Horse rescue organizations rehabilitate neglected and abused horses. Evidence-based rehabilitation protocols address physical and psychological welfare for successful reintegration.
Horse rescue welfare begins with careful physical stabilization followed by systematic psychological rehabilitation. The refeeding paradox — that starved horses require slow, careful dietary reintroduction rather than rapid replenishment — represents a critical welfare knowledge that rescue organizations must apply to prevent iatrogenic harm during well-intentioned feeding. Psychological rehabilitation from abuse histories requires patience, positive experiences, and time measured in months or years rather than days. Evidence-based adoption screening and post-adoption support are essential welfare extensions that determine whether rescue horses remain in welfare-positive situations long-term.