We are thrilled to announce that Glory is officially adopted to Melissa N!
Matching our horses with the perfect adopter is a big part of our work at SAFE. We are very lucky to have so many wonderful horses but they all have their stories and are at different places in their training. Glory was preparing to have a rider this spring; we had completed all the prep work and she was ready for the first ride. We generally would not adopt an un-started horse but when Melissa came to SAFE we were open to the idea of letting her go before she was ridden.
Our hesitation in adopting out un-started horses is that we have seen many cases that these horses do not get the training they need. Why should a horse be started under saddle? Even if you are not going to use the horse for a riding partner, teaching them this skill helps in case you are ever in a situation where you are forced to rehome your horse. They have a better chance finding a home if they had riding in their past. Also lightly starting a horse at a younger age is MUCH easier than an older horse. Take it from us, it’s much easier to get the first rides on a 3–4 year old than a 11–14 year old! Part of our mission is a promise to give the horses a lifetime of safety. By making sure they have all the training and education we can provide, we are giving them a foundation that will protect them from neglect in the future.
Melissa knew that she was a capable rider but also wanted to give Glory the foundation that will make her a wonderful riding partner. She decided to take Glory directly to Nick Donohue’s place and have him put those critical first months of riding on her.
Recently Melissa contacted us and was beaming after her first rides on Glory. She said that she loves her temperament, willingness and forward movement. “She is going to be a lot of fun…My main focus is to ensure that I can continue to support her and grow with her after her time with Nick.” Melissa is doing it right! And we are thrilled to have found such a conscientious owner for Glory that knows the importance of a good foundation and is preparing support both for Glory and herself as they grow into a brilliant riding pair! This is a great example of both rescue and ownership done right!
