Cross Breeds - Where Do I Find Horses For a Horse Rescue?

Where Do I Find Horses For a Horse Rescue?

I am starting a small private horse rescue at my farm. I already have funding, supplies, and a good vet to help me out. What I want to know is, where do I find horses to rescue? I live in Utah. I know there are alot of people who can't, or just don't want to care for their horse or horses anymore. I just want to know how to go about finding them. Please no negative comments. Thank you everyone!

Public Comments

Post ads advertising that you will rescue or rehabilitate horses, people should call in if they need a rescue. And go to kill pens at auctions. Lots and lots and lots of auctions.
Congrats! its nice to hear that, i went to an amish auction onetime and they had a slaughter pen and i wanted to take them all home = [ it was sad, try petfinder, like emergency cases, try posting ads in the paper, go to local racetracks and ask around to see if anyone's wanting to get rid of racehorses
if they'res any auctions around, thats the easiest, just put the word out, make up flyers and hang them in feed stores and what not. tell people, that'll spread word about your rescue like a wildfire. it's great that your starting a rescue, that's something I want to do also, but I think I should be over 18 to do that! I've got the land and funding also, but I need to get threw high skool and preferably college too lol... good luck!
I would either phone or take a trip to you local ASPCA. Give them your phone number and let them come check out your facility. There's a very good chance that they'll give you a call when someone brings a horse in. Or you could check out some large facilities near you that have a waiting list- see if they'll give your numbers to people on that. Good luck! And remember, running a rescue is very time consuming and expensive!
http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/ Go to the Unwanted Horse Coalition website and list your facility there. Talk to your local news and have them do an article on your facility and go to the television news in your area and ask them to do an article on your facility. Also go to your local animal shelter and let them know you are in existence. Do you have a web site? If you have a website I would be more than happy to post your information on "The Original Bitfit's blog site... http://theoriginalbitfit.blogspot.com/p/horse-rescue-organizations.html If you don't have a website send me an email and we can talk.
Let me first start out by saying THANK YOU! from all of us horse lovers! This is so, so needed. Second of all, to get started, I would look at auctions. There always seems to be kill buyers at every auction, and soon enough, if you spend enough time around the auction/horse/rescue community, your name will get out, and people will come try to dump their horses in your lap. You'll think you were crazy to ever go looking for them XD Once again, kudos to you, and if I ever get out to Utah to go to Best Friends like I'm planning, maybe we'll cross paths :)
Kill pens at the auctions. That's where a local rescue gets the bulk of their horses...they get in about 70 or so at a time. They also pay slaughter price, so the horses go for cheap and they find lots of em who are in great shape. You should be able to find pregnant mares easily. They are what fill up the kill pens (a preg mare is heavier = the owner gets more $ from the killer buyer) Yes, there's still horses being sent to slaughter....to Mex and Canada. You can also post flyers at the tack shops and business cards. Your best bet are the auctions where there are no vets. Where horses just get dumped by owners.
Craigslist there are always free horses that need rescuing on there. I run a 501c3 non profit horse rescue...I have never went out looking for horses, never advertised and believe me they find me. I have two farriers, they get owners in contact with me, people who have brought horses in tell people...its all word of mouth. I do have a website and people have found us, i take horses in from other states also. Just let people know you have an opening and they will show up. Make sure your ready for this, its physically and mentally challenging...right now i need a vacation.