February 2011 Articles

Archives by Months

Horses

Horses (Dr. Neely Heidorn) Source: LSU AgCenter
Hello, Louisiana! Let me introduce myself, I am Dr. Neely Heidorn your new extension equine specialist. I grew up on a hobby farm raising fruit trees and horses in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. I earned a B.S. in animal health science from California State Polytechnic University Pomona (Cal Poly, Pomona) in 2003. While attending school I worked as the assistant farm manager for the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. Following graduation I was hired as the stallion manager at an embryo transfer facility/clinic, Winner’s Circle Equine Clinic. While working at Winner’s Circle I went on to obtain an M.S. in Equine Reproduction in 2006. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I moved to Winterville, Ga., where I earned a Ph.D. in reproductive endocrinology from the
University of Georgia in 2010. I look forward to participating in Louisiana’s equine industry as well as challenging each and every person within this industry to make it the best that it can be. Please contact me if you need assistance or have any
questions. The Unwanted Horse In 2005 The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) defined “unwanted horse” as: “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.” A study conducted by the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) in 2009 revealed that the major reasons contributing to the number of unwanted horses were the reduced economy, closing of the nation’s horse processing facilities, indiscriminate breeding and the high cost of euthanasia and removal. In 2007 the UHC estimated that there were approximately 170,000 unwanted horses. In other words, there were more horses than there are people who want them. Until 2007, most unwanted horses were likely sent to slaughter with fewer numbers being rescued, rehabilitated, euthanized and even fewer simply abandoned and left to die of natural causes. The closure of all processing facilities and the decreased economic situation unfortunately results in a higher number of unwanted horses who may ultimately suffer more extremes due to starvation or neglect than the stress experienced at a processing facility. No matter your belief on the issue, it is obvious that difficult decisions need to be made. The mission of the UHC is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety and responsible care and disposition of horses. In an effort to meet these goals, the UHC has produced a manual which contains multiple options, initiatives and activities responsible horse owners can take to help alleviate the problem of unwanted horses. For more information, visit www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org. Unwanted horses will always be present within the horse industry; however we as horse owners have a duty to make responsible decisions regarding horse ownership.