Lame Horses
It is a common misconception that most rescue horses are used up, worthless, or are lame horses. This is not true. The short answer is that rescues have many different types of horses; Some aren’t great for riding—it’s true—but many can do anything any other horse can do. Also, rescues have horses with a range of abilities, from light ride only to sound at a performance level. Some horses have health conditions that limit their riding/exercise ability. Also, they may require a special medication, lifestyle, or veterinary care.
What does it mean for a horse to be lame? Lameness is an abnormal stance or gait caused by either a structural or a functional disorder of the locomotor system. The horse is either unwilling or unable to stand or move normally. Lameness is the most common cause of loss of use in horses. Trauma, disorders, infection, and disease cause lameness.
Rescues take neglected and unwanted horses. Neglected, not lame. Many are sound, well-bred animals who ended up in the rescue after their owners fell on hard times. Rescues typically have many horses who are young, sound and can be trained for anything. You’ll even find trained horses in rescues.
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