Homeless horses ride out the recession
 
 
(NECN: Lauren Collins, Deerfield, NH) - Even in the best of times, horses are expensive animals to keep. So how has the economic downturn hit the hooved?
NECN's Lauren Collins went to two New England farms where horses are riding-out the recession, hopefully on the way to a good home.
Meet Watchtower, a seven-year-old stallion bred by Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, and Talent Scout -- a six-year-old gelding considered Thoroughbred royalty.
“He is the son of the 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Charismatic.”
They're out to pasture -- if only temporarily -- at the New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Deerfield, New Hampshire
“They're all retired from racing. They all get some rehabilitation and most of them get retrained and go on to second careers.”
Though executive director David Sears says the economy makes for a crowded market. As more and more owners sell or even give away their expensive companions, it's tougher than ever for a horse to find a good home.
“When people come on a weekend to look at a horse, they may look at several that we have, and often we don't hear from them again.”
Sears currently has 14 horses available for lease or adoption. It gets pricey to care for them:
“We used to get a discount from our vets, which we no longer get because they're having a tough time, we don't get any donated or discounted blacksmith work for the horses, we pay full price for that.”
Those costs are incurred at adoption centers, but on a much larger scale. Here at the MSPCA in Methuen, Massachusetts, stall after stall is home to a horse surrendered because of its family's financial hardship.
 
“We have 23 horses on the property and we have seven horses out to foster, so we're caring for 30 horses right now.”
An extraordinary number for the equine center at Nevins Farm -- barn manager Melissa Garheeb says the pace started to pick up last fall and the MSPCA needs help. It's set up Ashton's fund to cover medical expenses -- an average 320-dollars a month per horse:
“It's really important so that we keep that fund going, as well as our general fund that will help us pay for food, shavings, and the other feed and general care for the horses and other farm animals.”
 
Worthy expenses if these non-profits can find their horses a happy trail to a good home.
 
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New England Cable News
31 March 2009