Jill Starr, Founder and President of Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue has written this very important message about the Unwanted Horse Crisis in America.
We must take action. We must be responsible for the horses we make a committment to.
by Jill Starr - February 2008
We are in the midst of an unwanted horse crisis. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of horses across America are being abandoned, becoming homeless and sent for slaughter.
Because of the sinking economy many people who currently own one or more horses are experiencing severe financial difficulties. They are losing their jobs, they are losing their homes, they are losing their hope.
Horses are always the first expense to get cut when times get hard. And it's so bad that we're even seeing people leaving their house pets behind in their foreclosed homes to fend for themselves
Horse rescue facilities are splitting at the seams beyond capacity. Phone calls and emails from desperate horse owners come in to my office daily. Some really desperate horse owners with no other options just let their horses go free in the neighborhood. Since no licensing or registrations are required of horses, the owners are mostly untraceable. The horses wander looking for food and water. The lucky ones get picked up by Animal Control, the unlucky ones get hit by cars or succumb to the elements.
This problem is not a new one, nor does it surprise most of us in the horse rescue industry. We've seen it brewing for a few years now.
Here at Lifesavers, we've noticed a decline in the numbers of interested adopters and an increase in the number of needy horses. Even our own prior adopters who signed an agreement to give their adopted horse a home for life, or give it back are in fact giving them back. For the past 2 years we've taken back more horses than we've adopted out
Some organizations and individuals would like to blame the closing of the U.S. horse slaughter plants on this crisis. Certainly the closing of the plants is playing a role in the crisis, but is not the reason for the over-population of unwanted horses.
The effect it has on the current crisis is that the horses are not disappearing before our eyes like they used to. The unwanted horses in the past just simply vanished into the slaughter house black hole and the public didn't have to know the difference.
Since that drain is now plugged, we are seeing with our own eyes what happens to horses when there are more of them than there are homes prepared to keep them.
The recession we are in is exacerbating the situation by putting a higher number of horses out there than would be if our economy was intact.
The horse rescue industry was expecting a flood, but not a tsunami. It's going to get worse before it gets better. The good news is that it will get better. It has too.
In the meantime we must all do more than our shares to alleviate the problem.
People who care about horses, whether they own them or not, must step up to the plate and do whatever they can to help get this country and its horses through this difficult time.
We need everyone to support their local or favorite horse rescue organizations. The rescues including Lifesavers, are under a great deal of pressure right now. The stronger ones are not only having to take in horses from private owners, but are also having to absorb previously rescued horses from the organizations who are now also failing.
Donations are critical yet they are also slipping
Adoptions are also critical. Each rescue organization has a maximum capacity. A number of horses they can confidently care for over a period of time. When that max is reached the only relief is finding a home for a rescued animal thereby creating another space for the next needed rescue.
If you are a horse owner looking for a good home for your horse - keep it. If you love your horse and can work it out - keep it. You will be the best home for the horse you love right now.
If you are a horse owner that is not in jeopardy of having to give up your horse, then maybe you can even afford to take on another. Consider giving up a night on the town, an expensive dinner, that designer pair of jeans or some other luxury item each month to afford caring for another horse. But please don't do it if you are on shaky ground yourself.
Nobody can say how long this crisis will last, but I am hopeful that by the end of this year, 2008, we will begin to see our country's economy pick itself back up and dust off the recession. Then I believe our horses will be in better shape too.
Along with the closing of the horse slaughter plants, there must be a new way of thinking for the horse industry. The quick and thoughtless disposal of horses is no longer a practical outlet. The Canadian and Mexican slaughter houses are still open to American horses, but hopefully not for long
We must adjust our thoughts and actions when involving horses in our lives. They are not toys, nor objects of possession. They are living beings that have feelings including fear, pain and affection.
They are big animals that require not only a lot of food, but a lot of space to move around in.
They are expensive to keep - hay prices keep going up just like gasoline. When they get sick or injured medical care can run into the thousands.
They get old, meaning they live a long time. A healthy horse can live into its thirties. We must be prepared to care for that horse for his life, or have a plan for someone else to care for him if we cannot.
This might mean asking a family member or friend to take over in the case of owner incapacitation - but ask in advance - have a plan. Have some money set aside in the case of a horse medical emergency or euthanasia. Many people are now leaving provisions in their wills for their horses should they survive their owners
Another plan could be to contract with an equine retirement organization where they will take your horse, care for them, but you will pay them a monthly fee.
There are many choices and things to think about before taking on a horse. If a long term commitment is not a reasonable option for you, then maybe just think about leasing horse where you would share the expenses of a horse owned by someone else, but you also get the privilege of riding and keeping company with the horse for as long as you and the horse owner agree.
Another option is to volunteer at a nonprofit ranch where you can have a satisfying relationship with a horse or many horses as you donate your valuable time for a worthy cause. Your interest might be breed specific rescue, or handicapped riding, or equine assisted programs that help people with self issues
There are many options. The point is that they need to be explored and discovered before purchasing or adopting.
Another change of thinking needs to affect horse breeding. Since there is an over-population of horses and an unwanted horse crisis, it really doesn't seem prudent or humane to bring yet another horse into a world that cannot manage it.
There are some huge horse industries that will need to drastically revamp their policies such as the racing industry that is the biggest culprit in the horse slaughter issue. They mass breed for speed and the horses that don't make the grade get disposed of.
Typically sport and show horse breeders will do the same. They will breed for perfection, and the imperfect offspring often end up slaughtered for lack a better plan for them.
All in all it's a pretty scary picture out there right now. Lifesavers is definitely maxed out with more than 200 horses living at our two locations.
We have had to turn down scores of horse owners looking for a safe place for their horse to go. I don't know what will come of them - I can only pray for good.
Lifesavers has a plan to increase the number of horses we can help. It's an expensive plan, but I think we can do it with the help and blessings of our most dedicated supporters.
Our plan is to expand our natural habitat sanctuary for wild horses from 160 acres to as many as 3000 acres. This will allow us to re-release as many as 300 horses on that land. Currently we have about 70 which is too many for the small 160 acre parcel.
On the larger sanctuary they will be able to graze during a portion of the year saving thousands of dollars in hay each month. Their health will be at its best and they will be as happy as God intended them to be.
Most importantly it will allow us to take in more of the unwanted horses until they become wanted again.
We hope to make this dream possible for the horses.
Mr. Moonie a.k.a Poopy Pants is one special boy. He lives at Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue and I have been working with him as a special project. He is a special horse.
Moonbeam came to Lifesavers in 2003 along with 150 other Shoeshone wild horses. He is beautiful. His first name was Poopy Pants because he has irritable bowel syndrome. Poor guy. Always had.....well.....poop running down his legs. With an adjustment in diet, that is better, thank goodness.
Moonie, Moonbeam, Mr. Moonie, Moonie Pants, I call him many things, so don't get confused, they are all the same horse.
Moonie has had an immense amount of training, has been started undersaddle, was even shown off at the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Show. He is a spectacular mover, very fancy. Moonie is also the most challenging horse I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
It is a pleasure because he will make me better. He has so much to teach me. Moonie sees absolutely no use for an equine/human relationship. He really doesn't see much use for an equine/equine relationship either. He wants you to believe that he is strong and secure and doesn't need you. But inside, you can see that he is unconfident and at times even fearful.
I am working hard to find the "want" in him. I want him to see purpose in allowing me to be his leader, to trust in me. I have been working with him for about a month or so. It's going slow, but it is going.
I worked with this special boy yesterday, and for the first time from the beginning of your play session, he "wanted" to. He had more try in him than I have ever seen before and it brought tears to my eyes.
Now clearly, having been started under saddle and shown, he halters and leads all those things. But I have chosen NOT to halter him yet. When you go to catch him, he sort of spaces out and tolerates you haltering him. I want him to WANT me to halter him. I want him to WANT to be with me. Yesterday was the first time I saw him truly WANT to be with me, but was too afraid. He tried so hard to please me, it was very overwhelming.
I would ask him to touch me, and he would take a few steps towards me, then, wanting to come forward more, but unable to, he would take a few side steps. Then not wanting to disappoint me, he would touch something in the arena, a cone or something, and then look at me with the softest most curious eyes, as if to say, "look at what I can do, aren't you proud" . I was proud. It was the first time he was truly looking to me for praise, and reassurance.
He never did touch me yesterday, but that doesn't matter. For the first time, he WANTED to touch me. For now, I count my blessings, and realize that alone, was a huge gift, and a gift that Mr. Moonie Pants doesn't give easily.
What a special horse this is.
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