I keep reading all of these really sad stories about abandoned and neglected horses all over the U.S. (They keep saying hay costs and shortages are contributing to the abandonment and neglect.) With all these surviving horses going to rescues, I'm thinking about doing a little more than just contributing some money. Has anyone here ever run a rescue or have you adopted a rescued horse? Can you share your experiences or provide some advice?

Colin, I almost bought a horse out of a rescue in Pa. My trainer said to "Watch Out!". Many have very serious problems (medical or tempermental) so, depending on what you want to take on, it might not be for you. Some of these places also rescue horses from the track. Many race trainers/owners will just leave behind horses that didn't run well in the races. There could be nothing wrong except they were just too slow. They are left in the stalls- period. Just think logically though, they were left behind most likely because of an injury of some sort that they didn't want to spend the money on to treat/fix. Just be careful and thorough with your choice if you decide to go that route...........CJ

yeah colins just be careful if you rescue, sometimes they are there for a reason, it is great if you can and have the room, but sometimes the animals are "special needs" and for a horse that means alot more Meds per pound than say a dog with special needs.

But more power to ya if you can help, I admire the rescue places that dedicate there land and efforts. My heart couldn't take it..

You are right about most rescues have racehorses and most do have soundness issues, and they may be alittle high strung, but with the right approach and patients of a person, these horses turn out to be wonderful!!!

Regarding trainers and owners just leaving the horses in their stalls and abandoning them is a mith! Each trainer has to pay stall rent per stall they have in the barn, so it would be impractical to just leave the horse in the barn and keep paying on it. Those horses are usually take back to the farm, sold, given away, or sent to auctions. Also, if the horse isn't showing much as far as speed, its usually because they have a soundness issue.

Rescues are a great way to adopting a horse, taken you have horse knowledge, time, facilities, and patients. Rescues are up front about the horse(s) soundness, temperament, and also offer to take the horse back provided the home did not work out or the owner cannot care for the horse anymore. I know of countless secuess about adopting. I would not be negative towards it unless you check it out first.

I think adopting is a great idea if you have the time for working through the problems that will come along with it. I have always planned on adopting a Thoroughbred.. There are also places that rescue and then train horses. Specifically, I have the Secretariat Center in mind (its located in the Kentucky Horse Park).

I have adopted and rescued several horses within the past 6-7 years. It has always been well worth my time. The general horses that came here were ones that had not been fed properly, just dropped off in the pasture and forgotten, too young to train under saddle, or just uneeded horses for that farm.
If they needed feeding or veterinary care, I gave it, needed training they got it- and then I re-home them to a caring and responsible home unless I had a use for them here. I have always been able to make the money for my time and costs back in selling them to a responsible horse buyer.