Horse Owners in Southern United States Challenged by Drought

Horse owners in the South are faced with “exceptional” droughts and high hay prices as the drought continues.
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One of the worst droughts in recent years is stretching on for horse owners in Texas, Oklahoma, and other Southern states: The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that most areas of of Texas and Oklahoma are now enduring "exceptional" (D4, the most severe rating) drought, and parts of New Mexico and Kansas are also dealing with such conditions.

"Texas conditions continue to deteriorate what little they can from abysmal," reported the U.S. Drought Monitor said Sept. 13. "The lack of tropical activity (Tropical Storm Nate fizzled out and drifted into Mexico well to the south this week) and better odds of a second consecutive La Niña winter only add fuel to this well-fed and entrenched drought."

Further, a Sept. 15 report from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center indicates that drought conditions in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and the surrounding states are expected to "persist or intensify" through Dec. 31 of this year.

A report from MSNBC estimates that since the drought began it has caused more than $5 billion in losses just in the agriculture industry, and Agriculture.com relayed that more than 84% of Texas cattle ranchers have reduced the size of their herds to deal with the drought

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Written by:

Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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