Rescue Horses May Be Unexpectedly Troublesome
Starving Horses Need Good Homes but Can Present Unexpected Problems
Dec 7, 2008
It's hard to turn away from an animal that is slowly, painfully starving to death. There is almost nothing as desperate as the sight of ribs and a gaunt, soulless look about any creature that pulls on the heartstrings of even the most stoic. Before you rush to adopt a starving horse, however, there are important issues to consider and questions to answer.
Space Considerations for the Rescue Horse
First, do you have adequate space for another animal? If this horse is going to a home where there are other horses, are you aware that the new animal should not be placed with the others but should be temporarily quarantined? Quarantining may be necessary for months. There are several good reasons for this:
- The starved animal will probably not be able to defend itself as the pecking order is re-established.
- The newly introduced horse may have contagious conditions/diseases.
- The rescue horse will probably need to be fed small amounts in frequent intervals and may even require a different diet for a time.
- Until you are aware if the horse is a kicker or a biter, you will want to protect other animals also. (Some of these habits are extremely difficult to break!)
In addition, some rescue horses may have very serious health problems which might require costly, permanent treatment. Even if their health problems are temporary (but serious, such as malnutrition) treatment could be costly as the horse may require special feeds, medications or other specialized medical care. Are you financially able to absorb this extra expenditure?
Age and Training Considerations
Sometimes rescue horses have been abandoned; sometimes they’ve been starved because the owner has experienced financial difficulties. Either way, odds are that the rescue horse has not been tended to by a veterinarian or farrier in some time. In some cases, the horse may be relatively wild.
In fact, often rescue horses are wild. This means they’ve probably never been vaccinated, never been shod, never groomed, seldom if ever handled, and certainly never ridden or trained. Most importantly, they’ve never learned to trust or respect humans. Unfortunately, a buyer/rescuer may not be informed of these things, and these are serious problems depending on the age of the horse. Do you have a plan for these issues?
In fact, are you certain of the animal’s age? It will generally cost more to train an older horse than a younger one. Indeed, it may be difficult to find someone to do this at all. Does your own horse handling experience lend itself to this challenge?
Rescue Horse Organizations
There are many organizations dedicated to rescuing these animals. It may be in your best interest to purchase a horse from one of these groups rather than a private seller, as a private individual might not always be forthcoming about a horse’s true condition, training or nature. Be advised, however, that if the horse is purchased from a rescue organization, you may have to sign a document forbidding you to re-sell the horse - ever - even if things go awry after the horse is at your home.
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