[prairienights]

...as a rescue?

My trainer keeps calling my new horse a rescue, but I don't think I'd really classify him as that. I mean she absolutely loves him, and I agree, I think he's kind of a diamond in the rough, but I don't think I rescued him. I know this is a very trivial question, it doesn't really matter, but I'd like to to hear your thoughts on what is a rescue and what is not.

My new horse, Banner (I've started a million threads on him already) is an OTTB. After his racing career ended, he sat out in a pasture doing nothing. Which I'm actually happy for, he got to unwind from track life and just be a horse again. But, he wasn't groomed for months, and he has rain rot and scratches on his hind feet. He was pasture kept, and as a result, is quite underweight.

I mean he's a fixer-upper, but I still wouldn't call him a rescue. I didn't save him from impending doom or take him out of completely dismal conditions. I have absolutely no plans to take an unlucky horse, turn them around, and sell them. I was just looking for a new horse, and the one I found needs a some groceries and a few spa treatments.

Here are a few pictures of from when I first met him and the first day he was home

So I don't necessarily need a yes/no answer to my "is he a rescue" question. I'd just like to read all your thoughts on what constitutes a rescue.

[Varisha]

I would say that one was a boarderline rescue case. It looks like he was either just starting to go downhill or towards the end of rehab.

[speedyscout]

Originally Posted by Varisha

I would say that one was a boarderline rescue case. It looks like he was either just starting to go downhill or towards the end of rehab.

I agree, Im happy you found your boy tho! Me and my friend (jazzyjumper) are going to go look at 2 tommorow!

[Feliche]

Oh congratulations!! I think he looks like a SUPER nice horse and once he gets some meat and topline built back onto him, I really think he's going to be very snazzy I like his...I want to say build but uh, you know what I mean.

I would call him...maybe not a full out rescue, but you're definately improving his quality of life and that counts for something!

[Dawn]

I wouldn't call him a rescue. Fixer upper is a more applicable term I agree.

A horse has to be pretty darn thin or have some moderately serious health issues for me to think of them as a 'rescue'.

[Stormyheart6160]

A rescue is a rescue in my book. Anytime you take an animal from a "not so good" situation, where it has health issues that are not being tended to, and placing that animal in a better situation.....that's a rescue. It's the degree or severity of that situation that has different levels.....some are more severe than others. But, that animal was rescued....regardless.

To make it simple......anytime an animals health or life is at stake, due to the conditions of it's environment, or the lack of care it receives......and it is removed from that into a situation where it's health or life improve......that is a rescue!

[Chester]

I agree with fixer upper. To me a rescue needs to be saved or it will die.

If we want to look at it as a rescue is moving any horse into a better place then I would suggest that a large percentage of horses owned by forum members need to be rescued because I could not keep a horse in a stall for most of its life. That is just my opinion. I like to see my horses being able to make complete fruitloops of themselves running and bucking any time they want. I like to see them rolling in the dam. Chasing each other. If I bought them and put them into paddocks then I could say I rescued them.

He is a lovely looking boy and I am sure he will love getting some extra groceries and more affection.

Is he going to have a nice paddock again?

[Reitpferde]

Hmm, difficult to say in your case. From your discription and Banner's current look, he did need a significantly better home. Appears to me, you have supplied that. I would say: "You rescued him!" That's the story, and I am sticking to it. By the way, he is going to be beautiful. I am very much looking forward to before and after pictures....hint, hint...

[guess who]

I agree, I don't think he's a rescue case. Rescue sort of makes me think of horses about to be shot, or go to the slaughter house, or those that are being severely mistreated or malnourished to the extent that without intervention it will die.
I think a fixer upper or a project is more of an applicable term :-)

How big is he, may i ask?

[prairienights]

Dawn: That's what I've been calling him, my fixer upper

stormyheart6160: This is why I started this thread, to see what everyone's opinions of what a rescue is. There's a term going around right now, I've "upgraded" him, haha.

Chester: Thanks! He's actually bulking up quite nicely I bet he'll be an easy keeper (for a TB) of course, once he's at a good weight. And I think I'd use the term "upgraded" for 24/7 stalled horses also; I agree with you.

Reitpferde: Thanks I'm camera-happy, so there will be plenty of pictures to come.

guess who: That's kind of what I think of rescues also. Either outbidding a kill buyer or the horse being in really serious attention. But, I've seen the term used pretty liberally.