17/02/2024
*Older Horses*
Here at HHO, we have a special place in all our hearts for the old ladies and gentlemen who served their time most likely through many families, the ones who have been kind and patient for the new inexperienced riders, the ones who have been friends, teachers, protectors, the ones who gave their everything to each and every home they have been in only to be cast aside.
Common things we hear;
"She's old, she's hardly worth feeding",
"She'd make a great broodmare"
"Sure why would I bother with him, he costs too much to keep, I'll put him through the mart"
"He has XYZ health problem, he can't do his job anymore, we'll sell him off as a companion"
"Some dealer will take him"
The endless lines we hear daily, hurt us deeply, we have seen first hand where those lines and phrases said so flippantly leads and it rarely ends well for that poor older horse. The pockets of their owners may be momentarily lined but the future of that faithful friend is often not secure or safe. Often they suffer endlessly until their poor bodies give up, more often the pillar to post merry go round they are on devastates them, they have lost all their security and they give up. Do old horses deserve this, because you've moved on to bigger, stronger, faster, younger?
Sadly and in reality, many of the rescues here in Ireland are met with very young or very old horses and ponies, the ones who fall in the middle, too young to train to ride or too old or injured to ride and even more sadly, experience has taught us when they are lucky enough to be brought to a rescue it is often too late.
We would ask the owners of older horses to think about that animal, when you are thinking of those lines, what will become of it, sometimes the hardest decision for you is the best decision for them, don't think your horse will be different, he/she won't end up like that. Sadly, that is a naive thought, just in the last week we have stood in a field with an old thoroughbred racehorse dead of starvation and an old sports horse dying of starvation, strangers with her on her final journey.
Whilst we absolutely respect lots of animals have owners who will not turn their backs on them when they need more care, more time, more money, sadly the reality is there are many, many more who won't.
Story Time:
Meet one of our beautiful HHO Golden Girls, three years ago we were called to assist with the removal of several ponies in the West of Ireland. One of whom was Molly, she was in horrendous condition, every bone in her body visible, she had stripped the bark of the trees in search of food, her living conditions were horrendous. It was the stuff of nightmares for any animal. The days that followed were touch and go for her. She was confused, hungry, her joints were swollen, she was crawling in lice, her teeth were damaged, and almost non existent, her body weak and fragile. The future did not look good for her. At the time we had many complaints and callers demanding to know what would happen her, truthfully we didn't know, when we asked for help from those callers we were met with radio silence. No one offered to step up or contribute towards her veterinary care to help her recover. We made the decision here at HHO, we would give her the very best chance we could to have her live out whatever time she had left with some dignity, care and love. Mollys life turned around from that day. She is one of the lucky ones, through another separate misfortune we unexpectedly had the room and the knowledge, skill and will to make her life easier, to let her fulfill whatever time she has left in comfort, not wanting for anything.
Whilst it may seem heartwarming, again this mare in her 30s left to be cared for by strangers should never have happened. The upkeep of Molly is far greater than all of the other ponies, her needs are different. She has a very specific and costly diet, she sometimes needs medication, her farrier has to be patient and kind, sometimes she isn't able to stand on three legs as long as younger ponies. She has a wardrobe that would rival any fashion industry, a rug for any type of weather as well as the skin conditions she suffers from. Rubber mats to stand on with her bedding, an array of supplements, more frequent dentist visits than your average horse and the lists go on, putting her out after the winter time comes with a long list of instructions. She will never be rehomed, she will stay in our care until her time comes and if necessary we will stand with her as she crosses rainbow bridge, she will not suffer again. One would ask why we bother? The answer being, she is worth the effort, the money, the time. She paid her dues and it is time for her to be repaid. She was fortunate we were in the position to offer her a safe haven to live out her twilight years,She deserved better. She is here solely because of the kindness of strangers. Three years later, she is still going strong, something we never expected, we believed her time was short, she loves her routine, she loves life and most of all she loves her comforts, every day Molly teaches us a lesson in resilience and kindness, she is our golden girl. Not every older horse would be so lucky.