Re: [RC] [RC] Endurance horses to slaughter? - Maggie Mieske
I haven't read this whole thread but here's a thought for
doing something humane with a horse one must get rid of for whatever
reason. At Michigan State, you can donate a horse as a blood donor.
They actually get taken care of quite well from what I am told (not firsthand
experience) and when blood is needed, they are put under and
exsanguinated. Then they are euthanized. We know some people who
have donated horses to this program. They were quite happy knowing that
their horse helped save another. Not sure what the requirements are
healthwise...I know they require a negative Coggins here in Michigan which I
assume would be standard anywhere. They probably have to be reasonably
healthy... the people we know simply had older horses that had outlived their
usefulness and they did not want them to end up afraid or hurt at an auction or
at slaughter. Something to think about....
Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] Endurance horses
to slaughter?
> A lot of people were upset when a trainer I was taking
lessons from put her > favorite 14 yr old horse down because of
unsoundness & she chose not to > support her into old age. It
was her comment that impressed me back then. > She couldn't justify the
cost for 10/15 years and refused to give/sell her > to a "good home" as
she had experienced to many times over the years how the > 'good
homes' had to pass the horse on at some point & the horse ended
up in > circumstances that were less than desireable.
I
donated my 24 year old Appy mare to a state Youth Ranch after hearing from a
friend that she had good luck donating an older horse to them. I had visions
of her being used in the youth programs. After donating her I discovered that
they used most of the donated horses just like their donated furniture, they
sold them at auction to raise money for their facility. I have no idea what
happened to this horse and would have much rather euthanized her then have her
end up in parts unknown. Even "good homes" are often not permanent and
sometimes there are just not good homes to be found for unsound, unsafe or
unusable horses. I put a mare down last year who was not useable and had too
many problems to mention. I felt much better about it than giving her to a
home that made promises they couldn't deliver or having her end up in inhumane
conditions.
