What Makes a Horse Worthy?

On a different blog, someone asked the question "What makes a horse worthy?"

I've never really contemplated the question because I always though each horse is worthy. Of course, I was confronted with that question a few years back by another rescue during a situation where they thought Bo wasn't a worthy horse to rescue (they wanted me to rescue a different horse instead even though the horse would be purchased with my money, be cared for by me (and use my money), and continue to stay with me and be cared for by me).

So now that I've had that question brought back in front of me...what makes a horse worthy? But I'll ask the same question...what makes a person worthy? I don't put a price on any of the horses at the Sanctuary. Do you put a price on any of your family members? Oh sure, you aren't allowed to pick some of your family (and would rather not acknowledge their existence), but maybe because I come from a background where no matter what, you stick by your family and help/protect them no matter the situation. I don't see why horses are any different. They aren't at the Sanctuary; they are family.

The horses aren't just horses. They aren't a means to make money (lord knows there's no money making going on at the Sanctuary). They aren't a means to gain ribbons or points. They aren't a means for any gain. Unless of course you gain knowledge from their wisdom and past experiences. That's the gain I get from them. They teach me daily, sometimes without me evening knowing it.

I guess I'm a little bothered by the question that there's a set "worth" set on a living being. Of course, when I see ads for horses with sky high dollar signs attached to them, I sometimes wonder what their owner is thinking but I don't know the horse so I don't know if it's the right asking amount. Having never sold a horse before (and never planning on doing so), I can't put a price on a horse. Can you put a price on a friendship? Can you put a price on your grandmother, your grandfather, your dad, your mother, or your siblings? Oh sure some days you desperately want to but in reality, you can't.

So I guess for me, the question of what makes a horse worthy isn't about dollars and cents, it's about the wisdom.

I've seen so many horses go through the slaughter pipeline, standing at a feedlot (looking at the Texas and Washington feedlots), and wonder. If someone would have simply polished them up a little and given them some education, or possibly a fighting chance instead of being run through auction, would they be where they are? Or would they be standing in front of a camera because they won a ribbon, or made some little kid happy during a trail ride?

Oh sure  I'm focusing more on dollars and cents right now but how do you deem something worthy? I guess at the Sanctuary, the horses are all deemed worthy to live out their lives because they are worth their weight in gold.