The current unwanted horse crisis has encouraged Minnesota horse groups and equine veterinarians to push gelding stallions.

The Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition, Horse Council, Animal Humane Society, and the University of Minnesota, along with the Minnesota Association of Equine Practitioners will be offering educational programs and financial incentives designed to encourage horse owners to castrate stallions.

The program offers a voucher for a free castration if the horse owner attends eight educational workshops, the topics of which range from nutrition to horse behavior. 

 Also, the American Quarter Horse Association has launched a new DVD and the Greener Pastures program, designed to educate the public on the unwanted horse problem.

“A Synopsis of the Unwanted Horse” by renowned veterinarian Tom Lenz, is a 10-minute DVD available for the cost of postage and handling – only $9, available through AQHA.

The Greener Pastures program allows those who’ve bred or once owned a registered Quarter Horse to provide for his or her long term care. The program is free and voluntary. If a horse becomes “unwanted” the horse’s original owner/member will be contacted to assist in finding long-term homes for these former horses. 

“AQHA wants to help responsible horse owners,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of marketing and communications. “We believe we can better serve the equine industry and help ensure the long-term care of horses we register with this program. By implementing Greener Pastures, we begin to fill a void.”