I want to rescue a horse!

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tangoharvey

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I want a second horse, for my neice, 5'8, 9 stone to rise so we can hack together. As I can only run to about 1k I thought about rescueing something that justs needs tlc, or even adopting one from a rescue home - as I am based in Worcester anyone know where i should start looking - looks and age are not important it will be a home for life, we just want to go plodding together really!! Any ideas where to look?
Pimms and lemonade for you all!
 
You can try any of the rehoming places, WHW, Blue Cross, RSPCA, etc etc. if you prefer to buy, there are some cracking horses for £1k or less on Dragon Driving, although you will have to steel yourself for looking at all the babies already working.
 
Ummm, without wishing to sound patronising and/or preachy, I would personally urge a wee bit of restraint.

A horse from a rescue centre might sound OK, BUT it could very easily come with issues which you won't know about, and, like dogs who are rescues (I've got one!!!) these issues might not ever be resolvable, the trauma will always be there.

Of course, you may be perfectly OK, its just a case of the owner can't keep it anymore, but some of the horses they deal with will have been traumatised and will need a lot of TLC and experience to deal with the issues.

Also, rescue places usually demand a "fee" - often about £500 ish, not that anyone should mind paying something towards their costs, far from it, but it aint exactly free! Also you would have to get all the tack sorted out yourself as they usually won't supply it.

On the plus side, you might well get a super horse; I know a rescue who does endurance, and its easy to listen to too many horror stories. There are some lovely horses out there, in rescue centres through no fault of their own.

Personally, I'd look at the whole thing like you would if you were buying, i.e. take experienced friend with you; look at plenty before you make a decision (easy to have the heart-strings pulled); don't mount it unless you're 100% happy/see it ridden first, etc etc. Any of the reputable rescue centres like ILPH etc would make very sure you and the horse were well suited before they let it go, and would make follow up visits to make sure all was well, so that's a huge safeguard for you.

And if the very worse happens, emmm, you can always hand it back ........!!!
 
I would definately check the charities- most have websites where you can view available horses. Or look for an older horse? That could come within budget
 
iv just got my cob from a rescue she will arrive with me next saturday iv been to ride her every other day for past 2 weeks shes a cracking little gypsy cob the rescue has had her since she was a foal but unfortunatly her previous loaner had a terrible accident on her when she was 3 and just backed involving a motorbike, they have done a cracking job with her since and for the past 2 weeks you wouldnt have known she had been hit by a motorbike, if you were to get one from a rescue make sure you find out everything they know about it, and really go back a few times to try it and do everything you would do at home, most places will not mind you doing this as they want the best homes for them possible. iv paid a fee of £500 for her and they are even loaning me her saddle until i get her new one fitted, good luck with your search heres a pic of my new baby
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Here is a picture of my rescue cob, I got her in August from World Horse Welfare. She was rescued at 18months old as she had been starved. She doesn't have any issues apart from being greedy - not sure if that is just because she is a cob or because she was starved! Have a look at the sites suggested bu donkeymad and let us know if you find one.
Veewedding023.jpg
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
On the plus side, you might well get a super horse; I know a rescue who does endurance, and its easy to listen to too many horror stories. There are some lovely horses out there, in rescue centres through no fault of their own.
Click to expand...

Mine is another fantastic ex-rescue, from HAPPA. I honestly couldn't wish for a better horse - we BD and BE and she is such a cracking mare.:) You're right though, there are still plenty of costs involved, but in my case I have ended up with a horse that I could never have afforded to buy. :):):)

However, it is often a fairly lengthy process to get matched up with a rideable horse from a charity as there can be greater demand than supply, particularly in the 'sensible' category and esp for those looking for bigger horses. When I got my mare, they had tonnes of little 2nd pony types but not much in the way of bigger animals.

Oh, if we're including pics ;) here's my girl:
aldonxc.jpg
 
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I have had 2 rescue ponies from WHW, only companions but the back up and support you get from WHW is great. Its definitely worth looking at the REGISTERED charities websites, but if I were you I would stay well away from the ones who post sob stories asking for forever homes, they seem to charge far higher fees and often have spent little time assessing/rehabilitating the "rescues" .
 
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