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Support the EPN by Shopping at IGive.com and by Searching the Net Using GoodSearch.com!Horse RescuesAlternatives To Horse AuctionsFinding A Home For Your HorseThe life of a horse is told in the classic story, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. For people unfamiliar with the story of Black Beauty here is a brief synopsis. Black Beauty is well bred and well cared for on a lovely estate. But due to a family illness he must be sold. His owner finds a buyer whom he believes will provide a good home for Beauty. The overall management is good. Beauty is well fed, his stall is clean, and he is well groomed. The new owners use of certain equipment would be unacceptable to the previous owner, but all things considered, Beauty is in a good home. Beauty does well there until he is injured. Now he must be sold again. But this time he has an unsoundness. So Beauty takes a step down in value. Beauty goes through a series of owners, some good, some not so good. Beauty is sometimes starved and beaten, and sometimes he is loved and well cared for. His owners have different reasons for needing to sell Beauty. A death in the family; family illness; Beauty is no longer able to do the work expected; a novice owner who is not prepared for horse ownership, etc. But every time he is sold, he keeps taking a step down. Beauty keeps getting older. Beauty's usefulness keeps diminishing. Beauty's breeding and accomplishments, including saving more than one owner's life are not important to his current owners who have no use for him any longer. The only people who have a use for him, who can profit from him, are the meat men. The last time he is offered for sale a man who knew Beauty in his prime recognizes Beauty and saves him from the knackers. A happy ending for Black Beauty. But every week at horse sales all around the United States and around the world, the story of Black Beauty is played out. Only for several million horses, including Excellor and Ferdinand, there was no Joe Greene to bring them home. Instead they were forced with electric cattle prods and bullwhips into overcrowded double deck cattle trailers for their last ride to a horse slaughterhouse to be slaughtered for human consumption. Money won, championships earned, numbers of stakes winners and/or champions produced or sired, or years of faithful service entertaining children did not earn those horses a peaceful end. Only a horse's owner can insure that their horse is well treated and does not fall into bad hands or end up at a horse slaughterhouse. Accomplishments mean nothing when a horse is no longer useful to the current owner. Until a horse's owner is at the end of the lead shank when the horse hits the ground for the last time, horse owners are not going to face the reality of what we, as an industry, are doing that is creating horses that are fodder for the slaughter industry at the average age of 7- 11 years old. So what are the options for owners who can or no longer wish to keep their horse, but who want to insure the horse has a good home?
Sale or LeaseContact Pony Clubs and 4-H groups whose members may be interested in leasing a horse. Often in Pony Clubs a horse will never leave that club, instead as the current rider gains experience, the horse will be passed on to less experienced members. Evaluate the facility where the horse will be stabled . The level of care and outlook on how the horse is treated will depend greatly on the groups leaders. Owners can be creative with a lease. Owner pays all or part of:
The horse can be put on a sanctuary's or a retirement farm's waiting list and leased until an opening becomes available. The owner does not have the financial responsibility for the horse while arranging a permanent retirement home. Lease or Adoption Agreements
InsuranceMortality insurance is important when the horse has a high monetary value. Liability insurance is important because of the damage a horse may do. The owner of the horse must be in the same position in terms of potential lawsuits by other people as he would if he had sold the horse. The lessee should check with their homeowner's or umbrella policies to know if these policies would provide liability coverage. InspectionThe ideal method of checking on a horse's condition is to personally visit the horse. This is not always practical. One method is to require photographs of the horse with the same child, (children grow). A statement from the lessee's vet, on the vet's letterhead, that the required vaccinations, deworming, dental and hoof care have been performed and the bills paid is a must. A follow-up phone call to the vet is a good idea to ensure the validity of the statement. Letterheads have been stolen. Within 24 hours of the horse's death the lessee must contact the owner followed by a letter from the lessee's vet certifying that the horse is dead, and the cause of death. It is recommended that the lessor pay for the vet as the vet is now working for the owner of the horse. This can be negotiated. The reason it is important to have a vet's certification is to prevent the lessee from telling the owner that the horse is dead, when in fact the horse has been sold. We have had experiences like this, so it is very important that a vet certify the horse dead. Penalty PhaseThe lessee agrees if they break the contract they will pay the owner one thousand, $1000.00, or the fair market value of the horse, whichever is greater. This prevents the lessee from profiting from the sale of the horse. This has been upheld in court in PA. Retirement FarmsWhen choosing a retirement farm owners must choose if they want a personalized facility or a large turnout with little personal care. The care a horse requires now will change as he grows older. Many larger farms are not interested in caring for labor intensive horses. Smaller farms tend to have higher board rates than larger farms because there are less boarders to cover overhead costs. Overhead includes, facility and equipment cost and maintenance, taxes, insurance, supplies, feed, labor costs, and a profit. The board rate must cover all of this. Ridiculously low board rates should be questioned. The horse's welfare is at stake. Giving Horse AwayThe EPN does not recommend giving horses away. Historically horse owners have given companion or limited use horses away for free with the promise of a good home. There are too many greedy and uncaring people in this world to risk the welfare of your horse by engaging in this practice. It seems to be human nature though to take the easy way out. It is easier to believe the horse is doing fine than to go and check on the horse and discover that the horse has been disposed of or is in bad shape. EuthanasiaThe decision to put a horse down is never easy. The reality is that there are not enough homes for all of the pasture sound horses. The risk of your horse falling into a bad situation and or being sold for slaughter is a very real possibility. Death by humane euthanasia is preferred than a slow downward spiral that ends at a slaughterhouse.Disposal of the horse's body:
Mr. J. Brown- 610-255-4311 or Mr. Taylor- 610-458-8750. Evaluate Your HorseConsult with your veterinarian and farrier for an objective evaluation of your horse's soundness and use limitations. Evaluate Facility
Pasture and Paddocks
Feeding
Water
Imagine the worst weather scenario and picture what the horse has to do to access water, feed and shelter and what the caretakers have to do to access the horses. Health Care
Grooming
Reality Check
Important Reminders
Copywright Equine Protection Network 1997 - 2008 |
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