WHO IS M.E.R.C.I?
Great question!
We are a fresh and innovative horse rescue organisation that has come together with one agenda, horse welfare!
And we run our organisation a little differently, a little 'out of the box' and like you would never have experienced before!
We provide education, articles and case studies to educate the public about the horse industry!
We continually study the entire horse industry and are raising funds to save horses from slaughter and to share their stories.
We think it is important to share with the public the truth about what we already know and learn along the way!
It's not all pretty, but the public that support the horse industry, particularly horse rescue, need to
understand the consequences their contribution can create!
We are not afraid to share the facts and only publish what we know IS the truth.
We are a fresh and innovative horse rescue organisation that has come together with one agenda, horse welfare!
And we run our organisation a little differently, a little 'out of the box' and like you would never have experienced before!
We provide education, articles and case studies to educate the public about the horse industry!
We continually study the entire horse industry and are raising funds to save horses from slaughter and to share their stories.
We think it is important to share with the public the truth about what we already know and learn along the way!
It's not all pretty, but the public that support the horse industry, particularly horse rescue, need to
understand the consequences their contribution can create!
We are not afraid to share the facts and only publish what we know IS the truth.
Our Beliefs
MERCI believes it is imperative that people understand the incredible responsibility of horse ownership. Equine care takes a lot of time and money. Horses require daily care to stay healthy and happy and those who venture into horse ownership must be aware of this. Purchasing a horse can be relatively cheap but caring for the horse, including boarding it, feeding it, and giving it veterinary, dental, worming, farrier care and annual vaccines can be relatively expensive. Horse ownership is not a privilege to be taken lightly; rather it should be given as much consideration as purchasing a home or having children.
When our horses are ready to be homed permanently, great care will be placed on matching horse and human for the most successful partnership. We aim to provide all horses that come through our rescue with knowledge, skills and confidence to become willing, happy, enthusiastic and most importantly – safe and much loved partners for life.
We also believe that knowledge is power! We educate the public on buying from the saleyard and knackeries. Some would argue that buying a horse from these sources is rescuing it, especially if the stop the “meat men” buying and killing it. However, frequently, horses sent to the sales or knackeries are sent there for a good reason. Issues such as old age, poor teeth, recurring injury and behavioural problems etc. cannot be fully identified within the saleyard/knackery environment. It is not until the new owner gets the horse home and undertakes the rehabilitation process that many of these issues may arise. Unfortunately if these problems do arise the ‘rescued horse’ can end up at the saleyards again. This is why MERCI believe it is important to approach reputable rescues who have dedicated their time and hard work into doing all of this for you. We at MERCI work with experienced trainers and get to know our horses and are fully assessed before we even considered finding their forever homes.
We will give the horses the best quality care while they are with us.
When our horses are ready to be homed permanently, great care will be placed on matching horse and human for the most successful partnership. We aim to provide all horses that come through our rescue with knowledge, skills and confidence to become willing, happy, enthusiastic and most importantly – safe and much loved partners for life.
We also believe that knowledge is power! We educate the public on buying from the saleyard and knackeries. Some would argue that buying a horse from these sources is rescuing it, especially if the stop the “meat men” buying and killing it. However, frequently, horses sent to the sales or knackeries are sent there for a good reason. Issues such as old age, poor teeth, recurring injury and behavioural problems etc. cannot be fully identified within the saleyard/knackery environment. It is not until the new owner gets the horse home and undertakes the rehabilitation process that many of these issues may arise. Unfortunately if these problems do arise the ‘rescued horse’ can end up at the saleyards again. This is why MERCI believe it is important to approach reputable rescues who have dedicated their time and hard work into doing all of this for you. We at MERCI work with experienced trainers and get to know our horses and are fully assessed before we even considered finding their forever homes.
We will give the horses the best quality care while they are with us.
Breeding
This is a massive issue!
Puppy farms were outlawed for good reason, too much supply, not enough demand and everyone thinking it's OK to give it a go!
The same is happening within the horse industry but we believe it is even bigger than puppy issue for many reasons!
It is very easy to put a stallion on your mare but this is just the beginning...........................
It is not uncommon to have complications with birthing foals so if things turn to shit, your mare and/or foal could be in real trouble.
Then there's the cost of keeping an additional horse, or if you sell it, can you be sure the buyer wont send it to a death sentence!
Homes; every home in Australia can physically have some type of dog but what about a horse. Is it 50%, 20% or even less than that, 5%.
We actually don't know. This data is very difficult to source so we will let you think about that.
Then of those ?% homes, how many actually want a horse? How many can afford to give a horse the proper care it needs?
Since the introduction of electronic devices our resources have told us they have seen a decline in the hobby of horse riding. These resources are our local equine services consisting of dentists, farriers, vets, instructors and trainers that are very informed and work within the industry every day! They have told us the demand over the past few years has been in the decline for their services!
So, you now have a foal. Can you break it in and I mean properly! Remember peoples lives may be at risk if they get on a horse and thrown off. That is a huge responsibility you must take on board. then send it to the breaker! That costs money. Then just sell it!
Can you see the potential problems? We believe people that breed horses should be those that know what they are doing and they should be Registered Breeders that microchip their horse so it's life can be tracked.
Puppy farms were outlawed for good reason, too much supply, not enough demand and everyone thinking it's OK to give it a go!
The same is happening within the horse industry but we believe it is even bigger than puppy issue for many reasons!
It is very easy to put a stallion on your mare but this is just the beginning...........................
It is not uncommon to have complications with birthing foals so if things turn to shit, your mare and/or foal could be in real trouble.
Then there's the cost of keeping an additional horse, or if you sell it, can you be sure the buyer wont send it to a death sentence!
Homes; every home in Australia can physically have some type of dog but what about a horse. Is it 50%, 20% or even less than that, 5%.
We actually don't know. This data is very difficult to source so we will let you think about that.
Then of those ?% homes, how many actually want a horse? How many can afford to give a horse the proper care it needs?
Since the introduction of electronic devices our resources have told us they have seen a decline in the hobby of horse riding. These resources are our local equine services consisting of dentists, farriers, vets, instructors and trainers that are very informed and work within the industry every day! They have told us the demand over the past few years has been in the decline for their services!
So, you now have a foal. Can you break it in and I mean properly! Remember peoples lives may be at risk if they get on a horse and thrown off. That is a huge responsibility you must take on board. then send it to the breaker! That costs money. Then just sell it!
Can you see the potential problems? We believe people that breed horses should be those that know what they are doing and they should be Registered Breeders that microchip their horse so it's life can be tracked.
Sales
When horses are sent to the sale yards, most are sold unless the owner has set a reserve price on the horse and it does not reach that reserve, the horse is passed in.
Attending the sales and purchasing horses are the public, rescue groups and kill buyers. Kill buyers have a job to do and a quota to fill for their employers or contracts and earn their living selling horses to an abattoir for meat. Often kill buyers grow up in this environment and their job is learnt from parents at a young age so often all they know!
Nonetheless, this industry exists and while there is a demand for horse meat the kill buyers are just doing their job.
As a private buyer purchasing from the sales can be a risky business because you don't really know what you are buying! All the information you have is what is written on the pen and what you can physically see. You don't get to ride the horse or have it on trial, its just pot luck the horse will suit your needs.
That is why we recommend buying from a reputable rescue group. Rescue groups have had the horse in their care for quite some time and have got to know the horse and assessed it. You can often adopt a rescue horse on a trial period basis and return if not suitable or your circumstances change. We believe it is a much better way to buy acquire horse.
If you do want to buy from the sales however, make sure you have a very experienced person present that can assess a horse for you.
Are you considering taking your horse to the sales to sell to a loving home? Hopefully after reading the above you will reconsider and seek assistance from a rescue group to help find your horse a loving home.
Selling privately can sometimes be tricky too. We have come across many stories where horse dealers pose as a loving forever home in order to gain your trust then they will take your beloved horse to the sales for a quick turnaround and to make a quick buck!
Be very careful purchasing and selling at the sale yards and ensure you seek expert help.
Attending the sales and purchasing horses are the public, rescue groups and kill buyers. Kill buyers have a job to do and a quota to fill for their employers or contracts and earn their living selling horses to an abattoir for meat. Often kill buyers grow up in this environment and their job is learnt from parents at a young age so often all they know!
Nonetheless, this industry exists and while there is a demand for horse meat the kill buyers are just doing their job.
As a private buyer purchasing from the sales can be a risky business because you don't really know what you are buying! All the information you have is what is written on the pen and what you can physically see. You don't get to ride the horse or have it on trial, its just pot luck the horse will suit your needs.
That is why we recommend buying from a reputable rescue group. Rescue groups have had the horse in their care for quite some time and have got to know the horse and assessed it. You can often adopt a rescue horse on a trial period basis and return if not suitable or your circumstances change. We believe it is a much better way to buy acquire horse.
If you do want to buy from the sales however, make sure you have a very experienced person present that can assess a horse for you.
Are you considering taking your horse to the sales to sell to a loving home? Hopefully after reading the above you will reconsider and seek assistance from a rescue group to help find your horse a loving home.
Selling privately can sometimes be tricky too. We have come across many stories where horse dealers pose as a loving forever home in order to gain your trust then they will take your beloved horse to the sales for a quick turnaround and to make a quick buck!
Be very careful purchasing and selling at the sale yards and ensure you seek expert help.
Second Chance and Depot purchases
Some kill buyers and dealers purchase horses from the sales and then offer them for sale to the public. These horses often have a time frame in which they must be purchased, usually about a week, then if they and not purchased they will be put on the truck.
Some rescue groups rally the members and very often come up with the money and homes for some or most of these horses each week.
The Second Chance and Depot buyers often buy horses for well under $100 and then offer them for sale for $800 or more!
The Second Chance buyers are kill buyers and are purchasing to sell for meat and make money, this is their livelihood. But by purchasing from them at these inflated prices, we are cashing them up and enabling them to make more purchases at the next sale.
What we believe should happen and what we would like to see happen is we rally together BEFORE the sale and buy what horses we can for under $100! That way we are spending less per horse and therefore able to save more!
Another reason why it is so important to support horse rescue groups and adopt from them so they can save more horses from the sales.
Some rescue groups rally the members and very often come up with the money and homes for some or most of these horses each week.
The Second Chance and Depot buyers often buy horses for well under $100 and then offer them for sale for $800 or more!
The Second Chance buyers are kill buyers and are purchasing to sell for meat and make money, this is their livelihood. But by purchasing from them at these inflated prices, we are cashing them up and enabling them to make more purchases at the next sale.
What we believe should happen and what we would like to see happen is we rally together BEFORE the sale and buy what horses we can for under $100! That way we are spending less per horse and therefore able to save more!
Another reason why it is so important to support horse rescue groups and adopt from them so they can save more horses from the sales.
Industry
The horse racing industry is huge and it is world wide so we must be able to remain competitive but we would really like to see change in Australia.
We would love to see horse breeders be registered and to have a cap on the number bred. This may differ for the racing industry as opposed to breed specific breeders but a little more regulation, having horses microchipped and transfer papers being mandatory when horses are bought and sold, backyard breeders being outlawed like puppy farms, a % of racehorse winnings going to the horses retirement (remember horses can live for 30+ years),
We would love to see horse breeders be registered and to have a cap on the number bred. This may differ for the racing industry as opposed to breed specific breeders but a little more regulation, having horses microchipped and transfer papers being mandatory when horses are bought and sold, backyard breeders being outlawed like puppy farms, a % of racehorse winnings going to the horses retirement (remember horses can live for 30+ years),