Cash for Horses: A Growing Number of Horses Being Sold to Slaughter Houses

Sep 30th 2009

If you think caring for a dog or cat during a recession is financially challenging, try owning a horse. Home foreclosures and the escalating costs of equine veterinary care, transport, and feed have driven many horse owners to abandon their beloved animals, or even sell them for cash.

According to a recent survey published by the Unwanted Horses Coalition, over 100,000 horses -- unwanted because of age, injury, sickness or financial strain -- are being sent to processing facilities in the US, Canada, and Mexico each year. The horses are slaughtered and their meat is used in a variety of ways, including human consumption in countries like France, Italy, Belgium and Japan.

The study also found that financial burden is the most commonly cited reason for horse unloading. But selling a horse for meat isn't the only option for cash-strapped owners.

Karen Johnson, owner of One Horse Farm in Texas, tells Paw Nation that "maintenance of a family horse will average $200 a month if it's on your own property. If you have plentiful pasture, you save a ton, but you will still have veterinary maintenance, not to mention the emergencies, wear on the land, etc. If you board, expect it to average about $400 a month."