Rescue A Thoroughbred Racehorse

Racehorses can do many things after they retire from the track. With a good pedigree many retire to the breeding shed, while others become hunters or jumpers or dressage mounts, and still others can fill a variety of positions under saddle. Still there are horses, most commonly geldings, who have no breeding future. If injured they can have what can be an extensive recovery ahead that many are unwilling to give them.

For those interested in just a pet these retired thoroughbreds can fill the bill very well. However they do need some experienced hands and understanding. They aren’t like other horses in many ways.

Metinicus was scheduled to be euthanized because of a fractured hind leg. Happily, he was rescued and is doing well. This beautiful creature needs a forever home. Find out more about him and other adoptable horses at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption.

The biggest thing to remember about an off the track racehorse is that even when injured they can be a handful. They typically have had more handling than the average horse on a day to day basis and are fit. They are used to getting out and working hard daily. The love of running can override their mind sometimes.

Before taking on a racehorse you will need a very good grasp on horse handling including discipline. This means insisting on manners and basic safe handling.

Additionally you will need a small paddock area for turnout. Remember these are horses bred to run. Even the slow ones often run for the sheer joy of running in the field. Some will run themselves to injury or “tying up”. A smaller paddock reduces the chance that they can get themselves worked up as is likely in a big field. And it’s often best if initially they can see other horses but not be in the same field. This can help give the horse time to relax without being challenged.

If you are ready for a challenge, have experience and/or are willing to learn, a racehorse may be the right thing for you. They are horses that have seen a great deal on the track. They’ve received daily handling but are not “push button” horses.  However, if you want more than a pasture pet, do read up on the training and nature of racehorses to reduce the risk of injury to both you and your horse.

“Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.” ~ W.C. Fields

Understanding Basic Horse Behavior

This is Promise. She was found wandering in traffic outside Denver, hungry, afraid and assumed abandoned. She is available for adoption from Colorado Horse Rescue.

When keeping horses it is important to understand the horse from a horse’s “language.” There is much mystery made by ‘horse whisperers’ and much money made from it when what it boils down to is watching your horse.

The views on horse handling can vary as much as the individuals involved. If you watch horses interact they can be very gentle and yet also quite vicious. A dominant horse will put another in their place with kicks and bites that we humans cannot begin to inflict on them. However if we understand the horse we do not have to.

A firm swat is enough to get through to a horse but this does not mean beating the horse. An adage from a wise horseman is the first swat is discipline, the second revenge. The horse is a physical animal and communicates much with body language.

If you watch a dominate horse walk through the herd she will snake her head low with ears pinned flat – this is a signal that says to others “GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

A male, especially a stallion, will challenge with a raised head. It is this attempt to raise the head higher that can lead to horses rearing to challenge each other.

These things we can imitate by use of a stock whip. This is a last resort to tap the horse but is used to communicate. With a whip we can raise it higher than the horse’s head. We can wave it waist high to tell a horse to move.

We can also stop and allow the horse to approach. A punishment for the horse is to be driven from the herd. In the wild a lone horse is in danger – he can be more easily taken down by predators.

Keep in mind as a prey animal the horse’s two defenses are flight or fight. Flight is running – a horse that is injured or confined loses that option. As handlers we want to insure cooperation and not bring the fight option up.

It is important to remember that a horse can strike, kick, bite and stallions have been known to lie down on and even urinate on a person they have mauled. These are horses that have not had a solid balance of discipline and affection. Too much of one or the other and they can easily lose respect for the human as a leader. The results can be horrific.

Horses that have been abused can, like people, have that fight instinct very close to the surface. For a dominant individual this takes very careful handling. For a submissive individual that fight can be channeled into getting better.

One of your best teachers for communication will be the horses themselves. Watch them interact – the mares with foals and adults with young horses. Even among weanlings of the same age there will be a herd dynamic with boss horses and bottom ones – a “pecking order” so to speak.

The horse, then, automatically understands posturing for dominance and figures who is serious about enforcement and who is not. Those who are serious normally have to do little to maintain their position.

Observe horses in a group and make a note to be that boss animal…the leader. Find ways to mimic their actions. For us a kick or bite can be replaced with a threat or swat with a whip, but even this must be done carefully.

This equally doesn’t mean beating a horse senseless! Remember – being willing to follow through often means you don’t have to. When the horse knows you *will* deliver a swat he sees you as that upper ranking leader. There is no challenging the leader.

Watch the horses – they have much to teach you about their language.

“The horse, the horse! The symbol of surging potency and power of movement, of action.” ~ D.H. Lawrence

5 Tips For Horse Abuse Rehab

This is Brave. He’s blind and was headed to slaughter when he was rescued from the feedlot. Brave is now safely homed at the Golden Carrot Rescue Sanctuary but he needs a sponsor as of this writing. Please help him or one of the other rescues at the sanctuary.

An abused horse may not just be physically in poor shape. Certainly this is something that is seen. We see the long or cracked feet, the ribs and hips showing and the bad coat. What we can’t see right away is the mental effect this has on the horse.

Because of this, rehabilitating a horse that has been abused can be a tricky affair.

1. Gaining weight without overloading the system is a finely tuned balancing act. It cannot be overstated to have a good equine veterinarian on the ‘team’. This can direct you in getting enough feed, and the right kind of feed, to provide weight gain without causing colic or founder from a sudden increase to the system. Plenty of hay is needed more than grains. The horse that has been starved can sometimes be food aggressive when they get feed. This is especially true if they were in a group situation where they perhaps had to fight for what they got.
2. Feet are often one of the last things considered unless long or cracked. Keeping feet in good condition really does help the rest of the horse. Problems can show up here first, from founder to abscesses and thrush. Pain in the feet can also affect the horse’s attitude.
3. Mental issues may not immediately present themselves. This can vary from nervous habits to aggression to fearful behavior in particular situations. Even horses that face the same situation can react differently. Two that clearly showed this came from not getting enough to eat. As they began to physically change the one colt became aggressive – as if never going to do without again. The other one was so afraid that merely hitting a fence would send him running for an exit or, if pressed, trying to create one.
4. Pay special attention to balancing discipline with praise. Horses don’t give much importance to words but do to body language. The lack of discipline can be seen by some horses as weakness. In a horse’s world this is not only NOT someone to follow as leader but is also not worthy of respect. This can create aggression and training issues and is definitely something to prevent rather than try to fix.
5. Young horses can be even more difficult if they’ve never had consistent handling. Those that have been turned out on pasture and not handled can see humans as unworthy leaders, making a tricky situation in being firm on discipline without destroying their confidence. For the novice it’s worth the money to get a good trainer to put the basics on such horses. Remember training is for life – without being able to handle the horse he’s much more apt to end up in the same situation again.

It’s obvious to see the physical, but don’t overlook the “mental fallout” of mistreatment. These issues may not show right away and some resilient horses may bounce back unaffected. For others it can challenge the understanding of the horse’s language.

“A good horseman can hear a horse talk, a great horseman can hear a horse whisper”.  Monty Roberts (the horse whisperer)

Select An Equine Rescue With Care

There are a wide range of organizations and individuals you can get a rescue horse from. These may vary from free to a fee depending on how ‘marketable’ the animal is. Some may specialize in a certain breed, such as those for retiring race horses or show horses, while others handle horses along with dogs and cats.

Butterfinger Baby is a beautiful chestnut mare who is available for adoption as of this writing at Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue.

For those looking for an ex-race horse and who are close enough to tracks in racing states to get them there are several options. TheHorse.com maintains a list of free thoroughbreds and standardbreds on their site, often in New York, Maryland, Florida, Pennsylvania and other racing states, but sometimes in other areas too. These are usually geldings or mares but occasionally a stallion. For most beginners a gelding can be a great option as they are usually easier to house and care for than stallions.

Another option is canterusa.org which is divided into several areas. With many of these cases you have more choices if you have a trailer and a home ready, along with the ability to go get the horse quickly. There is typically a fee of $500 and up on these, and they are often direct from the racetrack.

Still other rescues may handle those horses that are neglected and abused. These can have more restrictions such as living in a certain area. For many of these you do not own the horse and there are restrictions as to the care of the horse. You cannot sell the horse or breed her. They may also restrict what you can do with the horse. Some may require unannounced inspections and disagreement can result in losing the horse for violating policy without a refund of the fees paid.

It does pay to have a very clear idea of what your facility and experience is as well as what you want the horse for. There are many animals, especially in the racing community, that are simply pasture pets because of injuries, while others may be suitable for light riding once their injuries heal.

Another option that catches the eye of many is the mustang adoptions. These are exceptional animals and can take a great deal of patience and work to overcome the wild instincts. There are very specific fencing and housing requirements as well as transportation requirements to get a horse or burro from a wild horse or burro event.

Each rescue organization will have their own requirements. Read them carefully as some state that changes in location, ownership, and such must be reported – if you are boarding and move the horse you may be in violation, even if it’s moving to a better stable. Know what you are agreeing to before you get attached to a horse.

If you are looking to own a horse with fewer restrictions one of the retired racehorses may be the ticket. Whether you are looking for just a pet, an occasional ride or a competition horse there is a wide range of horses in need of homes.  There are free horses out there but do be aware the costs may add up if there are injuries and issues to deal with from both a physical and mental standpoint. Find the best horse for what you need.

“Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.”  ~W.C. Fields

Driving While Drunk and Dragging a Horse

Dick Francis is one of my very favorite authors. For those of you who don’t know, Mr Francis is a very successful National Hunt jockey-turned-writer of more than forty best-selling novels with plots that revolve around the horse-racing community. In one of his mysteries horses are being mutilated by having their legs hacked off. It was a hard story for me to read at times but it was only a story.

Unfortunately, equine abuse is a serious issue and one that appears to be on the rise. The most frequent problem is malnourishment but then, there are cases like this one:

The horse was in the trailer, tied with a rope around his neck. Driving along the road the trailer door came open. The horse fell out and was dragged along the asphalt road by the neck. Here’s the thing – the driver was rip-roaring drunk. And here’s the result of his liquored-up stupor….

This poor beast has an uncertain future ahead of him. Bouncing on his back, sides and legs as he was dragged has flayed his skin to the muscle and bone. With two broken ribs, three injured legs and dangerous swelling, the horse, named Lucky Chance by his rescuers, may not be so lucky as to survive. Painkillers, antibiotics and IV fluids are helping to fight his critical condition but recovery, assuming he doesn’t suffer kidney failure or other setbacks, will take three to six month.

Deputies found the driver of the vehicle stumbling around and saying he was “looking for his horsey”. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The man also had no license at the time of the arrest and it was discovered he is wanted for probation revocation. Humane Society officials want him charged with animal cruelty, which could bring up to five years in jail and a $5000 fine for a felony conviction. The case is still open, so no other charges have been filed as yet and may never be.

In the eyes of the law, horses (and other animals) are simply chattel (belongings). They have no rights, which means their abusers can all too easily get away with terrible cruelty. Societies that have governmental authority to take abused animals from owners are often over-worked and under-budgeted, so only the worst cases have a chance of rescue. And as long as retribution is light or non-existent, there is little to deter the brutality and neglect.

As for Lucky Chance’s abuser, the man may even be feeling remorse for what he did but, a drunk is a drunk and probably nothing will change that. So I hope he at least is charged and convicted at the highest level. And I hope that Lucky lives up to his name.

If you’d like to get involved in horse rescue, search for groups in your area or check these sites:

Equine Advocates

International Generic Horse Association

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man”.  ~ Winston Churchill