Helping the American Horse

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A DEFHR EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION

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THE UNWANTED HORSE

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What is an “unwanted horse”?

Horses which are 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.
unwanted horse Statistics:

 170,000 unwanted horses

per year in the United
States.
 There are over 430 horse
rescue facilities in the
county.
 Rescues reported that they
have to turn away an
average 38% of the horses
brought to them.
Increasing challenges for
horses today

From the 2009 Survey by the Unwanted Horse Coalition www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org

ABUSE Vs. NEGLECT

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Abuse:

 1 : a corrupt practice or custom

 2: improper or excessive use or treatment :
misuse
 3: obsolete : a deceitful act : deception
 4: language that condemns or vilifies usually
unjustly, intemperately, and angrily
 5: physical maltreatment
Neglect:

 1: to give little attention or respect to :

disregard
 2: to leave undone or unattended to
especially through carelessness
HISTORY OF HORSE

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A Brief History

There are Domestication of wild horses is

thought to have happened in more than
one place from several wild horse
populations around 6,000 years ago.

No other animal can match the contributions

that horses have made to human civilization.
THE U.S. HORSE TODAY

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The American Horse

2 million people own

horses in the United There are horses in every state. Forty-five
States states have at least 20,000 horses each

4.6 million Americans are involved in the industry as horse

owners, service providers, employees and volunteers. Tens
of millions more participate as spectators.

The horse industry has a direct economic

There are effect on the U.S. of $39 billion annually.
approximately
9.2 million horses
Approximately 34% of horse owners have a household
in the United
income of less than $50,000 and 28% have an annual
States.
income of over $100,000. 46% of horse owners have an
income of between $25,000 to $75,000.
Nationwide Challenges
Problems for Horses Today
CASE: ROYAL

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Royal’s Story of Neglect
Royal’s Story of Rehabilitation

Royal waiting for his first trim, vet and farrier

working together.
Royal’s Journey
After

Before
CASE: ZODIAC

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Zodiac’s Story

Zodiac a.k.a. “Rhythmic Moves”.

Zodiac’s Story

Zodiac’s entrance photos at Days End

Farm Horse Rescue (Sept 2010).
Zodiac’s Story

For 9 weeks, staff and volunteers tended to

Zodiac 24/7, feeding him every 2-4 hours
Zodiac’s Story
Zodiac’s Story

May 2011: Zodiac enjoying running in the fields at DEFHR

Responsible Horse Ownership

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The Basic Needs

6 needs of horses that are part of responsible ownership:

Shelter Space Clean Water

Clean Air Food Vet Care

Health Care
How to Help

 Report Abuse and Neglect

 Adopt a Rescue Horse
 Share Their Story
 Volunteer at a Local Rescue
 Donate
For more information on Days End Farm Horse Rescue or to find out
how you can help, please visit www.defhr.org