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Re: [RC] [RC] Endurance horses to slaughter? - Susan Garlinghouse, DVMMost of the vet schools have some sort of similar program. CSU has a number of (usually very unsound) teaching horses that are treated very, very well, are used to teach vet students various procedures, after which they too are humanely euthanized, and then become a teaching animal for the students on the necropsy rotation. The horses are treated very humanely throughout, no different than a paying client's horse would be. CSU also maintains a very large herd of donated quarter horse type mares that are used for repro research and as embryo transfer recipients (imagine a fat dumpy old ranch mare with a VERY fancy pinto saddlebred foal prancing along at her side), and there's hardly a performance-sound mare in the lot. But it's a good use for them, they live the life of riley, and it sure beats them being sent down the road to the sale barn and slaughterhouse. Susan G, DVM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maggie Mieske" <mmieske@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <Deblyons54@xxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 8:32 PM Subject: Re: [RC] [RC] Endurance horses to slaughter? 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.... Miles of smiles, Maggie ----- Original Message ----- From: Deblyons54@xxxxxxx To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 8:40 PM 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. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= http://www.endurance.net/ads/seabiscuit.html Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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