Rescue Horses

by Elaine Polny
(Palgrave, Ontario, Canada)

It's unfortunate that there are so many abused horses in this world yet it is honorable that there are horse rescue societies out there willing to help. The problem I see from many horse rescue programs is the fact that many of these horses are going "from the frying pan into the fire!"

What I mean is the good intentions from the people are not always in the best interest of the horse in the end. Sure, it's nothing short of criminal that horses are discarded like a spoiled sandwich such as all the horses that go through the race track industry but is the next life competing in the jumping or dressage ring a better option? Or becoming a trail horse in a dude string? Or being given to someone who is unprepared or knowledgeable enough to offer them the rehabilitation that they so often need?

I have personally witnessed three horse rescue programs where the horses are taking from poor conditions just to be placed in similar situations. Many of these facilities rely so much on donations they live day to day trying to find enough money to feed the horses and themselves let alone be able to maintain hoof trimming, dental and medical needs. This causes the horses to be adopted to the first person willing to take them.

Even our local S.P.C.A doesn't have the means or manpower to follow up once a horse has been adopted out.


Our intentions might be in the right place but for whom? Our egos? Or the horses well being? Is it more satisfying to say, "I rescued this horse from slaughter?" Is death worse than further abuse and neglect? But we miss the original problem.......

The original problem is that society has created these unwanted horses to begin with. How? Through the sports we have come up with to "use" the horses. It's nothing short of "gambling" with a horse's life!

At least in Canada we decided that Greyhound racing was abusive and sadistic so it is banned. The dogs were being bred for the sole reason to race and where money is involved greed follows then abuse finds it way in. I see no difference in what we are doing with our horses.

The price we put on life!? Have you ever wondered why some horses are worth millions while others are free? Only those horses who are forced to compete in some ridiculous sport we made up for our amusement are considered to be worth more than another. To me this is like saying one person's life is worth more than another. Can that be true? Not for me it can't.

Until we address the original problem we are just "enabling" those to bred indiscriminately and thus will continue to create those horses who end up in rescue programs. It's a vicious circle!