Have you explored all other options to lower expenses?

Reduce your boarding costs. If full care board is too expensive, look into partial care board, self-care board or pasture board. You may have to give up some amenities, like a riding arena, but keeping your horse safe often means making sacrifices.

Locate a cheaper source of hay or buy in bulk. We do not suggest underfeeding your horse, but  you should shop for better pricing on hay and supplements. Go in with other horse owners to purchase items like hay, grain, and shavings in bulk for better pricing.

Prioritize Spending. If money is tight, focus on the most necessary care, like vaccinations and hoof trimming. Consider selling extra tack or a horse trailer.

Check with your vet and/or farrier to see if any low-cost clinics are coming up or work with them to organize one.

Equine Community Resources, ECR, offers gelding and dental clinics along with other support for horse owners. To Learn More

Lease out your horse.  This may provide relief from both the financial aspects of horse ownership and the day to day care of the horse, without the risk of giving up ownership.

Rehoming

Network with other horse clubs, riding groups, lesson stables, and organizations.  Looking for a new home?  Post ads on websites, local feed and/or tack shops.  Be sure to check references, verify identity and background of your potential buyer and do a home inspection.

Contact the breeder or previous owner.  They often will help you rehome the horse.

 If you truly care for the health and well-being of your horse be honest with the potential new owners. Falsifying information about your horse’s capabilities, or lack thereof, is a surefire way to land your horse into a home that is not suitable and could lead to a neglectful or abusive situation. Remember it can take months to rehome a horse, so plan ahead and explore this option before you are desperate.

Consider giving your horse to a therapeutic riding center, park police unit, or similar program if your horse is safe and sound. Hundreds of organizations across the country accept relinquished horses. Use the same careful consideration you would choosing any home for your horse and be sure to find out what policies the organization has in place for horses that are retired or are no longer suitable for the program.

Never take your horse to a livestock auction and please don’t give them away for free.  Livestock auctions are frequented by middlemen who are looking to purchase young, healthy horses for foreign-owned slaughter plants. People who take in free horses often can’t afford to properly care for them and the horse ends up in the slaughterhouse pipeline after all.

Euthanasia as a humane option

This is probably the hardest decision a horse owner will need to make, but it is a better alternative than neglect or prolonged suffering. When euthanasia is administered by a veterinarian, it is humane. If your horse is in pain, or is mentally unstable; humanely euthanizing the horse should be considered. Finding a safe and secure home for these horses is difficult, even in the best of times. Finding someone who is willing and financially able to care for a pasture pet typically takes a minimum of 2 years. It’s a harsh reality to face, but unwanted horses end up suffering, the best choice may be to give your horse a humane and dignified end. Try to remember that it’s a far better choice than letting your horse end up in a bad situation.

 Note for owners with mentally unstable horses: If you are unable or unwilling, to find professional help for your horse, please carefully consider the option to have the horse humanely euthanized. Mentally unstable horses usually end their lives in an abusive or neglectful home because their human partner is unable or unwilling to seek the professional help needed.

If you have explored all other options and still feel surrendering your horse is your only option left, please contact us.