Nobody Leaves Pony in the Corner

by Brandon Enyeart

We all know what hard economic times can do. Going out for spaghetti Bolognese turns into staying in for ramen, your shiny car turns into a dust ball, your caramel macchiato becomes a simple cup of drip, and all the while your wallet seems to be succeeding with its own diet plan. However, we are not the only ones who are suffering from the recent economy. Around the United States there have been numerous cases of horses being abandoned with the excuse that the state of the economy and the lack of jobs have forced horse owners into leaving their horses behind.

On March 12 of this year the state of Oregon passed Senate Bill 398, dubbed “The Equine Justice Bill,” which now makes it a crime to abandon a horse. Oregon already had a similar law in place that made it illegal to abandon some animals, but since horses were considered livestock, they were excluded. Thanks to the humane society urging the bill to be passed, the equine family was added to the existing statute.

It is understandable, in the current times, that it may become difficult or even impossible to provide the proper care required by a horse, but there are many alternatives out there for struggling horse owners. If you do find yourself in this position, consider these options:

• Rescue Groups
• Online Adoption Programs
• Lease Arrangements
• Donating your horse to a good home

If you type any of the first three phrases above into your favorite Internet search engine along with the word "horse" and your state, city, or county, you should be able to find groups near you. Well trained, "bombproof" horses can also make excellent candidates for therapeutic riding programs, so if your horse fits that description, check into those as well.

Whether you are giving your horse to a program, a family or an individual, be sure to check out the new home before agreeing to anything—you want your horse to go into better circumstances, not worse.

Even if it is only a class B misdemeanor in Oregon, this still marks a victory not only for equine rights, but animal rights in general. We can only hope that more states follow Oregon’s lead and pass similar bills. There are more and more stories each day of equine abandonment, and it is with only a responsible mindset—not only from your state, but owners alike—that this sad form of abuse can become obsolete.