The convenience of our disposable generation has come at a steep cost. Is anything but ‘shiny and new’ valued anymore?

Senior animals are often overlooked by potential adoptive families and it’s sad to say, but when horses are no longer useful, they’re often thrown away.

Too many old and broken ones are listed on craigslist or elsewhere for free. Sometimes people just stop caring for them when they are no longer useful. We’d rather see them euthanized than to have them end up in the slaughter pipeline or being worked all day every day for rental on a hack line at their ripe age.

Rescues hesitate to take them all, because nobody wants them. If we do, there is no room for younger adoptable horses.

But senior horses still have so much value.

• Seniors have the most loving personalities.

• They are appreciative and definitely understand that they have been rescued.

• They are perfect for easy trail riding or simply companionship for another horse.

• They can be therapy horses and be used to teach humans how to groom and tack.

Beyond having a ‘useful purpose’, senior horses make great pets just to love and appreciate for what they’ve done for us.

We’re always looking for special adoptive families like Ashley’s. When Ashley fell in love with senior horse Dusty, we were thrilled that one of our favorite old men finally found his forever home. Except Dusty’s adoption would have left his old girlfriend, Misty, without her best buddy.

When RVR Founder Shawn Jayroe explained Dusty and Misty’s circumstances to Ashley, Ashley immediately welcomed both equines into her family, keeping the senior friends together.

We always aim for a perfect adoption match (like Ashley, Dusty, and Misty) and we’re building a unique adoption model to facilitate a wonderful retirement for our senior horses.

Our Save Our Seniors Program is a collaborative effort between RVR Horse Rescue, subsidized boarding facilities, show barns, human senior communities, horse sponsors, and general horse lovers.

One beautiful aspect of our program is having children experience first-hand the value of senior horses. If we can raise more ambassadors for senior horses, like our little spokesperson in the following video, perhaps within one generation, we can change the dismal plight of senior horses for generations to come.

Will you take on a senior? Check your local equine rescues.

Our Save Our Seniors official program Kick-Off takes place

Saturday, April 28^th

during our annual

ASPCA Help A Horse Day event.

Contact RVR to learn more about our Save Our Seniors program or click here to learn more about our event.

Photo credit: Marji Lexton of Kindheart Photography