Released January 16, 2009

DE QUEEN, Ark. - The closure of horse slaughter facilities across the country by the federal government has resulted in a plentiful supply of horses and cheap prices. More people are buying horses, and this has led to new problems - new owners who don't know how to take care of their horses and an economic burden on owners in a slow economy.

"Puppies or dogs can scratch on the door or rattle the food bowl to let you know when they're hungry," says Rex Herring, Sevier County extension staff chair with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "Horses have different health and nutrition requirements. They need special care besides just putting them out in a field to get by on their own. They can go down pretty fast.

"We've gotten several calls from the local humane society," he says. "They're asking us to spread the word on this growing problem. We're also getting a lot of people who have never owned horses and don't understand their requirements and how to take care of them."

Slaughter houses take care of low-end horses. However, the issue is hotly contested in the horse industry, and some slaughter houses have closed. This has resulted in a glut of less desirable horses on the market, says Noah Washburn, an extension associate district director.

Horses used to bring $600 or $700 at a slaughter facility, according to Herring. Now, owners don't have that option, and they're selling them for less than $500. In some cases, he notes, sellers can't even find a buyer.

"With the economy in the shape it's in and feed prices soaring, people are putting the needs of horses on a back burner," Washburn says. "It's a huge commitment when you take on a horse. New horse owners don't understand the cost of feed and hay. It can cost $3 or $4 a day for feed and hay."

Washburn notes that in winter "horses aren't as easy to put up as a bicycle or boat. They need daily care."

He said a horse needs a sizeable acreage in a pasture to find adequate forage, and some people don't stop to think about a horse's total nutritional needs before putting them in a pasture.

Steve Jones, extension equine specialist, says horses need care from their head to their hooves. He estimated that horses need $1,200 to $1,500 a year in food and health maintenance. He says many people are buying horses and "feeding them what they think they ought to have and not what they need."

"We're a rural area," Herring said, "and we have lots of horses. It's a big industry in the state, and more and more people are buying horses for recreational riding, making it a fast-growing hobby. Some people just like riding them. People are loading up their horses and going places to camp and ride."

He said many Arkansans are discovering the fun of loading up horses and driving to camp sites for trail riding. Arkansas abounds in such places, he says.

Herring advises people not to buy a horse without putting thought into it.

"It's like buying a car. You wouldn't buy it and never check the air in the tires or the oil in the engine," he says. "Horses have special needs compared to other animals. They need high quality hay or feed.

"Before purchasing a horse, visit with a county agent, veterinarian, feed store or someone with basic knowledge of equine care and maintenance," he advises.

The Cooperative Extension Service has fact sheets about care and feeding of horses, Washburn said. See your county agent or visit http://www.uaex.edu and select Agriculture, then Horses. If you're seeking to sell a horse, your county agent can offer advice.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/january2009/0116horse.htm

Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187 or (501) 753-0207, ljames@uaex.edu