Cover Story: The Non-Riding Revolution Starts Here

Because Not Every Horse Needs a Rider

The horse world is deeply associated with the iconic image. Think of the first time your imagination was ignited by a thundering herd of Chincoteague ponies. Or your heart skipped a beat when you pictured a wild mustang standing atop a western bluff, mane lifted in the wind. And then, of course, there is the haunting memory of a certain black Arabian racing free across the sand. 

Colorado Horse Rescue, a national leader in innovative equine solutions, is rewriting the book we call Horse to include new chapters on our four-legged Companions. Spelled with a capital “C” and imbued with the essential images we invoked to begin our journey, CHR’s Companions are free-thinking individuals, retired all-star athletes, or kind-hearted teachers. And no one can tell their stories better than the creatures themselves. So, let’s meet some of the non-riding celebs of the Front Range. 

Slew

Tall and stunning, here’s a friendly fellow that draws your eye from across the pasture. After a long riding career, Slew is settling into his well-earned retirement with all the personality and panache you’d expect from an off-track thoroughbred. This is a gelding who adds beauty, style, and grace to any horsey tableau. And just because he’s retired doesn’t mean he’s forgotten his manners—he handles, trailers, and stands for the farrier like the seasoned gentleman he is. 

Breeze

From the racetrack, we head to the show ring. Breeze, a palomino princess, sparkled as a showgirl and stands out just as much in CHR’s herd of retired legends. Having polished her skills in the bright spotlight, Breeze is now ready for the gentle glow of admiration she so richly deserves. 

Bristol

Brilliant Bristol shines her light at the other end of the Companion spectrum. Only 6 years old, this dainty mustang’s club feet rule her out as a riding horse. She found the perfect outlet for her sensitive and intelligent nature in liberty and learns tricks like she was born to it. This is a prancing pony with a heart-melting personality that has thoroughly charmed every person lucky enough to work with her. 

Forging the Companion Connection

Let’s return to that iconic idea of Horse and what it means in 2022. An enlightened view would highlight the unique human-equine partnership in all its forms. Unfortunately, there’s still a surprisingly prevalent viewpoint relegating majestic creatures to utilitarian tools or—and this is perhaps even more sobering—vehicles to be discarded when they can no longer be “repaired” back to riding shape. 

Intake and adoption data from the past three years throws this reality into stark relief: Non-riding or companion horses have taken about three times as long to place as their riding counterparts. That number, along with an avalanche of anecdotal evidence and expert testimony on the subject, leads to only one conclusion. 

You Say You Want a Revolution

Colorado Horse Rescue and other forward-thinking equine welfare organizations aren’t satisfied with the current situation. “That’s the way it’s always been” is no longer an adequate justification, if it ever was. CHR is passionate about opening gates to safe solutions while closing dangerous loopholes that often become fatal for horses that have given so much to their human companions. 

Companion Connection was created to train, market, and place these deserving souls. It was imagined and designed to directly address challenges faced by non-riding horses by finding permanent, safe solutions in an efficient manner that can be reproduced and magnified in the horse world at large. 

The non-riding Companion horse revolution starts here and now. Learn more, get involved, and donate to support CHA this holiday season at chr.org

See this article in the November/December 2022 online edition:

November/December 2022