selie, (4/20/2009 8:18:06 AM)

The reason that we have such a big problem now is that there are no longer any slaughter houses for the unwanted horses. I now only have four horses which is a good thing, since the cost of feeding them has more than doubled over the last year. I'm not sure how I would have feed the 12 horses that I used to have. If people cannot afford to feed their horses, they they can't afford to have them euthanized either. The cost of putting a horse down is at least $200 each, by the time you pay the vet and then have to have the horse buried, which can pose another problem. MOST horse people would not willingly let their horses starve to death, but what are they supposed to do with them since there is no demand? They can be left at the auction yard for someone else to have to deal with, which is what is happening, turn them loose and hope for the best, try to find a resue facility, which are already over flowing,etc. You get the picture. If a person were to kill their own horse with a bullet to the brain,(which I couldn't do) then someone would file crulity charges against them. At least then is would only be the cost of burial and a bullet, but the horse would no longer be left starving, running loose, etc. What needs to happen is for the slaughter houses to be allowed to operate once again. What we are seeing, is partially result of them being shut down. I don't like the idea of horses for human consumption, but let's face it, in the USA, we are the only country that thinks that way, and then horses wouldn't be left to fend for themselves if the slaughter houses were operating. If the budinsky's of the world want to keep the slaughter houses closed, then where are they in helping to support the unwanted and negleted horses?

NE Oklahoma Girl, NE Oklahoma (4/20/2009 8:27:33 AM)

Thank you for your comment selie. As a farmer, I appreciate someone putting my thoughts into words in a nice way. I completely agree with you.

love 918, (4/20/2009 10:22:54 AM)

Excellent comment Selie.

oldrsqr, choctaw (4/20/2009 5:21:16 PM)

Not so fast... I've been deeply involved in rescue for many years, in addition to being equally involved in my breed organization. The biggest problem we have is irresponsible breeding, both of registered/purebred stock and grade. Supply vastly outstrips demand in today's economy, yet people with mares simply have to fill uteruses because it's there, and as 'property' they can do any darned thing they want with that mare. And far too many breed organizations are encouraging this overbreeding, because that translates into income from registrations. Yes, the overflow may end up on a hook in Canada or Mexico rather than at Dallas Crown, but the packers aren't interested in skinny horses. And the majority of people seeking a horse from a rescue want something young, sound, trained, and cheap - so the horses lose any way you look at it.
Unless we in the horse community take our responsibility as owners and breeders (or not-breeders) seriously, some of the decisions may be made for us by various government agencies. I don't look forward to that at all - but we'll have asked for it by so far refusing to fix the supply (and that means of sound and trained youngsters) ourselves.