Service offered for those who can't afford to care for unwanted equines

By JO MCINTYRE
For the Capital Press

The many stories about neglected horses moved Kim Mosiman and veterinarian Scott Hansen to form Sound Equine Options.

The group, based in Gresham, Ore., will hold its first clinic on Nov. 17 to euthanize horses for free.

It's patterned after similar California groups, said Mosiman, the group's treasurer.

Mosiman, who also works at Hansen's equine practice, said the clinic is not a horse rescue effort, though they do try to find homes for healthy horses. Only non-adoptable horses are euthanized.

The unwanted horse problem has become more acute in recent years, Mosiman said. Previously, many unwanted horses were sold for slaughter.

"We've just run up against this," Mosiman said. "There are not enough resources to take care of them."

Mosiman said unofficial estimates put 1 percent of all horses in the non-adoptable category. If that is true, then in Oregon 750 horses per year will need to be euthanized.

At Hansen's veterinarian practice, euthanizations are on the rise. In 2006, 74 horses were euthanized; in 2007 there were 87; in 2008, 105. So far this year, 121 horses have been euthanized.

"The goal of the clinic is to help people in need and help horses that people are unable to deal with," she said. "It started with the idea of a food bank, but the logistics were hard. For now, we want to help people we can help."

"It costs us $200 to $400 for drugs, veterinarian services and transport," she said.

"It's hard to find the people," Mosiman said. "They probably can't afford to see a vet or even afford to get horses into a horse trailer."

Information: www.soundequineoptions.org