North Carolina: rescues full.

More neglected horses than rescues have room for.

Economic woes leave malnourished horses [link]
Beau Minnick | Aug 12, 2008
Animal control officers said they are seeing more cases of malnourished horses as animal owners deal with the struggling economy. With some owners unable to afford to take care of their horses, some rescue farms that take in the animals are running out of space. Jennifer Malpass has 10 rescue horses on her field in Franklin County. The horses are skinny and look malnourished. “It’s just heartbreaking to see so many of these horses coming in in this condition,” Malpass said. Some horses rehabilitating in Johnston County are emaciated. Horse owners are facing rising costs, a sluggish economy and a lack of grass due to the recent drought. North Carolina is on pace to have more horses sent to rescues this year than in 2007, Davis said. Horse prices are down, in some cases less than $100 per horse. There are also few farms available that can take those horses and get them back to health.

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