Quick facts
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Horses become unwanted due to cost, age, illness, injury or poor performance.
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Humane options for unwanted horses include selling, sending to a rescue or euthanizing.
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Euthanasia is humane when done by a veterinarian and is a better alternative than neglect or prolonged suffering.
The American Horse Council estimates there are 7.2 million horses in the United States. Each year there are over 170,000 unwanted horses.
Why do horses become unwanted?
Horse owners must be the advocate and person responsible for their horse’s health. According to Minnesota Statute 346.38, horses must:
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receive food of sufficient quantity and quality to allow for normal growth;
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have shelter from adverse weather conditions;
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have a clean environment and enough space for periodic exercise;
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have their hooves properly trimmed to prevent lameness; and
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be transported safely.
Owning a healthy horse costs about $6,500 each year; however, this cost can vary widely depending on location, horse health, facilities, training level, and activities done with your horse. This includes basic care costs associated with,
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Vaccinations
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Deworming
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Hoof care
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Nutrition
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Housing
Unfortunately, horses don’t stay healthy all the time. Costs can quickly add up when a horse becomes sick, injured or lame. Horses that require special or supportive care may require additional costs to meet their needs.
Financial changes can affect an owner’s ability to support their horse’s care. Divorce, job loss and economic changes may impact an owner’s financial resources.
Sick and injured horses often require additional costs for treatment and care. Depending on the situation, an illness or injury could lead a horse to retirement or limited work.
Humane options for unwanted horses
Selling or giving away your horse may take time. Make sure you’re prepared to reevaluate your asking price and remain alert. Privately selling your horse allows you short-term control over who purchases your horse, where it will reside and what activities it will participate in.
Be creative when advertising your horse. Consider a few marketing approaches, including advertising on or with:
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Websites
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Riding stables and barns
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Feed and tack stores
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Local and regional horse magazines and publications
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Local newspapers
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Veterinarians and farriers
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4-H, pony club and other breed organizations
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Local horse shows and events
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Equine therapy programs
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Horse rescues
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Local horse trainers
Rescues provide an option for owner’s that can’t sell or no longer care their horse. Due to the care costs of other horses, a rescue may not be able to accommodate your request based on:
Physical space for another horse
The ability to feed another horse
Finances
For more information on equine rescues in Minnesota, please visit the Minnesota Horse Council’s webpage.
Sale barns can offer a quick sale option for your horse. But you will have little control over the buyer, where the horse will go, or the price. Sale barns usually:
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Charge a fee for selling and advertising your horse
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May have deadlines for consignments
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May require a negative coggins or a health certificate
Before consignment, make sure you meet and understand the sale barn’s conditions. Know that you will have little control over the sale of your horse.
Euthanasia is likely the hardest decision for an owner to make. But it’s a better alternative than neglect or prolonged suffering. Euthanasia is humane when done by a veterinarian.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approves the following three methods for euthanizing horses.
Chemical euthanasia
Chemical euthanasia is the most humane choice for horses. It’s preferred by most veterinarians and horse owners, but is the most expensive option. In this procedure, a veterinarian must inject euthanasia solution (pentobarbital or a pentobarbital combination) into the horse’s vein.
Make sure carcasses of chemically euthanized horses are protected from predation in a proper and prompt manner. These carcasses pose great risk of poisoning for prey species (especially birds) and may pollute the environment. See the burial section below for more information.
Gunshot and penetrating captive bolt
Gunshot and the penetrating captive bolt are two approved physical euthanasia methods. When used correctly, they induce death faster than chemical euthanasia. Both ways disrupt the brain and cause loss of consciousness followed by death.
Gunshot euthanasia may pose an inherent safety risk for other animals and humans nearby. Only someone skilled in this method should perform euthanasia, and in a safe environment.
The penetrating captive bolt method of euthanasia is safer than gunshot euthanasia because it doesn’t release a projectile (e.g., bullet). There are two types of captive bolt: penetrating and non-penetrating. The penetrating captive bolt induces death by firing a rod into the brain. The non-penetrating captive bolt causes a severe concussion that stuns the animal but does not kill it. The non-penetrating captive bolt isn’t considered a humane euthanasia method.
Gunshot and penetrating captive bolt euthanasia are less expensive than chemical euthanasia and don’t present risk of environmental contamination or animal poisoning.
Reviewed in 2021