1. Discoveries from Horse Rescue Survey
Heather Mohan-Gibbons, MS, RVT, ACAAB
Director of Applied Research & Behavior

2. Undesirable
130,000 horses/year exported for slaughter

3. Preferred 130,000 horses slaughtered annually
Goal to pass Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act

4. Options? 130,000 horses slaughtered annually
Goal to pass Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act

5. Information Gathering
Two surveys 2016
Horse Owners: rehoming
Horse Rescues
General population
Current capacity
Barriers to accepting horses
Safety net services
Auction

6. Horse Rescue Survey Emailed survey 10 states previously identified
192 surveys = 51% response rate

7. Horse Rescue Survey 192 surveys = 51% response rate
Use caution in generalizing these results!

8. Western vs Eastern States

9. Of the horses you obtained in the past 12 months, how many are now… still in your facility
37%
50%
small difference but it is significant. Eastern states more in a private home and fewer still in facility and euth. Western states fewer in private homes and more in their facility and euth      
Western in home: 641 in facility 722
Eastern in home: 805 In facility: 504
Other percentages are euthanized or transferred to another facility

10. Of the horses you obtained in the past 12 months, how many are now… rehomed to a private home
37% in homes
55% in homes
small difference but it is significant. Eastern states more in a private home and fewer still in facility and euth. Western states fewer in private homes and more in their facility and euth      
Western in home: 641 in facility 722
Eastern in home: 805 In facility: 504
Other percentages are euthanized or transferred to another facility

11. Body Condition Score 1-9 57% intake 58% intake Score 1-3 Score 4-7
From low to high
median% eastern 29% 58% 4% 2257
median%
Other data: western states have a significantly higher intake that is relatively unhealth and lower intake of reasonable healthy compared to eastern states
western states have a significantly higher intake that is relatively unhealthy and lower intake of reasonable healthy compared to eastern states
58% intake

12. Intake & Barriers

13. Intake (n=192)
2933 horses (past 12 months)

14. Barriers
Please rank (in order) up to three barriers that limit your organization’s ability to support more horses…
Capital Improvements:

15. Intake if #1 barrier removed
Intake (12 months):

16. If #1 barrier removed…
What ways would this effect your organization’s ability to support horses or the people in your community?

17. Safety Nets

18. Safety Net Types (n=167) N=167 orgs
Wellness clinics or support/vouchers (may include vaccinations, Coggins testing, deworming, dental care, and/or farrier care)
Veterinary/health vouchers

19. Safety Net: Advertise
n=167

20. Horse Owners Rehoming Survey
Would access to short-term safety net services have allowed you to avoid selling or giving away your horse? Safety net services would include access to supplies or services such as hay, free or discounted veterinary care, gelding services, or euthanasia and disposal support.

21. Horse Owners Rehoming Survey
45%
of re-homers (past 5 yrs) said that safety net services would have allowed them to keep their horse but were not aware of any safety net services available in their community.
59% (if cost)
Other data if asked
45% (94 of 211) of re-homers in the survey said that safety net services would have allowed them to avoid selling or giving away their horse but they were not aware of any safety net services available in their community.
Q12:Would access to SN have helped?
| Freq. Percent Cum.
Yes, but not aware of any |
Yes, but I was turned down |
No, I did use SN but still rehomed |
No, it would not have helped |
Not Sure |
Total |

22. Income not associated with rehoming
I added this as I was told that horse rescue decline adoptions based on income

23. Safety Nets Saves Lives

24. 2.3 million people nationwide reported having the space, resources, and a strong interest in adopting
If asked, Omnibus survey n=3,036 and 500 of those said yes to HORSE (past, present)
This data came from two questions, one asked about current resources the other about interest in the future”

25. Obtaining from rescue 15% of people currently own at least one horse
Yet, only 19% obtained a horse from rescue
how many people bought/obtained a horse from a rescue?:
89 of the 601 people in survey 2 (the online survey not the omnibus) reported owning a horse currently. 19% of those 89 reported having gotten it from a rescue.

26. Foster Homes

27. Summary Identify & find support for #1 barrier 2. Safety Nets:
15 ASPCA Equine Facility Grants ($10K matching grant to expand capacity)
2. Safety Nets:
decline is concerning
needed by horse owners
3. Future homes can accommodate slaughter horses
increase likelihood people will come to you
dialogue with adopters
programs like Adoption Ambassadors