Part of our mission is to help people rethink how they view rescue horses. The images that often come to mind when one hears "rescue horse" include unruly, unwanted, poorly bred, dangerous, bad-minded, untrainable, unhealthy, etc. Any horse that ends up in the wrong hands can manifest negative behaviors. And almost 100% of horses that end up in the right hands can shed their past mistreatment and become, safe, loving partners for the right person. The key is proper handling and TIME.

One of our adopters told us that several of her horse friends expressed disgust at the thought of her visiting a rescue to look for her next horse. This really hurt my heart. Far too many people do not realize that the vast majority of all horses, including "rescue horses," are diamonds in need of polish. Most people have no idea that horses finding themselves in need of rescue come from all walks of life. Show horses, race horses, cherished family pets, experienced ranch horses, highly bred performance horses, and yes, some  unregistered horses, many with hearts of gold and outstanding temperaments. 

Most undesirable horse behavior has been instilled by a human. The kill pens are full of horses that have been failed by people. This truth applies to ALL horses, regardless of background or breeding. Our job is to recognize the horse for what he can be and provide the environment and guidance that allows him to transform into a happy, trusting partner. Many horses that end up at Pegasus just simply need to be handled and trained. Some need to be re-trained because their prior training was poor. Some are well-trained and just need a tune-up or to be re-purposed. There is no "normal." But the concept that there is something WRONG with horses that find themselves at a rescue organization is just plain wrong. 

 

The horse industry, particularly in America, is full of pressure to do things in a hurry. The expectation that a horse can get trained in 90 days is far too prevalent and downright silly. This myth is one reason that rescue organizations are overflowing and that auction houses and kill pens are full of "untrainable" horses. People tend to give up on horses if the animals don't meet the humans' time schedule. It is counterproductive to rush a horse's development, and far too often the horse gets blamed for the lack of skill or commitment of the human. 

Here at The Pegasus Project we firmly believe in giving a horse the time it takes to utilize his talents and reach his potential. Some horses are naturally confident and comfortable with the demands placed on them by humans. Others are more skeptical and less confident with human interaction. We work with each horse as an individual and do our best to provide the leadership and proper training necessary to develop that horse into a trustworthy partner. We are committed to the process regardless of whether it takes months or years.

In summary, the fact that a horse is a "rescue horse" doesn't tell you much about him other than he is in transition from one phase of life to another. What's important to remember is that each horse has his own unique story to tell. Every horse deserves to be free of negative labels and have an opportunity to be seen for who he actually is. When considering adopting a horse, the key is to choose a reputable rescue organization that has proper processes in place for rehabilitating, training and placing its horses. If you do your homework, you are very likely to take home the horse you have dreamed about your entire life. Rescue organizations across the country are full of dream horses just waiting for the right adopter to arrive!

 

Allyson DeCanio

President, The Pegasus Project

For questions or comments, email: allyson@mypegasusproject.org

Did you know Pegasus relies entirely on private donations? Our regular monthly donors, known as  Pegasus Partners , are our most treasured assets. For as little as $10/month you can help provide us with a predictable source of income at a much lower cost than any other fundraising method.

While we are very  appreciative of  one-time donations, the monthly donations of our Pegasus Partners   allow us to plan ahead.