The Unwanted Horse Coalition and the American Competitive Trail Horse Association are joining forces in 2013 to help unwanted horses and equine care facilities.

In 2013, ACTHA and the UHC will orchestrate a dedicated effort to host as many competitive trail rides as possible for the benefit of the unwanted horse and our nation’s equine care facilities. The UHC and ACTHA will be looking for equine rescues and care facilities to get involved with this effort. Currently there are over 700 equine care facilities listed on the UHC’s website. “ACTHA and the UHC would love to include each one of the rescues listed in this yearlong effort,” said Tom Scrima, Managing Member of ACTHA.

ACTHA rides are casual, judged trail rides that are untimed and 6-8 miles long. There are open, junior, and pleasure divisions and horses and riders can win ribbons and prizes. The rides are designed so that any skill of horse/rider combination can compete. Non competing horses and riders are also welcome at ACTHA rides.

“We are pleased to partner with ACTHA, an organization that has held hundreds of rides to benefit unwanted horses. The natural result of ACTHA’s large number of rides is that there is an opportunity for more jobs for more horses and many unwanted horses are provided with the chance of a second career. Our organizations’ missions are similar and we look forward to working with ACTHA to assist our nation’s equine care facilities, while helping horses in need,” said Ericka Caslin, UHC Director.

“The next 12 months present an amazing opportunity to help hundreds of horse rescues. ACTHA is honored to work with the UHC to help unwanted horses,” said Scrima.

Anyone that is interested in participating in this effort as a volunteer, sponsor, rider, etc. can contact ACTHA or the UHC.

For more information see www.actha.us or contact Tom Scrima at 830-693-2065 (tom@actha.us)

The UHC is a broad alliance of equine organizations that have joined together under the umbrella of the American Horse Council. The Coalition’s mission is to reduce the number of unwanted horses and to improve their welfare through education and the efforts of organizations committed to the health, safety, and responsible care and disposition of these horses.  

For more information about the UHC or unwanted horses, please visit the UHC website at www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org or contact Ericka Caslin at ecaslin@horsecouncil.org. The UHC website has a list of facilities that accept horses, additional assistance for horse owners in need, free downloadable materials about unwanted horses, and information about owning responsibly.