To promote the value of horse adoption, The Humane Society of the United States Equine Protection Department was a major sponsor of Rally for the Rescues, held in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on June 17-19.
Giving rescued horses a new life
The HSUS hopes to change the way rescued horses are viewed by the public and send the message to every potential horse owner that they should first consider shopping for a new horse at their local rescue before buying from a breeder.
The horse show was the culmination of a 110-day trainerâs challenge, where professional trainers volunteer to work with local rescued horses to show how talented and versatile an adopted horse can be.
Competition classes included halter fitness/conditioning, horsemanship, an obstacle course and a freestyle performance. Breeds showcased in the competition included quarter horse crosses, a mustang, a Morgan cross, a spotted saddle horse, a Missouri fox trotter, a haflinger/Welsh pony and a Tennessee walking horse who was blind in one eye.
The overwhelming majority of horses who competed were adopted, including Carlos, a formerly wild mustang who had numerous applications for adoption and found his forever home a few days after the event.
This only goes to show that rescued horses are not broken, they just deserve a second chance to prove themselves. By sponsoring such events, The HSUS hopes to change the way rescued horses are viewed by the public and send the message to every potential horse owner that they should first consider shopping for a new horse at their local rescue before buying from a breeder.