Buying a rescued horse.

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Vinter

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Hello!

So a bit of background.
Here in Portugal more than 100 horses were in a field starving to death maybe 2 months back, not all were skin and bones but most were and are malnourished.
Someone bought them to save them but since the gentleman cant keep them all he is selling them for 60-150 euros (price normally for the euthanasia). He requires the buyer to have a livestock licence (portugal rules) and the horses come with Green Book.

I read info about Portugal legislation regarding green books and they must be done by a vet, and since they were rescued and seen by a vet (i believe not indepth vet check but general) I will assume they are not completely deseased.

I am thinking of aqcuiring one. I dont do it lightly since im am planning costs and all the jazz of owning a horse (plus getting weight back on).

I am planning on getting in contact with the gentleman that currently has them to ask if he knows if any of the horses has been broken to ride or if they are all unbroken.

I am 25 years old and have been riding for 13 years and worked as a groom for 3 years. Last year i helped start the saddlebreaking process of a young horse (not riding but lunging him and getting him good with saddle and bridle/bit on).
I currently ride 2x times a week and my teacher has broken horses to ride and schools them for dressage and jumping so I will have help.

I know that I could possibly save some money and buy a better, already done horse. I understand that, this decision would also be in part because of my wish to own a horse, which i have had for 13 years so for me to get a "project" cheaper horse as my first horse could end in disaster... but i want to believe that it could end really good.

I would like advice, any advice. People that have had similar experiences?
 
I'm afraid there is some truth in the saying "pay nice, pay twice". Be prepared for possibly huge expense (veterinary treatments for my own horse who was certainly not a rescue, has cost about £8000 to date, not all covered on insurance). Also, if this would be your first horse, I'm just not entirely sure a project would be the best choice and you are opening yourself up to an awful lot of heartache.
There is if course, the possibility that I am wrong on both counts and you do have your fairytale ending, but on the balance of probability......
 
Yes i completely understand that.
Its so random, people buy horses almost dead and turn superstars or it goes bad.

At least im not planning to go see the horses with 100% sure im going to take one home. Hopefully can go see them and check how they are a do a basic personality/reaction screening
 
Just think about health problems that aren't visible. Honestly, it's a minefield and eyewateringly expensive. You take a horse on, build a bond with it, then find it has a condition that will cost thousands to treat. You have no choice but to treat the condition and you love the horse and you are responsible for it, so unless you are in a comfortable position financially, you have to take out loans/credit cards to pay for said treatments etc etc. These things rapidly spiral out of control. I just feel you're better buying a horse with a known history from an honest seller who you can have vetted. Yes, problems can still arise but maybe are less likely to?
 
Yes i get all the points pointed out.
Unfortunately in Portugal theres no horse loans or share. Plus all the "good" horses are the lusitano bred ones in the breeding barns and many are no less than 5,000 for a 3y old.
I can buy a horse up to 1000 but they are ads in those websites like olx and ebay.

Cases like these i wiah i was still in UKwhere theres way more option ?

Vet bills im so aware of it. My friend, her mom bought her a horse for birthday (we knew her, she was livong where we had lessons and we had ridden her before)... In less than six months im sure she spent more than 3000 cause mare got kicked several times in the span of a few months and last time her leg got infected. So im really aware of what can go wrong.

So im really not sure. I could get a horse for more than 1000 and still pay a ton for vet or buy a cheap horse and get lucky? (or the other way around)

?
 
Do you have the money for huge vets bills and the time and facilities to care for a sick horse? If no, are you prepared to have the horse euthanised? The answers to both of these questions will guide you as to whether to buy any horse or not. The risk amplifies with a rescue.
 
If you accept that you may buy a sick horse, and are prepared to spend money on making said horse well again or euthanasing if needed, can offer a knowledgeable, safe, caring home, and have the time, patience and knowledge to work through any potential issues, then ask to go and see the horses, spend a bit of time with them, visit a few times and see if any grab your attention, or if its not actually the right move for you.

Asking if any are broken to ride doesn't seem a fair question, given they are malnourished, i would be surprised if he knew any were rideable.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
I think I would be concerned that they have not been wormed, vaccinated or trimmed regularly. The worming programme and vacinnation programme could be set up easily enough and providing they are disease free this wouldn't be too much of a problem.

It will also take time to put weight on a horse, in my experience I have found that putting weight on a horse is harder than losing weight from a horse but that is my own personal experience.

My main concern would be the length of time they have gone without being trimmed. Horses have evolved over time to have a fairly specific rate of hoof growth: they wear down their hooves about as fast as they grow them in the wild. If a horse doesn't get a chance to move around normally, it's hooves will keep growing, but won't be worn down and they will develop a long toe and low heel conformation which can place untold stress on their joints and ligaments. I do believe this could cause you issues in the future. If a joint becomes stressed due to incorrect hoof angles and an unbalanced foot it will cause issues such as arthritis in later years and tendons and ligaments will be stressed and strained.

I am not sure whether these rescue horses ever become 100% sound - I honestly don't know enough about it to give an informed reply. I suppose it depends how badly they have been neglected.

Finally I would make sure that whatever horse you choose not only has a good temperment but it has as good a conformation as you can find as this will also prevent you from having issues in the future.
 
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Even if they have been seen by a vet, please bare in mind that there may be problems associated with malnutrition and lack of balanced diet that may not be apparent - ulcers are the main one that springs to mind, plus poor hoof growth and bone/tendon/muscle condition. These can be very costly to put right, and sometimes can never be totally normal again.

If you do decide to take on one of these horses, please go in to it with your eyes wide open, and a bank balance to match!
 
If you want to rescue a horse for the sake of helping that horse out, then rescue a horse having read the above. If you want to rescue a horse as a way of getting a cheap riding horse, walk away now!
 
Leo Walker said:
If you want to rescue a horse for the sake of helping that horse out, then rescue a horse having read the above. If you want to rescue a horse as a way of getting a cheap riding horse, walk away now!
Click to expand...

^ this really, but also on a rather negative note. Don't take on a rescue unless you are willing to PTS. Weather it be in a months time, 10 years time or 20 years time. If the pony you choose ends up having something that can't be fixed and his/her quality of life is not what it should be the kindest thing IMHO is to PTS. You can have all the knowledge and money in the world, but if your not prepared to take a step back and say 'this is not in the best interest of this animal' then I don't think a rescue is right for you.
 
First, thank you all for your replies xD All different points of view sure help.

The low price sure helps but ive also wanted to help a horse by rescue, have looked at rescues in Uk.
I couldnt do so when i lived in UK cause i was a student and was living there for just a few years so couldnt have a horse.

Unfortunately in Portugal is quite hard to get a horse at an acessible price, there are some for 200-500 in sites similar to ebay, i am also taking a look at those).

Im also looking at vet prices to do the pre purchase exam at wathever horse i decided on (the ones rescued or other).

Currently asking prices for horses from proper breeding barns to have a feeling of prices... Have seen 4y olds going for 10,000. Dont know if i should cry or laugh at how hard i would have to save if i wanted one of those.
 
dorsetladette said:
^ this really, but also on a rather negative note. Don't take on a rescue unless you are willing to PTS. Weather it be in a months time, 10 years time or 20 years time. If the pony you choose ends up having something that can't be fixed and his/her quality of life is not what it should be the kindest thing IMHO is to PTS. You can have all the knowledge and money in the world, but if your not prepared to take a step back and say 'this is not in the best interest of this animal' then I don't think a rescue is right for you.
Click to expand...

Oh yes i have no problem with PTS if im unable to help or the horse is better of with it.
 
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