​The UHC Roundup

January 2018

The UHC Roundup is an online publication that compiles news articles and events related to unwanted horses. It highlights UHC member programs and success stories spanning all breeds, disciplines, and regions. If you wish to share your story of unwanted horses becoming wanted again, contact the UHC at uhc@horsecouncil.org.

UHC Program News and Updates

                            UHC Announces New Program 'Operation Chip'

​Starting in 2018, the Unwanted Horse Coalition (UHC) will be offering a new service to its popular Operation Gelding program called “Operation Chip.”

“The industry as a whole is moving towards microchipping as the preferred method of identification,” said UHC Director Ashley Furst. “Initially, organizations hosting Operation Gelding clinics will be eligible to apply for microchips for Operation Chip. Eventually we hope to expand the program to be able to offer rescue organizations the opportunity to apply for just the chips to be inserted into the horses in their care. Microchipping horses in rescue organizations is one of the best ways to be able to track them through the system as well as give the industry the ability to reunite them with their owner in the case of a natural disaster.”

The UHC has partnered with MicrochipID Equine to provide the microchips for the program. The chips provided will come with a chip syringe, as well as a pre-paid registration card, and the veterinarian providing the gelding services at the clinic will be responsible for inserting the chips. “In order to ensure the horses are getting registered, the UHC will also be covering the cost of registration for each chip that is put into a horse,” said Furst. “A survey of rescues that have participated in Operation Gelding showed that only 50% of rescues are scanning horses for chips upon intake. The cost of scanners can be prohibitive for rescues, so as a result the UHC will also be providing eligible 501c3 rescues with an opportunity to apply for a deeply discounted scanner.”

The UHC is able to provide the scanners and chips to participants due to the generosity of The Right Horse Initiative. “The Right Horse Initiative is proud to support the UHC in its efforts to provide a more robust identification system in equine welfare,” said Christy Counts, President of The Right Horse. “Lack of identification is a major barrier to safe transitions for horses in this country. Providing easy access to microchipping for horse owners and horse rescues is a relatively easy and inexpensive solution to achieving our collaborative goal of providing opportunities for at-risk horses.”

Information about Operation Chip and how to apply can be found on the UHC website here: http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/operation-chip/. For any questions, please contact UHC Director Ashley Furst at 202-846-1607 or afurst@horsecouncil.org.

Operation Gelding Updates
2018

​2,341 stallions gelded
$154,275 in funding provided
186 gelding clinics supported
Clinics offered in 33 states 
306 vouchers distributed

UPCOMING CLINICS
January 17, 22, 24, 2018
KSU College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS
January 27, 2018
Edisto Equine Clinic, Yonges Island, SC
February 13, 2018
Waller Equine Hospital, Waller, TX
April 11, 2018
VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
April 28, 2018
Horse Haven of Tennessee/University of Tennessee Vet Med, Lancing, TN

See the full clinic schedule HERE.​

Feature Photo

Uncle Ted’s Gift
A rescue horse adopter finds the horse of her dreams through amazing coincidences.

Growing up in Colorado I always dreamed of someday owning one of my Uncle Ted’s Morgan horses. Ted Willrich, my dad’s brother, owned a ranch called Lone Pine Farm near Elizabeth, Colorado, where he raised Saddlebreds and then Morgans. I remember them as beautiful and high-spirited horses that excelled in the show ring.
However, my horse dream did not come true as a child. My family situation just didn’t allow for the luxury of horse ownership. So I grew up, got married, raised a family, and got to see the world thanks to Uncle Sam, …. but I always held onto my dream.

Click to read more

Program Highlight: She Found a Home in Rehoming

Horse people tend to operate on a different level of “busy” than most people, but Amy Paulus takes the term to a whole new level. As one of the most successful rehoming agents for off-track Thoroughbreds in the country, Paulus balances regular visits to racetracks, training centers and farms throughout the country with managing her own 20-stall layup and boarding facility, promoting her clients' horses via her social media channels and checking in with customers who have bought horses through her.

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Success Story: Believe In You Needed Someone To Believe In Him

Picture
It was in 2009 at the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale that bloodstock agent Mike McMahon first laid eyes on a dark bay colt that would eventually be named Believe In You. ​

Read More

OTTB News
Click on the title to read the full article.

Rescue Row and Other News

Programs and People Supporting Horses, Rescue Efforts and Important News from the Equine World
The mission of the Unwanted Horse Coalition is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare
through education and industry collaboration.

Unwanted Horse Coalition
1616 H Street, NW • 7th Floor • Washington, DC 20006 • 202-296-4031

www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org

This newsletter is provided as an educational service to those interested in reducing the number of unwanted horses. The articles do not reflect the opinions of the UHC or its employees. The listing of events does not constitute an endorsement by the UHC. 
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