April 26, 2011

Too Often, a Horse is Worth Nothing

Farmer-writer Frank James explains the obvious about why there are so many unwanted horses and problems with neglected horses.
Horses essentially have no financial value.  A recent column by Cyndi Young-Puyear in the Indiana AgriNews explains how most sale barns will no longer accept horses or ponies without a minimum fee.  That's because they know the animal is NOT going to sell and they want to be paid for their services.  These minimum fees run from $35 to $65 when any of the animals in question rarely bring more than $5 to $10 apiece.

It's pretty simple really when you think about it.  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH A HORSE WHEN NO ONE WANTS IT?  OR CAN EVEN AFFORD IT?
All my life in the West, I have seen more horses owned for their . . . talismanic value, you might call it . . . than for any real purpose. They end up standing day after day in little pens and paddocks.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That's just sad. There are a few like that at our stable; with the owners' permission, we at least groom them and give them a walk a couple times a week. It was a real financial sacrifice for my wife to buy our Gypsy Vanner, and we groom/ride/drive him at leas four days a week. Then there's the guy out in Elizabeth who doesn't even ride, but he stables and feeds and looks after eighteen horses so far. He leases a whole twenty-stall barn. Keep writing.