February 03, 2012
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How Can I Help Neglected Horses?

Donate Money
Donate Time/Expertise
Donate Supplies
Become a Foster Home
Adopt a Rescued Horse

The majority of our members and horse owners around the U.S. and Canada feel a need to reach out to the horses that are victims of neglect. Such care and concern is truly appreciated and is the reason why so many horses are rescued, rehabilitated and go on to live out the rest of their lives in good homes.

Law enforcement, Animal Control, the Humane Society, the America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and local rescues are on the front lines confronting neglect issues on a daily basis. Their combined efforts will usually have horses seized and in custody before the public is made aware of the specifics of a neglect case. In fact, horses seized from an individual who will eventually have charges filed against him or her are often held in the custody of animal control in an undisclosed location. The horses are considered evidence in neglect cases and the accused person's attorney has the right to examine the horses as evidence. The horses' welfare is considered first and foremost in these situations and if immediate vet care is need, it is provided. For more information about the legal issues surrounding horse neglect, see the AHA Stance and Horse Neglect and the Law page.

As mentioned above, law enforcement and other organizations usually work together, sometimes on a contract basis, to care for the immediate needs of neglected horses. But they can not do it alone. Help from the Arabian community and others is welcomed in times of need, but also on a daily basis. There are a number of ways you can help.

Donate Money. Monetary assistance is always welcomed by shelters, rescues, Humane Societies, and other agencies. Horses that are seized by Animal Control and kept in undisclosed locations as evidence until trials are underway are usually cared for by tax payers money and can cost up to $15,000 per horse. Because these locations are not made public, people often forget to donate money directly for this purpose and donate only to visible rescue organizations. Educate yourself about the path a neglected horse must take in your area-from neglect to new home-where do they go? Decide where you want your money to be used. In the case of visible rescues, donating money should be like donating to other charities-it is important to do some research about the facility or organization first. Below are some tips and questions to ask before donating.
- Confirm the organization has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the organization does not have a 501(c)(3) tax code, be sure that they are not just taking advantage of your good will-many scam artists take advantage of people who are just trying to help.
- Is the facility or organization reputable? There are several ways to check on an organization's reputation.
  - Making a personal visit to a facility or organization is sometimes the best way to get a feel for whether or not it is the right place to donate your hard earned money. Make an appointment with the organization or facility staff or volunteers to tour the place and get more information. Staff or volunteers should be more than happy to honor your request because they know it may end in a donation. Follow your instincts. If you do not get a good feeling from your visit, look for other places to donate your money.
  - Google. Sometimes the easiest way to get information about a rescue facility or organization is to Google it. Be thorough in your search. Do not just look at the very first page of links. There are usually several pages to look through. If you find something unsavory be sure it is from a reputable news source and not just one person's opinion posted on a blog or forum. One useful web site out there can be found at www.charitynavigator.org. Here you can look to see if the organization or facility you are interested in has received a star rating, as well as get more tips about giving.
  - Ask around your local horse community. Good horse rescues and organizations are usually no secret. Ask your friends and community members where they have sent their money-just make sure they have taken the same care to research as you are.
  - Is the organization or facility national or have a national affiliate? There are usually plenty of news stories about national organizations. Contact the national organization to find its local affiliate or contact. If the organization is large enough that it handles abuse and neglect to all animals, be clear about how you would like your donation used. Most will honor your request.
- Can the organization clearly define its short and long term goals? Without setting goals, it is impossible to measure success. If the organization has the short term goal of acquiring X number of hay bales for neglected horses, you might get a better idea of how your money will be used immediately. You can have a sense of accomplishment once those bales of hay have been purchased.
- Concentrate your giving. Communicate how your goals fit in with those of the organization and you will see more clearly the fruits of your labor. Allow yourself to be committed to one or two of the organization's short term goals (or long term goals, depending on your giving capabilities) and use your resources specifically instead of spreading your money too thin. Keep in touch with the organization to see results.
- Make a commitment. Many organizations allow you to sponsor a specific horse for either a one time fee or a monthly fee. That fee often includes updates, pictures, t-shirts and more. Commit yourself to one animal and know your contribution is making a difference.
- PAY THE VET BILL! After hay, the most immediate need of most rescues is getting the vet bill paid. It is okay to ask the rescue which vet they use and then call the vet directly to make a payment toward that rescue's bill.

Donate Time/Expertise. Not everyone has money to spare for a donation, but perhaps you have an extra couple of hours and a skill that can be helpful to those caring for seized horses.

Make a list of your skills, both horse-related and other.
A few examples:

	- accountant		- trainer
	- bather		- walker
	- cook		- web site designer
	- equine chiropractor		- writer
	- farrier
	- groom
	- stall cleaner

Call the rescue or organization and tell them what you can offer. Make an appointment to lend a hand. If they have enough people to clean stalls, perhaps they could use some help in getting the word out about a fundraiser, or in providing drinks and snacks for other volunteers. The possibilities are nearly endless. Just make sure to consult someone in charge so your time and expertise are not wasted.

Donate Supplies. There is quite a bit of material that goes into caring for one or more horses. Because it goes so quickly, most rescuers will tell you that the need that remains first on their priority list is hay, but sometimes they need more. Again, it is best to contact the rescue facility or organization to help fulfill their most immediate needs. Each organization may have varying policies about what donated supplies need to be new and what can be secondhand. The list below provides some ideas to run by the organization to get an idea of their needs.

	- hay		- halters/leads
	- grain		- grooming supplies
	- pellets		- wheel barrow
	- shavings/straw		- shovels/picks
	- water buckets		- fencing panels
	- vet supplies		- tack

	* vet wrap
	* antibiotic spray or wound dressing powder
	* antiseptic ointment
	* antiseptic cleansing liquid for dilution to clean wounds
	* latex gloves
	* scissors

Become A Foster Home. Depending on the size of the operation, it can be easy for a rescue facility to become overwhelmed with animals when dozens of horses are seized at once. Perhaps the worst situations occur when horses end up needing to be rescued from their original rescuers. Foster homes are used in two situations.
- Law enforcement and animal control agencies usually have long term relationships with a handful of people they know they can trust. These foster homes are sometimes the "undisclosed locations" where horses are kept immediately after being seized. These locations are kept private and can easily handle several horses if needed. If you have a facility that can take horses unexpectedly and want to fulfill this need, it is best to get in contact with your local Animal Control or Humane Society and make them aware of your ability to help and begin a long term relationship that is trustworthy.
- Small rescues who cannot keep more than a handful of horses also use foster homes. Again, these foster homes are usually places that have a long track record with that particular rescue and can be fully trusted. Sometimes foster homes are responsible for the financial obligations included in the care for the horse and sometimes the rescue takes care of cost. Contact some of the smaller rescues in your area for information about becoming a foster home. Taking care of a neglected horse until it is healthy enough to be adopted is a big undertaking-be sure you are able!
Adopt A Rescued Horse. Adopting a horse that has come from a situation of neglect can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but you must be sure you are up to the task.
- If you are new to horse ownership, please see the Proper Care page. Also refer to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) website for horse owners here, and read their guidelines for rescue facilities just to be fully informed. Consult your local veterinarian. Let him or her know your plans to adopt a rescued horse. Many neglected horses will need special care for ailments incurred while they were neglected including vaccinations, dental work and special farrier care! Understand the specifics about the specific horse you are planning to adopt. Also be sure you know all the costs involved in horse ownership.
- If you are already a horse owner, be aware of the fact that a rescued horse might need more attention then your other horses. Review the AAEP guidelines for horse rescues here to freshen your knowledge base.

Adoption procedures, including eligibility requirements, are set and enforced by each individual rescue. Contact one near you to find out more about the horses they have.