Comments on: Getting a Rescued Horse to Trust You

By: Abby

Abby — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 10:03:01 +0000

About 2 years ago I bought a rescued mare and it took over 3 months for me to be able to halter her and be able to do basic ground work with her. But let me tell you it has been so well worth the effort and frustration, I have never worked with a horse that has as much heart, loyalty, and love for life! ALWAYS be careful with rescues because you never know what you’re getting, but the reward is amazing.

By: Acelia

Acelia — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:36:18 +0000

I want to have a horse rescue farm but I didn’t know what to do if things ever got out of control, or how to treat an abused horse. This article is very clear on what to do and how to treat abused horses. Thanks for sharing!

By: Kenzie

Kenzie — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:01:14 +0000

I’ve always wanted to adopt but I feel that I should wait until I’m older and have more experience, since I currently own my first ever horse. It’s a huge responsibility and undertaking to adopt a rescue, and I wouldn’t want to make a mistake..

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:23:57 +0000

It’s a real shame what these poor horses go through. I know when I can afford another horse, it’s coming from a rescue!!

By: Pauline

Pauline — Thu, 06 May 2010 04:57:35 +0000

I just got in two coming yearlings, and I feel I have made some progress. In ten days, I have gotten halters on both of them, smaller one leads, (a bit) and will give to pressure. Taller one, is just starting to eat grass from my hands, and will follow me for about 10 feet while I am leading him.

By: Buffy

Buffy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:32:11 +0000

I have 8 rescue horses, and the last part “don’t expect overnight miracles” is so true. One wrong thing happens, and you have to start all over, but it is so rewarding.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:47:46 +0000

good info!

By: claudia_monteiro744@hotmail.com

claudia_monteiro744@hotmail.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:00:59 +0000

Correction in paragraph: …Join-Up to let the horse know he can trust you.*

By: claudia_monteiro744@hotmail.com

claudia_monteiro744@hotmail.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:58:57 +0000

I agree with Jen. This article is very well written but only points out one of the many, many points on this topic.
When horses are neglected, abused or mistreated, etc., we have to approach each horse differently. Some times it’s best to look into the horse’s past to find the solution to his problem. For some horses it could be they had a very good home to begin with, but then sold to a home who mistreated and neglected him. And so the horse is prone to react to it badly because he isn’t used to being treated in that manner. For example, a horse who is treated individually by its former owner and loved and has all the attention focused on him could very well react not so well to a new home who would treat him as if he were just any other horse. Therefore forming a problem. If the horse was use to being ‘asked permission’ to do things then he would certainly react badly to having someone focefully putting a saddle and bridle on him or her. So if you’d like to solve a problem like this example, the best idea would be to trace the past owners when everything was fine, identify the problems and when they began to occur and begin to go about your training maybe with Join-Up to let the horse know you trust him, and then move towards getting him to accept the bridle and saddle by ‘asking permission’. Some horses are way too proudly spirited to just let someone forcefully throw a saddle and bridle on and doing tasks that he wasn’t even asked if he’d like to do. But if you were to find the source of the problem, then ask permission, you’d be most likely to see a change within the horse because he would know that the person who is asking permission is someone to respect because he or she understands the horse.

By: Sheryl

Sheryl — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:42:36 +0000

Good article