All my horses have been rescues but I only had one where I found the prior owner. A neighbor took a horse from a hoarder in bad shape and couldn't keep her so I took the horse. It took a few months of food and some vet care but the horse started to turn around real fast. You could tell she had been loved in the past as she was very well trained and always wanted to be with you. So a few months go by and my farrier came with one of his friends and was telling the guy about my new horse. I told him about the hoarder rescue and he said omg that's my ex wife. The horses were out in the field behind the barn and this guy said what does the mare look like. I told him 14h chestnut Arab mare about 20 years old with a blaze and right front sock. He burst into tears and called out sweet pea, sweet pea and the mare whinnied and galloped up to us. I gotta tell you we all cried even my big mountain man farrier. He lost all the horses in the divorce and the wife moved out of the county. Anyway I gave him back his horse. He hadn't seen her in about 10 years.

You did the right thing in giving him his horse back! Bless you for caring!

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so for sharing this. All the best to you!

have several owners in their lifetimes. So unlike other animals humans domesticate who generally have short lives and a single owners..

I had one live to about 30 and have one now who is 35. I think there is a horse or 2 that made it to 60 but that would be the oldest horse in the world and probably a pony. Ponies tend to live longer. I've known a few ponies who got to 40.
Sweet pea is the only horse I passed on I keep them for life. The best horse I ever owned was a big headed yellow horse with the stride of a 3 legged gerbil. She been through the auction in new holland Pa. They rode her through the ring in a bridle made out of a bent coat hanger. She had been treated badly. It took a bit of time but she finally got me trained to ride her right. She had a big heart. I loved the horse she was my one in a million.

That was an awesome thing for you to do.

Big heart to your big heart!

I'm glad the horse is going to better circumstances now. Sad story, but at least he has hope for a better life now.

Thanks for the thread, n2doc.

It would make a good movie!

Except for the tragedy with the family (which is very UNcommon), the plight of older, lame horses is very difficult.

If you don't have enough money to keep them for the rest of their days, then you're faced with few choices - put them down, try to find a "forever" home for a pretty expensive pet, or send them through the auction.

I'm thrilled though that this horse found his way out of the "killer" pen (older, lame horses that are going to slaughter) and will spend the rest of his days in peace and quiet.

What a sweet story.

What a bitter sweet read.