| The war stories abound in this time of a severe | | | | rate should be used to improve your business. If you |
| downturn in the horse market brought about by the | | | | are not a business, that may be one of your problems. |
| closure of the kill plants in the U. S. and the passage of | | | | Instead of being a farm, consider becoming a business. |
| bills by the Congress and the states that limit what you | | | | You can do so much more if you are an S |
| can or can not do with your horses. BUT-there is still a | | | | Corporation or LLC than if you are not plus you can |
| market for horses if you will do several things. This | | | | shield your assets. You can depreciate the horses that |
| writer has written for several years that this was | | | | you buy for use in your program, farm equipment, |
| going to happen and made suggestions about what | | | | trucks, trailers, your computer and supplies, barns and |
| you should do to combat this. | | | | arenas, plus much more. You can expense your feed, |
| I live in an area that has a large population of Amish | | | | farrier, show expenses, office supplies and the list |
| and Mennonite horse people. There is also a large | | | | goes on and on. While your profit may be minimal, at |
| population that is still trail riding and doing other | | | | least you can show a profit in most cases. |
| recreational riding. The market for those horses is | | | | You may want to geld old super stud, making a useful |
| good if not excellent. Good riding horses or harness | | | | gelding that has some value in the marketplace. You |
| horses are bringing very good prices. From $1500 to | | | | can always breed the mares to a stud that has done |
| several thousand. The horses that are bringing next to | | | | something and thereby increase the value of the foals. |
| nothing are those that are not broke, are not of good | | | | In case, you have not noticed, geldings are bringing |
| conformation and do not have the pedigree to | | | | better prices than fire-breathing studs, halter broke |
| accomplish anything. | | | | broodmares and those horses under 18 months old. |
| For years the price of horses depended on the price | | | | The well broke gelding will always be in demand. In |
| of cattle. If cow prices were high so was the price of | | | | fact, horses that have some sort of training will bring a |
| horses. But they were cheaper than cattle and as | | | | better price regardless of the market. |
| such they were attractive to the European market | | | | If you have excess stalls or pasture with available hay, |
| that does not have the same view of horses as the | | | | consider letting the Animal Control people know that |
| US. In fact, during WWII, we ate horse meat and did | | | | you can take care of X amount of horses. As time |
| not die from it. Since that time, the minority groups | | | | goes on, there will be a greater demand for that type |
| have stepped in and created romance stories and | | | | of facility. While you won't get rich, you can generate |
| myths about the horse in North America. The wild | | | | income in addition to your present income. Once it |
| horses that exist in the US today are so far removed | | | | becomes known that you take in horses, you will have |
| from the Conquistador's horses that there is not any | | | | more horses than you wished. Get a bill of sale for |
| resemblance to them in blood or type. The wild horse | | | | each horse that you take in or you may have to share |
| today is the cast-off of the horses that the early | | | | the proceeds with the original owner. If possible, charge |
| settlers and ranchers did not need or could not use for | | | | the owner for taking in the horse. Pick the horses that |
| one reason or the other. | | | | you take in. Do not take in every horse just because it |
| With the falling dollar, apprehension that there may be | | | | is free. |
| a recession and environmental conditions in many | | | | Those with serious health or mental issues are not |
| areas, horse owners are trying to sell, give away or | | | | worth dealing with. Suggest to the owner that they |
| otherwise dispose of their horses. These are the very | | | | have that type of animal euthanized. They will moan |
| same horses that were supposedly worth lots of | | | | and groan but it is still the logical thing to do. This brings |
| money a short time ago. In former times, these animals | | | | up the next opportunity if you have the land. Set up a |
| would have gone to Europe and the market would | | | | horse cemetery for these owners. Sell them a plot to |
| have adjusted to fewer animals. Now the rescue | | | | bury their horse and charge an annual fee for grounds |
| groups are buying them and then trying to resell them | | | | upkeep. It may be a better alternative to the rendering |
| to the public by adopting them out. And the hobby | | | | plant for many horse lovers. You can become a |
| horse breeders keep on producing animals of little or | | | | retirement facility providing complete care for the aged |
| no value and flooding an overstocked market, driving | | | | horse providing for his last years and then bury him in |
| prices even lower. | | | | your cemetery. |
| If the average horse owner would try to be more | | | | I am sure that there are many other ways to deal with |
| innovative and find different ways to market their | | | | the horse population and as time goes on, people will |
| product as well as reducing the number of horses they | | | | think of them. The NAIS system will come to pass and |
| produce, they will survive the current downturn in | | | | gives us a better estimation of the true horse populace |
| market conditions. Let me suggest a few ways that | | | | in the US. It will severely limit the switching of registered |
| may work for you. | | | | animals. It will be used by registries to identify horses |
| The deflated dollar can work for you. The overseas | | | | that they register. It will be used to track animals in and |
| market that hesitated to invest in US horses before, | | | | out of a country and identify those animals that carry |
| can and will buy horses now. Why? Their dollar will buy | | | | disease or genetic defects. The states that tax the |
| a better horse than before. But that horse must have | | | | sales of horses will be able to do so more easily. |
| those qualities that set it apart from the rest. Here in | | | | Remember in order to increase the prices that people |
| the states, studs and mares that are by leading sires | | | | have to pay for horses is to; 1. Decrease the numbers |
| are still bringing very good prices. The ones that are | | | | of horses, 2. Produce horses that have a better |
| not are by studs that have not done or produced | | | | pedigree and 3.Become more active (either pro or |
| anything worth noting. | | | | con), in promoting the changes that will occur in the |
| The upcoming stimulus package and the low interest | | | | horse industry. |