On Saving Good Horses From Becoming Dog Food

Lately I've been thinking about getting a horse. Having had one as a child/teen, I want to do the whole thing over again, even if I am middle-aged. Instead of getting a horse the normal way (have a reputable trainer go find a suitable one), this time I plan on getting a horse eventually from rescuers who go to save perfectly good horses from the idiotic and barbaric kill auctions, who send horses to slaughter. Horses are "thrown away" there from the racetrack, taken there when irresponsible owners don't care and just want the horse out of their lives, and from various other places. It doesn't mean the horse is bad, or has poor conformation/manners. Horses with famous bloodlines, purebreds and more end up at these terrible places.

For a few hundred bucks, you can bail a horse out of these places and then take it home to quarantine (to make sure it is fully healthy) before putting out with other horses. Some rescuers bail out and quarantine horses themselves, such as:

Voice For Horses
http://www.voiceforhorses.org/adoptapp.htm

Having looked at all the photos of available horses, and being quite picky about what horse I would want, I see many very lovely ones who are young, sound, with great looks and manners. It makes me so sad that these lovely animals end up in places so sinister and deadly. I think it is a good way to find a horse and at the same time, save a life. With the economy being as bad as it is, those who worry about affording a horse can find this way of getting one a lot less expensive than paying many thousands of dollars for one through a trainer. With love, patience and maybe some training, rescue horses are rehabbed every day into family pets, show animals too. It just pays to be vigilant in knowing what you want and checking out the animal in person if possible. Calculate how much it would cost to board, vet, shoe and care for the horse. Make sure you can afford it, because owning a horse costs plenty of money on an ongoing basis.

These animals deserve people who love them, not to end up in dog food. If you want a horse, then consider going to the auctions such as Sugarcreek in Ohio, Camelot in New Jersey, and others or talking to nonprofit horse rescue agencies who go to these places. It's well worth the risk.

So, I'm watching and waiting for the right horse opportunity to come up. I am patient and taking my time. I want a big, young to young-ish hunter/jumper type who moves well, is sound and beautiful. They are at the auctions, lots of them. One will be mine, it's only a matter of time.

Example of a horse in the Camelot auction:



683 - QH gelding, 15 hh, buckskin, 3 white socks, barrel racer, fast, 10 yrs old, registered ranch horse, nice turns, dead broke, nice turns $550


This is Camelot Auction:
http://www.nj-feedlot-horse-rescue.com/availablecamelot.html