“WHEN you tell some people that you’re getting a rescue horse they say: ‘Oh my God, you’re mad.’ Of course, there is a risk – but there is with any new horse,” says freelance groom Anna Coutin, who took the plunge with her coloured mare, Iris, in 2018.
When Iris arrived at the Blue Cross’ Staffordshire rehoming centre in 2016, she had been rescued as part of a large welfare lift from a horse hoarder. She was emaciated with a body score of 1.5, had lice and was riddled with worms. Fast-forward three years and by 2019 Anna was competing in dressage, enjoying sponsored rides and had completed a one-day event with the mare.
It’s the kind of equine rags-to-riches story that charities rely on to make people think twice before buying their next horse from a private home. But of course, there have been bumps in the road.
“The most challenging bit has been backing her,” says Anna. “I nearly gave up – she was just a nightmare and very defensive. But I think that all came from her past, so you can’t blame her. You do need a lot of patience to take on a rescue horse – you have to put your all into it. And thinking what we’ve achieved, it’s 100% the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
PAIRING horses with the right home is top of the agenda for rescue centres in their quest for success stories like Iris and Anna’s.
With the Blue Cross, prospective rehomers can browse the horses who are ready to leave the centre on the website, where profiles outline the horse’s stage of rehabilitation and all the key stats. The charity’s staff are at the end of the phone to help narrow searches.
Denne historien er fra May 28, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra May 28, 2020-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
