| #ffffff;" /> | | | | allowed. And if the kill buyer does not get your horse, |
| It is a story heard time and time again: “My | | | | who is to say that the person who does get him will |
| horse is too old to be ridden any more. I’m | | | | take good care of him? |
| offering him free to a good home. Great pasture pet, | | | | Too many old horses wind up in bad homes where |
| just needs a bit of TLC.” | | | | they sit in pastures too sparse to feed them, without |
| In this world where the cost of keeping a horse is | | | | any vet care or foot care. Horses suffer in terrible |
| constantly on the rise, few people can afford to keep | | | | condition all the time. Many well-meaning people pick up |
| more than one horse. When that horse gets too old to | | | | horses, only to add them to their collection, soon finding |
| be useful, far too many people want to give him away, | | | | that they can’t afford to keep them. |
| making room for a new, rideable animal. | | | | When you give your old horse away, there is no way |
| But even if you do give him away, someone will have | | | | to know where he will end up. His years of good |
| to take care of him. Horses cost money, and there are | | | | service can quickly be rewarded with terrible conditions |
| so many free pasture ornaments out there that | | | | and a trip to the slaughter house. |
| rescues are forced to turn away more horses than | | | | Consider finding a nice retirement farm to board your |
| they could ever dream of taking in at any given time. | | | | horse at. Pasture board is often a lot less expensive, |
| Sadly, not all people who take in free horses have their | | | | and many barns will give grain to their pasture horses. |
| best interests in mind. Many horse dealers have sweet | | | | You may not be able to keep him close to home for a |
| tongues and the gift of the gab. They will tell you | | | | reasonable price, but if you look around, you might find |
| whatever you want to hear, then cart off your best | | | | a suitable barn further away. If the owner is willing to |
| friend and dump him at the feedlot. A free horse | | | | keep you updated and send you photos, you can be |
| quickly earns them $200-300 that way. Why not make | | | | assured that your old man has a safe, comfortable |
| a quick buck? | | | | place to retire. |
| Of course, sometimes owners decide that the auction | | | | If this isn’t an option, you may be better off |
| is a good way to find their old partner a new home. At | | | | humanely putting your horse down. While it is terribly |
| the sale someone might pick him up as a companion, | | | | sad to have to euthanize your horse, it is far better |
| or even a lead-line horse. Sadly, with so many animals | | | | than sending him off into the unknown. If you are |
| selling for next to nothing, you are unlikely to make | | | | unable to afford to keep him any more, it is better to |
| even your entry fees from the sale, and your horse | | | | give him a peaceful ending than give him away to a |
| will soon be loaded onto a kill truck and be on a trip he | | | | stranger who may not care what becomes of him. |
| won’t return from. | | | | If you love your horse, think hard before sending him |
| While horse slaughter is not permitted in many areas, | | | | into the unknown. Rescues are full of unwanted |
| this does not stop kill buyers from picking up horses | | | | horses and kill pens are flooded with animals that have |
| and shipping them off to places where slaughter is | | | | no future. Your horse has earned his retirement. |