Go to any media source, Craigslist, or any of the many horse-related
internet message boards and, over and over, you’ll see news
stories and posts of starving horses, abandoned horses, owners
in crisis who can no longer afford to feed their horses, horses
needing homes immediately, and more. In March, Appaloosa Horse
Club members received an email blast about a family in Tennessee
who had 80 Appaloosa horses they needed help finding homes
for, because they could no longer afford to feed them. Just
two months later, two one-month old Appaloosa fillies were
dumped in Baker City, Oregon. Unlike the many SPCA and other
shelters available for dog and cat owners, horse owners can’t
just look in the phonebook for a safe place to drop off a
horse they can no longer feed. Appaloosa Rehoming Resource
was formed to provide a resource and network so Appaloosa
and other horse owners know they have options other than abandoning
or starving their horses.
Appaloosa Rehoming Resource, Inc is
a non-profit, charitable organization formed for the following
purposes:
• To assist in rehoming Appaloosa horses suffering starvation
or neglect, or to prevent starvation and neglect, due to owners'
inability to care for the horse(s). Financial assistance may
be provided for hay and grain, transportation costs to a new
home, placing horses in temporary homes until permanent homes
can be found, emergency veterinary care, humane euthanasia,
and other disbursement of funds when and where the life of
an Appaloosa or other horse might be in jeopardy.
• To provide a resource to the public for placing individuals
in contact with owners who have an Appaloosa horse needing
a new home,
• To offer programs to educate horse owners regarding responsible
horse ownership and to provide information to the public about
horses in need.
• To provide temporary aid in the way of emergency funds for
hay and grain, when a horse owner is facing imminent, or is
in temporary crisis caused by unforeseen circumstances such
as fire, illness, or job loss.
The Appaloosa Rehoming Resource is modeled after the Arabian
Horse Rehoming Resource.
Due to today’s economic climate, many people are faced with
life-altering situations, including job loss and foreclosure.
When struck with the crisis of no income and the potential
of becoming homeless, children and family come first. Putting
food on the table becomes the number one priority. Horses,
other livestock, and pets often become collateral damage,
forgotten and hungry.
“Appaloosa owners need to know that there ARE options and
resources available to help find homes for horses they are
no longer able to care for”, says Vicki Gaudreau, Executive
Director of Appaloosa Rehoming Resource. Appaloosa Rehoming
Resource has several events and activities planned to increase
awareness. “A combined Appaloosa and all-breed open horse
show is scheduled for the weekend of May 22 & 23, 2010,
at Champions Center, in Springfield, Ohio, a low or no-cost
gelding clinic for the fall, and other activities still being
developed.”
According to the study conducted by the Unwanted Horse Coalition
(UHC), “Study on Contributing Factors Surrounding the Unwanted
Horse Issue”, available at http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org
, 63% of equine rescue and retirement facilities polled report
that they are at or near filled to capacity and, on average,
turn away 38% of the horses requesting placement.
The Appaloosa Rehoming Resource offers alternatives and resource
options for Appaloosa and other horse owners in crisis, or
those trying to prevent crisis. http://www.appaloosarehomingresource.org
