Squeamish about discussing this stuff? If all goes well, your horse is going to be a great schoolmaster. He'll serve a generation of students well. So take steps now to ensure that he's treated fairly and doesn't spend his last days abandoned, in pain or suffering.
Get Your Donation's Worth
Note: The following is a summary and is not to be considered complete information, tax advice or legal opinion. As with all such matters, consult a well-informed legal and/or tax advisor.
To take a deduction for a charitable contribution of your horse, you'll need too:
1. For a horse valued at less than $250, a receipt from the charity showing its name and address, the date and place of the contribution, a description of the horse, his FMV and how it was determined and the terms of the agreement or understanding relating to his use and disposition.
2. For a horse valued at more than $250 but less than $500, all of the above, plus a statement declaring whether or not you have received anything of value from the charity in exchange for the gift.
3. For a horse valued at more than $500, all of the above plus Section A of the IRS Form 8283, detailing how and when you acquired him and his purchase price at the time.
4. For a horse valued at more than $5000, all of the above plus Section B of IRS Form 8283 and a "qualified appraisal" made no earlier than 60 days prior to the gift and no later than the due date of the tax return.
Who Takes Donated Horses
Here's a starter list of organizations. Also be sure to check out local nonprofits in your area (and well-run "for-profits" if you don't need a tax deduction).
North American Handicapped Riding Association (NARHA) Member Centers. Find centers in your area, including contact names, addresses and phone numbers, at www.narha.org.
United States Pony Clubs (USPC). The national organization has no "umbrella" policy regarding donations; local clubs decide on a case-by-case basis. To find the Pony Club in your area, visit www.ponyclub.org or phone USPC at 859-254-7669.
4-H. Although 4-H is part of the Cooperative Extension System and not a 501(c)(3) itself, each state has a 4-H Foundation that enjoys either 501(c)(3) status or affiliation with a university. Again, the national organization has no "umbrella" policy, so donations are handled locally, case-by-case, depending on need and facilities. Find the 4-H program in your area by checking under the Cooperative Extension listings in the "County Offices" section of your local phone book.
Schools, colleges and universities with riding programs. Find one near you by conducting an online search, checking out the book Horse Schools or by visiting the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's website at www.ihsainc.com to find IHSA member schools.
This article originally appeared in the April 2002 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.
For more on donation, and other retirement options for your horse, read "Plan For His Golden Years" in the February 2007 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.
