Cynthia Arledge, DVM
Contributing Writer

The suffering economy has been the topic of many people’s conversations and has had a big impact on their budgets and way of life.  Many people think twice now before going to a restaurant or getting that Friday night pizza.  Imagine what it would be like to have to rely on these people to provide for your own basic needs for food, health and shelter.

During the past several years the veterinarians at Deer Creek Equine have seen an increase in horses that have succumbed to the pressures of their owner’s lack of funds to properly care for them.
History has shown that when the economy falls on hard times, animals are among the first to suffer.  According to the American Veterinarians Medical Association (AVMA) animal welfare is a human responsibility that deals with all aspects of their well being including proper housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment while handling them humanely. 

Humane euthanasia is advocated when needed.  Humane euthanasia can be performed by chemical means by veterinarians or by a bullet or an invasive captive bolt by an experienced person.  Different people view animal welfare from various aspects and none are right or wrong.  Some look at the function of the body.  Some look at how the animal “feels”; such as is it in pain or suffering or is it content.  Others look at the horse’s ability to lead a reasonably normal life with normal behaviors. 

Often the athletic, economic and recreational values are also considered.  Owners may have to consider euthanasia for their horses for medical, economic or safety issues.  The veterinarian can assist in making these decisions or advise other options.

Currently, due to our struggling economy and some of the legislative decisions made recently, there are significant issues related to the “unwanted horse.” 

These are “horses that are no longer wanted by their current owner because they are old, injured, sick, un-manageable or fail to meet the owners expectations.”
 
Many of these horses can range from normal to unattractive or even the wrong color according to the owners.  They may have a non-life threatening disability, behavioral problems or even be dangerous.
Some are geriatrics that have become costly to care for and may have underlying metabolic issues.  Some are young, unbroken horses that will cost a lot to train to become rideable. 

One recent report found that there are 80-100,000 unwanted horses per year in the U.S.  Until 2007, most of these went to slaughter with fewer numbers being rescued, rehabilitated, euthanized, rendered, put in landfills or abandoned to die of natural causes.

On average, 1-2 per cent (75-150,000) horses were sent to slaughter with another 10-20,000 exported to Canada for human consumption and an unknown amount to Mexico.

Since that time, legislation has stopped slaughter in the U.S. and although many are still shipped through Mexico and Canada, there are current bills attempting to stop the transport out of the country.
It is easy to see that this is a devastating issue for these “unwanted horses.”  Fortunately, the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) teamed up with the American Horse Council and formed the Unwanted Horse Coalition.  Hopefully this group can help be advocates for the horses, but the ongoing problems are horrific.

There has been no legislative activity to provide for the care and welfare of the over 80,000 horses that had previously been sent to slaughter. 

Despite the Equine Welfare Organization, breed specific organizations, and equine rescue leagues, the number of unwanted horses far exceeds the resources to accommodate them all.
So what does all this mean to all the horse enthusiasts of our county or those surrounding the Richmond area?  The struggling economy is troubling for our horse’s future.  One report estimated the cost of care of one horse for a year to be between $1800 and $2400.  This does not include any extensive veterinary or farrier visits.

Many people are facing tough decisions and need to part with their horses.

The problem is that there are too many that need a place to go.  Sometimes, people are able to keep their horses but can only enjoy them as “pets” due to the cost of showing and traveling with them. 
Many times, horse owners try to hold on to them but just cut back on their care.  This is where the local equine veterinarians can help out. 
Veterinarians are available daily to discuss the health concerns of your horse without any charge.  They can help with some of the tough decisions or point you in the right direction to get the proper help. 
Powhatan has a strong community of equine enthusiasts that are also often willing to help. The concern is that people feel that they can’t afford vet care with their limited budgets. 
Often times a visit with sound medical, nutritional and parasite advice along with dental evaluations can save the horse owner money in the long run and provide a healthier horse.  If they find that euthanasia is the best option, they can help you through the process humanely and with compassion.

It is a fallacy to think that most of your old geriatric friends will lie down and go to sleep permanently.  The average age of the horse is 30, but many live out their last years in a malnourished state if not given the proper care. 

This does not mean that the thinner geriatrics are “all” malnourished.  Often the older horses lose muscle mass with age as well as body fat.  It may take an experienced medical eye to evaluate these animals to determine if they are aging in a healthy way. Take note that some horse owner’s younger horses also have special needs that require expert advice. Often the strong middle aged horses are “easier keepers” and they dominate the herd and push the young and old away from the food sources.

Veterinarians and horse owners have ethical and legal obligations to ensure the horse’s welfare.  If neglect or lack of knowledge is the issue, we try hard to educate our horse owners. 
However, if animals are starving, suffering or succumbing to any other types of cruelty, we have to report these cases to the proper authorities.  In Powhatan County, we have a well trained Animal Control Department that fall under the jurisdiction of the Police Department.

Available help for horse owners:
Powhatan’s Deer Creek Equine Clinic has decided to help defray some of the costs for veterinary care or treatment on any geriatric (horses 20 years old and older) from Jan. 15 through Feb. 15, 2010. The clinic will not charge a farm call (travel fee) for any non-emergency evaluations or workups on your “old” companions and there will be a 20 per cent discount on any laboratory services required. The clinic is also available by phone for free advice when needed. In addition you can also visit their web site for winter tips and other information at www.deercreekequineclinic.  com.
Veterinarians would always rather prevent a problem if possible.  This is why we put such an emphasis on our Wellness Programs and spend time speaking to local organizations.

—Cynthia Arledge, DVM, is a veterinarian with Deer Creek Equine Clinic.