seems to have been answered. Practical Horseman is now advocating adopting rescue horses. They have a brilliant article about the potential pitfalls and risks inherent in rescuing, but they still end the article with a pull at your heartstrings..
Bring your trainer, they say, over and over and over. Takes a strong stomach and quick cool eyes to visit these Last Chance Corrals. How many actually bring their trainer? How many even Have a trainer?
So, yeah, horses are going to become even cheaper! yay!
NoT.
Oh, my question? Since 1992, a mentioned rescue in the article had saved 2500 horses. 17 years, 2500 horses. How is the return rate, since then, is question 1.
i.e. How many of these horses are still in the same place? A good place? 17 years is a long time, isn't it?
Question 2, the one no-one likes to ask, and I must, again. By firing up the rescue hormones of the inexperienced rider, the green rider, the brand-new rider, said rider can and (seem to me) often does end up with a horse that can almost kill them, or scare them so badly that they can never ride well again ever. Badly broke are dangerous, you know. Why is this considered heroic? To me, it's just foolishness.
I'm just SAYIN'. Of course, I want them all safe, and sound, and happy and well-fed. I don't always get what I want;)
I also read, what a month or so ago? Horse Sport, our Canadian Horse Show Ragazine, displayed a survey that showed almost 70% of respondents were planning on getting a rescue horse.
Almost 70%. Wow. It helped me understand why I've been seeing so much bad riding, so many excuses. "Oh, my horse is a rescue". Makes everything that horse does, AOK. Look at Pat and Spencer, of course I give her kudos for rescuing him. If she ends up in hospital, due to his issues, how does that help Pat and her horse?
I've read of a "new" rescue endeavour, where 1) You rescue a horse and then 2) You learn how to ride/care/look after it.
Seems a hair backwards to me.
Allow me to quote from the article in PH.
"There are a lot of horse traders masquerading as rescues".
heh, no kidding.
More heart string pulling. "Horses know when they've been saved. They are so forgiving and generous to humans".
Sorry, that is so not true, for too many rescued horses. They are terrified, dangerous critters. Horses are not large dogs. They are 1200 pounds of simmering hysterics, if not started right. It can take a very long time to rehabilitate the damaged.
I can't find a picture I located last night, of a rescued grade QH. His hind legs were straighter than my 4' steel ruler. Why do we rescue these poor creatures?
For ourselves, it seems. Not for the horses.
Much has been made of the survey done by the Unwanted Horse Coalition. Interesting, that PH quotes them at length. I've heard it argued that there is no such THING as an unwanted horse.
Utopian view. JMO.
Of course there are "diamonds in the rough". Of COURSE there are. There are bargoons galore out there at the auction.
I refuse to support them.
I think they should be boycotted.
(end rant)
Just be careful out there!
Favourite Breeds?
darlin' Little Gator, who finally got her danged avatar working, asked a great question eons ago, which I blithely ignored, being all powerful 'n all.
What are your "top 5 Horse Breeds"? I was hoping for a more annoying question, m'kay?
Top Breed for me, of course, is an Irish Sport Horse "type". I love a good TB, well-built and well-brained. Quarter Horses, of courses. I learned a lot from them through the years.
The incredible blood-lines of the great jumpers would take me all day. My hero stallions were, in no particular order, Abdullah, I Love You, Quidam de Revel, Baloubet de Rouet sighhhh... My memory fails me, of course. I was madly in love with the Irish Stallion Cruising, in his day.
Oh, there's a certain Appy Stallion I'd grab in a heartbeat!
A good horse is a good horse, no matter what breed he may be. Enough conformation for his job, and a kind temperament to work with, always, on the ground. Fiery temperaments are useful in many types of riding. How big his heart is, is the most important. How much he cares, for you, the rider. It's the only way horses know how to express pleasure and displeasure, with their rider. Removal is always an option for them:)
I'm amazed how much they do not exercise that option.
Saints, horses are.
A very fine sign;)
Reminds me of the rescue situation, in horses. Good luck to them all.
Angel Blaze Eyes, with her "tinkle-ball", a couple years ago, still so puppy faced. Awwwwwwww
My red dog, in her stick-twirling glory days. She could flip them longways, sideways, amazing, and a behaviour I never had to "teach". She loved to master the art of stick-twirling, through the years. She had a PhD. when she was done. Behaviours offered should always be assessed for their laughter value:)
An old engraving of Eclipse.
31 comments:
Frankly rescues/rescuers often scare me . I had a coupel show up here a couple years ago to look at a colt . They went on and on about how all thier horses were rescues from a certain rescue organization.They looked at this colt and seemed almost disapointed that he was a) in good flesh
b) a pocket pony
c)lead and gave his feet
d) living in a stall with daily turnout
They asked questions that appeared geared to finding his "hard luck story" sorry didn't have one. The colt belonged to my friend and after they left I called her and basically said "if they call back ,run ,do not walk run away from this deal." I then went online to discover that said rescue ,not only had a blog devoted to his severe persecution delusions and conspiracy theories .But were running a breeding program as well ,with an Oops! December foal ! that they had no idea was coming ,yet it was in fact coming from a mare that they had owned several years and thier own stud.I can just imagine the stories that would have circulated if they had bought Coulee, or rather saved him from me!
Sadly enough a lot of horses that wind up in rescues should have been honorably put down. If the pro's are backing off a horse that should tell you something. Breeders who turn out solid well trained horses year after year are being attacked as if somehow they caused the surplus of horses that wind up in rescues.
For horses, the road to hell is truly paved with good intentions...that are not backed up by education, realistic expectations and experience.
The rescues are a tough one for me. Greenies with unsuitable horses I see way too often. Then if the 'Greenie' has trouble or the horse does something they can't handle, they are often made to feel that it is their fault. They've done something wrong. Flat pisses me off.
Rather than stepping up the rescues make the 'adopter' feel guilt. Rather than taking responsibility or helping rectify the problem they shame the person.
Look at poor Top. How many homes did he go through? Hey, he's not a total nutcase, but he sure isn't easy or for a novice or the timid.
Okay, this going to piss some people off. There are so many nice horses out there that need homes, why save the 'bad' ones. It's not heroic. It's not wise.
The nice horses ship to slaughter just as fast as the nutjobs, and the lame. Save something with a shot at a good life, that isn't likely to take yours. Oh, that's right. Nice sound horses don't make good press. You can't show off your 'incredible skill' and diligence, or how magnanimous you are for saving a horse that will never be useable. Or the extreme measures you had to go through to save it, and the vet costs etc..
Please! It is throwing good money for bad while a lovely horse gets loaded on the truck. How many nice, useable, dependable horses could you save for one headline making cull?
Favorite breeds? OH man. Tough. Probably whatever I'm riding at the moment and having fun with. lol
TB's
Qtrs/Paints
Arabs
SWB
and lately Oldenburgs. lol
Yeah I know. I'm dull. Nothing exotic. Hey, there is a reason Qtrs, Arabs and TBs are so damn popular. They work. They're versatile and usually pretty user friendly.
Breeds are kind of like color to me. A good horse is never a bad color, nor is it a bad breed. A good horse is just that, a good horse. Truly, I've never been able to feel the color, or the papers of anything I've sat on.
HP, applause. Well stated. And, breed often depends on the job the horse is doing, so I have favorite breeds for different jobs. Endurance, Arab, barrel racing, QH, TB, or cross of both. Love my Morgan show horse! Personal favorite is Morab for all around saddle horse. Missouri Fox Trotters or Pasos for trail are comfy!
Case on point, just read on another forum.
"This boy was run through the sale and was being bid on by the kill buyer. He has had 45 days of training and five rides when he was taken through the auction. He rode through the auction and was nervous, but did nothing wrong. When I went into the pen after the auction to take some photos of him I had to ask someone to help me because he was so friendly that he wouldn't stay far enough away for me to be able to get a good shot.
Description:
*** is very athletic and friendly. *** is very sweet and warms up to new people rather quickly. He gets along with all other horses and just wants to be friends.
Apparently about a year ago *** badly broke one of his legs. The leg has not healed correctly and there are some serious complicating factors. *** by nature is highly active and is constantly running and jumping and playing with the other horses. He is only four years old, so this is to be expected. Unfortunately because of his injury he can only be expected to make it a couple of years before his leg breaks down completely. In order to obtain those couple years he would need to be kept in a small flat pen where he would not be able to run around and play since that would escalate the break down. During that time he would need to be on increasing pain medication in order to control the already advanced and worsening arthritis.
At this point I have decided that *** deserves quality over quantity. I don't believe that being the horse he is that he would want to spend his last amount of time in a pen, but rather out running and playing. I know that if I was told that I had only a short amount of time to live and that I could live longest in a hospital, that I would choose to take a shorter amount of time filled with all the things I wanted to do in life. I am going to further research his problems, but at this point I intend to let him enjoy the summer, running and playing with his horsie friends and then have him put to sleep.
If, after reading this, you would be interested in providing a loving and understanding home for ***, please email me. You would need to be prepared for him to be put down as soon as he can no longer be kept comfortable and happy.
Final Update:
I had hoped to give *** the entire summer, but his condition deteriorated faster then expected. By the end of July he could no longer run around and was in obvious pain from his leg. On July 26 2008, *** was put down. Run forever my sweet boy."
cost $816.00
for a year of running on a badly broken leg.
Caution...
SharpEdges:(
How sad, GL.
I aquired a mare that had had her hock broken when she was 3 or 4. Up until about 11 she did pretty good. She'd have some bad days, but a gram of bute was usually plenty to manage it. That last year it was getting tougher.
I'm not sure I'd opt to save a horse with that injury. While her good days outnumbered her bad, I don't think she was ever painfree. It was manageable, and she had a pretty cush life from the time I got her at 7 or 8.
Hard call. Especially if it is in your face. Something you love, that is living, breathing looking to you to make it better.
I'm better now at looking at these things objectively. If it is a bad injury that is going to take some time, and major rehab...is this horse going to be a good patient? Or is it going to spin out of it's mind with the restrictions and continue to re-injure? What will the quality of life be if I do get it repaired? How old is the horse, and is colic surgery really a viable option? Is the horse likely to recover and rehab from the surgery? Is it going to suffer through the surgery and recovery to have this reoccur?
A lady I know just went through the colic surgery scenario with her very lovely sweet mare. Mare ended up having two colic surgeries within a week...seemed recovered. Had a bout of colic 6mths down the line, and had to be put down. What is the root of the colic? Is it likely to happen again, be ongoing? Questions you may not be thinking of in the heat of the moment, and 'just fix my horse'.
When Shad and Leggs were so sick, my vet said, "I'm almost glad this isn't something you can just throw money at. You'd put a second on your house wouldn't you." Yeah, I would have. He was right, and it wouldn't have changed a thing.
Oh, no kidding, HP. I was just shocked that this horse, as deserving as any of them, was allowed to live for so long.
It seemed more cruel, to me. And yes, I do feel the funds used were kind of wasted.
I wish the best for them all. Sadly, they won't all get what they all deserve. A kind life, an honourable quiet death.
I'm grumpy this week.
can ya Tell??
I read about a cruelty seizure of weanlings on a WB farm, gone bankrupt. Read about it on COTH, place is in Ontario:(
That enraged me, too.
I ask again, how will people, who actually DO breed responsibly, ever hope to sell their horses for a fair price, in this type of market? Or, for a meagre profit??
Where everyone who can't afford a $10K horse, can afford a $250.00 horse? A Rescued horse?
The "rescue" cachet seems priceless, but really, I think the price will be borne by those responsible breeders. They do exist.
Och, to happy, well-fed, well-trained well-priced horses..
I hope they don't become extinct.
Poor breeding practices cost everyone in the long run. The good breeders can't get a fair price for a good horse, because the greenie often can't tell the difference. All horses are 'beautiful' at first. Discrimination comes with time, and knowledge, to some it never comes.
I'm sick or rare breed, rare bloodlines, rare color yadda yadda. Ever think that bloodline may have been dying out for a reason? Why is the breed so rare? What is its purpose? Don't even get me started on the color issue.
I have a student, good rider. Smart and knows better. But she'd really like a black tb mare with a star and white socks. (C'mere...let me whack you in the head). She wont buy a horse just because of that, but would prefer it. Gawd forbid it was a chestnut. lol
hp, I always used to get "the list " from potential buyers
It needs tro be trained this way , do this or that and look like Black beauty .
I responded I can get you all of that ,but I can't guarantee it comes in black!
Have you ever noticed how few really good looking black horses there are? I mean percentage wise in comparison to bays or chestnuts?
finally someone who agrees with me!!! I wonder if it is just easier to see the flaws in a black ,or white for that matter ,or they just don't seem to get the conformation with the neverending search for the perfect color!
EEEEK.
14th.
jeepers lassies, be careful when you talk about black horses;)
Kinda like black dogs, only opposite.
Black Beauty, indeed.
Black dogs have less chance of being adopted, statistically speaking.
is what I meant.
Up TOOO late.
Black, schmack. I was amazed when moving here just how many black horses there were, in Fl I only knew of one true black. Of course, they were there, just either hidden in the barn so they satyed black or sun burned to look like a burnt baked potato. I just did not know.
Hey, GLK is that a filly in that pic? Looks vaguely familiar but mudless.
Oy always mising the interesting posts I am.
:D
(That sign is awesome)
REscues. Somewhere in the back of my head I say to myself that my NEXT horse (if there ever is one hehe) will be a "rescue." THen shortly after that thought passes I think, WTF? CAN I ACTUALLY HANDLE THE PROBLEMS THAT COULD ARISE WITH A RESCUE?
Im not SUrE, therefore why go there?
As we've all heard before, buying the horse is the cheapest part of horse ownership.
Yarg.
GL, I want to hear more about Red dog's stick twirling. Love that picture.
As for rescues, I think that there are just too many horses out there needing help, and we really do need to do triage, to figure out what are the most likely cases. This goes against a lot of folks' desires, because every horse has value, etc, etc. With human beings, we don't cull the herd. Whatever you're born with, we try and deal with it. And we try that with dogs and cats and horses...any creature that we connect with and bring into the hearth circle, as it were.
Realistically, gotta make hard decisions about saving horses, or the whole house of cards is going to come tumbling down.
I always figured there were lots of chestnuts, bays, and browns because those were the best colors for wild horses to have, so there's more in the genetic pool?
Get a black horse out on the plains, they stick out like a sore thumb. That's why the black that is common in the genetic pool sunburns to a brown? lol. That was my theory, anyway.
Equis (sp?!) magazine had an article a few years ago about the characteristics commonly associated with colors, and found that different colors did indeed have traits that were usually included in the group of genes that determine color.
The 'I HAVE to have this color' people drive me nuts. One couple I know are both riding crazy horses that are the same color, and turned down a bunch of really nice horses that were the 'wrong' color.
Side rant about rescues...
There's this shire here, who was bred to a Drum horse, for a Shire/Drum horse cross. For sale for $4,500. My farrier trims this owner's horses. Owner is always crying poor, and how she can't afford to have the horses trimmed regularly.
BUT she can afford to take her horses to shows. And she can afford to breed this shire mare to a Fresian, for another foal. WTF is that about?
I predict these wonderful draft cross babies will eventually be rescues somewhere. Ugh. Oh, but they are such pretty colors!
Sadly the word "rescue" has come to mean a variety of things. Not so many of them being good, useful or beneficial. Not for the horses, not for the people committed to doing it (the right way!), not to those willing to donate.
At a breeding inspection over the weekend I found more people who are doing things on one level when they should be doing them on a different one.
Had to open my mouth, offer to help and so easily, I effectively prevented another horse from slipping through a crack and down the road of misbehaving, when the alternative was such an easy thing to see.
I agree- a good horse is a good horse- regardless of breed, color or markings!
HP- The greenies with horses issue, I think is a result of greenies buying a horse they feel has no established bad habits. "We will learn to do things right, together."
Problem is- everyone, including the horses, learns at a different rate. Things go off course when one of them advances quicker than the other, be it horse OR rider. I'm sure you have seen your share.
I have no problem with anyone wishing to take into consideration the horses quality of life- over and above their own selfish hopes to fix everything and make the horse 'all better'. Even if it means putting the horse down at what some consider a 'young' age.
Dang... GL way to knock it out of the park.
I do not have a black horse in rescue.
2 reasons. 1. I can only afford to invest in what is viable. Extraordinary medical is extraordinarily beyond me.
2. On that same note of viable I can only invest in what has the ability to proceed and succeed.
That in black hasn't come my way in the last 20 years.
I don't have anything to add to your very eloquent presentation GL.
You nailed it.
Someone asked me last night if I had anything that was really well broke. I said no. they asked me when I would. I said 2 years give or take.
I am and always have been a complete sucker for the right Anglo.
Go figure I do not have one.
How DID I miss this post? Seriously.
There is a lady at my barn. She 'rescued' two horses:
1st - HUGE 'WB'... she paid 8K for him. He's pushy. Really not a horse you can baby. Guess what she did? Undersaddle he rears, bucks but supposedly jumped...
2nd - Yearling Paint X Perch cross. More accepting of babying without becoming dangerous but still not a good thing for a baby.
Economy crashed, she lost her job. She's still supporting them. She says she will never get rid of them. She has gotten a trainer. The big pushy one has gotten immensely better as she has learned to not let him be an ass. The baby (now 4) is being broke and doing very well - she actually got on and trotted him herself the other day. Trotting is still hard for her. I've told her though, the baby will (shockingly) be the one who teaches her how to ride - he's immensely patient already and truly a good boy.
However, this was a horrid situation. LUCKILY she was smart enough to get help before she got hurt. She *almost* moved htem to her own property - where likely she'd have gotten very hurt.
She meant and means well but... sheesh. I'm glad she found a patient trainer. I hope she can keep them both forever like she plans because she does care for them very much. I still think the big WB needs to be someone elses horse for her safetys sake but... she rescued him... for 8K...
Breeds - I like Oldenburg/Dutch WB's, have fallen hard for Arabs (hmmm... wonder why), and like a nice Anglo-Arab, am really warming up to Apps and have a soft spot for pretty much any Belgian or Perch... a good horse is a good horse, even a 'grade' one.
Color - In Holstein cattle there have been a couple REALLY good studies on color. Predominantly white heifers - esp with a bald face with pink skin around their eyes are flightier, more likely to kick and generally remain more 'wild' than those predominantely black.
I've always wondered if there are any correlations with color in horses... I've learned though a good horse is a good horse no matter the color and honestly I like a plain ol' bay!
GL - That story... a broken leg? Put him down. Give him a day of scritches and carrots and grass and attention and ease his pain. For good. RUNNING for a summer on it? No. No, no, no. :/
Nicely - I feel that way too. I may try to but I'll set a lot of rules for myself. We'll see though... will depend on A LOT of factors.
>>Someone asked me last night if I had anything that was really well broke. I said no. they asked me when I would. I said 2 years give or take.<<
LOL Yes! I had to put on my voicemail for a while, "My horses are not for beginners or trail-riding. The mares are breeding sound only."
"Rescue" is such a broad term. I adopted out Rillo and the woman told everyone she "rescued" him. I was offended. I didn't say anything to her, because it was such a good home and he was lucky to find it. But she didn't rescue him. She freaking took him off my hands. There's a big difference there.
There's an article in Western Horseman about how the big three "western" breeding orgs are going to deal with overbreeding. I don't think it made any mention of the sheer idiocy of breeding specifically for color without any appreciation for talent or demand for product. Evidently it isn't a good business strategy to ostracize the people who are devaluing your breed? Just man up, folks, and say what needs to be said. You are trashing the breed and we aren't going to register those beasts.
There is an ad at the feed store for "Iberian Sport Horses." Also known as half-Andalusians. Also known as mutts. Pretty mutts, but still - where is the demand?
Andelusional.
(Look, I'm cracking myself up.)
roflmao..
Andelusional..
Genius!
Totally just stole your sharp edges sign for my facebook page.
:bows:
OMG...there is an Andelusional in my shedrow right now. lmao
He's terribly sweet. Not getting a fair shake with the 'trainer' (you know the one that has umpteen ponies, and kids running around unsupervised, and filthy stalls). I haven't seen him out yet. His stall is an infection coming..either respiratory, or other. He stays sweet. Unbelievable.
GL I am nominating your blog as the winter warm up chat room.
A person could learn something here even if that wasn't their plan.
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