Wayward Ponies' Home is that "good home" needed by unwanted equines uncounted. We rescued one horse from slaughter in 1998 and currently support four horses and seven ponies, mostly on the fading strength of one schoolteacher's salary. We have given the Wayward Eleven a permanent refuge. We keep them fed, groomed, wormed, trimmed, vaccinated and otherwise vetted. When weather and our strength permit, we build up our biceps pushing wheelbarrows of manure up the hill and out of their 3-acre turnout.
If you are a horseperson, you know the work and the expense involved in keeping these guys from slaughter, abuse or neglect. (If not, see "How We Operate.") We all know that the price of fuel has driven the cost of everything, especially hay, sky-high. We're getting too old to keep walking such a high financial tightrope, so we have formed this nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation in hopes we don't go bankrupt caring for Sarah Beth, Ginny, Zoe, Zinah, Rita, Thomas, Paul, Hannah, Jacob, Rachel and Joe.
Here's how you can help with the growing tragedy of unwanted horses:
*Don't breed your horse unless you already have a good, permanent home lined up for the baby, perhaps your own.
*Make sure your horse is well-trained in case you are not able to keep him. A useless, unmanageable or dangerous horse is very likely to get canned.
*Don't buy from volume breeders. They go for quantity, and do a lot of culling. You wouldn't believe how many babies they send to slaughter or to uncertain futures. Don't support them!
*Don't support horse sports that routinely chew horses up and spit them out.
*Make a commitment to nurture the horse you have as long as he/she enjoys being alive; then have him or her put to sleep humanely.
*Make provision for your horse if you know you will not be able to keep him.
*Become informed on existing and pending legislation regarding horse slaughter, and support measures that would result in the lesser of the existing evils. Sometimes well-intentioned but flawed laws backfire when applied in the larger world of greed and indifference.
*Work within your breed organization to promote policies that will result in fewer unwanted horses. Work against incentives for increased breeding. Fewer horses mean higher value anyway.
*Adopt one unwanted horse to keep yours company. If every horse owner in America did this, far fewer horses would go to slaughter. If you can't do that, then...
*Help sponsor our horses or ponies, or any equine at a good, reputable sanctuary. (See "Donate!")
Wayward Ponies' Home, Inc.
PO Box 336
Catheys Valley CA 95306
209-742-6808
Ginny, Jacob, Hannah and Sarah Beth during
the green season.
Rita, Rachel, Zoe, Simon (foreground, deceased) and Zinah during the brown season. Not pictured: Thomas and Paul.
