TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas horse owners are being forced to thin their herds because they can’t afford the rising cost of hay, while others are buying lower-quality hay or cutting back on how much they are feeding their animals.
Careen Cain, founder and president of Wakarusa-based Shooting Star Equine Rescue, told The Topeka Capital-Journal she hears from people five to 10 times a month who are looking for new homes for their horses. The most common reason people cite for giving up a horse is that they can no longer take care of the animal, she said.
Often that’s because of problems such as lost jobs, personal medical bills — and the rising cost of hay, she said.
Large round bales of hay that cost $35 to $40 each in 2011 peaked last year at $115 to $120 before falling to the current price of $40 to $60 apiece.
If you’d like to discuss equine law, contact Adam Trenk, atrenk@roselawgroup.com
