Have you ever been to a horse refuge farm?

@dmcollie (217)
United States
July 4, 2008 4:38pm CST
Yesterday we went and looked at a horse for sale. Well come to find out that this was a refuge farm for abandoned and abused horses. Some of these horses have big scares from abuse that they have received. How can someone abuse such a beautiful animal. This Farm takes a lot of love and dedication to run. It is a small family that does take care of these horses. The owner showed me some before and after shots of the horses I just wanted to cry.
2 people like this
8 responses
• United States
8 Jul 08
I have not gone to a refuge farm before. I know how terrible abondonment and abuse are, however. I hope to start up or aid in the running of a horse rescue soon. I plan on taking in one or two horses at a time that are in danger and need help, but are not terrible and can be saved. I hope that I will be able to this; it would at least make a difference to me!
• Canada
14 Jul 08
I so applaude your plans. Right next door to me, is a "Horse Rescue Farm," and they have about 37 horses! And so I help in any way that I can! Right now we are in the midst of haying (labour intensive)! I grew up in the Cariboo, and saw my first car when I was 12! Horses were our only mode of transportation..so learned from the ground up, ferriering, animal husbandry, all from my father! So I can offer help, often negating vet's fees! Getting a book on "Large Animal Husbandry" would be great reading for you, as you seem so dedicated. You will be amazed at the difference, love & kindness make to these magnificent animals. It is so delightful at this farm, to see two great big "clydesdales" frolicking with a "miniature"......looks like a St. Bernard chasing a kitten. Cheers!
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I've never been to one. I don't know if there are any in my area. I'm not sure that I could actually handle going to one because of how sad I feel when I see an animal or child that has been abused. I'm afraid I'd start crying and never stop and I wish I was kidding when I say that. But I love horses so much, I wish I was rich so I could help save them all or at least some of them.
• Australia
5 Jul 08
When I was looking to purchase a horse for myself I actually went to an abbotoir in the hope of rescuing a beautiful animal who didn't deserve to die. I was so disappointed at how difficult it was to gauge any of the horses personalities, which is understandable considering that the pen they were in was less than 50 metres from the 'kill' shed and horses are not dumb animals. I decided that it was not worth putting my life at risk in order to save one of these horses when it was too difficult to tell anything about them other than physically. They were very skittish and it would have even been too dangerous to enter the holding pen to handle any of them. A refuge farm sounds like an ideal way to achieve what I was trying to by going to an abbotoir - without all the obstacles in the way that I have mentioned above. I still can't believe is this day and age that so many people still think that animals don't have feelings and don't matter.
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
6 Jul 08
Bransby shot - a couple of horses
I went to the Bransby Home of Rest for Horses outside Lincoln in England in 1995 with my mom. It was really cool.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
14 Jul 08
It's always been a dream of mine to run a horse rescue, but I'm afraid that's all it could be is a dream. I've seen lots of stuff online and have seen a few abused horses at auction that were sold to the 'meat man', and it was horrendous. I was divorcing and selling horses that day and had no way to buy one or I would have scarfed up that one I saw and taken it home with me. It is really horrible to see how these animals are mistreated and abused. I know there is a lot more public attention on matters such as these due to all the shows on Animal Planet.
• United States
15 Jul 08
Yes, but I have never seen a horse arrive after a lot of abuse, more just minor. But some of the horses still have minor issues im sure are related. Its a hard job running a place like that. They see things even seasoned horse people would be sick about.
@weasel81 (2496)
• Australia
5 Jul 08
it's sad to hear about these things, it's like all animal shelters. some people just don't care. the best thing you can do sometimes is donate some feed for them. they will great full for it.
@baileycows (3665)
• United States
4 Jul 08
No, but I don't know if I would want to go. It would be so sad. I hate going to our animal shelter because I can't stand that I can't take them all home with me.