A horse that has been beaten in a poor attempt at training and controlling a horse or worse just beaten out of cruelty; is a very sad animal indeed. Fortunately, nearly all horses are resilient and can come out bad situations with shining colors if they have a human companion willing to work with them and retrain them.

Horses that have been beaten will suffer physical and emotional scars from abuse. Broken bones and neurological damage can all be a part of the physical scars from beatings. Neurological damage can lead to seizures which fortunately can almost be entirely controlled through medications.

The emotional scars take a little longer to heal but they can be healed through patient and loving training. Depending on who did the abuse, some horses will mistrust all humans based on their previous treatment; others will dislike men or women exclusively - depending on the sex of their abuser. Start off with just a short period of time with your horse - about fifteen minutes. Offer praise and even treats if he is calm and then leave. Do this a few times a day in the beginning and gradually increase your time together and lessen the frequency of your visits. Soon you will be able to spend an hour or more with your horse and he will begin to look forward to your visits as he will have gained his trust and have the beginnings of a great companion animal-companion human relationship.

Don't discount a horse's previous hardships with owners that didn't care as a reason they won't make a great member of your family. All horses will respond to love and patience and you can find a fantastic equine friend just waiting to be a part of your life under that beaten horse's exterior.