Photo courtesy Pat Brown
This chestnut gelding, Chaz, came to the attention of Ripley’s Horse Aid when they provided assistance to humanely euthanize his pasture mate who was suffering from a tumor. Chaz had a body score of two on a 10-point scale. After his owner initially agreed to accept a donation of hay, he decided to surrender ownership of the gelding. Offering short term assistance with a horse’s basic needs can provide the owner with time to make long-term decisions about their situation.
Photo courtesy Pat Brown
Temporary assistance by Ripley’s Horse Aid allowed time to find a new home for Chaz, now named Captain Jack, where he is healthy and thriving.
Sometimes you just need a hand to get through a rough spot. That’s the theory behind Ripley’s Horse Aid, a program of Clark County Executive Horse Council which provides short-term aid vouchers for horse owners who are having financial difficulty providing basic care for their horse.
Ripley’s Horse Aid is a nonprofit organization which offers one-time assistance with hay, grain, castration (gelding), farrier care, dental care and humane euthanasia. Funding comes from fundraisers and donations, as well as in-kind donations of services from equine professionals.
In the past couple of years, $5,000 grants from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have significantly increased the reach of Ripley’s assistance.
There are many reasons horses can become neglected or in poor condition. It can happen even when owners have the best of intentions, emphasized program coordinator Pat Brown, who has been overseeing Ripley’s Horse Aid since 2007.
Many people are unprepared for the needs of a horse, said Brown. One common scenario is a horse owner who “rescues” a horse with the intention to help, but lacks the experience to meet the horse’s needs, or the financial resources to do so.
“You can’t just throw a horse out on one acre and expect it to fend for itself,” said Brown. “They can’t do that.”
Wintertime brings greater challenges for horses, and the owners providing for them. Grasses become dormant and lack nutrition, and wet fields quickly turn to mud. The cold and rain increase the horse’s nutritional needs, and make it susceptible to new ailments.
An average horse consumes 20 pounds of hay per day. When a 60-pound bale of local hay costs $8, that amounts to $80 per month in hay cost alone. A $20 bag of grain might last a month, but often less. Horses’ hooves grow continuously and need to be trimmed every 8 weeks at a cost of around $40. Teeth can wear unevenly and cause problems with chewing — annual dental care costs $200 or more.
When a horse owner experiences a financial setback, it can be quickly reflected in the care of their horses.
“It’s better to ask for help,” said Brown.
She understands horse owners may be scared or embarrassed to ask for help, but it’s better to seek assistance before a horse’s condition deteriorates.
That message was echoed by Clark County Animal Control Manager Paul Scarpelli. It’s always better to give Animal Control a call when an animal appears to be suffering from neglect or starvation, said Scarpelli. Animal owners can themselves call to seek assistance before their situation worsens.
Ripley’s Horse Aid partners closely with Clark County Animal Control. Vouchers are distributed by animal control officers at their discretion. They are meant to be a one-time assistance for horse owners experiencing a temporary need — sometimes a job loss, the loss of a spouse, or an injury or illness.
Animal control officers seek to help horse owners find a solution for their animals in distress, and the vouchers can give them time to do that, said Scarpelli. Officers utilize Ripley’s vouchers along with a county hay bank to help keep horses fed.
A lean staff of four animal control officers is unchanged from 40 years ago, while the population of the county has tripled in that time. It isn’t possible for officers to see everything, and they would rather respond to a call to find nothing, then come when it’s too late, Scarpelli said. Assistance is part of a broad range of county animal services funded by mandatory dog and cat licensing, emphasized Scarpelli.
In past years Ripley’s has partnered with Ridgefield Equine Clinic in Ridgefield to offer a low-cost gelding clinic. Gelding services are still offered, but are now administered as need-based vouchers based on the owner’s income and personal situation. Vouchers for castration are the one service which is administered directly through Ripley’s, rather than by animal control.
Use of Ripley’s aid vouchers is based on the financial need of the horse owner, and the general cap for eligibility is the median annual income of $60,000. This may vary depending on personal circumstances and available funding, said Brown.
Community donations help make the program possible. Area farmers donate the hay they harvest from their fields, Ridgefield Equine offers discounted veterinary services, several farriers provide services at discounted rates, and Pioneer Feed in Ridgefield offers discounts on feed and hay redeemed by vouchers.
In 2015, Ripley’s provided 20 vouchers to assist 35 horses. They distribute more than $5,000 worth of vouchers annually, and received over $1,000 in discounted professional services.
As a nonprofit organization, Ripley’s Horse Aid relies on community support. There are several ways to contribute, said Brown. Cash donations, donations of hay and grain, and professional in-kind services all make a difference to the equines they serve. Donations of used tack, which are sold at tack sales, are an ongoing fundraiser for the group.
