Horse Issue on the Range

Hobby Horses An Economic, Moral Debate

Boise--Idaho Sheriffs across the state have an issue on their hands: Abandoned Horses. Just outside of Emmett two weeks ago a passerby found 15 dead horses in a rotting heap, their brands cut from their hide.

Lee Kliman of the BLM told the Idaho Statesman that he's seen an increase in the number of horses abandoned on public land. The area where the horses were found is still littered with carcasses -- deer, cows, older horses, Kliman said.

"It's tied to the economy," he said. "People are having hard times financially and they're cutting corners. There is a right way to dispose of a horse without dumping it on public land."

In California the situation is far worse and authorities there are forced to deal with unwanted horses.

John Madigan, a professor in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis recently addressed a meeting of California experts in animal control to discuss issues surrounding unwanted horses.

"The legislation that banned slaughter facilities in California where over 100,000 horses were sent annually should have provided an alternative mechanism to deal with the continued life of those animals in a humane manner."

The current economic downturn has made the problem worse with too many horses on the market, crowding shelters and rescue facilities and now the range.

"The need for a solution is vital," said Madigan. "We cannot afford economically or morally to ignore this problem any longer. Research is needed to find reasonable solutions and new guidelines for the management of unwanted horses, but funding is lacking."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Horses
• horsesAbandoned
• horseissue
• idahofarmbureau

[Airspace12]

There are very few rescues that sell to killers and I know of them.. Our programs in the past has awarded thousands to needy rescues that are NOT funded by the Government or get subsidies as Farmers do with CRP land in reserve programs. Beside right now is the best time to buy a horse because of the low prices.. similar to cars and homes etc... IF you are a responsible payee and a responsible horse owner. Fact is a domestic horse can survive in the wild.. America once had over 3 million

[brian93ist]

@Airspace12 i do not donate to horse rescues because they sell there free horses to kill buyers that is a fact who would when they dont serve there purpose

[socrateacher]

Airspace12 I'd venture that most domesticated horses would not last long in the wild. Mustangs are hardy beasts due to years of natural selection for living rather rougn. The horses most of us have in our barns have not.. they have poor feet.. or if they are from racing stock - bred for light bones. Or they colic easily... Many, not most, but many.. were born with some sort of difficulty and nursed through it by human intervention. They'd forage OK for awhile.. but longterm - doubt it.

[Airspace12]

Farm Bureau supports horse slaughter do NOT believe a word they say. The majority of responsible people opposes horse slaughter. They are creating lies to promote it..

Pro slaughter folks do NOT help or donate to horse rescues.. Their history speaks clearly..

For the facts obtained from the USDA visit kaufmanzoning net and review the (FOIA) Freedom of informations acts which will show criminals being paid for their abusive acts on horses. (Livestock) in their eyes..

[Airspace12]

Farm Bureau, AQHA ,USDA all make profits from livestock. The very reason they consider horses livestock they get tax breaks. They are exzempt from laws that pleasure horse owners are forced to comply like Coggins when going from state to state. Killers do NOT have to comply..

Keeping the horse as livestock takes away any protection that a dog or cat has.. Land owners get tax breaks and can make money by having the horse slaughtered in Texas. Oh wait their shut down for operating illegal.

[Airspace12]

You Bone head people that support horse slaughter have NO HISTORY of promoting or donating to any horse rescues in the US..

You think slaughter is the only solution.. So if horses could NOT survive the wild how the heck you think we have wild mustangs today from the early spanish people. Oh wait there are no spanish horses because irresponsible greedy people grab them and sent them to slaughter for money. The same thing that is trying to happen again. Farm Bureau SUCKS.