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• Spring Valley farm working to rescue abandoned horses
• Pierce County Scoreboard

By Mary Jo Wagner, Wisconsin Public Radio

More and more horses are being abandoned in Wisconsin and the Refuge Farm of Spring Valley has rescued 150 horses this year.

Director Sandy Gilbert says they've kept a few and for the rest, they either try to find foster homes or seek euthanasia.

Gilbert says more horse owners are losing their jobs, or a bank will find horses left behind after a foreclosure proceeding.

She says the Refuge Farm cannot auction off some horses and teams that can work in a harness are going for as little as $35.

A federal law took effect a year ago which bans the slaughter of horses and as much as she loves animals, Gilbert has opposed the law. Before, she said a processing plant could handle the horses her farm could not take care of and that meant the hides, tails, bones, and meat could be put to good use.

Now, Gilbert says those animals risk being turned loose, perhaps being left to freeze to death.

A University of Wisconsin-River Falls study said there are 620-thousand horses in Wisconsin and horseback riding is one of the state's top four outdoor recreation activities. The costs of owning a horse vary, but they can run as high as $20,000 a year.

Tuesdya, Dec. 2

Girls basketball

Prescott 48, Hastings, Minn. 44

Boys basketball

Elmwood 59, Spring Valley 58 (Raiders down defending D-SC champs by rallying from an eight-point deficit with 1:19 remaining in ballgame); Elk Mound 45, Plum City 36