Why HPS
OVERVIEW
There have always been abandoned and abused horses. However, recent economic conditions have put so much stress on horse owners and breeders that the situation has reached epidemic proportions.
Today, in our own communities, horses are standing in fields with no food or water. Some are locked in dirty barns so no one will see them. Their basic needs of safe, clean shelter, food, hoof care and worming are not being met. Indiscriminate breeding is occurring with alarming frequency because people cannot afford to geld their colts. Old horses are abandoned or taken to auction because the price of feed and stabling has gone up dramatically and costs to euthanize these animals are prohibitive. In addition, the racing industry is in crisis and racehorses are being cast aside at an alarming rate.
It takes a lot of space to house large animals; coordinated efforts are needed to care for special needs cases, and to foster animals while suitable permanent homes can be found for them. Educating the public is the long term solution to reduce the numbers of unwanted horses, and to raise the standards of care. Yet facilities will always be needed to coordinate programs and to offer support to horse owners and authorities, as well as providing a bridge between homes.
Currently, there are limited organized, coordinated efforts within the horse community of BC to deal with the growing equine problem. This lack of rescue strategy has meant that unscrupulous horse rescue groups operate within the province. Not only are horses terribly neglected and suffering needlessly in their care but the public is not able to distinguish them from legitimate horse rescue operations. Additionally, the scale of the problem of unwanted horses exceeds the ability of any one legitimate rescue group to address on its own, and many hardworking and genuine horse rescue groups are facing closure due to lack of funds and overwhelming need.
THE ISSUES
The Issue: Many people are unwilling to deal with humanely euthanizing their horses, believing that the costs are prohibitive, and realizing that the size of the animal makes disposal difficult and unpleasant. Often these animals are abandoned in fields where they die a slow death, or they are shipped to auction where they may be sold for meat value. People see this as a “neater” solution, but with increased restrictions at the meat plants fewer dealers are interested in the meat value of a horse. Meat plants are being closed across Canada and have all been closed in the U.S. In addition, recent video and documentation by CBC and others has shown that slaughter house practices are archaic and inhumane in the extreme.
The Issue: Whether horses are being seized by authorities, or people are offering them up for rescue, they often need immediate help. It will never be affordable to have a facility that can take all the horses in need. Because of the size of animal, and the space needed to keep them, the only practical solution is a network of acceptable foster homes.
The Issue: Falsely inflated horse prices over the last decade has resulted in “backyard” breeders who breed indiscriminately in hopes of making huge profits, or of somehow breeding that perfect horse. In fact, most of these breeders lack the knowledge and the funds to sustain an operation of this kind. The result is that many colts who should be gelded are left intact; cost being one of the main reasons, but also procrastination and lack of knowledge are a problem. Often people don’t realize that even a yearling colt can breed a mare - until he breaks down the fences and sires yet another unwanted foal. Once the young colt shows signs of developing hormones they are often kept completely segregated from other horses, and stalled for most of their lives. The life of a stallion is often lonely and unhappy, and they can become bad tempered and dangerous.
Conversely, the life of a brood mare is often not a good one either. Young fillies are being left untended for years, until someone decides to breed them (many because they are unmanageable to handle). These mares are consistently neglected, their farrier and dental needs not taken care of, and their nutritional needs often not met. When the time comes to sell these horses they have little or no value beyond meat as they are not trained for any use. These mares are often shipped to auction and subsequently to the meat plants. The cost of spaying is approximately 3 – 4 times higher than gelding and is rarely done.
The Issue: Many rescued horses have no training, or need to overcome harsh treatment from previous owners. These horses do not hold a value and are often sold for meat, or unnecessarily euthanized. A program where horses can be observed, assessed and trained in a modality that will help to ensure their ongoing future value is needed to give some of these horses a chance and to help them integrate into new and caring “employment”.
The Issue: Many people purchase horses with good intentions but with very little knowledge of the responsibility involved. Often people have taken riding lessons for a while and believe that they have a basis of knowledge of horse care. However, horse care is very complex and involved. In order for people to make more informed and educated choices they need hands on experience, not just in riding but in horsemanship. Whether people ultimately look after their own horses, or board them out, they should be well aware of the physical and psychological needs of the horse, and how to see if those needs are not being met.
Solutions: HPS has a number of programs in place and under development to address the serious issues facing horses today. We are encouraged by the great response and support we are seeing and look forward to even more success in the coming years. Please check out our "Programs" pages for information and pictures.
There have always been abandoned and abused horses. However, recent economic conditions have put so much stress on horse owners and breeders that the situation has reached epidemic proportions.
Today, in our own communities, horses are standing in fields with no food or water. Some are locked in dirty barns so no one will see them. Their basic needs of safe, clean shelter, food, hoof care and worming are not being met. Indiscriminate breeding is occurring with alarming frequency because people cannot afford to geld their colts. Old horses are abandoned or taken to auction because the price of feed and stabling has gone up dramatically and costs to euthanize these animals are prohibitive. In addition, the racing industry is in crisis and racehorses are being cast aside at an alarming rate.
It takes a lot of space to house large animals; coordinated efforts are needed to care for special needs cases, and to foster animals while suitable permanent homes can be found for them. Educating the public is the long term solution to reduce the numbers of unwanted horses, and to raise the standards of care. Yet facilities will always be needed to coordinate programs and to offer support to horse owners and authorities, as well as providing a bridge between homes.
Currently, there are limited organized, coordinated efforts within the horse community of BC to deal with the growing equine problem. This lack of rescue strategy has meant that unscrupulous horse rescue groups operate within the province. Not only are horses terribly neglected and suffering needlessly in their care but the public is not able to distinguish them from legitimate horse rescue operations. Additionally, the scale of the problem of unwanted horses exceeds the ability of any one legitimate rescue group to address on its own, and many hardworking and genuine horse rescue groups are facing closure due to lack of funds and overwhelming need.
THE ISSUES
The Issue: Many people are unwilling to deal with humanely euthanizing their horses, believing that the costs are prohibitive, and realizing that the size of the animal makes disposal difficult and unpleasant. Often these animals are abandoned in fields where they die a slow death, or they are shipped to auction where they may be sold for meat value. People see this as a “neater” solution, but with increased restrictions at the meat plants fewer dealers are interested in the meat value of a horse. Meat plants are being closed across Canada and have all been closed in the U.S. In addition, recent video and documentation by CBC and others has shown that slaughter house practices are archaic and inhumane in the extreme.
The Issue: Whether horses are being seized by authorities, or people are offering them up for rescue, they often need immediate help. It will never be affordable to have a facility that can take all the horses in need. Because of the size of animal, and the space needed to keep them, the only practical solution is a network of acceptable foster homes.
The Issue: Falsely inflated horse prices over the last decade has resulted in “backyard” breeders who breed indiscriminately in hopes of making huge profits, or of somehow breeding that perfect horse. In fact, most of these breeders lack the knowledge and the funds to sustain an operation of this kind. The result is that many colts who should be gelded are left intact; cost being one of the main reasons, but also procrastination and lack of knowledge are a problem. Often people don’t realize that even a yearling colt can breed a mare - until he breaks down the fences and sires yet another unwanted foal. Once the young colt shows signs of developing hormones they are often kept completely segregated from other horses, and stalled for most of their lives. The life of a stallion is often lonely and unhappy, and they can become bad tempered and dangerous.
Conversely, the life of a brood mare is often not a good one either. Young fillies are being left untended for years, until someone decides to breed them (many because they are unmanageable to handle). These mares are consistently neglected, their farrier and dental needs not taken care of, and their nutritional needs often not met. When the time comes to sell these horses they have little or no value beyond meat as they are not trained for any use. These mares are often shipped to auction and subsequently to the meat plants. The cost of spaying is approximately 3 – 4 times higher than gelding and is rarely done.
The Issue: Many rescued horses have no training, or need to overcome harsh treatment from previous owners. These horses do not hold a value and are often sold for meat, or unnecessarily euthanized. A program where horses can be observed, assessed and trained in a modality that will help to ensure their ongoing future value is needed to give some of these horses a chance and to help them integrate into new and caring “employment”.
The Issue: Many people purchase horses with good intentions but with very little knowledge of the responsibility involved. Often people have taken riding lessons for a while and believe that they have a basis of knowledge of horse care. However, horse care is very complex and involved. In order for people to make more informed and educated choices they need hands on experience, not just in riding but in horsemanship. Whether people ultimately look after their own horses, or board them out, they should be well aware of the physical and psychological needs of the horse, and how to see if those needs are not being met.
Solutions: HPS has a number of programs in place and under development to address the serious issues facing horses today. We are encouraged by the great response and support we are seeing and look forward to even more success in the coming years. Please check out our "Programs" pages for information and pictures.
