Cate Lamm, an avid horsewoman, has been a part of Colorado Horse Rescue (www.chr.org) for 10 years. There, she’s served as head of the adoption committee, has acted as general manager and now works as a rehabilitation trainer. Lamm has owned a number of her own rescue horses and has 20 years of equine experience. Based in Longmont, Colorado, she’s also the editorial assistant of The Trail Rider (www.trailridermag.com), sister publication of MyHorseDaily.com.

As Banjo, my difficult new rescue horse, and I began to bond, I realized we needed a different environment. He was currently being boarded at a hunter/jumper barn geared toward showing. We were a long way away from showing, if ever.

Sweet face!

Another reason I needed to move was that Jane, the facility owner, thought Banjo was going to kill me, and I should send him back to the rescue.

I knew I couldn’t continue to move forward with this kind of pressure. This meant standing up to Jane and telling her I’d be moving Banjo. I was also leasing a mare from Jane, so I’d also need to tell Jane that I’d be terminating that agreement. Jane had a temper, and I was somewhat afraid of her.

However, Jane had also been a strong mentor for me. She has spent countless hours yelling at me to keep my heels down and my eyes up as I learned to jump. I’ve been riding all my life, but took up jumping in my 30s.

So, how to leave without anger and without hurting Jane’s feelings?

I realized again how this horse of mine was making me face my own fears, while I helped him overcome his. He was forcing me to leave a situation that no longer worked for me. So when it came time to talk to Jane, I thought of the lessons I’d been teaching Banjo.

I had been teaching Banjo that when you’re scared; feel your feet on the ground and breathe, so that’s what I did. I walked up to Jane and calmly explained what I needed to do. I told her I was sorry and thanked her for all her help. She didn’t freak out or yell. But she did say that she was going to sell the mare I’d been leasing–at auction.

Whoa. I wasn’t ready for that one. The mare was too hot to use as a school horse. Plus, she was getter older. So she just wasn’t useful to Jane anymore, unless I was leasing her.

I lost touch with the ground. My breath caught in my chest.

“I’ll buy her,” I heard myself saying.

Did I just buy another horse?

If you want more information on rescue horses or you want to locate a rescue near you, please check outAHomeForEveryHorse.com.

Equine.com and the Active Interest Media Equine Network have joined forces with the American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition to launch A Home for Every Horse Project. This project helps find homes for America’s 170,000 to 200,000 horses in need of care and shelter.
Here’s how it works:
• Begin the search for your next equine partner at AHomeForEveryHorse.com. You can search horses waiting for homes at nonprofit shelters across the country. Browse by rescue horse, or find rescue organizations in your area.
• Visit the site’s “Services” section to learn about your local rescue organizations. Find out how you can volunteer, donate, or simply spread the word.
• Look for upcoming stories on EquiSearch.com related to horse rescue.

If your 501(c)(3) rescue organization would like to join the Home For Every Horse Project, call (866) 467-7323, ext. 100.
Equine.com is a part of Active Interest Media Equine Network.