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Table of Contents

Why is This an Important Issue

How to Care for Abused Horses

What Does Idaho Horse Rescue Do

Equestrian Therapy

How You Can Help

Who We Are

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Why is This an Important Issue?Owners of horses have an important responsibility to take care of their animals. Horses, like other domesticated animals, are protected by law against abuse. Like humans, they are also living things with needs. They experience pain, heat, cold and suffering when abused just like humans. Unlike humans, though, horses cannot fight for their rights. They cannot speak up for themselves. When they are mistreated or neglected, they are at the mercy of their situation. In order for a horse to live a happy, healthy life, she needs to be actively cared for. She needs a safe, clean and spacious enclosure, shelter from the elements, food, water, care for injuries and health problems, and companionship with other similar animals. She needs to receive attention in terms of healthcare on a regular basis. She shares many needs with you or I. And when a horse does not receive this basic level of care, she suffers. Abuse and neglect can happen for many reasons, both intentional and unintentional. Some-times owners are not well-informed on the many needs or costs associated with raising a horse. Horses can live up to 30 years, and can cost well over $2,000 per year to care for. Sometimes owners are not willing to, able to, or possessing the proper awareness to adequately care for them. Other times, owners mistreat horses in an attempt to alter their behavior, physical appearance, or performance in work or sporting contexts. Because these horses are victims of both intentional and unintentional mistreatment, and because they are unable to stand up for themselves, it falls to us stand up for them and act. There are horses right now who are in need of rescue.

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How to Care for Abused Horses?Horses are happiest in a natural environment where they are free to move around, graze and socialize.” Horses are a part of the land, they do not require much, but like all living creatures they still have basic needs that have to be met. Just like human beings horses need food, shelter, and water to survive.

Along with those necessities they need: a dry clean area to lie down, unlimited access to minerals and salt, daily monitoring for injury or illness, companionship, pasture free from hazards such as holes, rusty farmmachinery and loose wire fences, safe fencing such as wooden, plastic, or vinyl rails, or mesh wire fencing.

Each of these things are necessary for a horse’s physical and mental health and most of which are easily supplied.

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Cost For a HorseBoarding a horse can cost anywhere from $100 per month for pasture board, with no inside stabling to close to $1000 per month in barns with stalls, individual turn-out, arenas and other amenities close to urban areas. This doesn’t even include the additional cost of farrier, veterinary care, blanket, and fly masks.

Hay prices can change frequently, costs vary depending on the area for a lot of factors when taking care of a horse. Here are some basic prices: one half bale of hay $2.00 per day, farrier every six week at $35 per trim, dentistry once a year for $125, salt block $14.00 or $0.04 per day.It takes a lot to keep a horse mentally and physically healthy. This is why so many horse service and rescue organizations have had to shut down. Idaho Horse Rescue has been able to provide a good home for many horses in need of the services that they provide.

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What Does Idaho Horse Rescue Do?

Idaho Horse Rescue is a non-profit organization that seeks to help suffering, neglected, and mistreated horses across southern Idaho. It was once one of several such organizations in Idaho, but its sister organizations have closed due to lack of funding. Idaho Horse Rescue is now the only organization in southern Idaho that can help these horses.

Robert, the owner funds covers half of the expenses himself, while the rest is paid for by small grants and donations. The operation costs between $25,000 and $40,000 a year. Idaho Horse Rescue takes in neglected or abused horses and houses them, feeds them, and cares for their health needs.

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Equestrian Therapy

Equestrian therapy is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions between patients and horses. Equestrian therapy is particularly applied to patients with ADD, anxiety, autism, dementia, delay in mental development, down syndrome and other genetic syndromes, depression, trauma and brain injuries, behavior and abuse issues and other mental health issues.

In the process, equestrian or equine therapy aims for its patients or students to: build a sense of self-worth, self-concept, improve communication, build trust and self-efficiency, develop socialization skills and decrease isolation, learn impulse control and emotional management, set perspective, and learn their limits or boundaries.

One of the reasons why equine-assisted therapies work so well is that everyone has a reaction to horses; nobody is indifferent. People either love them or fear them, so that’s two big emotions that immediately reflect what most of life’s issues revolve around. It has been clinically documented that just being around horses changes human brainwave patterns. We calm down and become more centered and focused when we are with horses.

Besides the physical benefits derived from therapeutic riding, the contact with the animal is a powerful experience, and the strong bond that is sometimes experienced often has a profound, uplifting effect on people who are troubled or suffering.

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How You Can Help

Idaho Horse Rescue depends heavily on the financial help of generous donors and is in great need. It is the only organization left in southern Idaho that is still able to provide care to horses.

Several others have closed in the last several years. And the resources at Idaho Horse Rescue are spread thin. At the moment, Robert, its owner, is having to house eleven horses in a two-stall stable.

There are over 200,000 horses in Idaho, and there are many of those who desperately need help from kind and caring people. These are horses who are suffering. The only place they can go in southern Idaho is Idaho Horse Rescue, and Idaho Horse Rescue can only help them if it has the resources to do so.

Idaho Horse Rescue needs your help. And anyone can help. Even small donations are welcome and helpful. If every good person makes even a small donation, imagine what could be done to relieve these horses of their undeserved pain and punishment.

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Who We Are

Idaho Horse Rescue opened its doors in 2002 and they are the only non-profit horse rescue in south west Idaho. They aim to “rescue, rehabilitate and provide refuge for these animals. IHR further pledges to offer educational information and services to help their community better care for their horses.”

The founder and owner of IHR, Robert puts all of his own money and emotions into taking care of the horses that he can save. He funds at least half of the organization himself to keep it running.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead’s statement really exemplifies what Idaho Horse Rescue pro-vides through their services. IHR makes a difference in the southern Idaho area, no matter how small it is, it brings about great change.

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Idaho Horse Rescue 947 E. Winding Creek Drive, Eagle, ID 83616

robert@idahohorserescue.org www.idahohorserescue.org

208.941.4908