restrictions on horse adoption?

[michu_addams]

@One Two Three

The strict provisions on an adoption horse are to protect it from a bad situation. They don’t want their adopted horse being leased out because you lost time/interest. They’re looking for people willing to be dedicated to these horses through thick and thin.

trust me, I am very dedicated to any horse under my care. just not willing to sign away my privacy rights and/or spend time and money on a horse that the rescue has the right to take away at any given time. as for losing time/interest, my job pulls me in a lot of different directions at once and goes through periods of being really busy or not so busy, greatly depending on the time of year. So not having time for the horse a few months out of the year shouldn’t be a deal breaker. i always try my best to still be a part of my horses lives, while finding them the best possible person to dote on them when i’m not there.

[Angela_Freda]

So, Michu, what’s your point?
I think several posters have suggested if you disagree with the parameters of a rescues contract, you should move on and find either another you agree with, or go outside “rescue organizations” to find the horse you seek.

If a rescues’ model of operation limits their pool of potential adopters, if their limitations appeal to fewer people… who cares? Either those limitations work for them, or they’ll figure out it doesn’t and evolve…

[Samantha37]

@Isabeau Z Solace

There are easily accessible online auction companies that sell “slaughter truck” horses daily. You can ‘rescue’ direct from feed lot/slaughter truck dealer very easily.

Please do NOT “rescue” direct from a feed lot/slaughter truck dealer. All you are effectively doing is paying them to go buy more horses for slaughter. Instead, go find the ones looking for a soft place to land that might be in a bad situation from an individual.

[clanter]

@WildLittleWren

Yes! Please consider a mustang! You don’t have to adopt one straight from the BLM untouched, there are many that are gentled and trained to ride as well! This was my EMM dropout I adopted March of 2017. She is now a puppy dog, and yup, that’s my 10 year old on her! They make GREAT horses! So many need homes, and if you get one that is already titled or sale authority there are no restrictions on ownership (for mine I got her on the typical 1 year BLM contract before I got her official title and she was legally “mine”). But even the requirements for that are logical and necessary and not absurd at all. In fact, sadly, they never even checked on my mare. Typically they try to send a BLM officer out before granting final clear title, but they didn’t with me. I just had to have my vet sign a form saying that she was in good health and well cared for.

here are the BLM requirements

https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/wildhorse_adoption_requirements.pdf

---

From my personal experience just having open stalls and land provides an endless supply of “rescue” horses and ponies as there is a surplus of horses in the area. Every time we have a drought more are available, usually and most often are give away.

[SonnysMom]

@michu addams

exactly! isnt the main goal of rescue organizations to rehome the animals in their care? so why are they making it so difficult? the rules are surely not making people more interested in the horses - if anything it is driving away loads of potential adopters!

I don’t think the main goal of most rescue organizations is to rehome animals. For most the starting point is to protect the animal. Being able to rehome the animals helps them protect more animals. Many rescues take the stance that they want to be able to protect that animal for the rest of its life. The adoption contract provides the contractual obligation to provide a minimal level of care to protect that animal and the contractrual right to be able to repossess that animal should the adoptor not uphold the agreed upon terms of the contract. If you sell or give away the animal then the rescue has no contractual agreement with the new owner to be able to continue their oversight and obligation to that animal.

From some of your later posts it sounds like adopting from most rescues does not fit your personality due to the level of control you want over the horse and your privacy concerns.

[One_Two_Three]

@SonnysMom

I don’t think the main goal of most rescue organizations is to rehome animals. For most the starting point is to protect the animal. Being able to rehome the animals helps them protect more animals. Many rescues take the stance that they want to be able to protect that animal for the rest of its life. The adoption contract provides the contractual obligation to provide a minimal level of care to protect that animal and the contractrual right to be able to repossess that animal should the adoptor not uphold the agreed upon terms of the contract. If you sell or give away the animal then the rescue has no contractual agreement with the new owner to be able to continue their oversight and obligation to that animal.

From some of your later posts it sounds like adopting from most rescues does not fit your personality due to the level of control you want over the horse and your privacy concerns.

This! The 501c I work with currently has 5 horses in their care. 1 has just been “upgraded” to sanctuary status because no one will be able to “protect” him to the same standards that we uphold, undoubtedly, for the rest of his life, due to his many limiting injuries, which keep him pasture sound but require extensive care and attention. Most rescues are protecting the animals, not rehoming them. Rehoming is a small perk, if and when someone comes available that is a perfect match for their animal.

[Laurierace]

There are countless rescues out there all of whom have their own rules and restrictions, just keep searching until you find one you agree with. In my experience the best way to figure out if you like a rescue is to do some volunteering so you get an insider’s view.
I adopted a horse who was starved when I got him. He was very quiet and safe when I got him but when he was fat and sassy he sent me to the ER twice so he went back to the rescue. I was very glad he wasn’t my problem anymore because he wasn’t safe for me. The second horse I adopted from a different rescue when he was 16. I never would have considered a horse that old but they told me to take him and he could be returned at any time so I had nothing to lose. He ended up being the equine love of my life, I am so grateful that the rescue’s contract was such that I took a chance on him.

[Laurierace]

@Samantha37

Please do NOT “rescue” direct from a feed lot/slaughter truck dealer. All you are effectively doing is paying them to go buy more horses for slaughter. Instead, go find the ones looking for a soft place to land that might be in a bad situation from an individual.

Could not agree with this more. This false economy sentences ten horses to death for every one saved. If you care about horses at all you will not be a party to this death march.

[kande04]

@michu addams

exactly! isnt the main goal of rescue organizations to rehome the animals in their care? so why are they making it so difficult? the rules are surely not making people more interested in the horses - if anything it is driving away loads of potential adopters!

Rescues are often run by a board of directors and they decide on adoption policies.

What seems to happen is that everyone on the board has different ideas when it comes to what’s important, so the rescue ends up with more and more restrictive adoption policies and then has to do even more fundraising to support more rescues, who stay at the rescue longer at an ever increasing standard of care.

Rescues do what they do, and as long as they can raise enough funds it doesn’t really matter if they move their rescues or not.

[hoopoe]

OP when you get settled why not post your area here. The COTH network has found and placed many a nice horse that needs a soft landing and compassionate home

[Sticky_Situation]

And the refusal of many rescues to adopt horses out without extremely restrictive “adoption contracts” contributes to why so many hoarding situations started out as “rescues.”

[Guilherme]

@Sticky Situation

And the refusal of many rescues to adopt horses out without extremely restrictive “adoption contracts” contributes to why so many hoarding situations started out as “rescues.”

Ayup.

I get “animal protection.” But I don’t get accumulating animals you can’t feed or care for while creating ever more restrictive placement contracts because you don’t want to “hazard” the health, safety, or welfare of the animals. NEWS FLASH: If your rescue has problems feeding what it has YOU ARE HAZARDING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE ANIMAL!!!

Some years back we tried to obtain some barn cats from a BIG, urban shelter and were turned down because they would be BARN CATS and not “cherished pets.” At this same time this shelter was euthanizing thousands of cats per year! Maybe one of the “rescue advocates” can explain that one to me 'cause I don’t get it.

When I was VP of our local humane society for five years I fought this battle on an ongoing basis. At that time most of the Board members held this point of view and we were careful but not “recklessly careful.”

G.

[tabula_rashah]

There was just recently a thread on a Morgan FB page I’m part of. A small breeder enrolled her horses in what is called the Full Circle Program- basically that means that it is notated on the horses papers that in case of them needing a home, etc you can contact the original breeder to take them back, help place them etc. This lady had a rescue contact her about 2 horses that she had bred and she was more than willing to take them back. But… the rescue basically called her to say neener neener we have these horses and you can’t have them back because you breed. So I guess they’d rather just shoot themselves in the proverbial foot and continue to feed them instead of sending them back to a good home that is attempting to do the right thing

[Angela_Freda]

@Sticky Situation

And the refusal of many rescues to adopt horses out without extremely restrictive “adoption contracts” contributes to why so many hoarding situations started out as “rescues.”

[my bold]

No, it doesn’t contribute.
The restrictive adoption contracts might be a sign of a mental health issue that is hoarding… but not necessarily.

[SonnysMom]

@Guilherme

Ayup.

I get “animal protection.” But I don’t get accumulating animals you can’t feed or care for while creating ever more restrictive placement contracts because you don’t want to “hazard” the health, safety, or welfare of the animals. NEWS FLASH: If your rescue has problems feeding what it has YOU ARE HAZARDING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE ANIMAL!!!

Some years back we tried to obtain some barn cats from a BIG, urban shelter and were turned down because they would be BARN CATS and not “cherished pets.” At this same time this shelter was euthanizing thousands of cats per year! Maybe one of the “rescue advocates” can explain that one to me 'cause I don’t get it.

When I was VP of our local humane society for five years I fought this battle on an ongoing basis. At that time most of the Board members held this point of view and we were careful but not “recklessly careful.”

G.

True hoarding is a sickness. Those people never got into being a “rescue” to be a rescue. It was always self delusion on their part. They just called themselves a rescue. Most of those never bother with the paperwork to become a non-profit, register with their state or have a BOD.

For the barn cat issue I have been to plenty of barns (horse and cows) where the BO does not feed the cats or provide clean water for them. Many barn people figure that they don’t need food because they should hunt for their food and will not be good mousers if you feed them. Many barns don’t provide any vaccines for their barn cats and limited to no vet care if they are injured or sick. Depending on the barn set up and the climate they may not have a consistent dry, warm spot for shelter in the winter. That particular shelter has decided that a humane death is preferable to a cat that is an outside cat that may not have the minimum level of care that they decided is acceptable. So what- just go somewhere else. There are plenty of TNR places that would kill to provide your barn with a good mouser or 3. Some of those ferals can be relatively friendly or you might never see them. Go on Craigslist and get a cat/kitten.

There are plenty of rescues out there. Do business with or donate to those that most closely mirror your personal beliefs. Don’t do business/donate to those that don’t.
Rescues are just like any other business. Some will have good business practices, some are don’t. Some are ethical some are not. There is the used car place that you get a good value for your money and they honor their warranty and there is the places that power wash the engine add the oil thickener to hide the oil leak, turn off the check engine light, fix the hanging muffler with chicken wire and don’t honor the “warranty” the supposedly provide. Some car dealers specialize in trucks, some in high end European cars. Don’t go to the European car dealer and expect to find a good deal or good selection of trucks to tow your horse trailer. Don’t go to a used car dealer that only sells cars under $5K when you want a new car and the warranty and selection that comes from that new car dealer. It doesn’t make that used car dealer a bad place or wrong it is just wrong for your needs. Rescues are no different. Not every one will fit every ones needs or preferences.

Pick your rescues as carefully as you would pick your car dealer.

There isn’t one “right” way to run a car dealship and not just one right way to run a rescue or shelter. You sometimes make it seem like the only right way is your way.

[Guilherme]

@SonnysMom

True hoarding is a sickness. Those people never got into being a “rescue” to be a rescue. It was always self delusion on their part. They just called themselves a rescue. Most of those never bother with the paperwork to become a non-profit, register with their state or have a BOD.

I don’t know “most” do or don’t. I’ve never done a survey. I know a couple with Boards who are wildly restrictive, have pens full, and just rely on outside support. And I’m not counting the Grandfather of Horse Hoarders, the BLM!!!

For the barn cat issue I have been to plenty of barns (horse and cows) where the BO does not feed the cats or provide clean water for them. Many barn people figure that they don’t need food because they should hunt for their food and will not be good mousers if you feed them. Many barns don’t provide any vaccines for their barn cats and limited to no vet care if they are injured or sick. Depending on the barn set up and the climate they may not have a consistent dry, warm spot for shelter in the winter. That particular shelter has decided that a humane death is preferable to a cat that is an outside cat that may not have the minimum level of care that they decided is acceptable. So what- just go somewhere else. There are plenty of TNR places that would kill to provide your barn with a good mouser or 3. Some of those ferals can be relatively friendly or you might never see them. Go on Craigslist and get a cat/kitten.

So you’re OK with bigotry on the part of humane societies because “some” people treat their barn cats badly? Some might find my statement strong but your sentiment fits four-square within that possible conclusion. My first example was of a large, urban facility that is, in essence, a factory. There are a couple of small, no-kill shelters in the area that also have draconian placement policies and are constantly hold their hands out more donations. Life has risks for humans and risks for animals. We do seek to reduce risks to rational levels. IMO mass euthanasia vice more realistic placement procedures is an irrational choice when measured against the stated goal of animal welfare. Even more so if the shelter is an “animal rights” proponent.

There are plenty of rescues out there. Do business with or donate to those that most closely mirror your personal beliefs. Don’t do business/donate to those that don’t.

Believe me I would if I could.

Rescues are just like any other business. Some will have good business practices, some are don’t. Some are ethical some are not. There is the used car place that you get a good value for your money and they honor their warranty and there is the places that power wash the engine add the oil thickener to hide the oil leak, turn off the check engine light, fix the hanging muffler with chicken wire and don’t honor the “warranty” the supposedly provide. Some car dealers specialize in trucks, some in high end European cars. Don’t go to the European car dealer and expect to find a good deal or good selection of trucks to tow your horse trailer. Don’t go to a used car dealer that only sells cars under $5K when you want a new car and the warranty and selection that comes from that new car dealer. It doesn’t make that used car dealer a bad place or wrong it is just wrong for your needs. Rescues are no different. Not every one will fit every ones needs or preferences.

So on this basis you’d not be a fan of mass euthanasia when alternative placement routes exist?

Pick your rescues as carefully as you would pick your car dealer.

There isn’t one “right” way to run a car dealship and not just one right way to run a rescue or shelter. You sometimes make it seem like the only right way is your way.

Indeed.

G.

[Sticky_Situation]

@Angela Freda

[my bold]

No, it doesn’t contribute.
The restrictive adoption contracts might be a sign of a mental health issue that is hoarding… but not necessarily.

We’ll have to agree to disagree.

I don’t think having an overly restrictive adoption policy causes an otherwise well run, legitimate rescue to turn into a hoarding/neglect situation … but the mentality of “if you don’t manage this horse the exact way we would, you shouldn’t have him” is exactly what hoarders use to try to validate their behavior, and I think the acceptance of that mentality in general is how they manage to end up with dozens and dozens of horses they can’t afford to feed but refuse to rehome.

[Casey09]

@SonnysMom

For some rescues it is called an adoption when in reality for some it is truely a care lease with an initial one time up front lease fee. It is really semantics. As long as the “adopter” is willing to live with the language of the agreement who cares.

If I leased a horse and increased is value through showing and training I don’t feel I have the right to sell to horse. Many leases have restrictions on where you can house that horse, who is allowed to ride the horse such as named trainer and leasor, how the horse is shod, whether they are allowed to jump, how often they are allowed to show. Yet most of us do not have a problem with the owner of the lease horse putting in these restrictions to protect their property. The person leasing out the horse still retains ownership and a degree of control. They are also legally in the position to take their horse back if the leasor breaks the terms of the lease assuming they have a good lease contract. They also may need to take a leased horse back if circumstances for the leasor changes. In the case of some rescues and some adoptions the organization retains ownership and is essentially leasing the adoptor the animal to retain that control and provide additional protections for that animal.

In reality an adoption for some rescues is no different than a long term lease rather than a year to year or month to month lease. The rescue retains ownership and the adopter is leasing the horse from the rescue. In theory the adopter has the protection of the rescue that they can return the horse if they are not in position to keep the horse or if the horse no longer fits their needs.

Adopting or leasing isn’t for everyone just like buying a house with a HOA isn’t for everyone. At this point in my life I would not buy a property with a HOA. My mother has a totally different personality and should never live in a place without a HOA. She likes things a very certain way and the rules of the HOA help her live with her neighbors and not hate them or hate living there. There are certain protections offered by an HOA to help maintain neighborhood values for items that may not be addressed by local zoning. Not all HOAs are evil. Not all are benign.

Everyone needs to decide for themselves the pros and cons before they lease, adopt or buy a house with an HOA or a deed restriction or easement. If you don’t like the terms don’t enter into the contract. Some people don’t need/want the protection offered in those types of contracts.

Some rescues literally rescue horses, some buy them and flip them, some do a combination and some are just hoarders. There are racehorse rehoming organizations that don’t call themselves rescues or consider themselves rescues but you still may have restrictions under the adoption agreement. Some you get immediate ownership and some you never get ownership.
Once again view it as a lease or lease/purchase. If you don’t like that model fine don’t obtain a horse/dog/cat/other animal through somebody that uses that model. But it doesn’t mean that model doesn’t work for other people or organizations.

Thank you! This is an amazing post in my opinion!
rescues sometimes take huge risks. A local rescue thought they weren getting a relatively young horse with a treatable injury. The horse arrived at the rescue and lo and behold, is much older and has pretty bad arthritis. She can’t be ridden and requires special care as well. The injury healed up fine, but the other issues are still there.
Rescue is not a fit for everyone in every case. I myself have a companion horse that I privately purchased for $1. Now, I will never transfer ownership. If I died I’d want him euthanized as he is old and can’t be ridden and would be at risk. I update the people I bought him for regularly and that kind of thing doesn’t bother me in the least (but I know it does some people).
If you can’t find a rescue that you like, you can always talk to vets and farriers and find a horse. A good rescue might be a benefit to some because the horse comes vetted and assessed. When I got my companion horse I paid $1 and then had his teeth done, vaccines, hooves, etc.
It sounds like you want a rideable horse from your post saying that you may want to lease one. It doesn’t matter how or where you get your horse. Just make sure he or she will be a good candidate for what you want.
If I need a companion horse again, I’ll check rescues. I think they’re usually a good deal as they are vetted. I’ll also check craigslist, through word of mouth, and even auction horse listings. I just have to go in with my eyes wide open and know that an auction horse would need quarantine board away from my other horses, may get sick and need treatment, and may turn out to have some kind of issue I wasn’t aware of. Frankly, I think adopting from the rescue is the least risky, and I don’t mind the contract. - but it’s what works for you.
By the way … when I got my companion horse I communicated with a lady about an older Arab she was selling on craigslist. She was absolutely certifiably unreasonable. She wanted the horse to go out for 2 hours at a time through the day and stalled at night. She wanted to visit whenever she wanted. It was the most high maintenance deal if ever heard of. In the end she refused me the horse (not that I was interested if that’s really what he required as I do work). Trust me … the same issues are there no matter where you get it.

[Gloria]

The thing is, nobody leases a horse that is below their levels. They lease a horse that is above their levels that they can learn from, or that can win ribbon in a show ring for them, NOW; a school master, so of speak. Most rescue horses need work, hence are not leas-able. Owners who lease out horses do not seek donations for their animals either. So to compare lease horses with rescue horses are comparing apples to oranges.

Good rescues exist, just not those with strict clauses. These don’t want their animals adopted. They want to continue to be the owners, but don’t want to continue to foot the bills. It is what their clauses is telling.

[Angela_Freda]

@Sticky Situation

We’ll have to agree to disagree.

I don’t think having an overly restrictive adoption policy causes an otherwise well run, legitimate rescue to turn into a hoarding/neglect situation … but the mentality of “if you don’t manage this horse the exact way we would, you shouldn’t have him” is exactly what hoarders use to try to validate their behavior, and I think the acceptance of that mentality in general is how they manage to end up with dozens and dozens of horses they can’t afford to feed but refuse to rehome.

Ahem, so apparently we agree.