Assignment 7A – Testing the Hypothesis,

Assignment 7A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Respectful large animal (horse) removal and cremation

• Opportunity:

• Every day, it is estimated that 10 horses die in Marion County Florida. There are limited options for the removal and disposal of these animals. A respectful and responsible method of handling these remains is necessary as a result of imminent regulation changes.

• The who: Marion County area horse owners
• The what: The only options for the removal of large animal remains is an on-site burial, landfill dumping, or delivery to a rendering operations.
• The why: Size considerations make respectful handling of horse remains logistically challenging, code restrictions make home burial illegal, landfill dumping and rendering plants are unsatisfactory options for people who love their equine investments like family.
• Testing the who: Which type of horse owner is experiencing this need for removal? Marion County is also home to several thousands of cows, could that be a market for this service? Could a government the agency have a need for this service?
• Testing the what: Are people unsatisfied with current methods? Is cremation of large animals available anywhere close?
• Testing the why: Currently, horse owners call for removal and typically don’t ask where their horse is being taken. Is this actually a problem? Do they care? Currently, many farm owners bury favorite horses on their property. How much longer will this be allowed?
• Interview #1:
• In this interview, I learned from an ambulatory equine vet of 30 years that his clinic explored the option of installing an incinerator, coding and volume restrictions were prohibitive. He felt that racehorse owners, his typical clientele, were less likely to spend the additional money for “respectful” cremation services unless they were high money earners or had personal attachments to the animal. He doesn’t work on many show horses but guessed that that would be a more likely client base for these services. He was not aware of any circumstance where disease control would necessitate incineration of remains. He did say that currently horses are shipped to the Sumter County landfill, Marion county landfill was no longer viable.
• Interview #2:
• I asked a fourth-generation cattle farmer if removal of dead animals was a need for his operation. He reported that it was not unusual to have a carcass hauled away, perhaps 3 times a year. If the equipment has been available, the animals are buried on the property. “You’d be surprised how many cows get struck by lightning”. He did not think cremation was anything tat any cattle person he knew would seek out, even for prized bulls. He was not bothered by the fact that sick animals were placed in landfills, “These aren’t pets for the most part.”
• Interview #3:
• Revisiting a previous conversation with a vet that we use, who also boards event horses at her farm, I asked about local disposal options. She attended UF vet school and remembered that they had a large animal unit for incineration, but the animal had to be dismembered. She reiterated the point that while many people she knew in the show and event world pay for cremation services, however, dismemberment would be a deal-breaker. She was also unaware of any regulatory requirement for incineration of animal tissue resulting from infectious disease.
• Interview #4:
• This interview with another cattleman and rancher who enjoys western pleasure (a style of riding), as well as roping with horses, could speak as both a horse and cow owner. While he might fork out some money to cremate his wife’s horse, he would have no need of the service for cattle and couldn’t imagine a scenario where one might. His cattle are raised for meat, so long as they’re treated humanely while “on the hoof”, he wasn’t too concerned about dumping or burial.

Interview #5:

 I wrapped up the interviews by talking to another horse owner/lover in the community who could see a need for such a service. She’s heard of facilities that offered removal and either “burial” at a landfill” or cremation of horses. They had an arrangement with their local “dump” to have particular practices when dealing with their clients’ departed horse friends, there was a separate area, not mixed up with trash. She felt that therapeutic riding providers, although often strapped for cash, had donors that would pay to cremate therapy horses who had helped so many special needs riders. The real money would be in the show horse people that import big-dollar sport horses. She felt sure that she would bury her horses at her place, in spite of possible legal restrictions and lack of space. She would love to have their ashes in a beautiful box instead.

• Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before? 

I was interested to hear that the idea in some form has been explored in the area by an equine hospital, I considered the clinic to be a likely source of referrals and possibly a strategic partner. I had not heard the 10 horse a day estimate. Several units running constantly would be required to meet that demand. I would be curious to know what other factors killed the deal, emissions? zoning?

The interviews confirmed the lack of any equivalent service offered in our area, I did learn that even though it was true that landfill dumping was unavailable at this time in Marion County, they simply hauled on over to Sumter county instead, I would need to know if the restriction ids temporary or not. Not one person interviewed here was concerned about soil or water contamination.

I still think that there is an opportunity(need), people affected, and a good reason to offer a service of ethical, respectful removal and cremation of horse remains. The profitability of such a venture is still a bit of a mystery.