Horse Rescue

Learn about rescuing horses

If you're looking to bring a new equine friend into your life, consider adopting from a horse rescue organization.

Across the country, hundreds of loving, gentle animals currently call a horse sanctuary home. Rescue organizations take in horses that others have neglected or abused. Some organizations buy unwanted horses from local auctions, thereby saving them from the slaughterhouse.

Rescue horses sometimes suffer from horrendous health problems, such as cracked or rotting hooves, joint issues, malnourishment or dehydration. They may also have personality problems from being treated poorly.

However, with the proper medications and a lot of love and personal attention, many rescue horses recover and go on to be fantastic friends. Horse adoption is a wonderful (and often cheaper) way to welcome a deserving older horse into your family.

Race Horse Rescue

The racetrack is a tough place for horses: they are worked very hard from a very early age and usually retire by the time they're four or five years old. An injury can take them off the field even faster. Because these horses are expensive to maintain, many trainers and horse breeders have no use for them once their racing days are over. That's where rescue groups come in.

Because the first years of racehorses' lives are spent prepping for a very specific purpose, it takes time and patience to "reprogram" them, but specialized rescue groups have the know-how and resources to save these horses' lives and train them to be suitable pets. All they need after that is someone to love and care for them.

Premarin Horse Rescue

Premarin, a hormone drug prescribed to women going through menopause, is one of the most widely used prescriptions in the world. Despite its popularity, however, most people have no idea where Premarin comes from, even though it's right there in the name: pregnant mares' urine.

To collect the urine, "farms" around the globe keep hundreds of thousands of horses constantly pregnant and over-hydrated. Once the horses are no longer viable, they are usually slaughtered; sadly, their foals are very often killed, as well.

Groups like Spring Hill Horse Rescue recover Premarin foals and help facilitate public adoption. Keep in mind, these foals have not been abused and are typically in great health — and, if not adopted, they will probably be sent to a slaughterhouse. Anyone considering buying a foal should seriously consider Premarin horse rescue adoption.