My clients live on 50 acres near Detroit. An extremely depressed area. Some horse owners can no longer afford to feed their animals so they abandon them. My clients have 2 horses of there own and over the past summer they have taken in 4 abandoned, malnourished, horses. They have room for more but the cost is prohibitive. The question is: Can they become a nonprofit horse rescue? Where would I begin to find out about this? OR is the only option to turn this into a business and try to rehabilitate then sell these animals. Also, the only horse slaughterhouse in this part of the country is closed. Of course, this is Michigan, who can afford to take on a horse?
Go over the form to apply for nonprofit status with them to see if that's something they want to try. For a couple of horses, they may not want to account for their rescued horses separately from their own.
Just as in a taxable business they would need operating capital, most of which would have to come from grants and donations.
Also, when it becomes known that they take in horses the demand is sure to increase dramatically from horse owners who don't want to abandon them but have no other choice.
They should look into the market aspects of horses.
Dog food manufacturers and use them and there is a growing demand for horse meat in this country.
Of course they would have to put away any cultural sensibilities related to horse meat consumption.
Hell's Kitchen chef Gordon Ramsey serves it in all his restaurants and it is a lean, sweet, tender meat.
Then there is always the possibility that fuel cost and scarcity will rise to the point that horses once again become the transportation of choice. They also have the advantage of being 100% green.
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