In her role as a horse trainer for Colorado Horse Rescue, Cate Lamm has learned that horse rescues can be great places for you to find a special equine partner. Plus, you’ll be giving your adopted horse a second chance at life. Thinking of adopting a rescue horse? Here are Cate’s 10 tips to help you through the adoption process:
1. Consider all costs. The adoption fees may be low, but the cost of owning and caring for a horse is ongoing. Before you adopt, create a budget that includes all horse-related expenses. To determine your expenses, talk to local horse owners, farriers, and veterinarians.
2. Be prepared. Well-run rescues will want to send an agent to visit the location you plan to keep your horse to verify that you have a safe, suitable facility. For information on equine housing, go to EquiSearch.com (HorseLink’s sister site), and search for “Horsekeeping,” “Barns,” and “Pastures.”
3. Find a reputable rescue organization. A reliable rescue will take good care of the horses, and be honest with you about their health and training. You can find approved horse rescues through the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
4. Don’t fall for a pretty face. Choose the horse that matches your skill level, even if he doesn’t look like what you imagined. Better to have a horse that you feel safe with than one that looks great standing in the pasture. The rescue staff can help you make this decision.
5. Rely on an experience horseperson. If you’re a beginner or intermediate rider, employ the help of a trained equine professional or knowledgeable horseperson. This person and the rescue staff will be able to help you decide if a horse is a good fit for your riding ability and personality.
6. Be ready to ride. A reputable horse rescue will expect you to demonstrate your riding ability at two adoption appointments. This enables the staff to make sure you and the horse are suitable for each other. So, be sure to wear appropriate riding pants and boots, and don’t forget your ASTM-approved, SEI-certified riding helmet.
7. Schedule a prepurchase exam. When you’ve found a horse you think you’d like to adopt, schedule a prepurchase examination with an equine veterinarian. The scheduling and cost are your responsibility. If the horse passes, continue with the adoption process, and take the horse home.
8. Be patient. Keep in mind that rescue horses may’ve experienced some kind of neglect and/or abuse. It takes patience, perseverance, and confidence to rehabilitate a horse that has lost trust in humans. Give your horse plenty of time to learn new things. Stay calm, and remember to breathe.
9. Bond. Spend time bonding with your new equine partner through grooming, ground work, treats, and pats. Give him several weeks to adjust to his new home and routine. His past experiences may cause him to be on edge in a new environment, and he needs your confidence to help him through.
10. Stay flexible. Keep in mind that horse rescues often retain ownership of the adopted horse for a certain period of time. This allows the organization to take the horse back if you, or the rescue, decide things aren’t working out. Expect a follow-up visit a few months after you’ve adopted your horse to make sure you’re both thriving. Take this opportunity to ask the rescue agent any health or behavioral questions you might have.
If you have any questions about adopting a rescue horse, go to www.chr.org.
YES on all of these suggestions! We adopted 2 horses about 2 years ago. The “broke” one was for the wife and kids. The “green broke” young mare was for me. Their personalities changed when we got them home. The one for wife and kids bucked me off twice and was too much. We sent her back. The one we kept ended up being pregnant. She foaled and we decided to keep them both. We now have the mare who has developed nicely and a 1 year old Mule Colt! We’re learning much about mules now that we have one and we love him. He is tall and very handsome. I will have him broke and hope to ride him in a couple more years.
As someone who has volunteered for a nonprofit rescue for years, I love this article.
However, I have to disagree with #3. The GFAS is a good organization, don’t get me wrong. But they certify Sanctuaries, not shelters. A Sanctuary is focused more on long-term care, possibly for the rest of the animal’s life. The needs, design, and policies of a Sanctuary aren’t always the same as a Shelter. Therefore, it may not make sense for a shelter to try to fit into that “sanctuary” mold to get their seal of approval. Also be aware that only larger organizations can afford full verification because the charity has to pay GFAS for all the expenses to fly in one of their inspectors. That could amount to thousands of dollars — taking that money out of horse food bowls. And, in a country where some states only have a few shelters, it’s not realistic to expect prospective adopters to travel 500 miles to the nearest GFAS certified sanctuary when there are shelters & rescues in their home state.
Some ways you can tell if a horse rescue org is reputable: They should happily share with you names of references. The should be happy to share with you their financials (eg. via monthly meeting, 990 Forms) upon request.
The ones that throw up red flags: Places where there is no clear Board of Directors, their names aren’t disclosed, they never meet, etc. A place that can’t give you written policies. A place that seems to favor only one single source for horses (eg. their best friend, the dealer) and will “save” only horses from his dealer lot.
You should be able to get their return policy in writing.
They should do a disclosure of any significant issues with the horse in writing so that there is no misunderstanding. If any of the issues are chronic or complicated, they should happily give you copies of the horse’s medical records upon request.
If they brag they will take back the horse one day if your situation changes & you can’t keep him, that should be in writing.
Ask to see the adoption application and contract. Each shelter is independently operated, so there is a huge variation in what you’ll see. Some are very reasonable (1 or 2 pages at most) while others I have seen literally are 20+ pages long.
Before supporting the shelter, you should be able to get their policies in writing:
- are they “no kill”? What is their criteria for putting down an animal? Will they hire a professional trainer to evaluate the behavioral cases before euthanizing the animal for behavioral reasons?
- do they educate about horse slaughter and meat horse auctions? Unfortunately there are some out there who have no problem with horse slaughter. Some might even send less adoptable horses to a livestock auction. I came across one out west that had the not-so-bright idea of offering to kill less adoptable riding horses and give the meat away to poor people (nevermind this is illegal without USDA meat inspection).
- what are they doing to help horse owners? Do they do education? Owner outreach? Are they there for the owners who already have horses… and for the new adoptees who just got a horse from them?
Ask LOTS of questions. The organization should be willing to answer. If you have the time, attend one of their meetings to watch the Board in action & see how ongoing business is handled. Find an organization whose policies and beliefs are compatible with your own. When you adopt a horse, you’re building a long-term relationship with the place you got him from, and this can be a wonderful relationship if you choose an organization you get along well with.
Hello Calico S,
Thank you so much for your post, you give worthwhile information that will benefit individuals looking for a place to adopt at horse.
I would like to clarify the suggestion to start with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries when looking for a rescue. The GFAS does all the ground work you suggested, they visit the site to make sure all the animals are treated humanely and that the organization is solid and reputable. They do certify shelters and rescues too, not just sanctuaries!
Certification by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries is free. There is a nominal fee for the processing, which can be covered by grants if an organization is unable to cover these expenses. A “verified” status is available to any organization that is not yet able to achieve an “accredited” status, due to financial limitations.
If you have a local rescue you trust, by all means adopt there, but if not consider a GFAS shelter. In the long run valuing a certified rescue can make it more difficult for disreputable shelters and rescues to stay in business.
Cate
Like the author, I’m a fan of horse rescues. The problem is that there are so many horses that need good homes. One of the issues that concerns me most is that like any rescue, there is not a whole lot of thought into who gets rescued and who is left to fend for themselves. I’ve seen a lot of bad horses at rescues, and I’ve seen very good horses go to slaughter. What I believe we need is more competent horsemen and women that have the ability to unemotionally decide whether a horse is a viable candidate for rescue. It makes no sense to pay some of the adoption fees which in some cases can be a couple of thousand dollars or more on a poorly trained and marginal horse that only a top hand can ride. Unlike a lot of dog rescues that have a pretty strong criterion as to what animal is adoptable, I see many poor conformation animals–some with serious injuries–that are taking a space that a much more adoptable and sound animal is in great need of. Just like a hospital, there are only so many “beds” available. We need more savvy horsemen to make the hard decisions. Unfortunately in a great many horse rescues, the heart comes before the realities of just how many horses can be maintained at any given facility. And, until horse rescues increase the quality of their animals, horse rescues will never be a viable alternative for the average horseman. And that is a shame, because so many good horses are not getting a second chance–and they could and they should..