Owning a orse from rescue centres...any experience out there?

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ChestnutConvert

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I've been told to possibly consider 'buying' a horse from rescue, reputable horse charities that is, as it can be more affordable and you also have a back up if things happen. This would be my first horse, although i have had loans in the past.

Has anybody done this and got any opinions on doing it? Or would i be better saving that little bit more and out rightly buying my own?

Since i can't edit the title i do mean horse not orse!
 
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Friend of mine had one as her first horse. Cracking mare, absolutely lovely to ride. The added benefit that was when her circumstances changed she didn't have to worry about her future, as the charity took her back in. I would happily have one, and fully intend to look when I am in a position to look after one properly.:)
 
If you have no intention of selling the horse on then it is a very good way as long as they have a suitable horse and it is a reputable source, they have done the work with the horse, they don't want it falling into the wrong hands again so will ensure you and horse are correctly matched, and if by some travesty you had to give it back, you don't need to worry about the equine market etc as it will just go back to the rescue, it is not buying but adopting, the same as dogs or cats etc. You don't need to worry about lies being told etc, and will be helping a horse who's had a bad part of it's life lifted and also free up the space to help another......

The problem will always be whether they have something suitable.....
 
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I've had a quick look in the past and can find reasonably suitable horses sometimes but am wondering if you would be able to compete or train dressage? Might seem a silly question, don't want to get too high up or have crazy goals at the mo, more fun and a big interest in dressage that i'd like to carrry on.
 
World Horse Welfare had a horse that went to WEG in Aachen with the vaulting team... what was the question again?:D

My mate did dressage with her horse, they were placed every time:)
 
The horse would be regarded as yours so as long as you weren't planning on taking a horse suitable only for hacking due to an old injury or something into the showjumping ring! Then yes you can compete to whatever level you can both get to, just be honest with the rescue about what you are looking to do.
 
Brilliant, that's definitely lifted a weight for me as getting a bit worried on not having a great budget then finding a good safe, sound horse etc. This might be a good intro into what it's like to own.
 
i got my guy from a rescue and its been fantastic. the backup from the charity is great, and in future when my hubby is getting one, i would def use them again.
 
We had one from the Blue Cross many years ago - he actually was with someone else but they needed to find anew home for him so I assume the Blue Cross was told and we took him on (for my mum). He was 22 at the time and a nice horse if a bit of a character - had a tremendous buck in him when he was having a good old gallop. We had him until he dies aged 36 so I think he had a pretty good innings. The Blue Cross would check on him everyso often and were always very nice.

I actually think it's a good idea. There are plenty of horses who for one reason or another have ended up there, they do not necessarily have to have problems plus you have the backup of the rescue if you need help or advice and, if things didn't work out for any reason you know that they will be able to take the horse back. However, I think they do really hope people intend to keep the horses for life but understandably this isn't alwasy possible in some cases.
 
Nothing wrong with it at all.

The only thing is that many horses with charities are there for a reason, finding a suitable horse very much depends on why they ended up there.

Were they simply a casualty of the economic climate/family circumstances? In which case they may well be sound and fit to go on to do many things (Remember the RSPCA don't allow you to hunt their adopted horses, although since hunting only involves trails now they may have changed their ruling on that as chasing socks doesn't involve cruelty to said sock;))

If, on the other hand a horse has been rescued from auctions or killpens then there may be physical or mental reasons that they were there and you have to take that into consideration, some really would have been better off left where they were.

I do know what I am wittering about as I have friends who run a Rescue centre and 70% of my Boarding horses come from them via the killpens, bought at 35 cents per lb.

Some are completely sound, some have horrific scars, are partially lame, very old, have COPD, laminitis, navicular or have attitude that involves thoughtful handling (two of the geldings are incredibly horse aggressive and have to be kept individually for example) I have a super pinto filly here, totally sound, 2 years old and she has a great future ahead of her because someone rescued her, if you are inclined, don't write off perhaps getting a youngster to bring on.

The majority of 'mine' are terribly sweet, well trained and probably well bred, horses loved to pieces by their owners, and have an easy and comfortable 'retirement' here. If they are ridden it is only for a half hour or so ambling around the trails, nothing they can't manage.

Being so closely involved with rescues makes me so very, very angry at times, why can't owners just grow some cojones and have the poor beasts pts rather than get a couple hundred dollars for them in the ring?
 
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