Comments | backyardhorse: What Is More Humane?

fiesta831 in backyardhorse

What Is More Humane?

Sep 13, 2008 21:41

I've been thinking about the issues facing horses today regarding the downturn in the economy.

There are TONS of articles out there about various problems regarding high feed costs, over breeding, lack of rescue/shelter space, horses going to slaughter etc...etc...etc... If you are not aware of these articles I will let you google the issues ( Read more... )

Comments 6

harnessphoto September 14 2008, 02:13:16 UTC

i have an agreement with my horse's old owner (my previous boss). if anything happens and i can't keep him anymore, i send him back, and he can live there until he finds a new home. the idea terrifies me, but at least my horse's future is secure. i think euthanizing a healthy horse due to economic stress is wrong. an old horse or a horse with special needs is one thing, but if it's a perfectly marketable horse who needs a new home, i don't think death should be an option. auctions are highly risky, but free homes and rescues are a good thing to look into.

athystle September 14 2008, 12:05:25 UTC

Seriously. I face this every fricken day of my life. What do I do? I take it one moment at a time. My horse has never and will never go without. Had horses 40yrs now and one has never went without. There are many days when I wonder how we will eat that night, but not them, they always have their food.I always wonder how we will pay the rent or keep the lights on. That is nothing new. What I can tell youis this. It always works out. It has never not. I always figure out something. I have very good credit amongst ppl I know and wouldn't hesitate to borrow a bit of money if needed. I have never not paid someone back ( ... )

tabascokat September 14 2008, 17:23:05 UTC

I think that answer would vary on a case by case issue.
For me -well, yeah, first I'd start cutting back everywhere else.
Try to find cheaper board, hay and feed, or supplement. Buy in bulk and store. Bring them back here. I have a few alternatives.

Try to sell first -but which one first? There is always a chance that scaling back would enable a person to keep part of their herd.
Start asking around, try to keep a handle on who buys. Turn into a rescue before going to a sale (if rescues are taking).

madeyemads September 14 2008, 22:28:07 UTC

One of mine I would euthanize. He's 24 and selling him would never be an option. My mini pony I would find a good home for. Or I would try. My other two are 7 and 8 and therefore would be fairly easy to rehome. If I couldn't do that ... well, I'd rather euthanize them than send them to auction. I hope to God it will never happen.
If something happened to us then we have a person in line to take all the animals along with money to pay for their costs for the rest of their lives, she has us in her will for the same thing.

been there poeseewi September 15 2008, 06:20:54 UTC

I have actually been there and managed to survive 8 months doing odd jobs, cutting clove by the side of the road, etc. but there came a time I could not get any more food, so I called up a friend and gave her my 3 horses - they all went to excellent homes. I would now donate my horses on donatemyhorse.com. We just recieved a rescue T-bred through them to be used as a therapy horse for my partner.