I was wondering if there is a program anywhere that would help reduce the cost of transportation for horses going to foster homes? Are there any companies that will reduce their transport rates if the horse is a rescue going to a foster home?

Hi Mandy,
I imagine that transport costs are going to be high for all horses that are shipped at the buyer's expense from equine ranches in Canada. However, quite a few ranchers bring their weanlings to auctions in the states in the fall. If you are willing to consider an auction foal, the cost is very reasonable.
Karen in IL

I was actually trying to find a way to transport a rescue horse(dropped in a direct to slaughter pen)from Florida to Louisiana. She was rescued in the northern US and is now in Florida at a rescue center.

Hi Mandy,

I haven't heard of any programs that subsidize or provide grants for situations like these, but I have a few links to networks that might have ideas:

http://forums.petfinder-network.com/ (mainly for dogs/cats but they probably have ideas - see transport forum)

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/hitch-hiking_horses/

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/horserescuerailroad/

Best wishes!

Sometimes if you contact shipping companies and they have a load of horses from your area, the price is cheaper than just shipping your one horse. If you post on horse forums, message boards, etc. also, sometimes private owners are heading somewhere and will take your horse along for less than a transporter. I don't remember how it came to be, but my mom and sister were heading somewhere with one horse, and ended up taking another horse for pay to drop off.

Goodluck!

On another horse forum I belong to, someone is having their horse hauled by a man who lives in Louisiana. Here's his website:

KGHorses.com

Maybe he has a load going somewhere?