Where to rescue mistreated horses?

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If you wanted to rescue a horse from a not-so-nice place, where are the best places to find them? for example, horses going for meat/slaughter horses, mistreated gypsy horses, ottb’s, just places that generally treat horses not the best? thanks
 
Rescue centres are full to bursting at the moment whereabouts are you? If you google your local horse sanctuary you should be able to find one that's a member of the national equine welfare council who check out their members facilities and practices. Their animals also have be quarantined, vet checked, have seen the dentist, the farrier, been microchipped, passports and rehabilitated before being offered for rehoming.
 
Kaylum said:
Rescue centres are full to bursting at the moment whereabouts are you? If you google your local horse sanctuary you should be able to find one that's a member of the national equine welfare council who check out their members facilities and practices. Their animals also have be quarantined, vet checked, have seen the dentist, the farrier, been microchipped, passports and rehabilitated before being offered for rehoming.
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Yes, and also they will be able to match you up with something suitable. An invaluable service IMO!
 
Carrottom said:
What makes you say that ottbs atr mistreated?
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In the interest of tact I did not ask that question....I was assuming the OP might be young? But it's true, you only have to look at all the work EKW puts in finding suitable new homes for their horses to realise that many racehorses are cared about by responsible owners and trainers (I think it's EKW, apologies if I've misremembered)
 
meleeka said:
New Forest sales. Not that they are mistreated and generally have a lovely life before the sale, but some of the colts do go for meat.
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Yes this is true, the riding school I learned to ride at was in Hampshire and a lot of our ponies came from the New Forest sales. And they were cracking ponies. If you've got the experience to make something out of a youngster and don't mind a smaller native type then that is definitely where I'd go
 
Widgeon said:
In the interest of tact I did not ask that question....I was assuming the OP might be young? But it's true, you only have to look at all the work EKW puts in finding suitable new homes for their horses to realise that many racehorses are cared about by responsible owners and trainers (I think it's EKW, apologies if I've misremembered)
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Yes, and many aren't... as with every area of the horse world.
 
Michen said:
Yes, and many aren't... as with every area of the horse world.
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Oh yes, I'm not disputing that, I just thought that a blanket assumption that all racehorses are poorly treated wasn't very accurate. But OP has anyway clarified that she's aware that it's not that straightforward.
 
Experience (or experienced help) is a must, any equine that has been mistreated or neglected will come with baggage and you will need to retrain them without making them worse. Even if it's over valuing food resources and defending them, as those who have been kept short of food, or being uncatchable because they have learned the lesson of never trusting humans only too well. Good intentions and "love" just aren't enough
 
I don't think ottbs are mistreated but a lot of them do go for slaughter here.

ETA: my boy was going for slaughter and he is an absolute legend, I do not regret buying him at all at 3. He came well mannered and in good condition. There are plenty like him over here. He wasn't broken to ride but was really easy to do and never bucked or reared or as much as put an ear back.
 
Leo Walker said:
If you pay for a horse from anywhere other than a legitimate rescue then you aren't rescuing it, you are buying it.
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This. Many horses that the owners like to refer to as a rescue are just horses that they have bought on the open market.

It costs the RSPCA about £5k to get each neglected equine they take in to be fit enough to be rehomed. Of course they have staff wages and overheads to cover, but it is not a cheap process. Taking on a rehabilitated rescue from a reputable equine charity frees up space for the next needy soul.
 
Is there a particular reason that you want a mistreated horse?

To my mind, offering a secure, kind, appropriate home to a horse is valuable regardless of whether it’s been well treated or mistreated.

I’d look for the horse that best suited my requirements, experience-level and available infrastructure.

A thoroughbred and a Gypsy cob are very different beasts. Coming from poor circumstances doesn’t make them have anything more in common from a needs perspective.
 
JillA said:
Experience (or experienced help) is a must, any equine that has been mistreated or neglected will come with baggage and you will need to retrain them without making them worse. Even if it's over valuing food resources and defending them, as those who have been kept short of food, or being uncatchable because they have learned the lesson of never trusting humans only too well. Good intentions and "love" just aren't enough
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i’m sorry but what makes you think i don’t have experience, time, patience or that i don’t have ‘enough’ to give a mistreated horse?
 
Out of interest OP why are you looking to rescue a horse in particular, rather than loan or buy in the normal way of things?

When I was involved in rescue it was very often experienced foster homes that were badly needed for the early stages of rehab. Having somewhere to send them for a few months or even a few years with the real babies, freed up space at the actual rescue premises for the more urgent and damaged ones needing vet care and daily nursing.

Would this be something you could do? Personally I love looking after horses day to day as much as riding and have more land than I need so it was a no brainer for me. I used to take a few coblets just for summer months and the pleasure of watching them come off the lorry, unsure, nervous, often still a little underweight and so in need of Dr. Green and my daily hands on with them.......the difference when they went back to the rescue winter quarters was such a pleasure to see and I am sure their summer holidays with me were a great benefit - could you offer this?
 
ellie_js said:
i’m sorry but what makes you think i don’t have experience, time, patience or that i don’t have ‘enough’ to give a mistreated horse?
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I didn't say that any of that applied to you - methinks you do protest too much. (TBH if you did have the experience and expertise you wouldn't be asking the question on here, you would be out there helping a local rescue and sourcing horses for them)
 
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