Veterinarian Blog

Thousands of Unwanted Horses

by Dr. Chris

February 9, 2008 There are tens of thousands of unwanted horses around the United States and that number is growing rapidly. By some estimates there are over 170,000 unwanted horses, but some people believe there are so many more.

There have always been unwanted horses, but was is happening now to make that number grow even more rapidly? Its the economy.

Many people who could at one time afford to keep a horse no longer can.

A bigger issue is the fact that there is nothing to do with these horses. There are no slaughter plants in the United States.

Also there is a bill in Congress that could prohibit the transport of these horses to Canada or Mexico.

So with alternatives to get rid of these horses, they continue to breed and expand.

Here are some horse facts:

Estimated U.S. horse population: 9 million

Average yearly cost of caring for one horse: $2,340

Average American Quarter Horse value: $6,840

Price unwanted horses sell for at auctions $50 to $300

If transport of these horses to Mexico is banned the only alternatives seem to be pouring money into rescue centers or euthanasia.

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