I always thought it was a horse that had been surrendered to the RSPCA and some-one had been charged with neglect or cruelty.
I had thought that the term ‘Rescue Horse’ meant the horse had been given away to some-one who could give it the care that was required.
However more recently it seems to be increasingly popular to have a ‘rescue’ horse.
I have heard people talk about a ‘rescue’ that they had bought from a sale yard or even through a private sale.
When I ask what they were ‘rescued’ from, their answer varies.
What is a ‘rescue’ horse?
What does this definition mean?
Where are the guidelines?
Please let me know what your experiences have been and if you have rescued a horse (or know someone who has), what it was rescued from.
I think many folk use the term to refer to a horse/pony whose future looked most uncertain. We run an equine rescue centre, and our “rescues” have been via RSPCA, council, two from the sales (outbid knackeries), and from folk surrendering their animal/s. The grey line of “rescue” is often around private people surrendering, when they use the “threat” of shooting their horse/pony, unless we (as a rescue centre) take him/her off their hands. Horses and ponies often become very “disposable”, once they age, and need higher care, and rescue centres are often the first point of call, in passing on the responsibility for these animals.
I had a family friend who I leased my horse from, rescue two OOTB horses. They were left unable to race anymore, and their previous owners turned them out to the paddock for over 6 months. When they were found again, they were both emaciated and filled with rain scald. My family friend “rescued” them, by being told about them and buying them from their previous owners. We treated their malnutrition and rain scald, and when they were healthy enough, began riding them and turning them into riding horses. It was a great experience but very sad to hear about some darker sides of the racing industry. They have since been sold on to great homes after becoming riding horses and I am so grateful we found them.
I just bought a gelding yesterday from a dogger. The dogger buys horses from the sales yard or off people who can no longer look after their horses. The horse has some physical issues that will need to be addressed, so I’m thinking a year of being spoilt and loved, then hoping to restart his education on being ridden. He was rescued from being slaughtered.
Hi Carolyn, I hear of people out there doing a wonderful job yet I (used to} have no respect for the RSPCA as each year they permit slaughter of horses from the AIR saying they are crucifying our National Parks.
No 1. They rive 4Wheel Drives through the National Parks.
2. They could not let us round them up as they mentioned that would TERRORISE THEM? There is a lot of volunteers within the RSPCA who rebel their decision.
3. Since personal of the RSPCA, knowing that they are only a GOVT BODY that is paid by grants are ROBOTS.
4. The heavy shoes warn by bushwalkers have steel toes and produce more damage than a horse.
5. I have animals and I would not let them near RSPCA.
I COULD GO ON BUT IT MAKE ME AND A QUANTITY OF ANIMAL OWNERS AND CARERS
SIT BACK AND LAUGHT AT THEIR STATEMENTS OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR ANIMALS. SHEEP ON SHIPS, HORSES BEING SLAIN WITH A KNIFE AND NOT A SUN GUN, COWS BEING KILLED BY BEING DRAGGED AND LEGS BROKEN BEFORE THOATS CUT.
IT STILL GOES ON AND THE RSPCA HAVE DONE NOTHING?
Hi Melanie., You are the one that should be on the BOARD OF THE RSPCA as you are a great example of what should be done with strength. I have horses and dogs that are spoiled and thy in return give me the affection in return. When I rescued mine it was through private people knowledge. I ad a call down at our local RSPCA and the employed staff talk to you as I have to be analysed even without an introduction. And do not let me go with the Council dog catchers. Pity it is not always the animals fault?
“YOU KEEP SPOILING THAT HORSE”
I think most rescues are rescued from idiot owners who think they are horse people but have zero clue and turn decent horses into problems.
I think a rescue horse is a horse that has been rescued from a home where the owner hasn’t cared for it adequately. It could of been underfed, abused or kept in unhealthy conditions. etc. but then rescued by someone that will take care of it, this is how it is a rescue horse.
I believe a rescue horse is classified as being taken from an owner and/or situation where the o livelihood of the equine isn’t up to standard. Someone more equipped is able to provide for the horse, so therefore it is has been rescued
A rescue horse to me is a horse that needs help in some form or fashion, and perhaps their future was uncertain OR the current owners were considering euthanasia or surrender as they weren’t able to provide for the horse’s needs for various reasons. Often these horses are also sold for a small fee to ‘avoid the doggers’ in the hope that a kind hearted individual will take the horse on and help it to get to better health physically, mentally and/or emotionally. I’ve taken on so many horses like this and unfortunately they often have more problems than we ever first realise. Once they are our responsibility though, we need to honour that regardless of what the outcome might look like. It’s a sad life for many horses, being passed from one hand to the next on a regular basis. Too many horses endure multiple homes by a young age and often don’t get the chance to settle into one environment.
I think that the term ‘rescue horse’ can mean many different things to different people. However, I think that the term ‘rescue horse’ means any horse that has not been cared for adequately whether this is the horse has been deprived of food and water, deprived of interaction with other horses, overfed, inadequate vet and farrier and also things such as inadequate brain stimulation to a point the horse is bored.
I think that horse rescue means saving a horse from a place that it can no longer be in because its getting harmed, the owners cant pay for the horse any more, animal cruelty, etc. but just because they are a rescue horse doesn’t mean that they cant be saved, because we can save them give them the nurture that they need but the training into them and start to fix the horse because a damaged horse can be repaired maybe not all the way but they can be repaired.
Some would say race horses become ‘rescue’ horses, after their racing career is only 2-3 years yet their life expectancy is 25-30 years, so where do they go after that? Around 13,000 Thoroughbred foals are born every year, 17% are sent for slaughter and only 19% are rehomed and the other % is unable to be rehomed for unsuitable temperament or illness or injury. These recue horses, horses that no one will take in due to there state of mind therefore being sent to death.
To me a rescue horse is a horse which was in a bad situation, wheather it was neglect or ready to be sent to the meat factory. When I hear the phrase ‘rescue horse’ I picture a horse which needs a lot of TLC and needs to learn how to trust again.
A ‘rescue’ horse to me is saving them from a bad place that effects them physically or mentally. My older sister rescued Sally from the race track on the first day we got her, she was very skittish wouldn’t let anyone go near her or feed her however it only took a week before she started following my sister around like a big puppy.
We rescued a horse from neglect and abuse over 5 years ago. He had a thorough vet check and I had to work with him to gain his trust. Now after a very long process of going back and forwards, I have myself a very energetic and loyal horse.
I believe a rescue horse is a horse that has been removed from an environment that is a life or death situation.
A rescue horse could be a horse that was rescued from the RSPCA that could have been neglected, beaten or even starved, but horses can be rescued from sales as well they could be sold to the doggers but someone decides to buy that horse so it can live for longer. when someone says they have a rescue horse i always think of a horse that is ribby and has no muscle a horse that hasn’t had any love and no one had cared for it, but some of the rescues could be in perfect condition but the owner just wants to get rid of it and doesn’t care if the doggers buy it. We rescued a mare from the doggers when she was only 15 months old along with her buddy that was in the same pen, we did lots of work with the both of them and sold one of them but we still have the other one she is 8 now.
I have a rescue pony that I got from Winged Horse animal rescue. He was a failed rehoming because he had horrid manners, he was supposed to be with me for a few weeks for some manners work and has been with me for 4 years. He’s basically just a big dog and ducks under the fences to run between fences
my little sister has this shetland pony that we bought of one of the instructors at pony club who had rescued her from being miss treated. she now does not like anything around her ankles
I have a reduced horse from an very old family friend’s friend. It was very skinny when we got it and now he is going great and very friendly horse.
I think a ‘rescue’ horse can mean a different variety of things to different people.
Last year in October I bought a horse for my husband to learn on. We done the exchange via videos and pictures as the horse lived 1000kms away. When Big Boy got off the truck, we did not think he was going to make it. He was extremely light and was riddled with lice. Feet were horrible and nasty and we were surprised he made it on the 2 day drive up to us. We called the RSPCA, however did not hear back from them. So we thought we were buying a very nice and put together well QHorse that is 20yo. Now that he is looking and feeling much better, he appears to be a Tbred x Stockhorse that is 11 yo. A rescue to me is a horse that is being so badly treated that in literally needs rescuing.
I personally believe that the definition of a rescue horse is that of it has been neglected not necessarily by anyone, even wild horses become poor or rough looking. Most neglected horses are very skinny and un groomed, and end up having many diseases, illnesses due to this neglecting. More than most horses also aren’t friendly or are very scared of human interaction. For example I have a neighbor who rescued a horse from a sale, he was so underweight it wasn’t funny, his ribs were showing, he couldn’t keep his own balance to even walk fully around the sale pen. Once they got him home they had vet checks down and he had eye ulcers, was dehydrated, had worms, had never been hendra vaccinated, he was also very timid. This meant he was vulnerable to many life threatening diseases, however he was very lucky to have ended up in the hands of my neighbors who nursed him back to health and nurtured him into a horse that became quite enough to even walk on their veranda, which is a very drastic change from timid. Most rescue horses once they are rescued and loved, turn into amazing horses.
The term “Rescue Horse” has become very popular. It pulls at heart strings and makes people feel like they have done some good in the world. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing? There are so many horses and ponies out there that really do need help and sometimes, owners are to greedy to give them up and/or lacking the knowledge to seek the help needed, and so purchasing that horse could in deed be rescuing it. We run a rescue and rehab center in Queensland and have received rescues from RSPCA, owner surrenders, straight off the track, pound and councils and dogger yards or sales pens. Honestly I don’t think there is a black and white answer to what makes a rescue a rescue, but I feel it is any horse that is need of help in one way or another and/or has an unsure future.
For me, it’s a horse with a sketchy past (Neglected/Abused) & an uncertain future, I call one of mine a rescue even though we bought him as he was being neglected of basic care & handling by the person we bought him off & had we not bought him he likely would have been sent to the doggers.