HAuctions: Horses4Homes to Launch on 1 May
Link to HAuctions
Horses4Homes to Launch on 1 May
Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:33 PM PDT
Hauctions will be providing an additional service to match unwanted horses with caring homes.
In a bid to address a growing global surplus of unwanted horses and ponies, Horses4Homes is being launched online on 1 May as part of the Hauctions® project.
Hauctions Ltd. Managing Director, Tarma Rowles, explains: “The feedback on Hauctions has been remarkably positive, particularly from the USA. However, one concern voiced by many owners is how a site like this can work in such times of crisis when many people literally cannot give their horses away.
“We are also aware of many owners in unfortunate financial straits. We want such horses to find a good home before they are malnourished, pick up bad traits, end up at already overburdened rescue centres or, worse still, the abattoir.
“Hauctions is working with breeders across the world to promote and sell the very best of their horses across all disciplines but we must respond to the market and what people are telling us and where horses simply need a good home, we want to use our site and software investment to find them exactly that.”
Like Hauctioned® horses, Horses4Homes horses are posted with detailed information free of charge. However, horses traded under the ‘Horses4Homes’ module are committed to a seven day cycle and is an auction of promises, where those interested in adopting a horse must fill out a thorough online application and answer any further questions by the donor. The donor then chooses the most suitable home at the end of the seven days, or repeats the cycle. The adopter pays the site a nominal fee 95$ (circa £50 / 60 euros) fee of which a proportion is donated to their nominated equine welfare / rescue charity.
Hauctions® will be working with the world’s leading equine welfare charities and rescue centres. In the meantime, anyone who might be interested in this free service to find a home for unwanted stock is requested to register at www.hauctions.net.
Notes
Approximately 9 million horses and donkeys are slaughtered each year. According to a field study, 70% of all horses at the slaughter plant are in good, fat, or obese condition; 72% are considered to be “sound” of limb; 84% are of average age; and 96% have no behavioral issues. This highlights the worrying fact that it is not the older, unhealthy horses ending up at slaughter houses as a ‘last resort’, but the healthy ones that could have gone on to make a perfect pet.
