If I offered to take on a rescue horse how many takers would I have?

MrsElle

MrsElle

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Not a very well worded title, but after reading a thread in which someone said they were having trouble rehoming a pony I was wondering how many ponies/horses out there that in desperate need of a home.

We have a sort of rescue going on at home, mainly dogs and we used to take in cats and wondered if we offered a couple of spaces for horses/ponies. I know the local rescue centres are bursting at the seams at the moment and are turning people away, so would taking on a couple to add to our brood make that much difference? I guess it would to the two we took on and their owners, but what do you think?
 
You could take my mare
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I'm struggling to afford to keep her at the moment, but she can't really be ridden so I can't sell her and don't want to loan her as wouldn't trust people.

I'm trying to struggle through as I should be better off financially in another 12months *fingerscrossed* so it shouldn't be a problem then.

I imagine you'd get loads of 'takers' on your offer
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I guess it would to the two we took on and their owners, but what do you think?

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Precisely. Although probably offering a home via one of the big charities is the better way to go. That then leaves space for them to rescue more.
 
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I guess it would to the two we took on and their owners, but what do you think?

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Precisely. Although probably offering a home via one of the big charities is the better way to go. That then leaves space for them to rescue more.

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Good thinking! Hadn't thought of that one, Doh
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I think its a fantastic idea if you can afford to do it, something I would love to be able to do.

What Amymay said re through the charity would be great if you can.
 
Thing is I think you would just get people palming off old/lame horses on to you that cannot be ridden anymore, just so they dont have to take on the final desision of having them put down. The definition of rescuing horses is for example rescuing them from places like spindles farm where they are near to death, not where people just dont want them.
A few years ago we had a neighbour who had 2 ponies and a shetland they were all late teens, anyway she cared for them very well, but then got a gentleman friend who didnt like horses, he kept taking her away for romantic weekends, we looked after the ponies etc, eventually its was getting that the ponies were a burden on this relationship and no longer fitted into her life style as well as her cats. She phoned Brandsby, ILPH Redwings etc all the sanctuaries, not one of the would take completly healthy animals just cos she didnt want them anymore, they told her to just put them down. Eventually she found a retirement home to have them but she still has to pay livery for them.
Iam just saying you sound an extremly good hearted person but dont get dumped on. Only rescue the ones that are in need of rescuing.
 
If you want to rescue speak to Bransby - they are based in Lincoln so near you and they are always full to the brim and can only take 'proper' rescue cases now but do have an adoption scheme and are always looking for good homes. My mare comes from there and we also have a mini shetland of theirs to - as others have said by taking one of theirs you make room for another poor soul in need.

PM me if you would like the contact details of the girl who deals with the adoptions.
 
What a wonderful thing to do. You would have to vet the horses and their situations very carefully, perhaps giving priority to real emergencies. For example, upon my death my OH just would not know what to do with my boy so in the event could he come to you? Even until a forever home was found? Also, if you have space, have you ever thought of respite care, perhaps for owners who would really like a break but just cannot find anyone to help them.
 
So if I want someone to take on the upkeep of my useless horse all I have to do is starve her and let her get really scruffy then she'll be a viable "rescue" case?
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I'm just not sure if I buy into the whole rescuing thing at all, Franch or English. If people can't or don't want to care for their horses for whatever reason, and the horses are not fit for selling they should just pts IMO, not neglect them long enough so that eventually a charity will come along and rescue them.

OP, you'd get thousands of offers, there are countless unrideable horses in the country that people would rather not be funding, but they are their owners responsibility, not yours. It would be a very generous thing to do, but for the two you help you'll have to disappoint many more owners grasping at chances to avoid making the decision.
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It could be a slippery slope you may find yourself sliding down.

I am completely fed up with my mare, can't get her in foal, have lost interest as she isn't good enough for me, costs a bloody fortune during the winter so I'll just find a field and chuck her out whilst I look for a nice new spankly one to have fun with - but hang on, I could palm her off on you with a good enough sob story - job done, all happy, offer you a donation and never have to see her again.

So now who's the mug?

If you decide to go ahead - make sure you have your eyes wide open
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(PS: the above was an example! I am not fed up with my mare (well not most of the time) nor am I chucking her out in a field.......but more importantly, I would never ever send her to a charity or retirement home
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As someone with a pony that needs a home, but has boball chance of finding one given his 'funny little ways', I would worry what home he would be going to (one of the reasons he hasn't gone), hence still hanging on to him by the skin of my teeth. I worry that someone else would take him thinking they can cure/fix/retrain him - there's every chance he'd end up at the bottom of a market listing very quickly. At least this way I know no-one will get on who can't handle him, etc.

Not to say I don't think you'd provide a good home for horses that need one MrsE, I just think it's a very tricky place to be.
 
I do a bit of this. We have land rented and just cos the way it works out, we have more grazing that really we need. We only have two horses and a donk. All rescues but the field at the mo is 6 acres. Basically we went and talked to a rescue organisation and offered that if they needed temp grazing until they sorted out space etc. we would help. So when they do a seizure and don't have space, they come to us for a bit of peace and quiet and then when the organisation has a space or a more permanent arrangement. They move them to their new home. We have fencced off paddocks on the opposite side of the field to my horses so they never have direct contact but can see each other. It means they can carry out seizuress without worrying where they will put the animals. Takes a bit of pressure off. Hard bit is if the horses get awarded back and you have got to know them.
 
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