The American Horse Council (AHC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are co-sponsoring an all-day forum on June 18 in Washington, D.C., called "The Unwanted Horse Issue: What Now?" Invited speakers are discussing the known and unknown factors surrounding the unwanted horse issue, as well as possible solutions and options to deal with the problem and decrease the number of unwanted horses in the country.
The forum will cover a variety of topics, including historical, ethical, and general perspectives on the issue, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and transportation issues.
“The Unwanted Horse Forum is open to all,” said Jay Hickey, AHC president. “There is little data about the size of the problem, the numbers of unwanted horses, the ability of the current system to care for them, and whether there is an increase in neglect and similar issues. We hope this forum will be an opportunity to focus on the many factors that surround the problem of the unwanted horse and bring some clarity to the extent of the problem.”
The forum is part of the AHC’s 2008 National Issues Forum, June 15-18. For more information, visit www.horsecouncil.org