“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
'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
