Amber is a 30-year-old Arabian mare which was slowly starving to death because her owners had run out of money to care for her. Because of her age and lack of potential and worth, Amber’s owners allowed her to be pushed out of food and veterinary care in their herd of 35 horses. The husband finally decided to give Amber to a nearby therapeutic riding center, which promptly contacted the Hooved Animal Humane Society. After several months, Amber recovered, but one of her former herdmates, still at her former home (a stallion), wasn’t so lucky. The stallion died before state-approved humane investigators could convince the owners of the seriousness of their financial predicament or take the proper legal steps to remove him.

–Lydia F. Gray, DVM, Executive Director,
Hooved Animal Humane Society

It’s a sad fact that far too many horses in this world suffer from neglect and abuse. And it’s another sad fact that if horses are not rehabilitated properly, they can suffer more problems, or even die. Rehabilitation begins with a veterinary examination, and the road to recovery depends on the severity and type of abuse or neglect. Well-intentioned, but unknowledgeable, rescuers can literally “kill a horse with kindness