The economy is taking a toll in the equestrian world this week. In Montana, horse neglect and abandonment is on the rise according to an article in the Flathead Beacon:
“In addition to the doubling in the price of horse hay and the recession, [Steve Merrit, spokesman for the Montana Department of Livestock], also attributes the increase in abandonment to the ban on horse slaughter in the U.S. The common result is that owners with sick or injured horses they can no longer afford to care for, can’t afford to ship to Mexico or Canada for slaughter and can no longer sell, end up neglecting the horses or abandoning them, sometimes on public land – which is a felony. Meanwhile, the number of horses sent to Mexico or Canada for processing has skyrocketed.”