New voice for unwanted horses

March 30, 2007

The Unwanted Horse Council (UHC) announced has launched a new website and announced the release of an awareness brochure.

"The Unwanted Horse Coalition includes equine organizations that are concerned with the number of unwanted horses in the United States," said Dr. Tom Lenz, Coalition Chairman.

"The website and brochure are our first steps in educating current and future owners, breeders, traders, and others involved with horses about the issue of the unwanted horse. Our goal is to make the coalition unnecessary."

Both the website and brochure explain the UHC and its mission, which is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare. It will do that through educational outreach and the efforts of various organizations committed to the health, safety, and responsible care and disposition of unwanted horses.

The UHC was created following the Unwanted Horse Summit that was organized by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and held in conjunction with the American Horse Council's annual meeting in April 2005. In June 2006, the group was folded into the American Horse Council and now operates under its auspices.

In addition to information about the UHC, the website provides resources and links for retiring and rescuing horses, methods for handling the loss of a horse, and suggestions to help people "Own Responsibly," which is the motto of the UHC.

"We want people to learn how to own responsibly," Jay Hickey, President of the American Horse Council, said. "If they buy, sell, and treat horses responsibly, there will be fewer unwanted horses."

The website will be updated regularly with news releases and publications describing the progress of the UHC and the plight of the unwanted horse. Both the website and the brochure provide information on how to become a member of the UHC and how to contribute to the UHC.