Horse headed for slaughter training now participating in “A Home for Every Horse Equine Comeback Challenge”
Missy Rothfuss and her husband, Jim Rothfuss, were matched with Heston, a 6-year-old Arabian gelding, through equine.com’s “A Home for Every Horse Equine Comeback Challenge.” The challenge was founded in 2011 and since its start has found homes for between 170,000 to 200,000 unwanted horses.
Heston, a 6-year-old Arabian gelding, will compete against nine other rescue horses at the Home for Every Horse challenge. The challenge, on Oct. 14th, will be held at the 2014 Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
Missy Rothfuss of Houston was matched through Equine.com with Heston, a 6-year-old Arabian gelding. Heston was headed for the slaughterhouse until Barb Devers of Ithaca, N.Y., outbid a kill buyer at a horse auction. Heston was then placed in the “A Home for Every Horse Equine Comeback Challenge.”
Heston’s owner, Missy Rothfuss, is a third-generation horse trainer. Rothfuss and her 14-year-old daughter, Shaunna, had broken Heston within five days.
Wilbur the pig had Charlotte.
Heston, a six-year old Arabian gelding, has Barb Devers and Missy Rothfuss.
Heston was headed for a slaughterhouse until Devers, of Ithaca, N.Y., outbid a kill buyer at a horse auction in New York and purchased him for $140. She took Heston to Second Chance Thoroughbreds, an equine rescue facility in Spencer, N.Y., which selected him for Equine.com’s “A Home for Every Horse Equine Comeback Challenge.”
The horse’s good luck continued when Equine.com matched him with Rothfuss, 36, of Houston, a third-generation horse trainer who drove to New York July 13 to pick up Heston.
On Oct. 14, Rothfuss and Heston will compete against nine other rescue horses and their trainers at the Home for Every Horse challenge at the 2014 Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
The trainers and horses were randomly paired, and will compete in a versatility trail contest. Trainers will have an additional two minutes at the end of the course to perform a freestyle routine that demonstrates the work they’ve done with their horses.
The benefit of the Comeback Challenge is that it allows rescue horses to attend full-time training with professional trainers and provides a stage for the horses to showcase their abilities.
After the challenge, the horses will be sold to approved homes.
Rothfuss knows a thing or two about horse training. She and her husband, Jim, own Rothfuss Racing Stable in Washington, which includes 13 harness racing horses. She also trains problem horses and teaches riding.
“I’ve been riding horses since before I could walk. I’ve worked and trained them my whole life. I never got to have a nice, broke horse, we didn’t have money for that. So, I got the auction buys or somebody else’s problem horse and I’d have to train it,” laughed Rothfuss. “I’ve always loved working with problem horses.”
Rothfuss, with help from her 14-year-old daughter, Shaunna, was riding the previously unbroken Heston within five days.
In the weeks since Rothfuss picked up Heston, they have gone trail riding and cow sorting, and completed several versatility and obstacle courses. Heston accepts Western and English saddles, and Shaunna rides him bareback,
Rothfuss has worked several hours a day with Heston, teaching him to walk, trot and canter with a rider, and documented their progress on a Facebook page, “Heston and Missy Rothfuss.”
“He’s very friendly; he’s very sweet. He does everything you want him to do, and he’s so willing,” said Rothfuss. “He’s proof that a lot of people toss away good horses. He’s an amazing horse.”
Rothfuss speculates that Heston was dumped because he has a hernia, which significantly reduces his value as a show horse.
A Home for Every Horse was founded in 2011 as a way for Equine.com, the world’s largest equine marketplace, to partner with equine rescues across the country to help find homes for between 170,000 to 200,000 unwanted horses.
In 2014, Mariah Hammerschmidt, project coordinator for A Home for Every Horse, was looking for a way to help rescue organizations find permanent homes for dumped horses.
“Rescue horses needed a platform and a knowledgeable partner to show the world what they are capable of,” said Hammerschmidt. “With a competition like the Equine Comeback Challenge, rescue horses are given that much-needed opportunity to showcase their abilities and potential.”
In February, the first Equine Comeback Challenge was held at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, and its success encouraged Hammerschmidt to hold one on the East Coast.
Purina provided feed for the horses, Tractor Supply Co. gave gift cards to the trainers to help defray costs, and Cinch Jeans is providing shirts and jackets for trainers.
Rothfuss has grown attached to Heston, and is considering keeping him after the competition.
“He should be the spokesman for rescue horses. He’s special. It’s great to show that just because a horse is a rescue doesn’t mean it’s a bad horse,” said Rothfuss. “This is, as they call it, his second chance, and he’s worthy of a second chance.”
After all, Heston is some terrific horse.
For more information on “A Home for Every Horse Equine Challenge,” visit ahomeforeveryhorse.com.