The Biggest Mistake People Make With Rescues



I would like to start off with thanking Equine Social for this amazing opportunity I am beyond grateful and excited to be here!

Finally you have a horse, however it is a rescue. Wondering where do you start? Bonding! Rehabbing a rescue horse takes a while anywhere from several years to a couple months. The wait is worth it! Be patient. Would you like it if a stranger walked up to you to give you a big hug and a kiss? This example may seem a bit extreme but you would probably pull back from the stranger based on instinct; either run or push the person away. That is usually the same reaction horses have. It is their instinctual flight or fight response. To prevent that survival response horses have, it helps to introduce yourself to the horse as slowly as you can. Keep in mind of the horses overall well being and what the Veterinarian suggests. Once the Veterinarian checks your rescue horse’s health and he/she is sound aside from behavioral issues, you can begin to solidify their synergy with you.

Horses are naturally curious animals and like to investigate. Start off with ‘treats’ in a bucket such as carrots, apples, or grain depending on the horse’s specific need and/or preferences. Being with them while they eat with you is a simple way to connect with them. Horses are herd animals and do things quietly together. Regularly you can find horses eat, sleep, and run together. When you stand with them while they eat with relaxed body language they will eventually feel content and safe because you are imitating a horse’s behavior.

Many people make the mistake of rushing to the training methods too quickly when they see an amazing animal and intend to work into rehabbing the horse to make them ‘better’ quickly. Slow down, way down!

Taking it slow enables you to focus on building the relationship of trust. The bond you create with your horse that is instinctual is crucial for your safety and their own. After introductions create a routine that signifies that you are a consistent factor in their life and they are better off with you in it. Horses are dependent on you for their health and well being. What do you offer them? Consistency and you provide for them. Depending on the horse and the past that they have when you rescued them, will determine the time it takes with the animal. You can tell if the horse is accepting you when it starts showing interest in you, where you are, and what you are doing. If they walk up to you that is a great first sign that they are ready to move forward with you.

In addition to the bond you are creating let’s take it further to your end goal of riding your rescue, or rehabbing the horse for someone else.

The ‘join up’ is the best way to build a bond between the horse and yourself. Joining up is when you lunge a horse along the post of the round pen while you stand in the middle of the circle commanding the horse. Using the basics of lunging a horse with your body language is the key to communicate to the horse to go, switch direction and to stop.

Horses can be lazy animals and want to do nothing; therefore they want to do less work. The ‘join up’ creates more curiosity for the horse to check you out to see if you are safe for them. Remember they are prey animals, they get eaten in the wild and we are predators; we hunt to eat. We are a two-legged, fur less predator! Super scary!

However your horse communicates to you by these characteristics in horses such as lowering head, licking or chewing lips, soft focus eyes on you, ear turned to you, listening to your body language and voice. When your horse is displaying these body language cues you can ask him/her to stop. If they are waiting for you to give the next command to them, your horse is ready for you to turn your back to them. However only do so when you feel that you can trust your rescue horse. Joining up with rescues can take anywhere from a couple weeks to a year or more when you are consistent. The best to judge is your instincts and how your comfort levels are with turning your back to your horse.

Once turned around facing the horse with your back you should be able to hear your horse take a couple steps toward you when he/she is ready to trust you. Slowly turn around and reward your horse by walking up to them and petting them. Congratulations you have bonded with your rescue! The ultimate goal of joining up with your horse is for your horse to come to you and be at your back however long it takes.

Trust is essential for the rescue horse and human bond; you are showing them that trusting humans again is not only safe but rewarding. Establishing this will help tell the horse that you are a fit leader in the two horse-person herd.

Reframe from skipping the joining up step in horse training and rehabbing rescues. We have all been excited and eager to help horses that have been abused by previous owners. To make it right by the horse to prove to the horse that one bad owner is not every owner that they will come across.

In my experience with a horse I have been rehabilitating skipping the bonding steps would have taken me longer. Training built on trust and patience, is easier and more rewarding. It helps establish horses to learn the join up method while it incorporates basic riding movements from the ground. Learning what your rescue horse needs, improving how your horse moves, helps you as a rider and trainer to see what

the horse needs to suit you’re riding. These methods have helped me with behavior issues of horses therefore I hope that it helps you. Or otherwise give you something to think about trying if you are stuck with a tricky behavioral horse.

Written by Kaite Baker, Local Equine Awareness, I help equestrians with horses; training rescues while incorporate motherhood and my passion for horses.