Rescued Horses: Looking For A Universal Companion

What do you look for behavior-wise in terms of predicting whether a horse would work out well as a companion horse? Any tips on a good source of such animals and how to select appropriate candidates?
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Q: One of the goals of our rescue organization when placing rehabilitated horses is that there should be at least one other horse on the property to be a pasture and stable companion. So we are looking to acquire a couple of horses or ponies to have available both here at the rescue farm and as loaner companions to go with a rescued horse, if needed. These companions would be returned to us if no longer needed, then reassigned as companions either here at our facility or, if needed, for other rehabilitated horses being adopted to farms without other horses. We are not looking for any talents or other uses for the companion. We are mindful that we don't want to be stressing a companion horse with what could be a series of more or less temporary assignments, and we appreciate that some horses would be better suited than others for this duty.

Can you comment on what you would look for behavior-wise in terms of predicting that a horse would work out well for such a circumstance? Essentially we are looking for a "universal companion horse" that would get along with any other horse. Do you have an opinion on this strategy? Any tips on a good source of such animals and how to select appropriate candidates?

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A: Several temperament and experience characteristics come to mind. The first would be an animal with a proven calm and easy-going nature–an individual that appears to readily adapt to all sorts of housing and herdmates, as well as to all sorts of human-animal interaction styles and farm management practices. The second temperament characteristic would be to be specifically relaxed around feeding time and and in situations in which resources are limited; in other words, free of the bothersome food aggressiveness tendencies or the gate guarding or herdmate guarding tendencies. It would also be a bonus if the horse were an easy keeper in terms of feed requirements, hoof and dental care, and general health

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Sue M. McDonnell, PhD, is a certified applied animal behaviorist and the founding head of the equine behavior program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She is also the author of numerous books and articles about horse behavior and management.

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