i want to save a horse from slaughter but....

ShowJumperBeckii

ShowJumperBeckii

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iv always wanted to save a horse from the meat man or help a poorly kept horse but where am i ment to find theses meet men markets or stuff like that?
i always wanted to re school one and then them on maybee two if there not loads of money

does anyone know anything about this?
are they alot of money?
and how comes i can never find any? x
 
Firstly I suggest you expect it not to go well (that way if it doesn't you wont be suprised)
Secondly I would have a lot of money to one side, unexpected vet problems can be the norm with badly kept/treated horses
Thirdly get a heart of stone, a lot of the time they can't be "saved"

Thats what I know from watching people like JM with her budget ponies, sometimes it goes well sometimes it doesn't and she is very knowledgeable. We've all seen her poorly ponies and the states she had them in and read the posts where they've had to be put down...

Don't do it to be a hero - as its going to be one hell of a kick in the guts when it goes wrong.
 
It may sound a nice idea but more than often they are being slaughtered for a reason and for something that may not seem obvious, behavioural/health issues. Unless you are hugely experienced with a bottomless pit of money I would leave well alone and concentrate on the lovely horse you already have.
 
Well, yes. If a horse has made it to the meat man etc there is a huge chance there is something wrong with it. You need a lot of experience and knowledge to judge if that is so from just looking at the horse. Nice idea, but best left to the experts.
 
I took a stunning grey ex racer who was booked into our local slaughter yard on the wed, my mate told me about him so went and had a look and he was delivered to me Sunday. I hunted him all last year and will be coming back in for this season nxt week and he is a star and nothing wrong with him.
Also took 2 Arab mares heading that way after their owner died and both once sorted , weight wise, feet, teeth etc went to my friends. 1 is hunting the other who was young is now broken and hacking nicely. Again nothing wrong with them. I enjoy it but you won't make any money out off it after the time, money that gos into them but the reward you get from seeing them progress is great.
 
If you want to do some good why not rehome from a sanctuary? That way you're getting a horse that is suitable for what you need and still doing alot of good :) I would suggest HEROS who specialise in ex racers, they can turn their hoof to anythign and are usually very loving horses.
 
Kitsune said:
Firstly I suggest you expect it not to go well (that way if it doesn't you wont be suprised)
Secondly I would have a lot of money to one side, unexpected vet problems can be the norm with badly kept/treated horses
Thirdly get a heart of stone, a lot of the time they can't be "saved"

Thats what I know from watching people like JM with her budget ponies, sometimes it goes well sometimes it doesn't and she is very knowledgeable. We've all seen her poorly ponies and the states she had them in and read the posts where they've had to be put down...

Seriously good advice.....
You CAN save some from the meatman occasionally (at BR I picked up a lovely colt who just had too much white to be in the main studbook. Therefore nobody wanted him). Colts are the one's that are worthless as such, and unless really well bred, not really wanted.
If you go down that route, be prepared to sweat blood and cry many tears, and be prepared to accept that sometimes, for thier sake, you must call it a day.
As Kitsune has pointed out, they can come with all manner of health problems, some which just cannot be solved.
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I don't think getting one from a rescue center is the same as saving one yourself but you do need to put plenty off money into one but well worth it. I find mine through word off mouth and never had any long term problems with any off them but you do need to be carefull. So many ponies go to our local slaughter house just because their kids have out grown them or just unwanted. They are not just old or injured. Do any off you know anybody who works in a slaughter house? If so you will know that plenty off decent animals go through there. A local riding school sent 3 ponies cause they couldn't sell them but nothing wrong with em at all just un wanted
 
And not being picky here or derogative here, but it's not going to just be a case of sticking a stronger bit in it's mouth either, especially an ex racer, to rush through the schooling time. If it can even be ridden

And if you're looking at a true rescue case, then you'd have to be willing to say 4 months at least with it turned away to chill and pick up condition, plus vets bills from the start getting it checked over/bloods/vaccs/worming/shoeing plus any additional feed bills, rugs, etc.
It's not cheap and after all the additional care costs after for however many months, you'll be at loss rather than in the profits if you sell.

Half the time, *most* [ie, there are exceptions] of the 'sale spiral ponies/horses' are there from ultimately poor breeders and inexperienced buyers who want a cheap horse, it misbehaves, ends up at the sales, similar people buy it, comes back to the sales...the spiral continues.

I think half the time as cruel as it can seem, it's better being PTS and out the misery of being a pillar to post sale spiral pony.

Just my two cents on it.
 
Would love to rescue horses however no monies to buy, no monies for vet bills, no monies for all feed and hay, no monies to buy equipment to help school them, no monies for farrier, no monies for lovely stables to keep them in, no monies to buy horsebox, no monies to pay for any helpers so a donation to help others who are in a position to help is my way to go..
 
Binky01 said:
And not being picky here or derogative here, but it's not going to just be a case of sticking a stronger bit in it's mouth either, especially an ex racer, to rush through the schooling time. If it can even be ridden

And if you're looking at a true rescue case, then you'd have to be willing to say 4 months at least with it turned away to chill and pick up condition, plus vets bills from the start getting it checked over/bloods/vaccs/worming/shoeing plus any additional feed bills, rugs, etc.
It's not cheap and after all the additional care costs after for however many months, you'll be at loss rather than in the profits if you sell.

Half the time, *most* [ie, there are exceptions] of the 'sale spiral ponies/horses' are there from ultimately poor breeders and inexperienced buyers who want a cheap horse, it misbehaves, ends up at the sales, similar people buy it, comes back to the sales...the spiral continues.

I think half the time as cruel as it can seem, it's better being PTS and out the misery of being a pillar to post sale spiral pony.

Just my two cents on it.
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Completely with binky on this, and the fact you are now using a DUTCH GAG on your current horse because you are too lazy to school it makes the idea of you actually succeeding with this highly unlikely.

(See post in competition riders lounge:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=381522&page=2 )
 
Monsters said:
I don't think getting one from a rescue center is the same as saving one yourself
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I agree completey, it's not the same and it's definitely not as much work or expenses but since the OP was put off by one comment saying rescuing is tough and you can often end up with a horse that is not much use I though to suggest another less extreme option.
 
Ashleigh_ said:
Completely with binky on this, and the fact you are now using a DUTCH GAG on your current horse because you are too lazy to school it makes the idea of you actually succeeding with this highly unlikely.

(See post in competition riders lounge:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=381522&page=2 )
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I agree, if you can't be bothered to school your current one properly, then what hope have you got with one that really needs time and patiance. From my exeriance, most of the horses destined for the meat man, have some sort of behavior problem, and rushing through a horse like that can cause more problems. Its also likey you will have trouble selling, or it is sold to some unsuitable, who find they can't control it, and the poor horse ends up back where it started. I think your intentions are good, but dealing with horses this way can end with spending vasts amount of money, with no garantee of a successful out come.
 
Monsters said:
I took a stunning grey ex racer who was booked into our local slaughter yard on the wed, my mate told me about him so went and had a look and he was delivered to me Sunday. I hunted him all last year and will be coming back in for this season nxt week and he is a star and nothing wrong with him.
Also took 2 Arab mares heading that way after their owner died and both once sorted , weight wise, feet, teeth etc went to my friends. 1 is hunting the other who was young is now broken and hacking nicely. Again nothing wrong with them. I enjoy it but you won't make any money out off it after the time, money that gos into them but the reward you get from seeing them progress is great.
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Yes but the difference here is that you have the experience and patience to turn a horse around - the OP just does not have that, nor, it seems does she have the patience and would rather stick a harsher bit in a horse's mouth than learn to ride it properly :(
 
I just want to comment on the 'Dutch gag' posts. My pony is well schooled and we concentrated on dressage until starting endurance. When fit and racing upto 40 miles in a day he could only be held in a dutch gag, it was all he vaguely respected when excited. Riding in a dutch gag is not neccessairly a sign of poor schooling, like everything else what works with one horse might not with another.

Now his endurance ride days are over I school and hack in a fillet baucher but if I ride in comapny he still needs a pelham at bare minimum. He is not a robot and I am afraid that all the schooling in the world will not overcome an adrenalin rush with mine!
 
Just a thought here
does anybody know the op personally? The reason I ask is maybe her horse is strong and needs a different bit?? ( sorry haven't read thread about it) I just think people on here judge some people to quickly without actually knowing them. A lot off top eventers/showjumper can have very strong bits in their mouths, so does that mean their horses aren't well schooled as well??
I am all for going back to basics and the problems horses which come to me to be schooled goes stright back to basic bits, taking all their fancy stuff off them and it does make a difference to quite a few but you do get the odd strong one who will always need a stronger bit.
 
Monsters said:
Just a thought here
does anybody know the op personally? The reason I ask is maybe her horse is strong and needs a different bit?? ( sorry haven't read thread about it) I just think people on here judge some people to quickly without actually knowing them. A lot off top eventers/showjumper can have very strong bits in their mouths, so does that mean their horses aren't well schooled as well??
I am all for going back to basics and the problems horses which come to me to be schooled goes stright back to basic bits, taking all their fancy stuff off them and it does make a difference to quite a few but you do get the odd strong one who will always need a stronger bit.
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Well if you look back through her previous posts and videos, with your experience, I'm sure you can work out what the situation is.
 
I'm not anti strong bits at all, and do use a pelham on my mare. However, I would be concerned that a horse which is rushing fences and had cuts under its chin from a curb chain after using it at a competition is being ridden a little heavy handedly :( and some horses will pull away from discomfort, so I'd definitely concentrate on going back to basics with this combination.

At fourteen years old I'd advise the OP to stay clear of 'rescuing' as it can be an expensive outlay, having to do lots of physical checks to rule out pain issues, as others have said the end result is quite possibly a case of having to pts anyway. Rehabilitation involves lots of patience and sympathetic firm but fair handling and if the op is wanting to go out and have fun competing, then a rescue isn't the horse for her.
 
OP: I think your heart is obviously in the right place, but I agree that you need experience within this area, or just a huge knowledge of horses. The thought of a horse being pushed from pillar to post is not a good thought. Perhaps this is something to learn about and aim for in the future after more years of experience. :)
 
I think some of the comments on here are outrageous!!

The OP is a child, would you speak to her like that if she spoke to you personnaly about wanting to save a slaughter horse? I think not.

To the OP.... my tb mare was bought for £150 from the sales. She was a bag of bones. It took patience and ALOT of money to get her where is is today and she is excelling in all discaplines. A beautiful, cheeky, typical thoroughbred.

It is always good to have an objective, you need to ensure that you have the capibility, money, TIME and experience in order to be successful. As for your riding/horse management capability...I would suggest having lessons, (if you are already you need to change instructor) Dutch gags, if used incorrectly, can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful, you dont want to do this to your horse....get back in the school and spend some quality training time with him.
 
Hmmmm having read the new post in CR, I am sorry, I had my doubts in the past but I now firmly believe that this is an existing member posting for a laugh under a new sign in. The OPs posts read like a 'how not to do it' manual and have now reached new heights.
 
Do you know, I was just thinking that!

After reading all of 'her' posts, I think a responsible adult on the yard would have stepped in by now

....possibley a teenage fantasist...
 
SirenaXVI said:
Hmmmm having read the new post in CR, I am sorry, I had my doubts in the past but I now firmly believe that this is an existing member posting for a laugh under a new sign in. The OPs posts read like a 'how not to do it' manual and have now reached new heights.
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You mean you don't believe that it's a complete coincidence that just days after a flurry of controversial 'rescue' posts, our innocent young child member decides to start a thread about taking 'rescuing' one herself?

Goodness me, so cynical...:D
 
Your heart is in the right place (assuming you are not a troll, if you are, shame on you!), but I think you need to think with your head here:

- putting a horse to sleep is not the worse thing that can happen to a horse so as long as it is done humanely there may not be much need to save this horse.

- neglected and abused horses do need saving, BUT they often need a lot of money, care and experience before they pull through and sometimes they can't pull through which leads to a lot of heart-ache. It's best to leave rescuing to professionals.

If you want to help I would suggest you:
- donate money and time to a rescue centre. They are always looking for volunteers and you can actively help horses in need.
- campaign to end cruel practices such as the live transport of horses. This can make a real difference to the welfare of thousands of horses.
- rehome a horse from a rescue centre. They can help match you with a horse that suits your needs and you will be freeing up a space for another rescue at the centre.
 
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