Equine Rescue
In 2007, the Unwanted Horse Coalition estimated there were 170,000 unwanted horses in the U.S. (including animals in the BLM adoption pipeline and unadopted feral animals housed in BLM facilities). Every year, more than 100,000 of these horses are trucked over our borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. Horses bound for slaughter (who may include pregnant mares, foals and horses who are injured or blind) are commonly shipped for more than 24 hours at a time in crowded trucks without food, water or rest. The methods used to kill horses rarely result in quick, painless deaths for the horses, and their final moments are brutal and terrifying.
Although there are numerous equine rescue facilities throughout the United States, these facilities do not have enough capacity or resources to accommodate all the unwanted horses. The Unwanted Horse Coalition’s 2009 survey revealed that 39% of rescues are at maximum capacity and another 30% are at near capacity. On average, rescues are turning away 38% of horses brought to them. These numbers have been substantiated by researchers at the University of California-Davis who found that 83.9% of facilities surveyed received additional requests to accept horses between 2006-2009.
Most rescue facilities rely on donations for their operation. The average lifespan of a horse is 30 years. In 2005, the American Association of Equine Practitionersestimated the cost of caring for a horse to be approximately $1,825 per year—and that doesn’t include veterinary or farrier care. Factoring in the rising costs of feed and hay, that number is likely higher now. According to a 2009 survey of horse rescue facilities by the Unwanted Horse Coalition, on average $2,300 must be budgeted yearly to care for one horse. It is not clear whether this figure includes veterinary and farrier costs.
Many horses will require treatment for chronic conditions and costs can quickly add up. In addition, horses currently being received by rescue facilities are thinner and sicklier than in previous years, requiring additional care and expense. Drought conditions leading to higher prices for hay and grain have compounded the problem, making covering expenses even more challenging for individual owners and rescue facilities alike.
Rescue, rehoming, and euthanasia are preferable options for unwanted horses; unfortunately, there are more unwanted horses in the United States than can be accommodated by these options. According to the UC Davis survey, when it came to transitioning horses back to private ownership only 26.2% of relinquished horses were able to be re-homed.
At Windfall Equestrian Center, we are trying to be a part of the solution – finding homes for as many horses as possible, and encouraging buyers to start their search at a rescue. Whenever we can, we take in horses whose lives are at risk and give them a second chance at finding a loving home. Rescue, retrain and rehome is one of our favorite things to do at Windfall Equestrian Center. We have found homes for dozens of talented horses who just ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Please take the time to read up on how you can be a part of the solution, finding a home for every horse. If you are looking to buy, please visit the quality equine rescues below, or make a donation to support the tireless and exhausting work that they do to make the world a better place for horses.
Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue
DONATE NOW to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue
