What's your opinion on rescue horses?

We rescue all of our animals, my mare was abused our gelding almost went to slaughter, we bought a mustang mare that was clearly horribly abused. We recently bought a sorrel colt that was going to slaughter and a horribly underweight appaloosa. People don't believe us when we say the horses are rescues, around my town, rescue horses are looked down on. I've met quite a few people who won't look at a horse unless it's purebred and from a notable breeder. So I was wondering, what's your opinion on rescue horses?





This is Seven, the appy


http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r124/...


http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r124/...





Jimmy


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Pawnee


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Socks


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What's your opinion on rescue horses?
I don't look down on slaughter horses. I think it's unfair that there are horses being sold for $150,000 while horses like these are being killed. It's the breeder's fault. I own two unregistered horses, and both of them are happy, healthy, rideable horses. I don't favor my registered Quarter Horse mare just because she has a pedigree and might be worth more....I love each of them. Your colts look nice...the sorrel might fill out and be really beautiful, and Pawnee looks great. Good luck on the others, glad you gave them a good home!
Reply:I think most of the time you need to have a good amount of experience but they can be so rewarding. We went to the sales to buy some tack and came away with a tb who was skin and bones, covered in cuts and scrapes, raw bleeding tail where he had rubbed it and so freaked out - he weaved so badly he had worn a hole in theconcrete where he was tired within a few hours. We bought him without knowing anything about him or seeing him walked out as you couldn't take them out w/o owner and no-one was with him. Luckily he turned out to be sound. He has now spent 4 months in a field with our other horses and we have started to do some light work with him. He has gone from being terrified of us - he has obviously been beaten up amongst other things - to being an incredible sweet horse who is beginning to trust me, if no-one else. He is happy and healthy and you couldn't ask for more. He still has lots os issues such as stables - he doesn't do those or tying up, but working with him to try and resolve those issues is part of the enjoyment I get from him.





People go on about rescue horses not being 'papered' but Ollie, my rescue has a stunning pedigree - caduskin for his dam - a big jumper by buckskin, another big jumper, and alleged, a top racing horse, for his grandsire. Just because they are a rescue doesn't mean they can't have good blood lines.
Reply:Keep doing what you're doing despite what others say. They will never know the satisfaction of saving a horse's life because they are too concerned with papers and pedigrees. Oneday people like you will be caring for their horses when they can no longer bring home the ribbons and they are tossed out like old shoes.


I got my horse for dirt cheap as an unregisterd unhandled stud colt. He's now gelded, calm, healthy and sound and will be ready for riding this spring when he turns 3. Don't let others influence your decisions....what you are doing is what being a real horse lover is all about. You love them whether registered or not, money makers or financial drains and when no one else was willing to take a chance on them. Good job!
Reply:Rescue horses are great! A lot of the horses at my barn we rescued and they turned out to be great horses.
Reply:A horse is a horse of course!!!!!!
Reply:i think it's better to buy abused, neglected horses then healthy horses. although im not experienced enough to actually get one. i think some of them are pretty special.
Reply:Good for you! Horses deserve a nice home and deserve to be loved. I also want to rescue horses. Besides, we shoudnt sluaghter creatures that we love, just so we can eat them.
Reply:I think what you are doing is wonderful!!!!! You are saving all of these innocent animals who cant defend for themselves!!!! I don't care what the people say who live by you, they are just a bunch of jerks, because what you are doing is fantastic!!!! Keep it up, and i wish you the best of luck!!!
Reply:A lot of animals (and some humans :-) ) only need a second chance. I think your great in giving them a caring home and love.
Reply:My opinion of the horses is that they are blessed to have people like you, and they need more of them. Your babies are beautiful--you've obviously done a great job with them.


My opinion of your neighbors is that they are either stuck up or don't have the patience, time, and love to give to needy animals. Keep up the wonderful work!
Reply:Dear keep up the work. I do the same but i have deer,llamas,1 mini goat, i just got a draft horse who was oh my i love him but he needs more wieght but i had him now for a bit. he is doing great. he was a loging guy. well his is 18 and the guy told me he is hard headed ect.. people thought of me to help this big guy. well he is here and no probable at all he is great. i show my animals to all who wants to come. people too thik i'm nuts but you know i have vet degree i do my own stuff. but it's the reward of the animals who look at me and love me as i do them. so children are handicaped and special my animals are all gentle even the emu's (funny birds big too)and for them to reach to touch them and see smiles. i now have a program in summer free and kids come and i teach on them critters. to show it's nice to have but it's work too. but the enjoyment is best. i have few who snicker but you know i don't care. i think of the ones i shared the joy of. i now have a memory garden where people gives me their pets name they lost(died) or ran off never came back. and i carve in stone that name and place it in my memory garde i don't charge for this either but peopel donate things to help. it's my flea market that helps in this stuff too. so no hun it's great what you do. i have another coming a red dunn mare soon. i started out just few chickens and mini goat and a llama now i have a petting zoo things hahaa but i love it. as you do keep up the work hun. it'll reward you in end. just don't go too much. i seen where hearts are good but too many critters to handle. ok later good luck.
Reply:I feel about rescue horses like I do about rescue dogs. If you have the experience to deal with the special needs that they usually have (it just seems that they land in rescue for some reason...be it a health issue, abuse, what have you) rescues are great. We have one...he was going to the truck the next weekend due to the fact that he was foundered and the owner didn't want to deal with keeping him off of lush pasture/management. He's a great horse. But he came with baggage. First there was the founder....not that big of a deal...no more than 5 degrees rotation....the other problem was that he had basically lived his life as this old man's dog, and was a 1500 lb spoiled brat. NO ground manners....if he wanted to leave, he left, and if he flattened you in the process, oh well... But with patience and a lot of training, he's an awesome horse now. In the hands of a novice, he could've killed someone. Rescues are fine, and can be an inexpensive way for a person to get what can be a nice horse, if they have the ability to find the "diamond in the rough", and the knowledge and ability to turn that "rough" into a diamond.
Reply:I rescued a foal that I had 32 years. I think what you are doing is wonderful...if someone looks down on your horses - they have a chunk of coal for a heart! You keep doing what you are doing...there is a place in Heaven for people like you!
Reply:Absolutey a FANTASTIC idea! : 0)


My first mare was a rescue case, she was actually tied to a post waiting for the meat truck at a horse dealers and we were there picking up a long lost pony for my coach (he had sold this pony 15 years ago to the USA and it turned up in our home town dealers!) and when we got there, he had the meat truck picking up this mare. At first, it was sad and I had no interest in taking on that responsibility, but something made me go see her. Her eyes were so soft and it was like her soul was screaming for a second chance at something. She had come off the track about 4 month prior and having been VERY docile in a herd, she had just gotten beat up and wasnt getting any food. I asked how much he wanted for her and he said 2,000 dollars (stupid dealers...) I didnt think my mom would go for it...but I looked at her papers and notcied she was a 70,000 dollar winner on the track who had just been thrown out like garbage (so sad!). So I called my mom on my cell phone and talked to her...sure enough, I had earned a horse at this time and this was my Xmas gift...but it definatley wasnt an easy one. Long story short, with LOTS of vet attention, proper TLC, antibiotics and all that good stuff...that mare came out a 30,000 dollar US young riders prospect 4 years later. Rescue horses can be AWESOME well rounded horses IF you want and can take on the responsibility of the care involved. I now have a rescued 3 yo TB gelding (never raced) but was also on meat-row and bought him as a yearling for 500.00 - he is now 16hh and is my next 25,000 dollar project! UNBELEVABLE HORSE (s). No one ever beleived or beleives me now that Ive rescued them - but let me tell you, I definatley get compliments on them. Rescue horses are all about finding a diamond in the rough...and giving them a second chance at something. And when you get out there, compete and WIN, theres no more rewarding feeling...bc then people start asking and its your turn to say oh, I bought him for 500...no big deal! He's just got a big heart! : 0) Keep doing what youre doing, bc your doing something that not many can do! - Youve got BEAUTIFUL horses, dont let the 'statis-quo' get in the way of your good deeds.
Reply:You need to know that you are doing a wonderful thing for these horses. I volunteered at a horse refuge when I lived in San Antonio and going to school since I missed my babies back home :). These horses are equal to any other horse. They're just as smart and what I noticed, and I'm sure you did, that they respond better than most horses to attention and they really want to please. I would just make sure that if you plan on riding any of these horses to kind of try them out first and make sure that they are sound, remember some of these horses were abused when riding and may not like you on them at first. Sometimes these problems can be taken care of by building a strong, healthy relationship with the horse. Just know you are very important and don't worry about the other horses from breeders and what not, the rescue horses are important too :)
Reply:You're doing a great job!! My horse was given to me by a guy from dads work and she was in really poor condition and with bung teeth, but she's a good ol beginners horse (the beginner is me) but she's started to get a bit fidgety now she's put on a heap of weight and gotten heaps of energy (she's a 17yr old TB). I would never frown upon a rescue horse (except in disgust that someone could let them get that bad) because they have great potential. good luck with your horses!
Reply:i think its a wonderful thing you are rescuing thoses horses they need you good loving, the people that let them get in that condtion ought to be shot. but you go girl go and good luck to you
Reply:I think what you are doing is a great job of taking them in..I've done the same before and the horses ended up being the best ones i have ever owned...Keep up the good work....Don't listen to people who put you down about it... Personally I think they envey you for getting such good horses....They do not need to be a purebred to be good....