Rescue a Horse: Why Do You Want to Rescue or Adopt a Horse?
By Lindsey Forkun, www.LFEquestrian.com
- Getting a new horse is very exciting! You get to experience a new partnership where you will learn a lot and the horse gets a second chance in life. When you rescue or adopt a horse you also get the satisfaction of knowing you helped save a horse.
There are so many horses that need saving. Horses can end up needing rescuing for many reasons, but here are some common ones:
1) They were bred to race, but are no longer wanted by the race stable
2) Their owner ran out of money or time for their horses
3) Careless breeding that made unwanted horses
4) The horse got injured and is no longer wanted
Before you go out and rescue a horse, it is a good idea to think about what you want to do with a rescued horse. Do you want:
1) A companion horse for a horse you already have?
2) A riding horse?
3) A breeding horse?
4) A pet?
5) A show horse?
Depending on what you want will depend on what types of rescue horses you should consider. No matter what you want to do with your horse, it is a good idea to get a horse that is already trained for handling – because horses need to be cared for. This can include trimming their hooves, visits from the veterinarian, or grooming.
If you are thinking about getting a horse that isn’t trained for basic handling, then it is a good idea to have a plan to get the horse tamed and trained for handling. This way if the horse needs care, you can safely give the horse care because the horse understands being handled.
Handling includes basic training for:
- Leading
- Standing Still
- Being touched all over their body and face
- Picking up their feet and being trimmed
- Getting needles
If you are new to horses or training, contact a horse professional in your area to help. Trainers who do natural horsemanship can help train horses these basic skills in a safe and more relaxed way for you and your horse.
Think about what you want to do with a new rescued horse, and what training you are prepared to put into the horse. This will help you decide what horse is right for you.
Lindsey Forkun is dedicated to promoting positive partnerships through humane natural horsemanship for all equine disciplines. Free online advice, articles, and videos. Offering natural horsemanship products and services, learn more at www.LFEquestrian.com
