How is the UHC Helping Unwanted Horses?

Mission of the UHC

At the time the Coalition was formed, four major goals were kept in mind:

1. Raise awareness of the issue of unwanted horses

2. Reduce the number of unwanted horses

3. Educate the industry and the public about unwanted horses

4. Find ways to solve the problem of unwanted horses

Today, the mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety, and responsible care and disposition of these horses.

Educational Materials

Own Responsibly: Guidance for Current and Potential Horse Owners from the Unwanted Horse CoalitionThis handbook includes detailed chapters on the responsibilities of horse ownership.

Addresses:

•Basic horse care

•Options for owners with “unwanted horses”

• Important questions to ask when placing a horse

•Alternative careers

•Success stories

•Euthanasia and disposal

•Tax ramifications of charitable donations

•Programs that extend the useful lives of horses

Educational Materials

Best Practices: How Your Organization Can Help Unwanted HorsesThis handbook details initiatives and activities organizations can undertake to help reduce the number of unwanted horses.

Includes information about:

• Administration

• Continuing education

• Fundraising

• Support of equine care facilities

• Matchmaking

• Direct assistance

• Breeding

• Euthanasia

Educational Materials

The Problem of the Unwanted Horse*Newly updated in 2015!

A brochure that describes the Coalition and its activities

• History of the UHC

• Goals

• Available educational materials

• Membership and funding information

Educational MaterialsPreventing Unwanted Horses: Geld and Spay

*Brand new for 2015!Created as a supplement to the UHC’s Operation Gelding program, this brochure highlights the benefits of gelding, spaying, and hormone therapy as these practices pertain to equine health and responsible horse ownership.

• The unwanted horse issue and reasons horses become unwanted

• Responsible breeding and selection

• Explanations of gelding and spaying

• Positive impact of gelding, spaying, and hormone therapy on population, breed quality, and behavior

• Operation Gelding and how to host a clinic

Educational Materials

2009 Unwanted Horses SurveyThe results of a national survey taken by more than 27,000 horse owners, equine industry stakeholders, rescue and retirement facilities, and non-horse owners regarding the issue of unwanted horses, the causes, solutions, and implications.

• Reasons horses become unwanted

• Familiarity with the problem among those within and outside the industry

• Breed, age, and sex of horses that commonly become unwanted

• Awareness of options available for unwanted horses

• Rescue/retirement facility statistics

• Impact on the economy

2009 Unwanted Horses Survey

• 81% of respondents believed that horses become unwanted when the owner can longer afford the horse

• Age and injury were other commonly cited reasons for why horses become unwanted

Other Significant Findings• “Educate owners to purchase and own

responsibly” emerged as one of the most appealing solutions to the unwanted horse problem

• Of Industry Stakeholders who responded, breeders and veterinarians were the most familiar with the problem

• Of the options available to unwanted horses, Horse Owners were most aware of the options to sell, euthanize, or donate.

• 39% of Rescue/Retirement Facilities that responded stated that they were at maximum capacity; 30% of respondents were at 75%-99% capacity

Available BooksHow to Start and Run a Rescue

Dr. Jennifer Williams

Bluebonnet Equine Rescue

Donated to the UHC by The Equine Network in 2012, this book is valuable resource for those looking to start a rescue or for established equine rescues wishing to improve their business.

• Formation of a non-profit

• Recruiting and retaining volunteers

• Public relations and marketing

• Networking

• Insurance

• Adoption programs

Available Books

How to Start and Run a Rescue• 250 books available

• Proceeds go towards funding Operation Gelding

• So far we have sold 148 books and have donated over $2,000 to Operation Gelding

Available Books

Standardbred Old FriendsEllen Harvey & Barbara D. Livingston

A collaborative effort between Ellen Harvey of the United States Trotting Association and award-winning photographer, Barbara D Livingston, Standardbred Old Friends is the third in the well-loved three-part Old Friends series.

Alongside Livingston’s stunning portraits of these retired racing champions are Ellen Harvey’s stories detailing the lives of these horses, both on the track and after the winner’s circle.

• A portion of the proceeds go towards funding Operation Gelding

UHC Media Roundup

The UHC Media Roundup is a way for the UHC to keep the industry educated about unwanted horses and informed about the Coalition through news articles.

• Sent every 3-4 weeks• 67 editions sent to date• Over 4,500 people on the UHC distribution list

Social Media

Facebook• Nearly 1,000 followers

• Used to post news and notes to keep followers up to date on UHC activities

• Current Operation Gelding schedule

Twitter• To keep followers up to date on UHC activities and Operation Gelding clinics

• @Unwanted_Horse

UHC Website

Unwantedhorsecoalition.org• Regularly updated with new information, news, and events

• Average of 4,500 visitors per month

• Content includes:

“Donate Now” button on every page

Information on the issue of unwanted horses

Information on responsible horse ownership

Membership information

Information on Operation Gelding including applications and forms

UHC educational materials (available to download, free of charge)

List of 700+ rescue and retirement facilities

“Additional Assistance” section- grant programs, gelding programs, haybanks/feedbanks, etc.

News and press releases

UHC staff contact

UHC Programs

A Home For Every Horse• The UHC is a partner in The Equine Network’s program, A Home For Every Horse

• Launched in 2011, AHFEH is a universal website where rescues may list their horses that are available for adoption

• Listing service is free and available to all 501(c)(3) registered facilities

• 587 rescues currently registered with AHFEH with over 1,000 horses listed

• This year, Purina will donate $150,000 worth of free feed to participating rescues in the program

• This is the third year that the UHC will be a part of this joint effort

UHC Programs

Operation GeldingOperation Gelding was started in August 2010. It is made possible by a generous donation of seed money from

the AAEP Foundation, the UHC, Zoetis, and individual donors.

The programs provides funds and materials to assist organizations and groups that wish to host low-cost or free clinics in which horse owners can have their stallions castrated by a certified veterinarian.

The impetus for these clinics is that the castration of a stallion will help prevent overbreeding, in turn reducing the number of unwanted horses being bred. Castrations will also produce a gentler horse that is more ridable,

trainable, salable, and adoptable, allowing them to be used in several careers.

UHC Programs

Operation Gelding• UHC provides information and forms necessary to conduct an Operation Gelding

clinic

• Funds of $50 per horse gelded, with a $1,000 maximum, will be awarded to participating groups once in a 12-month period

• Any organization, association, or group can participate

UHC Programs

Operation Gelding• Ages range from 3 months to 18 years with the majority in the 1-3 year range

• Clinics hosted by: university veterinary programs, equine rescues, vet clinics, 4-H clubs, state horse councils, grant-making foundations, equine welfare organizations, and state horse parks

• Breeds represented: Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred, Arabian, Standardbred, Appaloosa, Paint, Morgan, Pony of the Americas, Freisian, Mustang, Clydesdale, Belgian, Fjord, Missouri Fox Trotter, Tennessee Walking Horse, Paso Fino, Shetland, Welsh, Mini, Mule, Donkey

• Operation Gelding has continued to gain popularity with the highest number of horses gelded in 2014: 320 horses in 26 clinics

UHC Programs

Operation Geldingby the numbers…

• 56,100 - dollars in seed money distributed by Operation Gelding

• 1,128 - total number of horses castrated through Operation Gelding

• 270 - average number of horses gelded per year

• 93 - number of Operation Gelding clinics held to date

• 33 - states in which Operation Gelding clinics have been held

UHC Member OrganizationSpeakers

The Jockey Club—Kristin Leshney

United States Trotting Association—Ellen Harvey

Minnesota Horse Council—Tracy Turner