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Finding a Forever Home for Your Horse

The current economic crisis has found many horses and their owners sadly facing a necessary separation. Equine rescues are also hit hard by the economy and strained to their limit. Many may not be able to take your horse. However, most will try to help you place your horse (see guidelines at the end of this article). The best thing for you to do, is put in your best effort to rehome your horse youreself. Although the following process may seem daunting, it will be well worth the effort. We hear too many stories of horse owners who didn't screen potential new homes for their horses and are very sorry they didn't take the extra time and effort needed.

Honestly Assess Your Horse:

The first step is evaluating who your horse really is. If you are unable to be objective, ask a friend who is knowledgable about horses. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What level of gentleness has my horse achieved? Is my horse just halterbroke? Is he/she greenbroke, dependable or truly "broke to death" for any kind of rider?

• Is my horse trained for particular sports or work like barrel racing, moving cows, or riding on trails?

• Is my horse sound and healthy? All horses have some type of health issue. Be clear about what your horse's issue may be.

• How is my horse with other horses? Dominant? Compliant? Friendly?

• What kind of home would my horse feel safe and happy in? With many other horses or just one horse companion? Small pasture or a big ranch? With lots of human contact or just being ridden occasionally? With kids or not?

Determine an Adoption Fee:

We strongly recommend you place an adoption fee on your horse. It can be minimal, like $200. An adequate adoption fee–at or above current horse meat prices– will keep horse slaughter buyers from taking your horse to be killed. You can find out the current price by calling the nearest livestock yard and asking what slaughter-bound horses sold for at the last sale. Additionally, it's human nature that we take better care of those things (or companion animals) that we pay for. If a potential adopter doesn't have enough money to pay an adoption fee, it's probably a good indication they don't have enough disposable income to properly care for a horse.

Create Some Basic Publicity About Your Horse:

Depending on your level of creativity and expertise, you can create a very simple or quite elaborate "publicity campaign" for your horse. The basics include a current, great photo of your horse and fundamental information including:

• Age, gender
• Level of training
• Desired type of home
• Adoption fee
• Who to contact (name, phone numbers, e-mail address)

Contact the Resources in Your Community:

Your community probably has a lot of folks who can help you find just the right home for your horse. We recommend you call resource people and chat with them about potential adopters. These are the people most likely to know who takes really good care of horses they already have. These folks may also have e-mail lists and bulletin boards where you can place flyers about your horse.

• Horse veterinarian
• Horse Hoof Care Professionals (barefoot trimmers and farriers)
• Horse trainers
• 4-H horse leaders (you can get their names from your local county extension agent)
• Equine therapists
• Feed Stores, Tack/Horse Supply Stores

Check out Potential Adopters:
There are many ways to legally obtain information about potential adopters. We recommend a few basic steps:

• Ask the potential adopter for the name of their horse veterinarian and ask them to call the vet and permit him/her to tell you what kind of horse owner they are.

• Ask for two character references who are unrelated to them, who know what kind of horse owner this person is.

• Check Pet-Abuse.com for any potential record this person may have as an animal abuser.

• Visit the potential adopter's home. Are the fences safe? Is the water tank or waterer clean and open year-round? Is manure picked up and disposed of far enough from the horses to not cause a health or fly issue? Are pastures and paddocks free of junk and debris that a horse could injure itself on? Where are hay and feeds stored -- away from the elements and safely out of reach of the horses?

• How does the potential adopter interact with his/her horses? Is he/she safe with horses? Does this person demonstrate the knowledge and experience needed to make a good companion for your horse?

• Have the potential adopter meet and interact with your horse. Does this person interact safely and calmly with your horse? Does there seem to be a heart connection with your horse?

Is the Potential New Home a Sanctuary or Rescue or Other Horse Organization?

If you find a sanctuary, rescue, or therapeutic program that can take your horse we recommend you ask the following questions. Unfortunately some unscrupulous people pose as horse rescuers. Your horse may end up poorly cared for or taken to slaughter by these individuals. Poorly managed rescues/sanctuaries may find themselves unable to care for their horses.

Check out the potential adopter!

DON'T KID YOURSELF!

Sending your horse to auction, especially in this economy, will put him/her at grave risk for ending up at slaughter. The closing of U.S. slaughter houses did not end the slaughter of American horses. They are just sent over the borders!

For additional information about horses in transport to slaughter, in slaughter feedlots, and at slaughter the following sites are a wealth of information:

These websites contain great information as well as some disturbing images which are clearly marked with a warning before you access those images.

Horse slaughter is inherently cruel. The inhumane transport and the grisly slaughter processes are well-documented. Former race horses, work horses, riding ponies, and carriage horses are purchased at regular horse auctions and crammed on double-decker trucks designed for cattle. Trucked long distances, they are subject to injuries and being trampled. Once at the plant, they throw their heads and are hard to accurately stun. In the U.S., horses were frequently improperly stunned and then hoisted and shackled, and bled out while still conscious and kicking. Imagine how much less care is taken in Mexico??!!

Do everything in your power to rehome, or consider humane euthanasia.
You owe it to your horse!

Guidelines for asking a Rescue or Sanctuary to Assist with Placing Your Horse:

Contact the Rescue of Sanctuary by e-mail or phone. Describe your situation and level of urgency to place your horse. You will most likely be asked to provide the Rescue or Sanctuary with an e-mail description and photo of your horse as well as your contact information. Interested adopters will contact you directly and it will be your responsibility to screen them. The Rescue or Sanctuary will distribute your e-mail to it's e-mail list, many of whom will forward it to their e-mail lists.