| Last updated on May 28, 2008 |
 Horses are making a transition from “livestock” to “pet” status. Many horses are bought for pleasure/children and housed in backyard facilities. After dairy, they may be one of the largest agricultural activities in the State of Rhode Island (RI). The State of Rhode Island does not include these private horse barns in their annual agriculture census (unless they breed or board over 6 horses). Therefore, there is no good estimate on the number of horses in RI. The current figure used is somewhere between 6,000 and 30,000. Current support and emergency services in RI may not be adequate for the proper care of these large animals. Large animal veterinarians are already overburdened and shortages are predicted over the next 20 years.
Many of these horses end up in life threatening situations because of abuse, neglect or ignorance about the care and long term commitment to the animal – horses can live upwards of 30 years. Several cases of neglect, abandonment and cruelty are reported each year in RI and investigated by the RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA). Up to 1000 neglected and homeless horses and farm animal cases are handled each year by the regional center of the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) located at Nevan’s Farm. An unknown number of other horses end up in private rescue operations. Others are not receiving the minimum veterinary care. A recent case of rabies was verified in Rhode Island in an unvaccinated horse (May 2007). The State imposed a six month quarantine on a major horse facility, the horse died an unnecessary death, and rabies treatments had to be initiated for the people who had contact with the affected horse.
In order to assist horse owners with proper care and services, we need to begin to identify the horse community, provide a venue to discuss problems and provide a means of communication between horse owners, agencies and institutions that may help provide solutions. Without this basic information it will be difficult to design effective programs to improve horse care and welfare in Rhode Island. The goal of this project is to improve the welfare of horses in Rhode Island. The objectives are to:
- Gather information about the size of the horse population and current care providers.
- Assist the state with planning and care of horses in case of an emergency.
- Assist educators in developing targeted programs for horse owners on proper care and handling.
- Define the RI horse industry, develop a communications network and identify problems and possible solutions for the horse community.
Activities
We are using a three phase project to accomplish this:
Phase 1: Collect basic RI horse numbers from veterinarians from RI, Connecticut (CT) and Massachusetts (MA).
Phase 2: Collect in depth demographic information from RI horse owners
Phase 3: Convene a RI Horse Summit to discuss common problems and solutions (Not yet funded – will submit proposal in June)
Partners: This is a collaborative partnership to help improve the care and lives of horses in Rhode Island - The Santana Center for Equine Education and Outreach; State of Rhode Island, Department of Environmental Management, Division of Agriculture; and the RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA).The Santana Center is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to promote, encourage and foster healthy interactions between horses and humans through education, training and outreach activities . Their goal is to ensure that all horses receive the best care from informed horse enthusiasts who are engaged in a true relationship with horses. The RI State Agriculture Program Animal Health unit deals with controlling the spread of diseases that impact the livestock industry and also diseases, such as rabies, that can spread from animals to people, as well as major disaster planning. The RISPCA is the third oldest humane society in the United States. For 137 years the RISPCA has been dedicated to protecting the rights and welfare of all animals and fostering the human animal bond. They are responsible for conducting abuse investigations in the state.
The funding for the survey has been provided by the RI Foundation through their Animal Welfare Program (Virginia B. Butler Fund).
This opportunity is sponsored by: The Santana Center For Equine Education And Outreach
This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers
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| Adults (26-54) |
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Unpaid Interns |
| Adults (55+) |
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Young Adults (18-25) |
| Small Group (2-10) |
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Contact Person:
Kathleen Castro, Board President, (401) 874-5063, (email)
Address:
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51 Wood Sorrel Trail
Saunderstown, RI 02874
(See a map) |
Directions:
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The stable is not at this address. The Center is not in one physical location. The horses are located at 500 Old Boston Neck Road in Saunderstown, RI 02874
Route 1 South to Route 138 east. Take first exit towards Narragansett. Old Boston Neck Road is left hand turn about 5 miles from 138. House is first house on the right.
Nearest Bus Stop: none |
Web Site: http://www.thesantanacenter.org
Miscellaneous Information
| Handicap accessible? |
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Yes
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| Does this opportunity provide services to low-income communities? |
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No
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