There was a time when the wild Mustang was being eradicated. The movie Hidalgo, albeit partly a glorious misadventure, proposes to capture the viewer's deeper sense of justice in a positive, let's-do-something-about-this-issue manner.
Even so, the Thoroughbred industry as of today continues to doggedly address the basic problem -- what to do with the unwanted horse, Thoroughbreds in particular -- while few active resolutions spawn from lengthily named panels, boards, and governing bodies.
Survey Figures On Unwanted Horses
Over 23,000 horse-conscious individuals participated in a survey taken from November 2008 to January 2009 that posed questions about the problems of unwanted equines. Survey results were discussed in October's issue of Horse Illustrated in a "Making Headlines" article entitled "Survey Says!".
Conducted by the Unwanted Horse Coalition, the www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org survey reveals that 90 percent of those who took part believe the number of unwanted equines is expanding. Reasons given for the problem included the closure of slaughterhouses, the economy, unmanageable costs of euthanasia, and changes in demand for certain breeds.
June "Welfare of the Horse" Forum
On June 16 of this year the American Horse Council National Issues Forum discussed "The Welfare of the Horse". In the July 4, 2009/No.27 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine, UHC Chairman Dr. Tom Lenz related a hopeless verdict in the case of unwanted animals, stating that the equines will be left "to pick up the tab". His remarks were reported in "Responsible Ownership", an article by Tom LaMarra.
Dr. Lenz's statistics were profound:
- 80,000 to 150,000 equines are on the unwanted list
- 432 horse rescue facilities operate in the US
- one average facility houses some 40 horses
- 18,000 horses per year are rescued
- half of these residents get new homes
- $18.6 million per year would be required to euthanize unwanted horses
- $234 million per year would be needed to house unwanted equines
- $15,000 per year is an average cost of keeping a horse
Who Is Doing What To Care for Horses
Everything from heart rate monitoring to drug testing to changing whipping rules and rebuilding tracks with synthetics has been brought under scrutiny in efforts to better serve the working equine.
Agencies and organizations on board to improve the equine's safety and welfare include:
- American Endurance Ride Conference
- American Quarter Horse Association
- Carriage Operators of North America
- United States Trotting Association
- United States Polo Association
- United States Equestrian Foundation
- Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assocation
Colorado Horse Rescue and Others
"We're big on education," claims Colorado Horse Rescue Executive Director Hildy Armour in the October issue of Horse Illustrated.
The CHR places adoptable horses carefully. After rescuing and rehabilitating an abused, abandoned, or neglected animal, the organization's effort to place the individual is closely monitored. Three follow up visits with a prospective owner are used to evaluate the horse's well being before ownership is officially sanctioned "...to make sure people know what they are getting into when they get a horse", according to Armour.
Concerned horse lovers may make contributions to CHR in the way of a one-time sponsorship for which they receive a photograph of the horse and the individual's rescue story. Regular monthly sponsors of an individual get visitation privileges. The CHR is committed to taking back any horse for whom adoption is terminated.
Saving horses is expensive. Their responsible care and feeding does not take place without commitment and dollars, points out executive director of the Kentucky Equine Humane Center Lori Neagle. She spelled out the expenses in a report written by Kim Abbott for October's Horse Illustrated.
KyEHC's 2008 income from grants, foundation gifts, personal donations, corporate donations, fundraising efforts, and adoption fees topped off at $277.521. Expenses for feed, bedding, farriers, veterinarians, farm supplies, farm maintenance (including repairs), farm equipment, labor, insurance, and miscellaneous items came to $304,587. Neagle noted the KyEHR's annual budget comes in at about $270,000, so even with careful planning of expenses, the organization operates behind the eight ball.
One of the KyEHR's biggest concerns, related Neagle, is transporting donated hay to the center. Stall bedding, in the form of field straw, and grain are items that can be regularly donated to the center. "We take whatever people are willing to give", Neagle said.
Organizational Guidelines in Place for Horse Welfare
One of the June 16 Forum's speakers was Tommy Doyle, president of the Carriage Operators of North America, one of several equine boards that presented findings and progress on horse safety and welfare. Doyle said, "We're out there 365 days a year" regulating the conditions under which carriage horses perform.
Cindy Schonholtz, speaking as chairwoman of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Animal Welfare Council, told the Forum "A written statement" for a safety and welfare plan "is worth its weight in gold" when questions are asked.
Dr. Jim Morehead of the American Association of Equine Practitioners echoed that statement. He said, "The World is watching..."
Like Hidalgo's U S Calvary horseman and endurance racer Frank T. Hopkins, who dedicated parts of his life to preserving the Mustang, the watchers will call for real solutions to the problem of the unwanted horse.
BNC101
BarbaraAnne Helberg - Barbara Anne Helberg, Supporter of Better Lives for Animals and Clean, Spirited, Competitive Sports
