Horses For Sale Ohio

Turning horses loose is a problem

Horses are an important livestock in our area. Not only are they widely used for pleasure or recreation but they are important as a source of power in the Amish community. So we have both pleasure and work or draft horses on local farms.

With few exceptions, local horse owners take good care of their livestock. But across this country we have a serious problem. Horses that are no longer wanted, for several reasons, are being turned loose in the woods or wild areas to die. They can't get enough food and are starved to death. This is an increasing problem in the U.S.

According to an article in a recent Buckeye Farm News, published by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and from several other sources, there are about 100,000 or more unwanted horses in the U.S. each year. This information comes from the Journal of Animal Science.

Numbers of unwanted horses have been climbing over the years for several reasons. According to Dr. Leah Dorman, director of food programs at OFBF's Center for Food and Animal Issues, these include the economic downturn and closing the horse processing facilities in the U.S. in 2007. Other sources include over breeding and lack of education or caring by some horse owners.

Dorman says that more than 90 percent of those taking part in the 2009 Unwanted Horse Survey believe the number of unwanted horses is increasing. They also believe that neglect and abuse is on the increase. According to the Unwanted Horse Coalition that conducted the survey, unwanted horses have become "a big problem."

South Dakota University recently conducted a survey of the growing problem. Their study said that the number of unwanted horses is growing by about 150,000 a year. As they pointed out, in 2006 before horse processing facilities were closed, over 105,000 were disposed of for meat to export to foreign countries. Horse meat is not usually eaten in this country. Now thousands of horses are transported to Mexico or Canada for processing and sale to other markets.

According to OFBF, there are 326 horse sanctuary facilities in the U.S. with a capacity of 13,700 horses a year. Many of those said they are at or near capacity, turning away 36 percent of the horses brought to them. These facilities have an average budget of $2300 per horse so more than $25 million would be needed to take care of the horses being turned away.

Several solutions to this problem have been suggested. One is to get animal activists, who were responsible for the closing of horse processing facilities, to understand that horses are not "pets" but livestock with commercial value. They also need to look at the problem and help with answers that include opening horse processing facilities again in this country. Some of them with big budgets could well afford to put money into horse sanctuaries if they don't approve of using them for human food.

Mule Horse For Sale, Ohio, Hillsboro

Goose is a very quiet-minded 4 year old mule out of my jack, General Bob and a Morgan/Belgian cross mare I used to own. She is very soft and supple, has great feet, can go all day and beats you to the gate when she sees you coming. She has been professionally trained to drive as well, but hasn't been hooked up for over a year now. Loves to trail ride, crosses everything, has been many places and is UTD on her shots. Great for the farrier and shots. For more information please visit www.diamonddmules.

ohio cultivator

The Ohio cultivator

Annual report of the Board of Agriculture of the State of Ohio

Southern planter

History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio