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Defining State Extension Opportunities Associated with the Unwanted Horse
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Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 31 (2011) 230-356
exists. J Extension [Internet] 2008;(2):46. Article 2TOT6. Available at http://www.joe.org/joe/2008april/tt6.php; 2008. [3] Swinker AM, Tozer PR, Shields ML, Landis ER. Pennsylvania's equine industry inventory, basic economic and demographic characteristics. 2003. Available at: http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/equine/ pdf/EquineSurveyResults-Academic.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2011. [4] Rusk CP, Kerr CA, Talbert BA, Russell MA. Profiling Indiana's 4-H horse and pony leaders. J Extension [Internet] 2001;(4):39. Article 4RIB3. Available at http://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/rb3.php; 2001.
Defining State Extension Opportunities Associated with the Unwanted Horse M.J. Yoder 1, 5, J. Hamilton 3, T. Ray 2, S. Stewart 2, and W. Walls 4,5 1 Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2 North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, USA, 3 Southern Pines Equine Associates, Southern Pines, NC, USA, 4 Equine Education Alliance, Inc., Willow Spring, NC, USA, 5 Regional Equine Information Network System, Raleigh, NC, USA Introduction: Much has been written about the unwanted horse in relation to both the current economy and the closure of the remaining United States abattoirs. Equine rescue organizations are reported to be overflowing with horses that have been abandoned, neglected or abused. The Bureau of Land Management spends more than 50 percent of its budget maintaining wild horses and contracted care arrangements. The number of horses being shipped to Canada and Mexico has increased since the closure of the last remaining abattoirs. Efforts to identify and implement solutions have yielded few short term options with long-term alternatives focusing on responsible breeding and ownership, a reintroduction of abattoirs and second careers for some horses. Defining the problem of the unwanted horse at the state level was the subject of this symposium involving state and local veterinarians, Extension personnel, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, equine rescue organizations, animal control officers, and horse owners. Funded by the North Carolina Farm Bureau, North Carolina Horse Council and Southern States Cooperative, the Unwanted Horse Symposium sought to identify policy and procedural action items that may help alleviate the issue of the unwanted horse. Materials and Methods: In an effort to determine the severity of the unwanted horse problem in North Carolina the 2010 Unwanted Horse Symposium was developed by a planning committee representing equine rescue organizations, animal control agencies, local veterinarians, educators, and state veterinarians. Included in the day long program was input from the State Veterinarian, a local veterinarian, a panel of animal control officers, and a panel of equine rescue organizations. The keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Coleman from the University of Kentucky and speaker for the Unwanted Horse Coalition. The afternoon session included focus groups that were first divided by discipline and then divided by subject matter. This allowed for multiple approaches to questions in an effort to create a level of triangulation. Each focus group was asked a set of pre-determined questions that were unique to each group. Results and Discussion: Speakers identified a number of issues that more clearly defined the degree to which unwanted horses have become a concern in North Carolina. The State Veterinarian reported that the number of markets offering equine sales had declined as had the number of no-sales at the remaining markets. Many of the sales barns had stopped accepting horses altogether. It was further noted that because of the distance to foreign abattoirs the equine slaughter market is not a viable option for southeast horse owners. A local veterinarian with a large equine practice reported that his practice had euthanized twice as many horses in the past two years as they had in the previous ten. Most
of those euthanizations were the result of the client's inability to financially support the horse. In addition, he voiced concern that equine owners are now less communicative with veterinarians, with the owners often seeking basic healthcare information on the internet and using veterinarians only when major procedures are necessary. This hinders the veterinarians ability to provide guidance when euthanization is being considered. Animal Control officers reported handling twice as many cases as they had just two years ago. Few animal control agencies have the training and facilities to deal with this increase in business. As would be expected from national reports all of the equine rescue organizations reported being at or above capacity, often having a wait list, being short on resources, and having difficulty adopting horses. Equine rescue personnel, animal control officers, and horse owners all requested additional training to enhance their perspective roles in dealing with this issue. Conclusion: The number of unwanted horses, while not quantified, appears to be substantially higher in North Carolina than in previous years. Equine rescue organizations and animal control agencies are struggling to support the horses in their care while having to turn away additional animals in need of care. Veterinarians, having to euthanize horses that just two years ago may not have arrived at that end, are discouraged by clients who now fail to avail themselves of the advice and guidance their veterinarian can provide. Horse owners are finding fewer sales at which they can sell their animals and fewer buyers at the remaining sales. It is clear that North Carolina has a serious issue with the unwanted horse but, clear solutions to the problem are difficult to identify. One recurring theme throughout the symposium was the request for training and education. Animal control officers often have little or no training in how to handle or care for horses. Equine rescue organizations are continually bringing in new volunteers all of whom need to learn basic equine husbandry and handling skills. Many horse owners are now requesting information on alternative feedstuffs, pasture management, and health care. One recommendation that came from the symposium was that a website should be developed for individuals considering the purchase of a horse. In addition to husbandry practices, the website would provide timely and accurate information regarding the cost of purchasing and caring for horses so that potential owners can make informed decisions prior to purchasing a horse. Much of this information is currently included in the eXtension Equine site. In addition to outlining educational needs, many of which Cooperative Extension will begin to address, the symposium allowed animal control officers and equine rescue personnel to better understand the role, challenges, and opportunities each take on and face. Enhancing those relationships will enable those organizations to assist each other, in many cases providing improved care for unwanted horses. Static Composting of Equine Mortality C.A. Shea Porr 1, R.A. Clark 1, C.E. Smith 2, R.M. Brooks 1, and R.K. Splan 1 1 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA, 2 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA Introduction: With the closing of equine slaughter facilities in the United States, carcass disposal has become a consideration for the horse industry. Renderers currently accept equine mortality, but rising prices for the service is a financial burden, particularly in tough economic times. Euthanasia and disposal of a 450 kg animal can exceed $500.00 and does not take into consideration medical expenses that may have been incurred. Other disposal options include 1) on-farm burial, which is negatively associated with potential ground water contamination, odor and air pollution, and zoning restrictions; 2) incineration, which is prohibitively expensive and also associated with air pollution; [1] or 3) composting.
Abstracts / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 31 (2011) 230-356
exists. J Extension [Internet] 2008;(2):46. Article 2TOT6. Available at http://www.joe.org/joe/2008april/tt6.php; 2008. [3] Swinker AM, Tozer PR, Shields ML, Landis ER. Pennsylvania's equine industry inventory, basic economic and demographic characteristics. 2003. Available at: http://www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/equine/ pdf/EquineSurveyResults-Academic.pdf. Accessed January 31, 2011. [4] Rusk CP, Kerr CA, Talbert BA, Russell MA. Profiling Indiana's 4-H horse and pony leaders. J Extension [Internet] 2001;(4):39. Article 4RIB3. Available at http://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/rb3.php; 2001.
Defining State Extension Opportunities Associated with the Unwanted Horse M.J. Yoder 1, 5, J. Hamilton 3, T. Ray 2, S. Stewart 2, and W. Walls 4,5 1 Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2 North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC, USA, 3 Southern Pines Equine Associates, Southern Pines, NC, USA, 4 Equine Education Alliance, Inc., Willow Spring, NC, USA, 5 Regional Equine Information Network System, Raleigh, NC, USA Introduction: Much has been written about the unwanted horse in relation to both the current economy and the closure of the remaining United States abattoirs. Equine rescue organizations are reported to be overflowing with horses that have been abandoned, neglected or abused. The Bureau of Land Management spends more than 50 percent of its budget maintaining wild horses and contracted care arrangements. The number of horses being shipped to Canada and Mexico has increased since the closure of the last remaining abattoirs. Efforts to identify and implement solutions have yielded few short term options with long-term alternatives focusing on responsible breeding and ownership, a reintroduction of abattoirs and second careers for some horses. Defining the problem of the unwanted horse at the state level was the subject of this symposium involving state and local veterinarians, Extension personnel, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, equine rescue organizations, animal control officers, and horse owners. Funded by the North Carolina Farm Bureau, North Carolina Horse Council and Southern States Cooperative, the Unwanted Horse Symposium sought to identify policy and procedural action items that may help alleviate the issue of the unwanted horse. Materials and Methods: In an effort to determine the severity of the unwanted horse problem in North Carolina the 2010 Unwanted Horse Symposium was developed by a planning committee representing equine rescue organizations, animal control agencies, local veterinarians, educators, and state veterinarians. Included in the day long program was input from the State Veterinarian, a local veterinarian, a panel of animal control officers, and a panel of equine rescue organizations. The keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Coleman from the University of Kentucky and speaker for the Unwanted Horse Coalition. The afternoon session included focus groups that were first divided by discipline and then divided by subject matter. This allowed for multiple approaches to questions in an effort to create a level of triangulation. Each focus group was asked a set of pre-determined questions that were unique to each group. Results and Discussion: Speakers identified a number of issues that more clearly defined the degree to which unwanted horses have become a concern in North Carolina. The State Veterinarian reported that the number of markets offering equine sales had declined as had the number of no-sales at the remaining markets. Many of the sales barns had stopped accepting horses altogether. It was further noted that because of the distance to foreign abattoirs the equine slaughter market is not a viable option for southeast horse owners. A local veterinarian with a large equine practice reported that his practice had euthanized twice as many horses in the past two years as they had in the previous ten. Most
of those euthanizations were the result of the client's inability to financially support the horse. In addition, he voiced concern that equine owners are now less communicative with veterinarians, with the owners often seeking basic healthcare information on the internet and using veterinarians only when major procedures are necessary. This hinders the veterinarians ability to provide guidance when euthanization is being considered. Animal Control officers reported handling twice as many cases as they had just two years ago. Few animal control agencies have the training and facilities to deal with this increase in business. As would be expected from national reports all of the equine rescue organizations reported being at or above capacity, often having a wait list, being short on resources, and having difficulty adopting horses. Equine rescue personnel, animal control officers, and horse owners all requested additional training to enhance their perspective roles in dealing with this issue. Conclusion: The number of unwanted horses, while not quantified, appears to be substantially higher in North Carolina than in previous years. Equine rescue organizations and animal control agencies are struggling to support the horses in their care while having to turn away additional animals in need of care. Veterinarians, having to euthanize horses that just two years ago may not have arrived at that end, are discouraged by clients who now fail to avail themselves of the advice and guidance their veterinarian can provide. Horse owners are finding fewer sales at which they can sell their animals and fewer buyers at the remaining sales. It is clear that North Carolina has a serious issue with the unwanted horse but, clear solutions to the problem are difficult to identify. One recurring theme throughout the symposium was the request for training and education. Animal control officers often have little or no training in how to handle or care for horses. Equine rescue organizations are continually bringing in new volunteers all of whom need to learn basic equine husbandry and handling skills. Many horse owners are now requesting information on alternative feedstuffs, pasture management, and health care. One recommendation that came from the symposium was that a website should be developed for individuals considering the purchase of a horse. In addition to husbandry practices, the website would provide timely and accurate information regarding the cost of purchasing and caring for horses so that potential owners can make informed decisions prior to purchasing a horse. Much of this information is currently included in the eXtension Equine site. In addition to outlining educational needs, many of which Cooperative Extension will begin to address, the symposium allowed animal control officers and equine rescue personnel to better understand the role, challenges, and opportunities each take on and face. Enhancing those relationships will enable those organizations to assist each other, in many cases providing improved care for unwanted horses. Static Composting of Equine Mortality C.A. Shea Porr 1, R.A. Clark 1, C.E. Smith 2, R.M. Brooks 1, and R.K. Splan 1 1 Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA, 2 West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA Introduction: With the closing of equine slaughter facilities in the United States, carcass disposal has become a consideration for the horse industry. Renderers currently accept equine mortality, but rising prices for the service is a financial burden, particularly in tough economic times. Euthanasia and disposal of a 450 kg animal can exceed $500.00 and does not take into consideration medical expenses that may have been incurred. Other disposal options include 1) on-farm burial, which is negatively associated with potential ground water contamination, odor and air pollution, and zoning restrictions; 2) incineration, which is prohibitively expensive and also associated with air pollution; [1] or 3) composting.