Horse Abandonments on the Rise

The Kentucky Horse Council says the worsening economy is even affecting the state’s signature animal.Council Executive Director Ginny Grulke says as money gets tighter in Kentucky households, many families who own horses are cutting care of the animals out of their budgets. She says in the past, families could sell their unwanted horses, but that’s no longer the case."The buyers have backed off because they're realizing the higher cost, so less people are buying," says Grulke. "You used to be able to take them to an auction house and sell them and now the auction houses are selling less as well."Grulke says abandoned, stray horses have been found in many rural Kentucky communities. She says they’d like to be able to move the horses to a state-run facility when they are found, but the state can’t afford it. Most of them are euthanized.