First time adopting a horse/pony:)?

For my first horse, I rescued a pony, the ad lied, tons! But I could see she needed me. And I needed her. We took her home the night we went to see her, and I had to rehabilitate her for a few weeks. But once she was ride-able, she was the best. She knew everything. Apparently she'd had extensive professional training, as in living with one for 16 years of her life. I still have her, she's now retired, but livens up the barnyard with her attitude. She also taught my little sister to ride, and my 3 year old cousin. She's now 29, but still running around like she's two.

Rescuing/Adopting is one of the best ways to find a horse.

Cheers to you for rescuing!

And heck yea, I'd do it again in a second. Rescuing my boy has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I hadn't even been intending to get a horse, but I was visiting a local equine rescue for my job (reporter), and saw the most heartbreakingly sweet little 7-year-old TBX... the whole time I was there he followed me around, chased off anyone else who came to visit - and a few months later I'd adopted him.

His mother had been rescued from a meat auction, and he was born at the rescue. She had been badly abused, was completely emaciated and is blind in one eye due to an old injury. He, however, is the sweetest, most loving creature I've ever met. We're both still really, really green, but went on our first real trail ride after a summer of work, and it was amazing. He might have been lacking in confidence, but just because I asked him to we were crossing bridges and even wading across knee-deep running water. He wanted so much for me to be proud of him, and I am!

There's something so rewarding about the bond between a person and a rescue animal. He hasn't had a rough day in his life, but he's seen the worst of the worst, and I'm sure he knows how good he has it. No matter how bad of a day I'm having at work, it all goes away when I start walking toward the pasture and call to him - his head comes up, and as soon as he sees me he's running for the fence.

It's a truly amazing feeling, and I trust him with my life.

Congratulations on your pending adoption, and thank you so much for your wise choices not to breed, and to wait for the right match! I guarantee it will be worth it!

i think my horse chose me. she was just a year and a half old when i met her and hated everyone. i was the only one who could calm her and i eventually trained her myself. if you can call it training. i just worked with her in the round pen and taught her to saddle. one day i just decided to hop on and go for a ride and it was awesome! i officially adopted her from the LUV Shack Ranch Horse Rescue in October '08. she is now almost 3 and is my very best friend. some people say we have the closest relationship they have ever seen between a horse and a human. if i had to, i would definitely do it again. but honestly, my little red-headed filly annie is the only one for me.