Day: November 23, 2008

      Ocala, FL – Many equestrians work tirelessly to provide their horses with a standard of living that would be envied by anyone with two or four legs. These mounts are cared for, tended to, examined, and loved. They have a plethora of clothing for every season, top of the line healthcare and nutrition, special shoes and even designer accoutrements. Occasionally, these horses are asked to perform under less than ideal conditions that put their health and safety at risk. What puts them at risk? Unsafe or poorly designed riding surfaces. Why is this risky?  Because a

The problem of unwanted horses is being studied through a nationwide initiative of the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) with help from equine associations, veterinarians, breeders, state and local law enforcement, horse owners, rescue/retirement facilities, and other facilities using horses. The first step is an online survey, and everyone with an interest in the welfare of horses is encouraged to respond at http://survey.ictgroup.com/uhcsurvey/.   With tens of thousands of unwanted, neglected and abandoned horses in the United States, some say the problem is a fast-growing epidemic. However, much remains unknown. Currently, there are few documented facts about the accurate