Submitted by Erin Paul: Kelso (affectionately known as The Wonder Pony) has been in my life for 14 years! I adopted him as my first horse when I was 13 and he 7ish. He came from Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation. I received both my Bronze and Silver Medal on him, and went down two Grand Prix Center Lines with him ❤ He has taught me everything I know and I am grateful every day for him having the patience to make me an FEI rider on a self-trained horse.
Photo by John Borys Photography
In April on YourDressage, we are celebrating Rescue Horses! We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their rescue horses who are now thriving after having found their soft landing. We got an incredible outpouring of stories and photos in response, and look forward to sharing them here all month long!
Did you know that dressage riders who choose rescue horses as their mounts are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the International Rescue Horse Registry, LLC is a participating organization?
Adopted in 2016! Misty/Silver Lining is my dancing partner from Kentucky Equine Adoption Center We are on our bronze medal journey with confirmed scores at first and on our way to second! – Danielle G.My former Amish plow horse – Jennifer B.– Susan R.Brodie was rescued from a Texas killpen at 6 mos old. We successfully showed Intro Level last Fall and are currently working towards Training Level. – Vicki KEncores Illumination aka “Brando” came from the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation in 2018. I participated in their Trainer’s Challenge and ended up adopting him. Turns out he’s full blood Arabian and registered! We debuted at 2nd level last year at a schooling show and hoping to get to Regionals this year at 2nd! – Jess A.My sweet Jute has been with me more then half of our lives. He has been retired to beginner lessons/leasers at the current age of 27. He took my youngest to her first recognized show in 2021. I wouldn’t be who I am as a rider and horseman if it wasn’t for this crabby old man❤️ – Alexandra T.I adopted my ASB “it’s cosmo time” aka bubs in Feb of 2015. It’s been a journey with some bumps in the road but he’s the best horse, he tries so hard. – Heather O.This is my boy SBR Sinatra… adopted from. Saddlebred Rescue in NJ in 2017. They are the best and always try so hard – Amy B.K5 WeeBiscuit has been the BEST pony for our daughter ❤️ we believe he was around 7 when WeeBe came into our lives. A rescue pony that has taught her so much, they competed up to training level and schooled 1st ❤️ he is now into his next career learning how to be a hippotherapy pony at Shining Hope Farms – Jessica K.Charlie!! ❤️ He is a draftX rescued from a bad situation. He came to me as a 2.5 Y-O. He was supposed to be my hunt horse but I noticed that he had trouble going down hills. Rather than stress him by making him hunt, we turned to dressage. He would do anything for me. We have a love affair ❤️ sadly, his feet were compromised in his neglect conditions (hence, the hill issue). The damaged structures were further damaged as he tore around his pasture in the snow. Now, he is my pasture ornament 💔 – Krasi H.This is Maverick. He was a nurse mare foal. He has been mine for 12 years – since he was 3. Maverick wants to be a pocket pet. He has a tremendous work ethic. He is very curious and has a great sense of humor. He has showed in regionals. He adapts easily to his situations and is very nice to take to shows. He won’t step in water and therefore, didn’t make a suitable hunt horse. Just 15h tall, he is great fun to ride and we have had a lot of fun learning about dressage together. He is delicate and sensitive where less is more for him; he is my butterfly on a string. 💕 – Krasi H.Duncan MacLeod – IRHR ♥️ USDF debut sometime this year. We’re kicking it off at the LVDA Ride the Test Symposium this weekend, as a Training 2 demo pair. 🎉 – Aeon DressageSabastian’s Magique, abandoned Arabian/Appaloosa, successful through I-1, now happily retired at age 25. ❤️ – Natalie M.Tinkerbell came to me from the Colorado Horse Rescue Network in 2020. She meet me at the barn when I returned from Afghanistan. We were both a bit broken then. 14 months later she and I did something no one ever would have imagined and rode our first test in Colorado in 2021. She’s since retired to helping other veterans at our barn, but she’s still my rock. – Chris M.Ryleigh Koch and Silver’s Destiny – Jennifer K.I got Samwise when he was 3-4 years old. He was sold as a grade QH, but the dealer had picked him up as part of a lot of horses at a meat auction. He’d saddle each horse up and if it bucked, it went on to slaughter, and if it didn’t, it was sold as green broke. Fortunately, Sam must not have bucked. In the sixteen years since, we’ve done a little bit of everything, from hunters to playing with cows to medieval games, and he always has the best attitude to try whatever I throw at him. A few years ago we started doing dressage, and compete now at first level. He’s also registered with the International Rescue Horse Registry. He’s battling issues with navicular, but I’m hoping we can have another show season or two ahead before a long and happy retirement to trail ride and hang out together. (Photo credit Susan J. Stickle) -Sarah G.I adopted Clarissa from Last Chance Ranch in 2016. She was rescued from a huge neglect case and ended up in an Anderson sling for a few weeks due to how emaciated she was, you could see every bone in her body. No one expected her to survive. 2 years ago we competed in Kentucky at US dressage finals for training level 🦄💕 – Taylor D.Mine does western dressage! – Ashley F.❤️Royce❤️ rescued from a breeding farm by the authorities with countless other horses. Locked in a stall for many years as an unbroke stallion, came to me with various physical and mental issues; finally stepped foot in the show ring this year at 3rd and 4th level. – Wendy G.
