Second Chance Horses

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Comment by ADOPT A PRELOVED HORSE on November 6, 2009 at 6:42am

Please come visit our website to find your next 4-legged family member! www.adoptaprelovedhorse.com Thanks! Katrina

Comment by Pipsqueak Paddocks on October 16, 2009 at 5:11pm

We are a rescue and rehab centre for Miniature Horses. So much fun, a little bit of heartbreak, but very rewarding!

We have just launched a very cute fundraising project...

Go to www.LuvMiOutfit.com and check out the Horse category! We have a "Luv Mi Rescue" design coming out by the end of the weekend!

Comment by Kristen Shellenbarger on September 29, 2009 at 4:45pm

Paige-
I've been doing half halting w/ my speedy OTTB for about a year (as long as I've had him) he's still adapting but doing amazingly well and I can see a muscle improvement in his body too! :)

Comment by Rachel G on September 29, 2009 at 3:59pm

I took in a Ex-Racer (does that count?) lol I retrained him into a H/J and he did some Dressage. Hes doing very well in his new home.

Comment by Alanna P. on September 28, 2009 at 3:34pm

Well, my second chance horse didn't have a career nor was she technically abused, she was just neglected when I bought her.

Comment by Ari on September 24, 2009 at 1:39am

Paige, try half halts and encouraging her to come down onto the bit - it may take a while but it works amazingly! To help her come down onto the bit try longing her with side-reins for short periods of time.

Comment by Lisa Rowlands on September 23, 2009 at 5:54pm

We do also have two non rescues my Arab,Arabesque,who has no issues and is perfect for pretty much everything and Liz's westphalien/appy who's got just as many quirks as any of the rescues and more than some.Just because a horse is in rescue does not mean there are problems.One of the horses at the Refuge is still on the Spruce Meadows website

Comment by Lisa Rowlands on September 23, 2009 at 5:49pm

Out of our herd five are rescues.We have Katura,a standardbred mare who was abandoned in a field with her colt,Jack is a Canadian gelding who was in rescue because he was older and needed to be babied a bit,as well as having sore front feet.Fixed with proper hoof care.Rio and Folly our pony and mule were heading for meat,Ali now rides Rio and Folly the mule is the brains of the gang.Speck is our Arab mare was from a breeder in Toronto who no longer wanted her because she was unsound.We've worked with issues on everyone of these horses and they have become a stable happy healthy herd.Maybe if more people put time into working with their horses instead of quick fixes ,considered how much they owe the horse they ride,realized that no horse should be considered disposable and would just take responsability for the horses they own and breed ,rescues would not be being flooded we would not be having arguments about horse slaughter and unwanted horses.

Comment by Kinni P on September 23, 2009 at 4:46pm

Hey folks. I have an OTTB who came to me a neurotic, rain rotted sack of skin and bones. That was in Feb. As he put on weight, he began sharing his opinion of people. It wasn't good. He would bite and kick and grind his teeth. He would weave and walk circles. He was even having trouble socialising with the other horses.
Clicker training has been an invaluable tool. He was so scared and tense. Everyone thought I was crazy to ignore his aggression, but punishment seemed like a bad idea. I had people suggest such useless old favourites as holding a nail between my fingers, so he gets poked when he tries to bite. Not my style. The only "punishment" I ever used (even while bleeding from a bite) was to quietly pack up my clicker, treats and targets and walk off. It didn't take too long for him to make the connection. Biting=no more playtime. Now, he's a kitten. If he gets frustrated, he chews his leadline. Not the best habit, but it sure beats chewing on me.
Once he figured out that I wasn't out to get him, a lot of other issues began resolving themselves too. He's bonded nicely with my mare, though we still have some jealousy issues from time to time. He doesn't jump out of skin every time the bushes move. Unfortunately, bunnies are still scary. Ya can't win 'em all.
I'm sure I don't have to tell all of you how exciting it is watching a horse go from having no confidence, no self control and no trust to being a true friend. I love to see him come trotting up to the fence when he sees me!

Comment by Paige Cerulli on July 6, 2009 at 8:44pm

I have an OTTB - she's my first horse, and I actually bought her 2 months ago. Her name is Whisper, and she is the sweetest mare I've ever ridden. She lacks confidence, and right now we're working on slowing down - any tips other than circles and transition work to help an ex-racehorse to slow down at the trot (and eventually at the canter)?

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