beloved horse if you are lucky. Some places/people/horses aren't so lucky.

Some boarding stable across the state are waking up to find a few more horses in their fields than were there the night before. I have a feeling it may become more of a problem that we think.

What I am looking for is some thinking out of the box (stall) if you will.
WHAT PROACTIVE Measures can we take NOW and in the FUTURE to reduce the numbers of the unwanted horse.

We need to look at a lot of different areas.
Can the Breed associations do more to support the unwanted horses of their breed? I think so?

Should individual owners of horses be more accountable? I think so, but where do you draw the line?

Should there be more laws, more fines, more restrictions on breeding?
Should euthanasia be the ONLY way of ending the life of a horse?
Should slaughter houses be brought back? and under what terms?

Do we need better education with regard to Equine ownership?

I hear from many that the cost of euthanasia is prohibited for them. Ranging anywhere from $300-500 plus body rendering.
Should we have a low cost euthanasia clinic? Who is responsible for evaluating the animals to see if their life is beyond useful?

What do you do with the bodies?
Donate the cadaver to science research? Dog-food? Compost? Incinerate?
I realize that horse meat is a delicacy in some European countries. BUT if you worm your horse regularly, and you've read the label, it says plain as day, "NOT TO BE USED IN ANIMALS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION!"

What are some of the other things that we need to look at???????

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by appendixqh

Exactly, besides...the dump doesn't exactly have that Fresh Scent anyway!

TRUE STATEMENT!!!!

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by happyappygirl

SUPER point.

And I also agree, the BYBs (perhaps that term needs a definition?) certainly DO cause (major) issues, on an individual, case by case situation, no question. BUT it has become a national problem because of the blanket, knee jerk reaction on the hill, of closing of all slaughter houses.

There could also be more instruction? I'm not sure if that's the word i want to use here, but people need to know (or be taught) how and when to make the decision to Euthanize, and I agree, options have to be more affordable for the act of euthanisia and disposal, but I'm not sure how that would/could happen. I haven't given it that much in depth thought because each of ours means so much to us, and we provide for our own.

I'm also for using large animals to the benefit of others if at all possible, ie: in feeding carnivores at zoos etc. having said that, I would never be able to let that happen to one of mine, plus if it's euthanized the chemicals would preclude it, but the theory is, using one tragedy to help many. I'm an organ donor for that reason.

BYB in the dog community is the average pet owner that breeds their dogs?
So the statement being fairly general can include other animals such as cats and horses.

Education, I think, is the big key!!!!

[CountryLady]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

They won't see Mr. Ed on a compost pile because in order to compost properly, the horse has to be completely covered. A properly maintained compost pile does not stink, and you do not see the dead animals.

I wonder how many tons of dirt it would take to cover 100 horses at the county landfill if an euthanasia clinic was held once or twice a year. Suppose your county was the only county in MD that offered this option.

I think we better all get on the same page soon, don't you?

[fredsaid2]

Anyone concerned with the numbers of unwanted horses should take the first step and not breed a horse themselves.

The argument I've read here is BYBs don't significantly add to the problem due to the low number of animals they produce. My argument to that is most BYBs have little to no expertise or experience. They produce low quality animals, in turn selling them to other people of little to no expertise and/or experience. That whole lack of education leads to problems in how to care and maintain the sold horse and what to do when things go south. So yes, BYBs do play a part. Is it only a concern when the numbers are great or doesn't every horse deserve a chance at a decent well cared for life?

There are so many available horses I can't see the rationale in breeding to sell at a 3k or below price point. You could make that re-training horses picked up cheap.

[Robin]

Originally Posted by fredsaid2

Anyone concerned with the numbers of unwanted horses should take the first step and not breed a horse themselves.

The argument I've read here is BYBs don't significantly add to the problem due to the low number of animals they produce. My argument to that is most BYBs have little to no expertise or experience. They produce low quality animals, in turn selling them to other people of little to no expertise and/or experience. That whole lack of education leads to problems in how to care and maintain the sold horse and what to do when things go south. So yes, BYBs do play a part. Is it only a concern when the numbers are great or doesn't every horse deserve a chance at a decent well cared for life?

There are so many available horses I can't see the rationale in breeding to sell at a 3k or below price point. You could make that re-training horses picked up cheap.

not me, my friends, or anyone I know.

everyone I know isn't the problem.

The problem is open your eyes everyone that breeds any animal needs to take part.

Which will never happen, So Country Lady are you asking to government to take part in helping the problem go away or fix it?

[Robin]

netposse.com - Stolen Horse International, Inc## Equine Euthanasia

Since when do we make the decision to end a life when the animal has not life threatening illness?

If you breed it and there is not a market for it are you going to put it down?
Just for the hell of the poor market?

How about stop breeding. The well bred horses are usually sold as they hit the ground. They don't float from classified to classified.

Top breeders have inquiries for foals during the mares gestation.

[Robin]

Why do you want the county or state to get involved with disposal of the animal? Is that not the responsibility of the owner?

Cremation is another option.

Call College Park. They do it there. You can bury the remains on your property. or spread it on the field.

I think it cost me 400-500 to have it done.

This should be part of the owners package if they want to have the privilege of owning a horse/pony.