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Disclaimer: Articles & observations are our experience only. Each person should rely on common sense, personal research, & professional avian veterinarian advice to determine their own actions with their birds.
Interested in Equine “Rescue”?
Comments from experience! If you have the time, patience, facilities, and financial ability to help unwanted horses or those that someone just can't keep, by all means do so. Consider the following, however…
(1) It is almost certain you will spend much more than you will get back in rehabbing and reselling—in other words, you will likely go in the red rather than the black, often by hundreds of dollars. Horses are expensive to maintain! Yes, there are occasional "diamonds in the rough" with super potential, but they are rare, and it takes an experienced horse person to spot and cultivate them, as well as market them in a really tough economy.
(2) Beware of auctions and horses bought off “kill buyer” lots. Don’t let emotion rather than reason sway your judgment! You should be experienced with horses and not attracted because of a low price or pity for the horse. (Compassion is fine, but know your limitations and what you are getting into in order to “save” a horse.) The expenses are *after* you get the horse! Because some have health and/or behavioral issues that require expertise and good judgment, one may be spending far more than expected on vet bills OR could get hurt because of behavior problems.
(3) Registration often does not come with the horse, but when it does, verify transfer/registration requirements and validation IF that is important to you.
(4) If you foster a horse from a "rescue" group or decide to purchase from such a group, be aware of the reputation of the group, how they obtain their horses (so you don't get one that's been stolen "under color of law", which can come back to bite you), and what their terms are (often not truly full ownership, just upkeep of the horse with major restrictions on care and use).
(5) Know animal control laws and personalities in your area, especially if you rescue a *thin* horse, as there have been cases where ALL of a person's animals (horses, dogs, etc.) were seized (stolen under color of law) because of ONE animal that was in bad condition. Think you can explain your way out of it? How many thousands of dollars or influential contacts do you have? That will give you a clue as to your potential for success. This *misuse of power* is happening in many areas of the U.S., and owners do NOT get their animals back (or maybe just one or a few) and must pay large attorney fees, heavy fines, animal seizing entity board and accrued vet bills, etc., as well as becoming the object of media smears.
Beware the Animal Rights Movement! Remember that there is an "animal rights" movement afoot that seeks to make animal ownership expensive, difficult, and socially unacceptable. This movement has brainwashed a lot of otherwise well-meaning people (and some who are just mean-spirited or covetous) into doing their dirty work for them. Don't become one of the AR targets for destruction, and don't believe most of what the AR "propaganda mills" say about animal industries. Animal rights is NOT the same as animal welfare. Animal rights = animal ownership elimination!
Equine rescue issues:
(Mis)use of the BCS for horses by seizing entity [Dr. Henneke rebukes misusers of his body condition score criteria for using as justification for seizing horses]
Vet Balks at ASPCA's "Agenda" re: NY Carriage Horses
