Horse Rescue - How you can help horses in need

Horse rescue is an issue that affects us all. Every horse deserves to lead a species-appropriate life in dignity and safety. But unfortunately there are many horses that are in distress and need help. Here's how to tell when a horse needs help. We also have a few tips on how you can help horses in need - for example by supporting organizations like "4 Hufe im Glück".

Horse Rescue - How you can help horses in need

Horse rescue is a topic that is very close to our hearts. We want our horses to have a happy and contented life. Our horses are our best friends who trust and respect us. We take care of them regularly, give them enough water and food, and ensure that they live in the best possible housing conditions and get enough exercise. And we get a lot in return from them!

But unfortunately there are many horses that are in distress and desperately need help. They are neglected, malnourished or sick, mistreated or even disposed of at the butcher. It is important that we are all committed to helping horses in need. Horse rescue is an issue that affects us all. Every horse deserves to be treated well and lead a safe and healthy life.
But when is a horse in distress? When should we react and intervene to help?

These are signs that a horse needs help:

• Neglect due to poor husbandry conditions:
  Horses that have inadequate housing conditions and no opportunity to express their species-appropriate behavior are neglected. A horse, for example, that lives in a permanent stall position, in the worst case without light, fresh water or sufficient food, urgently needs help. As a pet owner, you have a duty to feed, care for and house your horse appropriately, among other things. If the owner or the caretaker of a horse does not fulfill this obligation due to a lack of or insufficient care and the horse's well-being is significantly impaired as a result, this is referred to as neglect.
• malnutrition:
  A horse that is malnourished from being under fed will have low body fat and a poor coat. Its bone contours are clearly visible and the fat layer is almost non-existent. A malnourished horse loses muscle, the coat becomes dull and the hooves become brittle. Malnutrition also affects the horse's immune system: it becomes ill. If the horse's basic needs are neglected due to lack of food or water, this is animal cruelty and the horse needs urgent help.
• Injuries or illnesses:
  If a horse is showing obvious injuries or signs of illness that are not being looked after, that horse definitely needs help. Every owner is obliged to provide his horse with medical care. If he doesn't do this, he neglects and torments his horse.
• Abuse: If you see a horse being abused or showing injuries and signs of abuse, you should not hesitate to report it. This includes physical abuse (kicking, hitting or intentional torment) and also emotional violence, which causes severe anxiety and stress in the horse. 
• Slaughter auctions: Foals are sold to slaughterers at slaughter auctions, such as the auction in Mainshofen, Austria, because they do not meet the breeding criteria or are surplus to a breeding program. Horses with poor posture or sport horses that wear out prematurely and are classified as unfit are also sold to slaughterers there. Here there is an opportunity to save horses from slaughter by outbidding the butchers at the auction. Some horse rescue organizations go to these auctions to rescue horses and bring them to new homes.

Horse rescue by organizations like "4 Hufe im Glück eV":

Luckily for horses in need there are organizations that take care of their rescue and care. These include animal welfare associations, sanctuaries, horse shelters and associations that rescue horses and try to find them new homes.

One of these organizations is the “4 Hufe im Glück eV” association. If you have already ordered something from us in our Hoofment shop or follow us on Instagram or Facebook, you have probably already noticed that we have been supporting this association for years. "4 Hufe im Glück eV" supports ponies and horses in need with a lot of love and heart and soul. They give homes to horses that have been poorly maintained and save horses from slaughter.
We at Hoofment are enthusiastic about the work of this association and therefore donate 2% of our turnover to this organization every month. We have taken on the sponsorship of two ponies: Lucky and Lilly and we also support “4 Hufe im Glück eV” in other campaigns. 

If you want to know more about this association or our two godfather ponies, Lucky and Lilly, take a look at the “4 Hufe im Glück eV” website   (https://www.4hufeimglueck.com/) or read our blog post " Horses in need - We support the animal welfare organization "4 Hufe im Glück eV"" ( https://hoofment.de/blogs/news/pferde- in need ). 

We should all contribute to horse rescue. There are many ways you can help horses in need or support horse rescue organizations like 4 Hufe im Glück eV.

Here are a few tips on how you could help horses in need:

• Draw attention to grievances and report horses that are in need:
  If you see or suspect that a horse (or any other animal of course) is being poorly managed or mistreated, you should definitely report it. Anyone who intentionally harms animals is committing an offence. 

In this case, the German Animal Welfare Association recommends:

"If you see animals being mistreated or abused, keep calm and do the following:

• Secure evidence.
• Ask witnesses for an affidavit.
• Whenever possible, take photos.
• Make a note of the car number and address." (https://www.tierschutzbund.de/information/background/recht/tierquaelerei-melden/)
            

You can contact the police directly or the local veterinary office. Animal protection organizations will also help you or take care of it yourself. If the animal is in an acute emergency situation, you should try to help it yourself - but of course always within the limits of what is permitted by law. When collecting evidence, you should also be careful not to make yourself liable to prosecution. And please, don't put yourself in danger.

• Donations to Animal Rescue Organizations: Organizations involved in horse rescue often rely on donations. In order to finance their work and to cover the costs of food, care, accommodation and medical care for their protégés, they need both monetary donations and donations in kind in the form of feed, equipment and medicines.

• Volunteer or Volunteer: Most organizations are looking for volunteers to help them care for the horses. You can also help organize events or simply attend events such as a festival, open house, or lectures. Or you can get involved in horse rescue campaigns, for example by going to auctions and helping to transport the rescued horses to their new homes.

• Foster Horses: When organizations rescue horses, they cannot house them all on their own pastures. As a result, they unfortunately cannot take on all horses that are in need. So they try to find a foster home where the four-legged friends can stay until the final placement. In the best case, this is a "terminus", i.e. a new home where they can stay. However, you should only consider a horse foster home or even a permanent home if you are confident that you can meet that horse's needs. In any case, the organization will check whether these conditions are met.

• Sponsorships: Many organizations offer sponsorships for an animal. With a regular amount of money per month (doesn't have to be a lot), you can support a specific horse or pony so that it can be cared for and cared for in its foster home.

• Sharing Organization Information and Links: Raise awareness of Horse Rescue by telling others about it, or share organization information and actions on your social media accounts. If you have found a foster home for a horse, you can regularly use your social media accounts to report to others about the progress of your foster horse in its new home. Maybe it motivates one or the other to take care of a horse themselves.

• Stand up for horse rights: You can get involved in protecting horses from abuse and neglect. Support organizations that call for tougher laws to protect animals. Hopefully, stronger laws and harsher penalties will eventually help reduce crimes against animals.

It is so important that we are committed to the well-being of horses and of course other animals. Every horse and every animal deserves to be able to live in dignity and safety in a species-appropriate manner.

Horse rescue organizations make an important contribution with their work. They make sure that many horses in need get the help they need and a life they deserve. Here are a few tips on how you can help a horse in need or a horse rescue organization. It makes us really happy to support our two godfather ponies with our monthly contribution. :)