Pros and Cons of Horse Adoption?

[Scribbler]

Note that when you adopt a child, that child is legally the same as your own child. Once everything is done you don’t have any responsibility to the adoption agency and you cannot send the child back. Nor can they agency interfere in any reasonable life choices you make for the child including schooling, hobbies, place of residence or whether the child is allowed to go outside unsupervised :). When the child reaches legal maturity he is emancipated from your control like any other child. You as adoptive parent are obviously answerable to child protective services if you really mess up but no more so than about your natural born children.

The while idea of adopting a child is to make it as indistinguishable from having a birth child as possible.

Adopting an animal borrows the term but not the reality. Well, 40 years ago you adopted a dog from the SPCA and that was the end of it. But the horse rescue “adoption” not so much. That said, few rescues actually exercise their right to be intrusive.

However I can’t stress enough that I have never seen a horse advertised through the general “rescues” that I would be interested in.

I agree that the OTTB placement agencies do good work. But they have a steady stream of quality young horses from known professional owners coming off the track. If you want a nice English performance horse at a bargain and can tolerate a bit of spark, an OTTB has always been an excellent choice. The angencies are well placed to work as an intermediary.

That said I live within ten miles of a mid low racetrack, and while we have a good OTTB placement rescue, my coach just sources direct from the track.

I do know some people who got decent quality baby QH from a rescue pipeline that gets culls from a QH breeder in the back country. These are decent quality horses but again, if you were shopping for a QH prospect you could probably buy direct from the breeder for under $2000. Maybe even under $1000. And you could shop for a horse that didn’t have whatever conformation deficits that made those horses culls.

I also follow on FB a woman who gets periodic shipments of feral yearlings from a local Indian reserve and advertises intensely on social media to place them basically selling them at about $500 a head. I think she must give a cut to the band. Maybe they get meat price from her, no idea.

In both these cases we have “rescue” situations with a continuous supply of horses that are the result of poorly considered breeding decisions. The rescue is really just the distributor for breeders of low value horses.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹

[McGurk]

@Scribbler

With a very few exceptions the horses that end up in rescues have a few strikes against them that meant they had no resale value on the open market.

It is very difficult to get sound, sane, and well.broke in a rescue horse.

You might get a promising unbroke baby or an older unbroke pasture pet. Or a well schooled older horse showing chronic problems associated with aging.

Or a nutcase baby with physical limitations.

Because of this, rescues know that many or most of the horses they place can well end up back in the auction and slaughter pipe line when people realize the horse won’t work out. Therefore the rescues try to maintain ownership so they can rehome the horse.

This is consistent with my experience.

Twelve years ago, when I was tentatively horse shopping, I looked at rescues and OTTB rehab organizations. (I consider these two types of organizations fundamentally different.) I really wanted to support a local rescue group; and a good friend that volunteered with them took me to look at horses. Their stock included a lot of unbroken surrendered mustangs, and a lot of older horses with issues. The one horse that I considered, was a 19 year old QH/grade that was sweet and lovely on the ground. When I tacked him up and started to mount, he had a very pronounced fear/pain response. I suspect very strongly he had been ridden in badly fitting tack and had gotten very back sore before being surrendered. Friend and I worked with him quietly for about 30 minutes and the poor thing remained terrified. I was able to belly over him but never actually swing a leg up and mount. There wasn’t a round pen at the facility; we were doing this in the corner of a large paddock. So I spoke to the rescue about the horse, said I was interested and asked them to get their trainer to work with the horse, and when he was to the point that he could be ridden, I would come back. I never heard back from them. And then I read the adoption contract and heard about the site visit, the fact that there was a chance they wouldn’t approve my fencing, and I decided not to pursue it.

I also looked at a couple of OTTBs from the rehab organizations. This seems like a sensible model to me: they acquire horses with a high likelihood of finding a new career, and they do the initial let down and initial restarting, then offer the horse for sale at a price that covers their expense but is well below market. Takes a lot of the risk out of sourcing horses off the track yourself; but I questioned whether at my age and fitness, and inconsistent riding schedule, whether this was really a smart move.

In the meantime, I was offered a 8 yo QH gelding who was a riding school dropout because he was only suitable for intermediates and had become ring sour in the lesson program. He’s been a delightful, sound trail horse for me for 12 years. He was free to me with no strings attached.

A year later, I was offered another QH, a 9 yo that was a perfect husband/child/guest horse. The family was relocating and cared way more about a good home than the sale price. He’s been here 11 years and has been a fabulous, useful fellow. Also free, no strings attached.

Sooooooo, based on those experiences, the only way I would consider working with a rescue would be for a companion animal only. I am NOT saying that it’s impossible to adopt a sound, suitable horse from a rescue organization; I am sure some people have. I AM saying that those sound, suitable horses usually find homes through other channels.

[Ghazzu]

If I’m going to pay the freight on an animal, I want complete control of its management. Very few “adoptions” fit that bill, and it’s a shame. I would have no problem with it taking a reasonable fixed “trial” period, but if both parties find the situation the animal is in acceptable, at some point, I’d want ownership transferred.
Part of the reason I currently have an empty stall.
(Though I’ll be working on that come spring.)

[marymane]

You all have given me a lot to think about. While I don’t doubt there are “success stories” out there they seem to be few and far between (and let’s be honest they basically exist to make people want to do the same, not saying the stories are untrue per say just that there is clear motive when it comes to the telling of them). Adopting doesn’t have to be seen as an impossibility but perhaps for my, and many others, wants and needs it sounds unlikely to work out and I’d probably be better off trying to find a good horse for sale. I’d keep in mind an OTTB that’s already been retrained from an org but even then you can find OTTBs in the for sale listings a lot of the time as well. So if I did end up getting one (from an org specifically) it’d likely be more circumstance than any strict plan. I’ve seen a lot of OTTBs have successful careers as lesson horses, show horses, and so on. It’s not uncommon to see them around doing all sorts of disciplines so I’d trust that they’re a feasible option. I’d just never heard anyone who wasn’t writing an article talk much about how adoption from other places works or if it was a good option for them or anything, so I wanted to hear from people who didn’t have a vested interested in getting me to think it was a good idea.

That being said all of the organizations that would be within my state/area I’m willing to travel seem to all have similar limitations/stipulations so while there may be one out there that isn’t what has been described…it’s certainly not close enough to me to be a feasible option. Especially since a lot of them have limitations on how far away adopters are allowed to adopt from. It would be unlikely I’d end up using one anyway but I wanted to get a sort of survey and wondered if I should bother keeping an eye on it anyway.

[BeeHoney]

@marymane

Thanks for the replies.

And as some of you have mentioned I have noticed that a lot of OTTB groups are essentially buying and selling. I’m not sure why most of them call it adoption, especially since some of them you’d be getting straight from the owner that raced them…maybe for the marketing? Either way I don’t have the experience necessary (or the desire) to retrain a horse fresh off the track so if I ever did get one it’d be from someone who already retrained them/one that’s been off the track for a while.

I think by hearing from other people and questioning things myself that giving an adoptive horse a “forever home” isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. I’d rather just buy and keep in contact with the previous owner (if they wish) than be tangled up with an organization that can take back the horse whenever they want (however unlikely they would be to actually do that I still don’t like the possibility hanging over my head) and who I have to run everything by if I get a different boarding place or vet or anything.

There are some very legitimate reasons why you see a lot of OTTBs offered for “adoption.” These horses are very high risk to end up in the slaughter pipeline. Sometimes, even if a rescue or organization says they will take a horse back, the new “owner” would rather get a few $$ for it at auction or simply doesn’t want to admit that the horse didn’t work out.

There also is another issue, which is that many of these OTTBs come from reputable and caring racing owners who quite reasonably would like to see their horses go on to have riding horse careers when their racing career is finished. Many of these owners are a little bit paranoid (with good reason) that one of their horses might end up either in the auction/slaughter pipeline or as part of a hoarding situation, etc. Some of the owners are paranoid because they love their horses (which they may have personally bred and raised) and some owners are worried about their reputation suffering if one of their ex-racehorses were to be found in a feedlot. These owners specifically re-home their racing stock through these organizations because they trust the organizations’ abilities to screen new homes and use stringent contracts.

Barring very unusual circumstances (neglect, hoarding, etc), these organizations that “adopt” out OTTBs absolutely do not want the horse back, and I’ve never heard of them attempting to interfere with the eventual sale of a successful horse.

[cayuse]

We adopted a aged broodmare that had been seized by animal control (neglect case, owner repeat offender) and it worked out well for us. She was a nice mare and forgiving enough that I felt safe riding her. I have arthritis and she took good care of me and my old bones. My husband fell in love with her instantly and having her to care for and to look foward to seeing every day helped him get through cancer treatment. She lived with us for two years before we lost her to colic. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t miss her.
The place we got her through was very good to work with and upfront about her issues.

[candyappy]

I am for the first time in my horse owning life looking at a couple of yearlings offered at my local humane society. Both were born there and are nice looking, handled regularly and UTD on all aspects of their care. That appeals to me.

They call it adoption and you cannot re home, sell or send the horse to auction if for whatever reason the match isn’t working. You would send the horse back to them. At one time in my life that would bother me, but at 56 I no longer want to mess with selling another horse or worry about where it might end up.

My mare is 15, my daughters is 18 and I want what will probably be my last horse to ride if I am fortunate. Both mares will stay with me till death ( natural or euthanized).

All I am out is the small adoption fee, and basic care needs-- but if the youngster is good minded and stays sound I don’t see how we won’t be a great match. I have raised and trained enough youngsters to know what I like.

I will know more when I call / visit the ranch in the future.

[HungarianHippo]

If there’s a specific rescue horse you really like, or are really motivated just to give him a home, here are some cynical facts:
The likelihood that the organization that transferred the horse to you will still be around in 5+ years to enforce the contract (or to take the horse back if you can’t keep it) is fairly low. Most “rescues” are not well-funded national/regional organizations-- more often it’s the “passion project” of one person, who pulls in a team of volunteers and if they’re really good, a board of directors, etc. But it’s still usually one really committed person at the center of it all, and when that person gets burned out or donations start to dry up, the rescue ceases to operate.

How enforceable really are the terms of the contract? And what penalties do they spell out? I’m not saying sign the contract in bad faith, if you are knowingly in current violation of the terms. But I’m not sure how worked up I’d be about potential conflicts in the future. If you’re taking good care of the horse, I’d trust that you can get some accommodation with the organization. Because they’re probably not all that motivated to actually take the horse back onto their feed bill.
(This assumes the organization is led by rational people. Too often, though, they’re megalomaniac nutjobs with hoarder tendencies.)

[Guilherme]

@candyappy

I am for the first time in my horse owning life looking at a couple of yearlings offered at my local humane society. Both were born there and are nice looking, handled regularly and UTD on all aspects of their care. That appeals to me.

They call it adoption and you cannot re home, sell or send the horse to auction if for whatever reason the match isn’t working. You would send the horse back to them. At one time in my life that would bother me, but at 56 I no longer want to mess with selling another horse or worry about where it might end up.

My mare is 15, my daughters is 18 and I want what will probably be my last horse to ride if I am fortunate. Both mares will stay with me till death ( natural or euthanized).

All I am out is the small adoption fee, and basic care needs-- but if the youngster is good minded and stays sound I don’t see how we won’t be a great match. I have raised and trained enough youngsters to know what I like.

I will know more when I call / visit the ranch in the future.

All I can say is read and understand the fine print in the contract. As rule there is no “free lunch.” Somebody has to pay. If you do have to return the horses for any reason what are the charges and fees? Are there any restrictions on your care, discipline, movement, etc. with regard to the horses? After you invest time, money, and sweat in training youngsters under what circumstances can the the owner come and get them? “Adoption” is generally not recognized in law involving animals. You own them or you lease them. This means that there are lots of ways to get “snookered” on one of these contracts. Not all rescues/humane societies are either professional or ethical or trustworthy.

Good luck in your choices.

G.

[findeight]

One caveat if you are older is what if you get sick. Are there fees to have them take it back when you are buried in out of pocket expenses and no friend or relative or even barn owner to recover back board can take it over? Be sure you read the fine print.

Age may relieve us of some concerns in horse ownership but it brings a whole other trunk full of new concerns. For OP here, you are talking yearlings? That’s a long term commitment you may not be able to fulfill for 25+ years. Consider buying or adopting without strings an older horse to own and enjoy.and pass along to a person of your choice if/ when you can no longer care for it p.

[4horses]

The benefit to adoption is that you have a return policy. If you buy a horse, and it turns out it has kissing spines (or name your disease/ behavioural problems), then you are stuck with the horse.

My friend adopted a gelding from The horse protection society of FL. Her horse was with for years and she never had any problems. Not all adoptions end badly. I think adoptions fail, as much as purchasing from private individuals fails.

[Guilherme]

@4horses

The benefit to adoption is that you have a return policy. If you buy a horse, and it turns out it has kissing spines (or name your disease/ behavioural problems), then you are stuck with the horse.

Maybe so and maybe not. As noted above, not all rescues are financially sound and if they are gone when a problem develops what do you do? You don’t own the horse so you can’t sell it. You can’t surrender it to another rescue for the same reason. You still have to meet the minimum husbandry standards. So you can end up in a “Catch22” until you find a way to untangle your knot.

Further, what does your contract say about returns? How much is it going to cost you to return the horse? Is the rescue obligated to take it back under all circumstances?* Or can they tell you, “We can’t take the horse right now but may be able to do so in a few months. Call us back then.” Put another way, you need to know if the rescue may take the horse back or must take the horse back.

My friend adopted a gelding from The horse protection society of FL. Her horse was with for years and she never had any problems. Not all adoptions end badly. I think adoptions fail, as much as purchasing from private individuals fails.

I agree that not all of these lease arrangements that are styled “adoptions” end badly but enough do that a careful person will read the agreement they are going to sign and understand what they are doing. In my personal experience very few people actually do. And when things go south they are shocked at the price tag attached to their “free horse.”

G.

*Human adoptions are very final (if not absolutely so). Which is another reason I loath using this term in these circumstances.

[BootsAndCoffee]

I adopted my current horse from Midatlantic Horse Rescue. He came nicely restarted, honestly represented, vetted (also vetted by my own vet), with a $200 training voucher, ongoing support if needed (so far nope!), and a safety net. Two years and change later, I am as thrilled with my decision as I was the day I made it.

Adoption contracts vary regarding ownership transfer, so that’s something to consider if resale is a goal or likelihood. Aside from that, there’s not much difference in an adoption horse vs. another horse for sale (take a trainer, do a PPE, etc).

@Guilherme

The myth of the “forever home.” No domestic animal has, or has ever had, or ever could have, a “forever home.” That’s 'cause no human has ever had a “forever home.” We have a home until we don’t. Death, divorce, disease, despair all can rob a human of their home and, also, the horse that the human might own. So any promise of a “forever home” is an empty one.

G.

It isn’t a myth. It’s an intention. None of us know the future, but we can promise to do our best. We can promise to try, even when it is hard. And if things go to Hell, we can promise to make the right, hard choices instead of dropping the horse at the sale or free-to-good-homing a hay burning senior and pretending it will end well. That is a forever home.

[Guilherme]

@BootsAndCoffee

I adopted my current horse from Midatlantic Horse Rescue. He came nicely restarted, honestly represented, vetted (also vetted by my own vet), with a $200 training voucher, ongoing support if needed (so far nope!), and a safety net. Two years and change later, I am as thrilled with my decision as I was the day I made it.

Adoption contracts vary regarding ownership transfer, so that’s something to consider if resale is a goal or likelihood. Aside from that, there’s not much difference in an adoption horse vs. another horse for sale (take a trainer, do a PPE, etc).

It isn’t a myth. It’s an intention. None of us know the future, but we can promise to do our best. We can promise to try, even when it is hard. And if things go to Hell, we can promise to make the right, hard choices instead of dropping the horse at the sale or free-to-good-homing a hay burning senior and pretending it will end well. That is a forever home.

OK, for the sake of argument I’ll agree that it’s an “intention.” That might take it out of the “myth” category but does not put it into the “reality” category. The reason that you cannot with any certainty know the end of the ownership process. It might be ordered, as in you decide you are too old, infirm, or financially constrained to continue and can activate the clauses in your contract to move the horse to a new circumstance. Or you might die in an auto accident and your heirs, with no equine experience and no knowledge of your agreements regarding the horse, must make a immediate decision on care and decide that your estate cannot support the care of the horse and they send it to an auction. As the poet once noted, “the best laid plans o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley”.

In short, there is no such thing as a forever home. Myth, intention, fantasy maybe, but reality…no.

G.

[chestnutmarebeware]

I agreed that many horse (and dog) rescues male it prohibitively difficult to adopt, but I had great experiences with two different adoptions ( yes, I think it’s a valid term when you get full ownership. What else would you call taking a dog from a municipal shelter?Adoptive parents pay fees to get their children.)

One old 25+ TB was signed over to us so the ex-SO could treat his laminitis ( he’s a brilliant farrier) without having to travel to the rescue. After about 6 months we got him sound enough to talk a walk under saddle, but remained a pasture retiree.

Three years later he developed stomach cancer and we had to say goodbye. Per our agreement, I notified the rescue. I still miss him every day.

We also got a hinny gelding from them. He was left tied at an auction after it ended.

Their wasn’t a fee for either of them, but the SO did lots of pro bono work for the rescue.

[candyappy]

@Guilherme

All I can say is read and understand the fine print in the contract. As rule there is no “free lunch.” Somebody has to pay. If you do have to return the horses for any reason what are the charges and fees? Are there any restrictions on your care, discipline, movement, etc. with regard to the horses? After you invest time, money, and sweat in training youngsters under what circumstances can the the owner come and get them? “Adoption” is generally not recognized in law involving animals. You own them or you lease them. This means that there are lots of ways to get “snookered” on one of these contracts. Not all rescues/humane societies are either professional or ethical or trustworthy.

Good luck in your choices.

G.

Believe me I will investigate it fully in person. I will also keep your thoughts in mind when asking questions. Thank you.

According to the adoption section on the website you have to meet the requirements for adequate fencing, shelter , feeding ,yearly teeth floating and training if you need help. You also keep your address current.

Other than that there are no fees upon return other than the animals is current on all vaccine and health care as when you adopted it.

You can do anything you like with the horse discipline wise except breed for foals, which is a non issue since I am in the market for a gelding this time around!!

[tabula_rashah]

I’ll gladly donate to, volunteer with and advise rescues but as far as getting my animals from one- it’s not really my cup of tea for several reasons. Mostly if I’m going to pay money for an animal, it’s going to belong to me and no one else is going to get a say on what activites I can do with it, what type of medical care I can provide (my friend “adopted” from a rescue that didn’t allow euthanization without their permission even in an emergency) and if I can sell it. I also have zero wish to go through all the BS of being approved etc. I have bought 2 horses via networking with a breed specific rescue but they were purchased through the owner and there were no adoption type stipulations.

[cheval_convert]

Our local SPCA has a facility for horses. I know one person who has adopted a horse from them and it was a good experience for her. The rules are similar to adopting a dog from them, so once you have the animal it is yours. (I don’t know if they have rules pertaining to selling the animal.)

They also have a “green to great” program each spring. Local trainers collect donations to support a green horse for 3 months. The trainer brings the horse home and puts 3 months training on it. They then have a showcase of these horses to get them adopted (sold) to good homes. This is a way to get a nicely trained horse from a rescue.

[Crashing_Boar]

I grew up watching my grandfather buy and sell at local auctions, and I was first one up (no stirrups in case they flip!) a couple of days after they came home. So the art of seeking the “diamond in the rough” from the revolving door of the marketplace is lifetime familiarity for me. I’m now the age he was then (egad!)

Around a dozen times over the years I’ve purchased (that is, PURCHASED!) horses below market value who were in need of an “upgrade.” Several, including the one I competed successfully for many years, had issues that had them bound for “the pipeline” as they were not amateur rides. One I rode for the next 21 years; another I sold in 3 as we just didn’t get along.

Twice I’ve taken a chance on an unbroke youngster; one is now 14 and I can and do trust him with my life; My Little Pony for my old age. The other became a cripple at 5 taking a bad step in a flat walk in a shallow mud puddle. I keep her as a gorgeous pasture puff. The point here is that you NEVER know until you buy and try. BUY. It’s important to remember also that you can ALWAYS SELL! And auctions are not evil; they efficiently bring ready buyers and motivated sellers together.

When the Great Recession hit hard here in '08, I had people practically throwing horses at me. I “upgraded” two locals whose prospects were frankly starvation; both emaciated, unkempt and under $500.00. Both were sucessfully rehabbed and were attractive, safe and useful for a number of years. But I bought them directly from the owners who were in difficulty, and neither signed restrictive “contracts” nor paid an outrageous premium for a glorified flipper’s virtue-signaling.

After reading this thread, just to see I checked the “Available Horses” of the rescue closest to me; their offerings all are selling (SELLING!) for $1,000.00 or more over what they’d bring at New Holland, very far above fair market value. This is frankly nuts. In a short list of five, three of them had:

(1) Chronic Laminitis/Cushing’s Syndrome
(2) Neurological due to EPM
(3) Required very expensive special shoeing and not sound even then.

For what possible reason would one saddle oneself (sorry!) with such a mess?

Another rescue specifies the horse MUST have 24/7 turnout (in a small, populous state where 1 barn in 300 can provide that) and can never be bred or shown. SHOWN? As in, no 4-H or Pony Club even though it might be the perfect horse for such use? Might explain why said rescue is drowning in un-“adopted” horses that never seem to move on.

So here are my tips:

Know the hard upper limit of your budget, and realistically the purchase price is the least of it.

Go to the sales or to sale barns with a knowledgeable PRO to whom you will pay a commission.

Be realistic about your skills, aspirations and life realities.

Try and make a match, but if it’s obvious the horse isn’t suitable, it goes back where it came from ASAP.

Some great opinions up-thread about all these realities; listen to the advice.

Good Luck!

[Guilherme]

@Crashing Boar

I grew up watching my grandfather buy and sell at local auctions, and I was first one up (no stirrups in case they flip!) a couple of days after they came home. So the art of seeking the “diamond in the rough” from the revolving door of the marketplace is lifetime familiarity for me. I’m now the age he was then (egad!)

Around a dozen times over the years I’ve purchased (that is, PURCHASED!) horses below market value who were in need of an “upgrade.” Several, including the one I competed successfully for many years, had issues that had them bound for “the pipeline” as they were not amateur rides. One I rode for the next 21 years; another I sold in 3 as we just didn’t get along.

Twice I’ve taken a chance on an unbroke youngster; one is now 14 and I can and do trust him with my life; My Little Pony for my old age. The other became a cripple at 5 taking a bad step in a flat walk in a shallow mud puddle. I keep her as a gorgeous pasture puff. The point here is that you NEVER know until you buy and try. BUY. It’s important to remember also that you can ALWAYS SELL! And auctions are not evil; they efficiently bring ready buyers and motivated sellers together.

When the Great Recession hit hard here in '08, I had people practically throwing horses at me. I “upgraded” two locals whose prospects were frankly starvation; both emaciated, unkempt and under $500.00. Both were sucessfully rehabbed and were attractive, safe and useful for a number of years. But I bought them directly from the owners who were in difficulty, and neither signed restrictive “contracts” nor paid an outrageous premium for a glorified flipper’s virtue-signaling.

After reading this thread, just to see I checked the “Available Horses” of the rescue closest to me; their offerings all are selling (SELLING!) for $1,000.00 or more over what they’d bring at New Holland, very far above fair market value. This is frankly nuts. In a short list of five, three of them had:

(1) Chronic Laminitis/Cushing’s Syndrome
(2) Neurological due to EPM
(3) Required very expensive special shoeing and not sound even then.

For what possible reason would one saddle oneself (sorry!) with such a mess?

Another rescue specifies the horse MUST have 24/7 turnout (in a small, populous state where 1 barn in 300 can provide that) and can never be bred or shown. SHOWN? As in, no 4-H or Pony Club even though it might be the perfect horse for such use? Might explain why said rescue is drowning in un-“adopted” horses that never seem to move on.

So here are my tips:

Know the hard upper limit of your budget, and realistically the purchase price is the least of it.

Go to the sales or to sale barns with a knowledgeable PRO to whom you will pay a commission.

Be realistic about your skills, aspirations and life realities.

Try and make a match, but if it’s obvious the horse isn’t suitable, it goes back where it came from ASAP.

Some great opinions up-thread about all these realities; listen to the advice.

Good Luck!

Candidate, here, for Post of the Year on this topic.

Extremely well said.

G.