LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Abused horses can receive a second chance through therapy at a Lexington farm that ensures their next home is a good fit.
McConathy Farm Rescue Team Owner David McMillian explained their goal is "to get them adopted out and give them a second career. Horses love to work. Horses don't like staying around. They love to work, they love to be rode, they love attention. But horses are like people, they got -- everyone's got a different personality."
With dozens of acres, McMillian and his staff take in horses from all over the country almost weekly.
"We get horses in that are--people that buy them and they just can't, can't handle it they don't understand the expense of what a horse is," McMillian said. "So we bring them in. We desensitize them, we turn them out ... and then we just start all over from scratch."
Whether the horses are meant to make a comeback to the racetrack or become beloved "pasture pets," the rescue team tries to understand what the horse has been through so they can get them back to feeling comfortable around people .
"We're these horses' last chance," McMillian explained. "People just neglect them and dump them. If we're not there to help them, nobody is. Then you just watch them waste away or unfortunately, you hear of people shooting them up on the side of the road. We don't want that. We can find a horse a home. Just give us a chance. Let us help you. Don't let the horse pay for it. Let us help you, help the horse."
The farm not only nurses the horses back to health but also helps find them find a safe home.
"Call us for help. Don't wait till it's too late. Don't wait till the horse is starved to death don't wait till the horse is neglected. Call somebody," said McMillian.
To learn more about how you can help, you can email the farm at mcconathyfarm@aol.com or call them at 859-270-3964.
The farm also hosts clinics for those interested in adopting, those who are new horsemen and are in over their head or those just interested in becoming a horseman. Those clinics are available every third Saturday. To learn more, visit the farm's Facebook page.
