There are often injuries, especially with geldings, that while not life threatening are career ending, especially when it involves the legs. This is often something that takes a great deal of time to heal. It may involve a bone in the foot such as a sesamoid injury or a tendon injury.

This beautiful boy is Slews Enough and he is available for adoption, along with many other wonderful thoroughbreds, at ReRun, Inc.

Following veterinarian orders exactly is key towards a successful recovery. Minor injuries may just take some time hand-walking the horse while other injuries can involve learning to properly wrap the leg and apply medicines to the injury.

Additionally, be sure to ask if the horse has been on medications on the track. Follow advice if withdrawal times are needed. Ask about a history of colic – some horses that are nervous can be prone to bouts of colic, especially triggered by life changes. Retirement can be such a life change.

Consider that mentally everything in this horse’s life changes with retirement. He has perhaps become used to being groomed and working on the race track for a mile or so before most people are out of bed. He is cooled out, gets his hearty breakfast and settles in for a snooze. From the most basic of care this changes when he’s brought to your home. Sometimes a horse that has already been “let down” may be a better selection, especially if this is your first horse.

Most thoroughbreds have been very used to veterinarians and although some simply accept this as part of the day others can be very difficult to handle when the veterinarian arrives. This is especially true if it’s a horse that has had health issues requiring a lot of care, much like a person who finally reaches a point of saying “no more doctors!”

Because of the requirements of many tracks these horses will normally be up to date on vaccinations including the Coggins test for equine infectious anemia, which is required in many states. They are familiar with being handled regularly for shoeing, although sometimes the feet are trimmed and shod differently than saddle horses.  This can mean an adjustment for the horse as the foot grows out. A reliable farrier is needed to get the feet at a natural, correct angle.

The race horse, by the nature of his work, uses a great deal of energy so can also consume a great deal of feed. To avoid metabolic upset the horse’s feed should be adjusted to suit the slower pace of retirement. This will also drop the energy level of the horse.

Among the problems that can occur is colic, founder and excessive weight gain. All three of these may even be ‘related.’ Some race horses may have ulcers, which can be helped simply by adding a tablespoon or two of baking soda to the feed. If the horse doesn’t clean up the feed on a regular basis, this may be the reason.

So be prepared for the possibility of physical ailments that can come with taking on an equine athlete and the adjustment in routine and activity level and you will have taken the  first important steps in rehabilitating a racehorse.

When God created the horse, he said to the magnificent creature: I have made thee as no other. All the treasures of the earth shall lie between thy eyes. Thou shalt cast thy enemies between thy hooves, but thou shalt carry my friends upon thy back. Thy saddle shall be the seat of prayers to me. And thou fly without any wings, and conquer without any sword. ~ The Koran

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

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