PMU Rescue

[welsummerchicks]

Sometimes PMU horses work out well, sometimes they don't. While Canadian farms are mostly very strictly regulated, and while some of the bigger farms use nice breeding stallions on the mares, it's uneven. It's much more uneven in the US. And you almost ALWAYS have the problem that they aren't used to being in a stall or a small paddock.

Importing from Canada isn't a big deal with a gelding. I wouldn't worry about that. There were tons of cheap warmblood youngsters in Canada last time I went (which was a while ago, but still). We drove around for 16 hours and stopped at over a dozen farms up in that area. I couldn't BELIEVE how many horse farms there were up there. NICE farms, not backyards, not poorly bred horses, and CHEAP.

I'd be a lot more negative about bringing a youngster, sight unseen, ,from a sinking farm in Washington State. You don't have any way of guaranteeing that the care those animals got was good or not. And you always need to look at the animal, spend time with it, see what its temperament is and GET A COMPLETE PREPURCHASE EXAM. Buying a youngster is very, very different. You are looking to avoid growth problems, metabolic issues (contracted tendons etc) as well as neurological problems that are just beginning to show themselves and you need a really good vet to do the PPE who's very good with that.

But...there is no real reason to focus on PMU horses. And the problem with PMU horses is that most of them aren't 'civilized' as the lady described above - don't understand fences, don't understand stalls. You WANT a baby that's been in a paddock, been in a stall. Believe me, it makes a difference.

What I would do - is just keep your eyes open right around home. Probably no real need to cast your eyes so far afield. There are MANY breeders and private owners who are having trouble selling horses. Horses without training - youngsters - a lot of them are practically being given away these days.

 

[Okie Amazon]

Google and find equine rescues in your area. With the economy the way it is and cost of feed high, many people are literally giving away their stock or having it seized by humane authorities. Your perfect horse is out there waiting for you! If you can foster, which rescues ALWAYS need, you can check out multiple horses before finding the one to make YOURS!

 

[greeneggsandham]

Not sure how many PMU foal rescues are out there but, there are nurse mare foals that need adopting. This place is in Ohio and they get in very nice foals. www.lastchancecorral.org

 

[welsummerchicks]

I would not recommend going down to Ohio - stay within your area. Keep vetting and transporting issues simple and under your control (the farther away you get from your area the less you know about the vets).

 

[welsummerchicks]

I would not recommend going down to Ohio - stay within your area. Everyone is always at a disadvantage outside of their own area. Keep vetting and transporting issues simple and under your control (the farther away you get from your area the less you know about the vets).

 

[Avalon1984]

Hello Ian,

I wanted to complement you on your desire to adopt a PMU horse. That is very kind and I am sure that there is a large need for homes for these animals. That said I tend to agree with the other poster when it comes to finding a horse locally. I have 6 drafts and all are very well behaved- now. Some of them came with their own sort of problems from their breeders and with a large horse like that comes a lot of expenses and extra considerations when it comes to stall size, tack and even ground manners and basic training. I love my drafts to death and recommend my breeds to anyone who asks about it but I will also be the first to point out potential hazards. Getting kicked by a horse is bad enough, getting kicked by one of the big guys really sucks. I hope that you will find a nice weanling to work with in your area and be sure to visit it a few times before committing to a purchase. Make sure it as least has all the ground manners and is comfortable with stalls and people. I also highly recommend pre-purchase exams. Feel free to PM me with any question you may have, especially about drafts

 

[welsummerchicks]

Adopting a PMU weanling doesn't generallymean one is adopting a full draft breed. It may be 1/4 or 1/2 draft. Some of the mares used are draft. Often, a QH or Thb is used for the sire - to make the babies more sellable and more valuable.

Half and 1/4 drafts vary a lot as to how 'drafty' they are. Especially the 1/4 drafts. The type of the PMU foals tends to be more toward the sturdy, heavier set than a full QH or full Thb, of course.

The 1/2 drafts aren't always light enough to excel in more difficult competitions of show jumping, eventing and dressage, but even the heavier halfs tend to do nicely at a lower level.

 

[GreatPyrLover]

I had a Belgian that was a PMU baby...he was the best thing in the world...a friend of mine does a lot of rescuing with the PMU's...thats how I got my hands on him...try looking at http://www.theanimalifarm.com , they work with a lot of the PMU barns up north and tend to have a lot of draft crosses....I am glad to hear you are rescuing!!! Drafst are truly amazing horses!!!!!!!!!

 

[patandchickens]

I really have no idea about now, but it used to be (before the PMU industry tanked, a decade or whatever ago) that a reasonable number of registered QH and Paints were available from those farms, as they did start to realize that there was some money to be recouped and that it was much better PR (and for the horses) to be producing more-saleable foals. NOT all PMU horses anymore are drafts or even draft crosses.

I think you just need to think very, very carefully about what your goals and priorities and criteria are, here, and how flexible you're willing to be on how it turns out (I mean, *beyond* the generic nothing-in-life-is-ever-guaranteed aspect).

If you want, specifically and exactly, to take in a PMU weanling as a humanitarian act, then it really doesn't matter vastly much what you end up with as long as you have facilities to contain it and experience to work with it and money to support it if it should turn out unrideable/unsaleable. Buying over the internet would be fine, just pick a broker with good reputation.

If you want, specifically and exactly, to take in a PMU weanling but it is going to need to do useful work rather than turn out to be possibly just an ornament or money pit, personally I'd feel a lot more comfortable having been able to see and handle the animal before buying, even if that meant paying a little more. (The purchase price is such a trivial part of the overall cost of the horse over the years). Either take a lil' vacation to a further-off broker and pick one out in person, or buy locally and squint when you're reading the number you just wrote on the check.

If you want just to rescue a horse in general, it might be best not to get too hung up on the PMU thing since there are as many or more just-generically-needing-homes type horses in the world these days, try looking at ALL your options, craigslist, rescues, outfits that rescue from auctions, etc etc, depending on how restrictive an adoption agreement you're willing to cope with versus how much you want to pay.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[pbjmaker]

Someone please explain the term "PMU" for those of us who read these threads to learn