Horses: A casualty of Georgia's drought

Metro Atlanta

Horses: A casualty of Georgia's drought

Sinking personal finances and a drought-induced doubling of the cost of hay and grain have prompted many horse owners to sell or give up their horses. But at 'Save the Horses' in Cumming, horses given up are cared for until they find a new home.

Sinking personal finances and a drought-induced doubling of the cost of hay and grain have prompted many horse owners to sell or give up their horses.

Save The Horses, in Cumming, one of the largest horse rescue operations in the Southeast, reports being "overrun" with horses this winter. The non-profit's director and founder, Cheryl Flanagan, said about half of her 70 horses wer given up for economic reasons.

Because horses are such big eaters, consuming at least 15 pounds of hay daily, the increased feed costs are wreaking havoc with budgets.

Although fees vary, horse owners say it's common to pay about $650 to $1,200 a month to board a horse or $8,000 a year to start. ' Save The Horses' volunteer Fredrika Stillwater closes the gate after letting "Roy" out to pasture.

Flanagan takes in all kinds of horses, from former rodeo and summer camp horses to also-rans at the racetracks.

In the past year, Flanagan said she's taken in horses from an owner in south Georgia, whose pastures dried up and from college students who could no longer afford to support their animals.

This Apaloosas, named Wyoming, was given up to 'Save The Horses' by a pair of sisters who had adopted it from a summer camp where they worked. The girls, now in college, can't afford to keep the horses anymore.

For many, 'Save the Horses' is the last stop. It's an alternative to auctions that may eventually land a horse in a slaughterhouse.

'Save The Horses' volunteer Fredrika Stillwater (left) leads "Scotty" to pasture.

'Save The Horses' volunteer Henry Patton talks about the increasing number of horses in the program, which works to adopt the adoptable and promises a permanent home for those that aren't.

Flanagan with a new charge, Belle, a 2,000 pound draft horse who came to 'Save The Horses' from a farmer in north Georgia who could no longer care for her.

Flanagan hopes she will find Belle a home --even in this new climate.

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Sinking personal finances and a drought-induced doubling of the cost of hay and grain have prompted many horse owners to sell or give up their horses.

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