How To Adopt A Horse

I’ve been a horse owner for over ten years and I can tell you that adopting a horse was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. But it’s not just about having another pet in your life: Adopting an animal from a rescue organization or other type of organization can be a rewarding experience on many different levels. You’ll find out what makes horses tick—and why they make great pets—as well as learn about the commitment it takes to care for them properly. If you’re thinking about bringing home an equine companion, read on for some tips on how to get started!

Research the breed and age of horse you’d like to adopt.

In order to adopt a horse, you need to make sure the horse is right for you. Before looking through rescue websites and shelters, take some time to research the breed and age of horse you’d like to adopt. Here are a few things that will help:

Find out about the temperament of your chosen breed. Is it aggressive? Will it kick or bite? Does it have any health problems? What does its personality look like when working with livestock or other horses?
If possible, talk with someone who has owned one before so that they can give you an idea what your experience would be like if you adopted this particular animal. They’ll know how often they’d need exercise, where their favorite places are in their current home (think paddocks), etcetera!

Look for a rescue that is full of volunteers and has a high adoption success rate.

You want the rescue to be full of volunteers, so that you can talk with people who know the organization and have been involved with it.
Look for a rescue that has a high adoption success rate (i.e., the percentage of horses taken in by a rescue who are eventually adopted).
Check out the website for reviews on sites like [Reviews.com](https://www.reviews.com/horse-rescues) and [Google My Business](https://www.google.com/business).

Check with your spouse, children and neighbors to make sure they’re ready for a horse.

Make sure you’re all on the same page. It’s important to discuss your goals, expectations and responsibilities as a family before adopting a horse. Talk about how much time you want to spend with the animal, if it will be a companion for other animals in the house (and if so, how that will affect their behavior), what type of environment it needs to thrive in and whether or not there are any barriers that would prevent someone from taking care of her (such as allergies).

Use Google Earth to check out the condition of the property, including the area where the horses are kept or pastured.

Use Google Earth to check out the condition of the property, including the area where the horses are kept or pastured. This will help you make sure that you’re prepared for any unexpected conditions. If there is a fence around the pasture, does it appear in good repair? Are there any gates that could be easily opened by your horse if he or she spooked in an unfamiliar location?

You can also use Google Earth to get an idea about how many acres are involved with each rescue organization and how much land would be needed for your new pet (as well as how large of an enclosure you’ll need to provide him with).

Find out who owns the property where the rescue is located.

Before you adopt a horse from a rescue, make sure you know who owns the property where the rescue is located. You also need to find out whether or not this property is owned by a corporation or a person, what it’s used for and who pays for everything. Here are some questions you might want to ask:

Who pays for the upkeep of this property? Is it me? Do I have to feed and water them every day? Or is someone else responsible for those things? Can I just show up when I want and expect everything to be taken care of by someone else (i.e., me)?

Who pays for all utilities on this land—including electricity, gas and water—and how much do they cost per month/year in total (including taxes), so that we can determine if there will be any hidden charges once we move our horses onto their land.

Meet people at the rescue and ask about their roles there.

Ask about their role at the rescue, and what their training is. You don’t want to get stuck with someone in a position who doesn’t know how to handle horses, or has only had a few weeks of experience.

Ask about their experience with the type of horse you want – some rescues specialize in certain breeds or types, so it’s important that they have worked with the breed before. For example, if you want a horse that was previously used for dressage or jumping, find out how long they’ve been working with these types of horses. If you’re looking for something different like an endurance prospect or trail horse then ask them about those kinds of experiences too!

The same goes for age – if you’re considering adopting an older animal then make sure your new friend has worked with older animals before!

Have a list of questions prepared before you visit the rescue organization.

As you prepare to visit the rescue, have a list of questions prepared. Ask about the rescue’s name and location, mission statement, history, and selection process for horses.

Next, inquire about how long it takes to adopt a horse and what the adoption fee is. If there are any specific requirements like previous horse experience or place of residence (i.e., must live within 50 miles of shelter), ask about those as well.

Ask how many volunteers are on hand at any given time, and how much training they’ve received.

Ask how many volunteers are on hand at any given time, and how much training they’ve received. You want to know if there’s a vet or groomer available at the rescue. If there isn’t someone like that on call, ask if you can call them yourself.
Ask if they have a farrier on call. A farrier is the person who trims and shoes horses’ hooves; some rescues do their own trimming, but others need a professional to do it for them—and that means that there needs to be a place where the horse can be taken regularly for this service.
Ask if they have their own vet or another one nearby whom you could bring out to see your horse from time to time (if needed).

Figure out what’s involved in becoming a volunteer at the rescue.

Once you’ve determined that you’re ready to adopt a horse, the next step is figuring out what’s involved in becoming a volunteer at the rescue. This will help you determine whether or not there would be enough time in your life to give up for this new responsibility.

What is the responsibility of a volunteer? How much time do they spend each week? Do they have any specific training requirements? Do they need special skills or experience?
How much does it pay and what type of benefits are offered (if any)?
What is the job description and what are its perks/challenges/responsibilities?

Ask if you can see several horses being led out of their stall or pasture so you can observe their behavior up close.

Ask if you can see several horses being led out of their stall or pasture so you can observe their behavior up close. Before approaching a horse, it’s important to assess his mood. The most common indicators that a horse is feeling aggressive include:

An arched neck with the ears pinned back and eyes wide open
Carrying his tail high, swishing it side-to-side
Standing broadside with his hindquarters toward you, often with one foot raised in the air

If a horse is displaying any of these signs, approach him slowly and quietly. Speak calmly as you walk in front of him at an angle that makes eye contact difficult—this will discourage him from kicking out at you by blocking the view if he attempts to do so. Keep your hands in plain sight but not touching anything (horses are easily frightened), and don’t linger too long within striking distance before backing away slowly.

Visit more than one horse rescue before deciding which one is right for you and your family.

Before bringing a horse home, it’s important to visit the rescue more than once. This allows you and your family the opportunity to get a feel for the rescue and its volunteers. The more comfortable you feel with each other, the better your chances of success in adopting a horse.

During your visits, consider asking:

What kind of training does this rescue offer? Do they work with professional trainers or only volunteers? What is their horsemanship philosophy? Is there an emphasis on rehabilitation or safety first, or do they focus on resocialization or enrichment?
When was the last time they had any health issues with their horses (e.g., colic)? What kind of care was given (veterinarian vs home remedies)? How did those health problems affect adoption timelines/costs/awareness levels among potential adopters/potential adopters’ willingness to adopt again should something similar happen again at some point down road.”

Adopting a horse should be done carefully so that both parties end up happy with their decision

Adopting a horse can be a big commitment, but it should also be fun. You will want to make sure that you are ready for the responsibility of taking care of an animal by yourself. If you’re not sure if you’re ready, try volunteering at your local shelter or rescue center. This will help you figure out if adopting is something that would make you happy and give you experience with animals that might be less complicated than horses (and easier for both parties).

When adopting a horse, think about whether or not it’s right for YOU. Do your research and take time to decide what kind of horse would be best suited to YOUR home situation so that both parties end up happy with their decision!

Conclusion

If you’re considering adopting a horse, we hope this guide has helped you get started. It’s important to do your research before visiting a rescue organization so that you can make the best decision for both yourself and the animal. We wish you luck on your journey!