Responsible breeders expect that the outcome of their careful planning and preparation will be a healthy, athletic foal capable of performing in a specific discipline. The reality of breeding, however, is that even the best laid plans can go awry, and that foals can fail to live up to owner’s expectations.

In 2005, the American Horse Council (AHC) estimated that there were approximately 9.2 million horses currently living within the United States, of which 1-1.5% (92,000-138,000) were deemed “unwanted”. Just two years later, in 2007, the total number of unwanted horses was estimated to be as high as 170,000. However, many within the equine industry believe the notion that there was an “unwanted horse problem” in this country went largely unrecognized until a 2005 meeting organized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).

At this meeting, various stakeholders addressed issues raised by the debates on equine slaughter; it was agreed that the scope of the unwanted horse problem was far greater than previously believed. Further, participants concluded that rescues could not handle all of the unwanted horses, that there were no large funding sources available to help care for these animals, and that the problem would require industry wide support to solve effectively.

To that end, the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) was founded as a branch of the AHC 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 of the horse.”

There are many causes, which are believed to play a role in the unwanted horse crisis. Irresponsible breeding and the over breeding of horses in general are frequently cited as contributing factors, but are just one piece of the overall puzzle.

Facts and Figures

The UHC has adopted the definition of an “unwanted horse” as “an equine no longer wanted by their current owner because they are old, injured, sick, unmanageable, fail to meet their owner’s expectations (e.g., performance, color or breeding), or their owner can no longer afford them.”

To assess the scale and scope of the problem, the UHC conducted a survey published in 2009 that took a critical look at the numbers of unwanted horses as well as related issues such as why they were unwanted, who was responsible for solving the problem and what the best solutions might be. The survey is available for free download at the organization’s website (www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org), and the response to its creation was overwhelming. Over 500 participants had completed the survey by the end of the first day it was posted, and a total of over 27,000 responses were collected overall.

“Our organization is all about owning and breeding responsibly,” says Ericka Caslin, director of the UHC. “Our mission is to educate owners about owning responsibly, and to involve others such as breed and show organizations to also help spread the word.”

Over 90% of survey participants felt that the number of unwanted horses has been increasing. The most common reasons cited as to why this was the case included the recent economic downturn, closure of the two remaining equine slaughter plants within the U.S. (see sidebar), indiscriminate breeding and the high cost of euthanasia. Other complications cited included the slow horse sales market, older horse owners who are becoming physically incapable of caring for their horses, and an attitude on the part of some owners reflecting a lack of responsibility.

“Part of owning an animal such as a horse is knowing what you are getting into,” says Caslin.

When survey participants were asked who was most responsible for solving the unwanted horse problem, most responded that this duty fell to horse owners, and to their credit most horse owners indicated a willingness to step up financially to support rescues and rehabs dedicated to helping unwanted horses. Interestingly, rescue groups who responded to this survey felt that it was in fact horse breeders who should shoulder the greatest responsibility for both creating and fixing the problem. Horse breeders were less likely to assume responsibility than horse owners and tended to cite the closure of slaughter plants as being the main reason for the unwanted horse problem.

The survey responses provide an interesting cross section of the current opinions of various equine stakeholders regarding the unwanted horse crisis. In addition, the survey reveals that there are likely to be no quick fixes or clear solutions to the problem of unwanted horses, and that even industry insiders don’t agree as to who has most contributed to the problem and who is best equipped to help solve it.

The Scope of the Problem

170,000 horses is clearly a large number of animals needing homes. The figures cited to determine the numbers of unwanted horses are usually calculated by extrapolating from data collected on animals destined for slaughter. While equine slaughter has been halted in this country for the past two years, we can still draw some conclusions looking at data from the last years it was operational.

Prior to the ban on slaughter, about 58,000 equines were sent to plants in the U.S. annually; about 35,000 more went to facilities in Canada and about 45,000 to those in Mexico, based on figures released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, nearly 21,000 mustangs and burros deemed “unadoptable” were being held by the Bureau of Land Management, with approximately another 9,000 in the adoption program.

The USDA also keeps export records on those animals sent to Canada for processing; between 2002 and 2005, records indicated that 42.8% of the animals were geldings, 52.1% were mares and 3.4% were stallions (no gender was recorded on 1.7%). As far as breeds, 70% were considered “western type” horses, 11% were English or Thoroughbred type, and just 3.6% were drafts, with the remainder of the animals comprising various breeds of horses or mules. Nearly 74% of these animals were considered “riding horses” (as opposed to draft or other types of horse) and 92% were in good condition.

According to the USDA, these numbers reflect the demographics of the U.S. horse population in general and help show that everyone within the industry is responsible and accountable for the unwanted horse problem. This selection of slaughter-bound animals is usually used as a representation of the unwanted horse population in general.

The View from the Field

Horse rescue, adoption and retirement organizations have made a strong effort to care for, rehabilitate and re-home unwanted horses. The exact number and total capacity of equine rescues is unknown as most function independently, but the AAEP estimates that there are about 450 non-profit rescues or retirement facilities in the U.S. These facilities currently place anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 horses per year into new homes or alternative careers. Funding is a significant limiting factor.

Melissa Ghareeb, Manager of the Equine and Farm Animal Center for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA, says that between 2007 and 2009, the number of equines they have assisted has tripled.

“We are an open door shelter,” says Ghareeb. “We do not turn anyone away. We are currently up to sixty horses, and seven more are coming.”

In order to accommodate this influx, Ghareeb says that the shelter has had to develop a foster network to take many of the horses. They adopt out one to two horses per month and as of November, had placed about 24 horses during 2009.

“The number one reason for surrender is lack of money,” says Ghareeb. “This is always the number one reason, and the recent financial issues most people have encountered have only increased the surrenders.”

Contrary to what many expect, most of the animals taken in by the MSPCA are sound, rideable horses. “Many horses who come in have a great background,” says Ghareeb. “Most are in good condition and are well cared for. It is hard on the owners who give them up, especially because there is a stigma associated with sending a horse to the shelter.”

While the MSPCA does see animals that are in very poor condition, Ghareeb says that this is the exception, not the rule. “People are having trouble selling their horses, and with the poor economy, some are not able to keep their horses,” says Ghareeb. “We have had some come from people whose homes were foreclosed, and the horses had been living at home.”

The MSPCA is unique in having its open door policy. According to the 2009 UHC survey, rescue facilities responding indicated that they turn away 38% of horses brought to them. Of the respondents, 39% stated that they were at maximum capacity, 30% were at 75%-99% capacity and 26% were at 50%-75% capacity.

Limiting the efforts of any rescue or shelter are its resources, including manpower (most are volunteer driven), facilities and of course, money. Ghareeb reports that the MSPCA has had to dramatically increase their fundraising efforts to handle the influx of equines, saying that their costs have shot through the roof.

“We are seeing more small donations than large,” says Ghareeb. “But these many small donations help.”

According to the UHC, the annual average cost is $2,300 to care for one horse in a rescue (current figures as of press time). This means that it would cost $25,714,000 to care for the horses currently unable to be accommodated at shelters.

Horses that are turned away from shelters are amongst the most worrisome in the population of unwanted horses; there is great concern regarding the welfare of these animals. Reports are all over the Internet of animals who have been simply set loose to wander and find their own way or who have been left tied to trailers or dropped on other people’s property. It is believed that the incidence of abuse, neglect and abandonment will all increase (if they have not done so already) with lack of appropriate homes for these unwanted animals.

 Ghareeb says that she has heard of no cases in the northeast of equines who have been set loose on others’ property, but she does believe that there are several instances of more passive abandonment. “A lot more people here are boarding as opposed to keeping their horses at home,” says Ghareeb. “There have been a few situations where people abandon their horse by simply disappearing and not paying board.”

Prognosis for the Future: Do Breeders Have a Responsibility?

So given that there are currently more horses than suitable homes, with the number increasing annually, what role does the individual breeder play?

According to the UHC survey, the need for horse owner education regarding purchasing and owning responsibly was the number one priority when it came to reducing the numbers of unwanted horses. Other solutions cited were increasing the ability of rescue/retirement facilities, increasing options and resources for humane euthanasia, among reopening processing plants in the U.S.

According to the AAEP, selectively decreasing the production of new horses is as important to solving the problem as dealing with already discarded horses. This step requires owner education regarding the magnitude of the unwanted horse problem.

Caslin points out that part of owning responsibly is making careful decisions about the future of a foal before breeding.

“We always have the hope that owners or breeders have a plan for the horse,” says Caslin. “We really need to educate people. They don’t always think about what will happen to the horse if they can’t keep the animal. It is critical to stop the problem before it starts.”

“Irresponsible breeding, where people are not using horses with good conformation and good personalities, is definitely occurring,” says Ghareeb. “I think that with the change in the economy, we are no longer going to see people breeding to try to make a profit. I hope we will see people making better decisions regarding breeding.”

Caslin says that the UHC sees education as the method to stop breeding the unwanted horse. “There is already such a population of unwanted horses,” says Caslin. “It is crucial to continue to educate owners and to try to help rescues and retraining facilities who are already at capacity and are in need of funding.”

Final Thoughts

Taking a hard look at the industry wide figures for unwanted horses is sobering. It is clear from the results of the UHC survey that the economic slow down of the past several years has had a significant effect upon the status of thousands of equines of many ages, breeds and disciplines, but the economy alone is not to blame for the increasing numbers of unwanted equines. It will take creative solutions from many stakeholders within the equine industry to address this problem.

So the question remains: should you breed your own mare? The answer to each situation is unique, but certainly the industry as a whole must discourage wanton, indiscriminant breeding. Everyone from the individual breeder to the breed registries must play a role in assuring that foals are bred to be successful and to have an appropriate niche in today’s equine marketplace.