"CHANGE" - Starving Horses Serious Problem As Hay Prices Continue To Skyrocket.

"CHANGE" - Starving Horses Serious Problem As Hay Prices Continue To Skyrocket.DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – Horses that have nearly starved to death has become a problem, and experts say it will only get worse as the cold days of winter move in. Many horse owners say they just can’t afford to feed the animals because of sky-high hay prices, which are elevated due to the drought in Colorado and across the nation. Drought conditions this year range from dry to exceptional for nearly every state west of the Missisippi River. That means less hay has been grown and prices are at three times the normal level. A mare and her 6-month-old baby named Jelly Bean were abused, neglected and seized by law enforcement last week. The foal was so weak she couldn’t stand up. Another three were also starving and seized last week. One owner indicated he was in financial crisis and unable to afford food. The concern is that many horses in Colorado will begin to starve this winter when there’s no more pasture grass for them to eat and their owners struggle to buy hay. Colorado growers were only able to harvest half, or less, of the hay they normally do. The shortage forced people to buy hay from other states.Investigators tell horse owners to not let the situation get out of hand and plan ahead to find a home. There are several horse food banks and rescues that could provide options other than confiscation.
Visit the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center webpage for information on how to help.Read the full story here.