SURRENDER

“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact
with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom.” - Sharon Ralls Lemon

Surrendering an animal to a rescue can be a responsible and caring decision in several ways:

  1. Ensuring proper care: If you can no longer provide the care, attention, or resources that your horse needs, surrendering them to a rescue ensures they receive the necessary care and attention. Rescues have the expertise and resources to meet the specific needs of their horses, from medical treatment to socialization.

  2. Finding a better home: Rescues work to find the best possible homes for surrendered animals. By surrendering your horse, you’re giving them the chance to be matched with a family or individual who is better equipped to meet their needs long-term.

  3. Protecting the horse’s well-being: Keeping a horse in a situation where their needs aren’t met - whether due to financial constraints, time limitations, or other factors - can lead to stress, neglect, or even harm. Placing them in auction is not guaranteed to get them to a better situation, and can often lead to placing them unknowingly in the slaughter pipeline. Surrendering your horse to a rescue can prevent these negative outcomes.

  4. Supporting a network of care: Many rescues have access to networks of fosters, approved adopters, and other resources that can provide specialized care. By surrendering your horse, your connecting them with a broader community dedicated to their well-being.

  5. Making a difficult, but compassionate choice: Surrendering a horse is often a tough decision, but it can be a compassionate one when done with the horse’s best interests at heart. It shows that you prioritize their welfare over other considerations.

While surrendering an animal is never easy, it can be a responsible and loving choice when circumstances change, ensuring that the animal has the best possible chance for a happy and healthy future. If our rescue isn’t nearby, or if you would like to explore other options, we are part of the “Full Circle of Life Horse Shelter Network” and would be happy to assist you in finding another suitable rescue.

What is our process?

Our horse surrender process beings in one of two ways: either by contacting us to discuss your horse and situation, or by completing our surrender application.

After receiving your application, our board will review it and determine the surrender fee, which ranges from $250 to $1,500 per horse. The fee is based on factors such as the horse’s current needs, vaccination status, and adoptability. Another factor in the fee is if you are able to transport the horse yourself, and if we are providing the transport, the distance of transportation.. As a 100% volunteer-run rescue that operates solely on donations, it is vital that we secure the resources needed to meet the initial care requirements of each horse, ensuring we can fulfill our mission.

All equine surrenders are final after the owner has signed all of the paperwork. You are no longer responsible for the horse or able to make any decision for it’s care. Our goal is to have every horse in our facility adopted or sponsored.

Upon intake, all of our horses undergo a minimum two-week quarantine, though the exact duration depends on the horse’s health and where they came from. During this time, we provide any necessary medical attention. If there is no immediate need for a veterinarian, we will evaluate the horse at the end of quarantine to address any health concerns, update vaccinations, and ensure microchipping. If at any point during quarantine or their stay with us, our evaluation reveals that the horse is not experiencing all “Five Freedoms”, we will consult our veterinarian to discuss humane options. Please rest assured that such decisions are never made lightly, or for the sake of creating space for other rescues. Once quarantine and evaluations are complete, we assign an adoption fee based on our evaluations, and list them as available for adoption!

If you are interested in starting the process of surrendering a horse, please either complete a surrender application, or fill out the form below: