Why is there a need for Horse Rescue?
I get asked this question often. Suprisingly, when I found the love of horses I was clueless that these gorgeous gentle giants would ever find themselves in a precarious situation, through no fault of their own.
Over breeding and money are at the top of the list of enemies of the horse.
Owners looking for that perfect competition horse, that superbly bred racing thoroughbred, that will bring in millions. The gorgeous family horse or lesson horse that brought hours of love and fun that has aged and can no longer be ridden and becomes an expense they choose not to deal with.
Then we have the ‘Sport of Kings’. also known as Horse Racing. Where very young under developed horses are forced to run as fast as they can. Sometimes they are forced to run filled with pain meds, because as long as they are running there may be a chance.
Horses are naturally herd animals, meaning they want and need to be around other horses or at the very least other animals. But as soon as they are ready to be removed from their moms, they are put alone in a stall for 23 out of 24 hours. Virtually zero access to see or socialise with other horses. They are taken from their stall to train and are put right back. No pasture time or free play time.
If a horse is ‘washed up’ as they say in the business, due to injuries or over medicating and become a burden their future is reliant on Rescue by large groups like Humane Society and local thoroughbred rescues who retrain these gentle giants for a new career such as Eventing
Over breeding and money are at the top of the list of enemies of the horse.
Owners looking for that perfect competition horse, that superbly bred racing thoroughbred, that will bring in millions. The gorgeous family horse or lesson horse that brought hours of love and fun that has aged and can no longer be ridden and becomes an expense they choose not to deal with.
Then we have the ‘Sport of Kings’. also known as Horse Racing. Where very young under developed horses are forced to run as fast as they can. Sometimes they are forced to run filled with pain meds, because as long as they are running there may be a chance.
Horses are naturally herd animals, meaning they want and need to be around other horses or at the very least other animals. But as soon as they are ready to be removed from their moms, they are put alone in a stall for 23 out of 24 hours. Virtually zero access to see or socialise with other horses. They are taken from their stall to train and are put right back. No pasture time or free play time.
If a horse is ‘washed up’ as they say in the business, due to injuries or over medicating and become a burden their future is reliant on Rescue by large groups like Humane Society and local thoroughbred rescues who retrain these gentle giants for a new career such as Eventing
I found myself into the rescue of Racehorses after reading the ‘Saving Baby’ written by Jo Anne Normile. See: http://www.savingbaby.com/jo-anne-normile.html I came away, knowing I had to help anyway I could, as the public had no idea about the life of a Racehorse.
From there I supported the group that advocates for the horses by showing how many are killed on the track. See: https://horseracingwrongs.org/
If they are not rescued their value is in their weight. Which means they are bought and sold by Kill buyers and sold for slaughter. This is the simplest way to put it.
This journey is HORRIBLE in every sense of the word. They are put together in herding pens. Fighting and disease is the least of their problems. Lack of food, water and eventually crowded onto cattle trucks and driven with all disrespect for the law that covers Humane transport of live animals across the borders to Mexico. Here they are savagely treated until they die, all this is for their meat that is consumed in various parts of the world. All this is illegal but happens daily.
An undercover video was taken in Australia showing the end of Racehorses, believe me I have seen worse here in the USA. The videos are taken down very quickly. The Australian video is posted for your review, PLEASE NOTE THIS IS GRAPHIC!!!
If they are not rescued their value is in their weight. Which means they are bought and sold by Kill buyers and sold for slaughter. This is the simplest way to put it.
This journey is HORRIBLE in every sense of the word. They are put together in herding pens. Fighting and disease is the least of their problems. Lack of food, water and eventually crowded onto cattle trucks and driven with all disrespect for the law that covers Humane transport of live animals across the borders to Mexico. Here they are savagely treated until they die, all this is for their meat that is consumed in various parts of the world. All this is illegal but happens daily.
An undercover video was taken in Australia showing the end of Racehorses, believe me I have seen worse here in the USA. The videos are taken down very quickly. The Australian video is posted for your review, PLEASE NOTE THIS IS GRAPHIC!!!
These Breeders are over breeding to try and find that next ‘Secretariat’ and the constant need for more money and fame, will NOT stop until the support of these tracks are stopped. Until then we are rescuers can help as many as we can.
