Back to: Central New England Equine Rescue
Whether you are looking at adopting from a rescue or one of the mustangs from BLM, there's things you should really consider.
If the cost of the animal is your first concern, you really need to be sure you are able to care for him or her. There is no such thing as a free horse! The initial purchase price of ANY horse pales in comparison to what you will put into the animal. Consider the cost of a tube of wormer, annual vaccinations, fly spray, grain, hay, farrier work, vet bills, fencing, pasture shelters, etc. In some cases, such as BLM horses, you will need to meet special fencing requirements.
Initially there is a "get acquainted" period. You also have to remember that no two horses are the same. Horses that you may be adopting from most rescues have been handled. Those coming from organizations such as BLM have not. These horses may take anywhere from a few hours to months before you are able to build that bond and trust. Yes, you can do like many of those "trainers" out there and hurry the process, but how much of a foundation have you given this horse? Are you going to be able to fully trust him/her? If you are on a trail ride and something spooks your horse, will he/she stay there and be with you through that initial startle or leave you on your butt as you watch this horse go off into the sunset? Yes, you can scare a horse into doing anything, but can you dance with that horse like a dependable partner? So, take your time. Learn what works and what doesn't. Because you might have had success with one horse remember the next one hasn't read that book, or watched that video. Be open to your imagination but be gentle. You are building a trusting foundation that you want to count on. It's the foundation we build on here at Central New England Equine Rescue. We take them back to square one, slowly and gently. That type of handling needs to continue when you adopt. The days of the "old cowboy ways" is gone - at least with any horses we adopt out.
Here are some things to think about:
• Age
• Gender
• Conformation: Health
• Conformation: Purpose (Get the Right Horse for the Job)
• Temperament
• Color
• Your gut-level Connection
How good are your horse-gentling skills? Are your skills up to handling an adult defensive horse or are you more comfortable with a weanling or yearling? Do you have a gut-level preference? Some people prefer babies, others prefer adult horses.
Many experienced horse adopters feel that three to five years is perfect: the horse is still young enough to accept easily.
Any horse will, with time and patience, learn to bond with you. Some older horses, being very wise and intelligent, come around very quickly and just know that you are there to help them. Horses in holding facilities are not protected from sale to slaughter and can be transported to Canada and Mexico slaughter houses, it becomes more important than ever to consider adopting. Remember, in the overall horse world, 7, or even 10 or 12, is not considered an old horse by any means! At 7 they've just reached maturity, and most horses are at their prime starting around age 10 and into their teens.
If your reason for adopting a horse is in hopes of riding right away - DON'T!
Very few people will be able to ride their horse right away. There are occasional horses who just gentle down and accept training very quickly, and a really good trainer can usually get an abused horse under saddle within a short amount of time. But for most of us, it's a longer process.
To some people this isn't an issue. Other people have definite ideas about gender in equines.
Mares are often more "cuddly" and demonstrative in their affections than males. They can also be harder to handle during their heat cycles, depending upon how they are affected by their hormonal fluctuations. Many people prefer geldings for this reason. Of course, individuals vary.
Males come in two models: stallions (studs) and geldings.
Geldings are the choice of many horse owners.
You will want to learn enough about conformation (skeletal structure, etc.) to choose a horse who has sturdy legs and feet, and an overall structure that will allow a pleasant smooth ride. Horses with special needs are wonderful but will require more finances on your part.
If you plan to show your horse, you need to choose an animal with exceptional conformation.
A good dressage horse is built differently from a good cutting horse. A reining horse needs differing conformation than a draft horse. A good barrel racing horse is built differently than an endurance horse.
Think about what discipline of riding you want to do and choose accordingly. If you don't know what is needed for your chosen discipline, visit shows and talk with people. (Be aware that they'll probably also turn up their noses at your mention of adopting a rescued horse - but consider that their problem, not yours!)
Temperament is probably the hardest thing to evaluate.
There are a number of widely-quoted benchmarks for judging temperament: Look for a kind eye, look for large, clear eyes, not tight, slit-open ones.
Watch how the horse interacts with others. If you want a quiet, easy-going horse, choose one that manages to avoid most skirmishes, one that does not seem overly upset by the more excitable horses, or one who seems sociable and well-liked by the other horses. A horse with many scars and blemished should not necessarily be ruled out, as it may be due to the horses former human harassment.
If you want a horse for endurance or similar discipline that requires tremendous "heart" choose one of the more animated, even feisty ones.
"A good horse is never a bad color." Rashid
You don't ride the color, you ride what's inside the horse. That said, color may matter to you.
Certain disciplines that you may want to participate in, do discriminate against, or in favor of, certain colors & color patterns.
Or you may feel that, if you can only get this one horse, it had better be the horse you've dreamed of all your life. One's Dream Horse is usually a certain color or color pattern. Since your ability to commit deeply to the horse is THE prime ingredient for success, a color priority is legitimate. If you have a color preference, simply admit that you do, and don't beat yourself up over it.
Back to: Central New England Equine Rescue