North Queensland Horse Rescue

 "There is no such thing as a bad

        horse, only bad training"

Owner/Operator of NQHR with one of her personal horses, Manny.

We are located in the township of Ravenshoe, north Queensland and take in horses from all over Far North Queensland and surrounding areas. If you have an unwanted horse or pony please do not hesiate to contact us as will pick them up and place them in the loving LIFE HOMES that they deserve. Please give your horse/pony ANOTHER CHANCE.

We take horses in no questions asked! All we need to know is how many horses/ponies need picking up and where from! All information provided to us is treated in confidence and at no stage is information passed on to a third party without consent.

Our Mission: Is to help as many horses and ponies have another chance at life by re-homing them with a loving life home where the will be cared for and cherished.

Our Goals: To re-home as many neglected horses and ponies as possible and to make the public more aware of the backyard abuse of our equine friends. We will be taking our little mascot, Miniature mare Yanci, out later in the year to promote awareness and to talk to the public about what we do and how they can help.

Pricing Policy: Horses and ponies are priced according to their requirements and what has gone into them to help them recover. As we are a non profit horse recue we pay all the expenses like transport, worming, feed, vet bills, having their teeth floated and hooves trimmed etc all out of our own pockets. Although we do not make a profit on the horses we re-home we have to try and recover what has gone into them so we can continue doing what we do. We will always try and keep prices as low as possible as we believe that good homes are more inportant than money.

Contact: You can contact us by phone on 0488506205 or (After hours only please) If you would like to speak to us please contact us after 7pm week days, please do not leave a message as the answering machine does not re-play them for us :-) 

or email us on northqldhorserescue@hotmail.com we try and return all email as soon as possible. If you perfer snail mail our postal address is: North Queensland Horse Rescue PO Box 857 Ravenshoe QLD 4888

NOTICE:

Before you conatct  us please read the FAQ's page as that may answer some questions for you.

Best mates from the start! Jessee & Yanci sharing a carrot and a cuddle. Jessee helped nurse little Yanci back to full health.

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Would you be able to lead your horse to slaughter?

In the present difficult financial climate, it's becoming an all too frequent option for people strapped for cash, and desperate to release themselves from the huge costs of keeping a horse. For years, this has been the fate of some race horses, bred for racing and business purposes, and often disposed of at the abattoir at the end of a short racing life. Race horses are often over breed in the hunt for that 'special' horse, the 'ordinary' and surplus ones being simply disposed off in the abattoir. Some might even argue that a highly strung race horse, trained only for racing and with no schooling for everyday riding, will always be difficult to handle, and perhaps this is a kinder option in the long run. But the credit crunch has made this a more common ending for young, healthy horses, where places at rescue centers are becoming increasingly hard to find because of high demand.

Then there are the horses kept as pets or to ride, bought in better times, and now a huge drain on the owner's resources when money is hard to come by. Abattoirs offer carcass disposal, an otherwise expensive service, hence making it an economic option that some are forced by circumstances to choose. Maybe it could be argued that to humanly slaughter a horse is better than leaving it neglected in a field. But if this is necessary, surely it should be carried out as far as possible in a way that removes suffering and ensures the welfare of the horse.

So, you might say, if it's ok to slaughter a sheep or a cow, what's so special about a horse? Well, horses are more aware of their environment. Horse owners will say that their horses are almost mind readers, and the bond between horse and rider is close. But what happens to a horse kept waiting at an abattoir? Surely horses will be easily distressed, and is this really always taken into account? In addition to this suffering, horses often have to make a long and arduous journey before they even reach the slaughter house. Many of these horses are reported by World Horse Welfare to be dehydrated, exhausted and injured on arrival, sometimes travelling for more than 24 hours without rest.

Owning a horse is a huge responsibility, and should be thought about carefully - as should breeding horses. Yes, foals are cute, but can you guarantee a future for an animal in today's financial climate?

Would you be able to lead your horse to slaughter?

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These majestic creatures deserve our help, because without the horse - man would be nothing. History was written in the hoof tracks of horses. Now it is time to rewrite history and once again hold horses in the esteem that they so richly deserve. We owe it to them for their unfailing loyalty to us. The horses are our most prized companions; let's keep them in our hearts not out in the cold.

Credit: horserescueuinted.net

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                                                                       A Rescue Horse's Thoughts

Thunderstorms enter my heart, a cloud of mixed emotions. The rain is tears from my eyes no longer cried.

A pasture of grass once grazed on by us wild horses, running wild by instinct.

A natural desire to be touched by forms of beauty and not pain, so love is given whole heartedly.

The beauty of me is within, way down deep, looking for a place to hide.  I am wondering what I did wrong.

Can you tell why you don’t see me anymore?  Why do you not touch me with words or hands?

You turned away from me, hurting me, but I still love you. Like yesterday, like today.  It hasn't changed.

You move further away and I hurt more.  Love me.  Do not fear me, I was put here to love and be loved.

Take the reins of my heart and lead the way into blue skies above.  No more hate, beating, or bitterness.

I am in millions of pieces needing to be put back together again - not by shame, not by neglect, or pain.

But by Love.  Hold me, love me.  I am here for you always.  Even when you are cruel with words and hands.

I can forgive you anything, as long as you love me.

- Heather Obed, 2006

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Animal welfare agencies talk about ‘the five freedoms’. These are the five basic rights that all animals should have:

1. Freedom from thirst and hunger - A horse should have ready access to fresh, clean water and sufficient amounts of the correct foodstuffs. Horse feeding practices must take into account their requirements for a very high fibre diet as that is what they are biologically programmed to eat.
2. Freedom from discomfort - A horse should have an appropriate environment. Adequate space and shelter are important. Management systems must take into account horse behaviours. Horses are herd animals and inherently social and require company. It is timely to rethink management practices.
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease - A horse owner or carer must know at least the basics of horse care and be able to recognise when a horse needs veterinary attention or is in need of a horse dentist or farrier or other horse health professional.
4. Freedom to express normal behaviour - A horse owner or carer should understand horse behaviour. This knowledge is important not only to provide suitable living conditions for the horse/s in their care but also to train them humanely. Understanding horse behaviour is also essential for a rider or a handler’s safety.
5. Freedom from fear and distress - A horse owner or carer should not place a horse in a situation where is continues to suffer stress/distress. Nor should a horse owner or carer use training methods that cause fear, pain or distress. By using humane training methods horses can be trained effectively and safely.