Epona's Pastures

As we are all too well aware, Australia is currently experiencing one of its worst droughts for many years. Unfortunately the hardships are first felt by those of us who have hungry mouths to feed. Whether you have cattle, sheep or horses, stock feed prices are rising rapidly and for many, this means they can no longer afford to keep feeding their stock. 
It is with a heavy heart that I see the sale yards at the local horse sales filling up with an increasing amount of horses each month. Simultaneously, the prices that they are sold for is rapidly diminishing and there are an increasing number of horses that are herded up for the knackery trucks at the end of each sale. As the drought continues, there has been a huge increase in horses at the sales that are in appalling conditions, some are not much more than skin and bones.

As a horse (or any stock) owner it is our responsibility to do the right thing by our animals and this means that if you do not think you can continue to care for your horse in an adequate manner, it is your responsibility to make a decision to either sell the horse, or to have it humanely put down. One of the most important things to remember, is to check your horse on regular basis, make sure that your horse's condition is not deteriorating and that the horse is not suffering from a lack of nutrition as the paddocks dry up and green grass becomes scarce.
Below are some links to articles with useful information on pasture management and how to feed horses during the drought.

Drought Feeding & Management For Horses - By David Nash
(Agriculuture Victoria Lutherglen)
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HOR/99_98.pdf

Practical Feeding Of Horses
(NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agriculture)
http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/horse-nutrition/a653.htm

Stretching Your Horse's Hay Supply During Drought
(Colorado State University Cooperative Extension)
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/livestk/01625.html

Every year, thousands of cats & dogs die as a result of pet overpopulation—whether humanely in a shelter or by injury, disease, or neglect. These animals, more often than not, would have made a wonderful companion, if given the chance. Tremendous as the problem of pet overpopulation is, it can be solved if each of us takes just one small step, starting with not allowing our animals to breed. Below is a link with information about this crisis and why spaying and neutering is the first step to a solution. -HSUS