Priscilla Greenleaf, volunteer barn manager at the Last Chance Ranch in Troy, strokes one of the horses while brushing them Wednesday. Buy Photo
At Last Chance Ranch in Troy, volunteers are mucking out stalls on a cold winter morning, tossing the horses hay, and giving some much needed brushing and attention to the rescued horses sheltered here. Their winter coats are filling in and they look velvety and healthy.
CarolAnn Spreda of Albion is asked “How many rescues are here?”
“Fourteen,” she answers.
“How many do you have room for?”
“Fourteen,” she repeats.
Yet that is no where near the number that is needed.
“Maine’s horse industry is in crisis,” Last Chance owner Mary Myshrall said Wednesday. “I get calls every day from people looking to surrender their horses. People are terrified of what is coming next.”
The high cost of grain, hay and veterinary care, combined with today’s economic crisis across the country and a general horse overpopulation, has horse owners surrendering their animals in record numbers, unable to feed and financially care for them over the winter.
“They are having a hard time feeding themselves, much less their horses,” Spreda said.
Hay that was $1 a bale last year, is now $4 a bale. A 50-pound bag of grain that was $8.50 is now at $15.
It’s not just backyard horse owners that are struggling.
“I had one phone call from a breeder who needed to get rid of 18 pregnant brood mares,” Myshrall said. “That’s 36 horses, in the end.” Myshrall predicted that since every equine rescue and shelter in Maine is full, those 18 horses will either be sold to meat markets or euthanized.
“There are days that I just sit down and cry,” she said. “This is a crisis situation and a vicious cycle. Breeders keep breeding and dumping the sub-quality or ill horses, meat buyers only want the best and fattest horses, so the ill, the old, the infirm — that’s what ends up at the rescues. And no one wants them. What is the differ-ence between an owner euthanizing their horse and me euthanizing it? Responsibility.”
Lenny Green at Double B Equine Rescue in Industry said he also is getting calls daily from desperate horse owners.
“We had a call yesterday to give up three,” he said. “Two days before that, someone needed to give up two work horses. I’ve never seen it this bad.”
Judy Merrifield of Mountain Equine Rescue in Union has been sheltering horses for 30 years, and she said this week she has never seen so many horse owners at the end of their financial rope.
“I have 30 horses right now. I’m full,” she said. “And I have 15 horses on a waiting list.”
The extent of the trouble runs deep, she said.
“I just got an e-mail from a Maine stable that said one of their school horses had some medical issues and they can’t afford the medical costs to find out what is wrong. They wanted to know if I could take the horse in at the shelter. What are they thinking? The shelters are having a hard time, too. We can’t just close the doors and turn off the heat like a store.”
Jennifer Winchester at Spirit of Hope rescue farm in Winterport said she has turned away about 75 horses. “We have been contacted almost daily by e-mail and phone from people who can no longer afford to keep their horses. Normally in the summer there is a hiatus, but there wasn’t one this year. Finances aside, lots of people are still breeding really poor quality horses here, so Maine-bred horses are not in high demand elsewhere, except for as a nice steak, of course.”
State officials are so concerned that a special equine welfare meeting to develop a five-year plan has been set at the Maine Department of Agriculture on Dec. 3.
“This is certainly a timely topic as the winter approaches. The price of feed continues to rise, and our concerns heighten over people’s ability to care for horses, “ Dr. Don Hoenig, state veterinarian said.
A national unwanted horse advocacy group is conducting a survey of equine associations, veterinarians, breeders, state and local law enforcement, horse owners, rescue-retirement facilities, and other facilities using horses to gauge the extent of the problem.
Here in Maine, even rescues that do not take in surrendered horses are being inundated with requests.
Meris J. Bickford of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in South Windham, New England’s largest equine rescue, said, “Yes, at the MSSPA we have experienced a substantial increase in the number of people who contact the organization in an effort to surrender their horses. The society doesn’t generally ac-cept surrenders, but people contact us via phone, Web site, and in person to inquire whether their animals can be taken in. It is unbelievably sad.”
Merryfield said that it costs a rescue shelter $1,000 to accept a horse with veterinarian checkups, food and care. “Some of my biggest sponsors have backed out. This time of the year, we usually see checks for $10 to $100 coming in, but that is not happening,” she said.
The cash-strapped shelters are starting to get creative to raise funds, and most rescue owners work full-times jobs off the farm to pay for rescue expenses.
Myshrall’s volunteers are selling holiday wreathes, candles and wool socks. Merryfield is having an on-line sale of used horse equipment, and both rescuers are waiving the adoption fee on some of their horses to free up stalls.
Bickford said, “We do maintain a pet adoption line which allows us to attempt to match people who want to surrender animals with people who want to adopt animals, but there is a larger number of horses on the pet adoption line than one would ordinarily see.”
As rough as the situation is going to be for them this winter, every horse rescuer interviewed said they were really concerned about next spring, when horses are released from their barns.
“Horses who have starved in barns all winter will be turned out to pasture,” Bickford said. “It isn’t easy to gauge how many horses will be under cover, but underfed this winter, but given the escalating costs of processed feed and hay, even a non-math major can calculate the odds of horses doing well in this economic environ-ment.”
The problem of unwanted horses is being studied through a nationwide initiative of the Unwanted Horse Coalition in an online survey.
The coalition stated that there are few documented facts about the accurate number of unwanted horses — their age, sex, breed, recent use, value or what happens to them in the long run.
“Although there are numerous media reports and much anecdotal evidence of a growing problem with unwanted horses, there have been no studies or surveys done to attempt to document it,” said Jay Hickey, president of the American Horse Council. “The downturn in the economy, rising costs of hay, the drought that has af-fected many parts of the United States, the costs of euthanasia and carcass disposal, and the closing of the nation’s slaughter facilities have all made the problem worse. But no one knows its magnitude.”
On 11/20/08 at 7:32 AM,
garysavard wrote:
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Having grown up around horses and having kept them on the farm up until four years ago when my last buddy died of old age, my heart goes out to these fine animals that are up against it because their owners can not take care of them. Way too many people acquired horses over the past few years for whatever reason that did not have the facilities or ability to properly care for them, and now many are simply bailing out. Before folks buy these large animals, they should do a bit of research on the costs and time involved in their proper care.
On 11/20/08 at 7:41 AM,
JMill85 wrote:
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Can we just bring them to Nebraska and drop them off at the hospital like an unwanted teenager?
On 11/20/08 at 8:40 AM,
loveslife wrote:
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This just breaks my heart. I'm sure some of these people don't want to give thier horses up...but the way the economy is going, people loosing thier jobs, the cost of everything going way up and other situatuions that are out of our control they have no choice. I hate to see horses suffer or be put down because there is nobody to care for them. I am a huge horse lover .. always have been since I was a child. I would love nothing more than to have my own horse. I find being around a horse, brushing them or tending them is very relaxing to me and also helps me mind wise due to an illness I have. I wish there were some way I could help with these horses even if it were to take one in. It would be one less that would go unattended, unfed or maybe put down. I hope something comes up so these horses can get the help and attention they need.
On 11/20/08 at 9:08 AM,
Chris1943 wrote:
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THe survey link does not work. Try this http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey
On 11/20/08 at 9:11 AM,
Chris1943 wrote:
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A Call for Help: Your Input is Needed in a Nationwide Survey on the
Problem of Unwanted Horses
· Monday November 17, 2008, 10:00 am EST
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The problem of unwanted horses is being
studied through a nationwide initiative of the Unwanted Horse Coalition
(UHC) with help from equine associations, veterinarians, breeders,
state and local law enforcement, horse owners, rescue/retirement
facilities, and other facilities using horses. The first step is an
online survey - and everyone with an interest in the welfare of horses
is encouraged to respond at http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/.
With tens of thousands of unwanted, neglected and abandoned horses in
the United States, some say the problem is a fast-growing epidemic.
0AHowever, much remains unknown. Currently, there are few documented
facts about the accurate number of unwanted horses, their age, sex,
breed, recent use, value or what happens to them in the long run.
"Although there are numerous media reports and much anecdotal evidence
of a growing problem with unwanted horses, there have been no studies
or surveys done to attempt to document it," said Jay Hickey, president
of the American Horse Council (AHC), the national association that
represents all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C. The
UHC operates with the AHC. "The downturn in the economy, rising costs
of hay, the drought that has affected many parts of the United States,
the costs of euthanasia and carcass disposal, and the closing of the
nation´s slaughter facilities have all made the problem worse. But no
one knows its magnitude. That´s why the first step toward a solution is
to gather and examine the facts. The goal of this survey is to get the
input, observations, opinions and suggestions from anyone and everyone
involved with horses."
The Study on Contributing Factors Surrounding the Unwanted Horse Issue
will be instrumental in filling factual gaps with actual data on:
-- Awareness of the unwanted horse problem and perceived trends in
recent years
-- Level of concern
-- Factors contributing to the problem
-- Direc
t and in-direct experience with the issue
-- Actions taken by owners
-- Expectations about responsibility and assistance
-- Solutions
Phase I of the study is an online survey of people most affected by and
involved with the issue of the unwanted horse. An independent research
firm developed the questionnaire and is hosting the online survey site
at http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/. The firm will also tabulate
and analyze responses, and provide a full report.
A comprehensive view of the problem depends on representation from all
corners of the horse industry, according to Dr. Tom Lenz, chairman of
the UHC. "To ensure the broadest possible participation, we´re working
to involve a variety of individuals, associations, state and local
agencies, and equine-related companies to actively encourage their
constituencies to take the survey and voice their opinions."
The American Association of Equine Practitioners defines the term
"unwanted horse" as, "Horses which are no longer wanted by their
current owner because they are old, injured, sick, unmanageable, fail
to meet their owner´s expectations, or the owner can no longer afford
or is incapable of caring for them." This definition, according to
Lenz, is a starting point to discover what´s causing the problem and
what can be done to correct it.
"Regardless of h
ow horses reached this state, every owner-and the
equine industry at large-has a responsibility to ensure that everything
possible is done to guarantee the humane care and treatment of unwanted
horses," Lenz said. "Our message now is to please go to
http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/, and provide us with feedback.
Answers will be confidential. More important, this feedback will be
invaluable in developing a strategy to solve the problem."
The American Horse Council (AHC)
Founded in 1969, the American Horse Council was organized to represent
the horse industry before Congress and the federal regulatory agencies.
The AHC promotes and protects all horse breeds, disciplines and
interests by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media
and the equine industry. The AHC is member supported by approximately
160 organizations and 1,200 individuals representing every facet of the
horse world, from owners, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, farriers,
breed registries and associations to horse shows, racetracks, rodeos,
commercial suppliers and state horse councils.
The Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC)
The mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of
unwanted horses and improve their welfare through education and the
efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety and
responsible care and disposition of these horses. The UHC grew out of
the Unwanted Horse Summit, which was organized by20the American
Association of Equine Practitioners and held in conjunction with the
American Horse Council´s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in April
2005. The summit was held to bring key stakeholders together to start a
dialogue on the unwanted horse in America. Its purpose was to develop
consensus on the most effective way to work together to address the
issue. In June 2006, the UHC was folded into the AHC and now operates
under its auspices.
Contact:
Unwanted Horse Coalition
Julia Andersen, 202-296-4031
Director
jandersen@horsecouncil.org
or
Stephens & Associates
Cathy McCormick, 913-661-0910, Ext. 115
cathym@stephens-adv.com
34151
On 11/20/08 at 9:36 AM,
centralmaine wrote:
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Even when you own the proper facility for keeping horses, they are expensive and time consuming. They take a lot of dedication to keep them healthy. Also, breeding in the hopes of making money is a losing proposition unless you have very high quality animals and a good market. It's not like selling puppies in Uncle Henery's. Any one who is not TOTALY prepared to have horses should stay away from ownership. If you do have the desire to be around horses, please go visit your local commercial facility and take lessons or rescue barn and offer to help out.
On 11/20/08 at 10:40 AM,
LarrySG wrote:
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I think a lot of people bought horses because "everyone else has one" and didn't know anything about keeping a horse(s), that led to overbreeding and the current glut. It's really a sad situation and I don't have an answer.
On 11/20/08 at 11:51 AM,
snowhownd wrote:
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I would make a contribution to one of these shelters - this article does not seem to provide any contact info, I think it should - make it easy for people to help out.
On 11/20/08 at 1:38 PM,
listenup wrote:
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Chris1943 - The link would have been JUST FINE.......
On 11/20/08 at 2:03 PM,
ParkAvenueJoe wrote:
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I wonder if they could ship them out west some where and just turn them loose?
Otherwise, I see nothing wrong with converting them too food for people and or other pets.
On 11/20/08 at 3:15 PM,
momof2 wrote:
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This is sad. I love horses. I have land for them but unfortunatly no barn, I wish there were grants out there that would build a barn and i would take in some. I have the experience with them, and could afford to feed a couple, but they need shelter. I do not believe they should become food for anything what a horrible thing to say.
On 11/20/08 at 3:45 PM,
peaceppl wrote:
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My mother's horse which was born on our farm and raised and loved by her for 20 yrs just had to be put down in September. Now my old horse has no friend and is very lonely. My mom would love another horse and may even be able to be talked into getting two. The problem is that most of the horses she has looked at in the shelters are un-rideable or have health issues. If anyone knows of a good, sound, riding horse that has no home (possibly two if I get my way) please e-mail me at ynghippie88@yahoo.com. We have had horses since before I was born and would give them a warm, well-fed, loving home.
On 11/20/08 at 4:59 PM,
CeeBlue wrote:
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ParkAvenueJoe means well I'm sure--
But, in fact, here in AZ. they are being turned loose and dieing; lions, disease lack of forage--so sad; a noble creature.
On 11/20/08 at 11:13 PM,
ParkAvenueJoe wrote:
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Lions gotta eat, too, CeeBlue.
On 11/21/08 at 1:29 PM,
mediafolk wrote:
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If you want to help out here's a link for The Last Chance ranch donation page: http://lastchanceranchmaine.org/news.htm
They accept donations via PayPal or via check at: LAST CHANCE RANCH, 379 Bangor Road, Troy, Maine 04987.
They can also be contacted via the email form on their website: http://lastchanceranchmaine.org/contact.htm or by phone at (207) 948-3440.
BTW ParkAvenueJoe, you don't seem to have to many real solutions to offer, just lots of morbid ones . . . you have a right to your opinion but it should would be much more helpful if they weren't all terminal ones . . .
On 12/4/08 at 4:20 PM,
roetje wrote:
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Thanks for the info on donating to Last Chance. However, since they are full right now, I would prefer to donate to a place or person who could use the donation to take in an animal right now.
On 1/23/09 at 9:44 AM,
mainehorsenut wrote:
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Spirit of Hope Farm in Winterport is a licensed shelter & rescue for horses and is grateful for community support! Here is a link to their website...
http://spiritofhopefarm.tripod.com
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