Read our Contract

Adopting a horse is an incredibly noble, loving thing to consider.  Many of these animals have drawn a bad lot in life, through no real fault of their own.  Many adopted horses are perfectly capable of living long, productive lives and can be used for pleasure riding as well as competition.  If you are considering purchasing a horse, consider adopting one first.

If you take into account all of the time, responsibility and cost of buying a horse, however, you will probably want to at least double it for many adopted horses.   Many of these poor creatures have been neglected for so long that basic veterinary care may be needed for some time, and it is very likely that most will need special supplements for previous injuries, arthritis or other issues which were not dealt with previously.  In addition, expect to spend some time with a trainer- many horses are dumped merely because no one ever formally trained them. 

If you are looking for an incredible amount of gratitude and love, however, an adopted horse is an excellent choice.  Some of these horses have been abused and neglected for so long that any human kindness or decency is welcome.  In other words, they truly are thankful.  Cleopatra was such a joy to see blossom from a scared, flighty thing to a confident, strong-willed companion.  In addition, I believe that, in some level, she knew that she was bound for some horrible demise and that is one of the reasons that she was such a wonderful willing horse today.  She was so attached to me that it was humorous and her desire to please was overwhelming at times.  I do not know if she had the same personality before she was bound for the slaughterhouse, but she did after she was rescued from going to one.

Before you adopt a horse, think about the following questions/tips.  These will help you from getting into a potentially dangerous or costly situation.  I'm not trying to keep people from adopting a horse, but I also don't want people to purchase an animal that is not right for them or their level because of a few hundred (or even thousand) dollars. I've seen many people get hurt because they thought that they could save a few bucks and buy a relatively untrained horse.  There are horses out there that need rescuing that can do what you want- you just have to look!  Don't let someone talk you into a horse that is not right for you- all that will happen is you and your horse will be unhappy- and you will likely spend more money in the process.  Once you decide that an adopted horse is for you, click on the Horse Adoption Links for links to horses in need!

1. Can you afford a horse?

Many people look for adopted or rescued horses because they see that the "price is right" only to find out down the line that they've spent just as much money as if they'd bought the "expensive" horse.  Most horse people will tell you that the cheapest part about a horse is buying one.  Don't think that just because an adoption fee is relatively small that your horse will be inexpensive as well.

Before you agree to purchase the horse, figure what it will cost for board, farrier, trainer, tack, supplements, etc.  If your horse has a condition that will require continued veterinary care, make sure to factor in those costs.  A little bit of up-front management will let you know what type of horse you can really afford.

2. Do you have time for a horse?

This is a very important question that only you can answer.  Are you committed to spending at least 1-3 hours a day, everyday, for the remainder of the horse's life?  A horse is a herd animal- it needs companionship and it needs daily care.  You wouldn't lock your dog up in the bathroom for a week- so why would someone think it's O.K. to lock a horse up in a cramped stall for a week, without any time to run, roll or play?  When you're out of town, are you willing to pay someone to watch your horse, give him supplements, and turn him out?

If the answer to these questions is not YES, YES, YES!, then think about half-leasing a horse at a stable.  There are a number of horses who have well-meaning owners, but they still do not get out everyday.  These horses are in need of help as well- some of them are starved for attention, love and need some daily care.  Some horses that end up on feedlots are merely animals who have rotted in a stall for months while their owners ignore them.  Helping those animals before they end up in a worse situation is still contributing to the overall cause.

3.  Where will you keep it?

This seems to be an obvious question, but it is one which always seems to plague the horse owner.   For example, does the facility have a trainer on-site?  Will it allow you to bring in an outside trainer if necessary?  You will want to be at the stable everyday- is it close enough to your house for this convenience?  Are there round pens or arenas to turn out the horse?  Are there lights if you need to go there after work?

In addition, what sizes are the stalls?  Paddocks can be a better option than stalls, but sometimes they aren't available or feasible.  Box stalls can be quite cramped and don't offer the horse much room to move around.  12x24 stalls or 24x24 stalls are usually common, but before you sign a contract, check the adoption agency's rules first- many have a clause stating that the horse must be kept in a certain-sized stall.  There are many reasons- ask the agencies why they believe that size of a stall is best for that particular horse.

4.  Get a vet-check on the horse!

Again, some horses are put out because they are unlucky- their owner couldn't afford them,  or they came up with an injury which has since healed, etc.  But it's always a good idea to get a basic vet-check on a horse.  Even if you feel that you have to save this poor animal, at least this way you know up front what you're dealing with.   Some agencies give you all of the veterinary information up-front that they've done- call the vets themselves and see what they say.  No one should feel offended that you want another opinion- remember, you are going to invest thousands of dollars into this animal in its lifetime- if anything, the agency should feel secure in knowing that you are capable and are thinking about the animal first.

5.  Think about what you're going to use the horse for.

Before you fall in love, do some hard thinking about what your future plans for the horse will be.  Are you interested in competing?  If so, it's quite unlikely that the 20 year-old with navicular is the horse for you- think about a younger horse or even a PMU baby.  There ARE horses out there who need to be adopted who CAN do what you want- you just have to look for them and be willing to put in some time and training.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to help that 20 year-old horse- but maybe fostering would be a better idea than adopting in that case.

6. GET A TRAINER!!!

I cannot stress enough the importance of this- a trainer is indeed one of the most important people you and your horse will know.  Before you hire a trainer, make sure that person is calm and patient.  Also, your trainer should be giving you a private lesson- getting to know a new horse needs much more consideration than a few glances while you trot around in a circle.  Don't let a trainer blow you off into thinking that he or she can train five people at once.

Also, look at the other horses that the trainer is working with- are they calm or are they very high-strung?  Do they go lame a lot?  Are their owners having difficulties with them?  Some trainers deal specifically with "problem" horses or even "problem" horse owners, but if you notice that people have been with a trainer for a long period of time and they are still working through issues without resolution, it would be best to find another trainer.  And truly, no matter how skilled of a rider you are, it would do nothing but help to hire a trainer for at least a short time.  This way you have another professional aiding you.

On a personal note, I am against sending a horse out for training.  A trainer is one of the most important people in your horse's life, but you are the most important person.  A horse will not be "fixed" after six weeks of training, and if you are not there watching or participating in the training, how are you to know what good things to reinforce and what problems to stay away from?  Be involved with your horse- that's why you adopted one, right?

7. Hire a good farrier.

This is incredibly important because a good farrier can make a lame horse sound or a sound horse lame.  Some adopted horses will need corrective shoeing or trimming, but some farriers will not do certain corrective shoeing, so it is important that you ask those questions first.  Ask your veterinarian about farriers he or she would recommend. Check around the stable to see what farrier other people are using and and why they are using that person.  Then go check the feet of those horses.  Are they a good size (not too small)?   Are the horses sound?  Are the feet at a proper 45 degree angle, and if not, why not?   When you do hire a farrier, ask questions about why they are trimming.  Let them know that you are interested in learning- most people will have no problem explaining their process to you.  If you have the option, have both the vet and the farrier out at the same time- they should work together to keep your horse sound.

8.  Learn about the breed.

This may sound obvious, but in reality, each different breed has certain characteristics- some specific to that particular breed.  This is especially important for those people who do plan on competing with their horses, whether it be at an amatuer or professional level.  This will help you find a horse that is best for you now, and twenty years from now.

How will you be getting your new horse home?