W.H.I.N.N.Y. Horse Rescue

There is no greater gift we can give to our W.H.I.N.N.Y. horses than to have them adopted by individuals and/or families that will love and care for them their lifetime here on earth. The adoption of a rescued equine can be a very rewarding experience, but it is not for everyone. Adopting a horse is very much like adopting a child. 
Please note ....

On July 7th, 2009 WHINNY's Board of Directors voted to amend our adoption contract. It has been our policy since WHINNY began  to retain full ownership of its adoptive horses. Because the happiness and security of our horses are important to us, we feel this change in our adoption policy  would increase their chances of finding forever homes. In the future our  adoption contracts will include this amendment: WHINNY Horse Rescue retains ownership of the adopted horse for the first three years of the adoption; whereas WHINNY Horse Rescue and adopters abide by the original adoption contract. After three years, WHINNY  Horse Rescue will sign over ownership of the horse to the adopter.  
  
 Below are some important facts anyone who is considering an adoption or otherwise purchasing a horse should think about : 

1. The costs of properly caring for a horse has been estimated at $1000 to $4,500 per year. However, because of the skyrocketing cost of fuel today, that cost will certainly be on the increase.  Many factors  affect just how much one actually spends to properly care for a horse. For instance,under complete confinement conditions, where pasture is unavailable, much more feed, bedding and labor are required.

2. It is recommended that each horse have at least 1-1/2 to 2 acres of open grazing land. However, horses can not survive solely on pasture. For proper digestive tract function, horses should be fed a minimum of 1% of their bodyweight in good quality hay per day.They require hay for fiber and bulk, as well as good feed for a balance of minerals and vitamins that most pastures do not supply.

3. An ample supply of fresh clean drinking water is important also. Studies show that an idle horse requires a minimum of 10 to 12 gallons of water a day. But each horse is an individual - some horses might need more, others, less.

4. Adequate clean shelter is a must. Horses need protection from wind, rain and cold in the winter, and heat & biting flies in the summer. Box stalls should be large enough to permit the horse to get up, turn around, and not lie in, stand on or eat from areas contaminated with its own feces or urine. Run-in sheds should be large enough to allow the horse protection from the elements, and be free of obstacles that could be a safety hazard to your horse. 

5. A mature 1000 to 1200 pound horse will produce 40 to 45 pounds of manure per day, plus spilled water and urine. Good, clean, safe bedding is a must if your horse is to be bedded in a stall. Acceptable bedding include straw, wood products, paper & pine needles. Bedding should be free of toxic chemicals or other substances that could injure horses or people. Black walnut and cherry wood shavings/sawdust are toxic to horses. Never use these as bedding. Sand should never be used as bedding for horses. Feed and hay eaten off the floor may contain enough sand to cause sand colic .

6. Horse manure should be properly composted for a period of 30 days before being spread on pastures. The heat generated during composting kills internal parasite eggs and larvae. It is important to compost properly. Infective larvae of strongyles (blood-worms) have been known to survive up to eight months in hay harvested from pastures fertilized with infected horse manure. 

7.The ideal body condition of a horse should score at a 5 to 7  on a scale from 1 through 9. One being poor, extremely emaciated. Nine is extremely fat, obese. Five is a moderate body condition with a level back, ribs that cannot be seen but can be easily felt . The withers appear rounded, and the shoulders and neck blend smoothly into the body. Seven is a fleshy body condition, in which the horse has a crease down the back, individual ribs can be felt but there is noticeable filling between the ribs with fat.

8. Horses can not be safely ridden  until the age of two, but three is the preferred age. The young horse's back is not fully developed until the age of two & growth plates in their legs are not fully developed until the age of three. Always consider the weight of  a rider to its horse. Are they compatible? To determine this - take the weight of the rider, multiply it by six.  For instance, a 125 lb. rider should ride a horse that weighs 750 lbs or more. Any less and you interfere with the quality of the ride and the comfort of the horse.