
Be a part of the solution- Find your next star here!

Katie and her star, Reds Ready
shown competing at Intermediate
How to Adopt a Horse from
MidAtlantic Horse Rescue
MidAtlantic
Horse Rescue has several nice, sensible, sound thoroughbreds
available for adoption (click here to view) at all times. Once
a horse is "pulled from the pen" and enters our program, we
quarantine the horse. During this time we assess their overall physical condition, and have the farrier
and vet in, if necessary. We also transition horses directly from the track.
As
soon as the horses enter our program, we start evaluating them under
saddle and introduce them to cavaletti and ground rails. We will continue
their schooling until they are adopted. Adoption fees vary, but range
up to $2,500 for horses with no restrictions on future use. Our adoption fees pay for our program, and are well under market value. We stand behind our horses forever, and are always available for support and advice. Adoption fees are not negotiable unless a pre-purchase exam reveals some physical issue which will limit future use. Sometimes we rescue horses that have physical issues which limit their riding potential-- their fees will reflect that. The expenses associated with those limited horses are significantly above their adoption fees. If you would
like more information on adopting any of our horses, or would like to
come see them, please call or email.
Our
horses are shown by appointment only. We can meet you during the week or on weekends- mornings through early afternoon. We start afternoon feeding around 3:00 and finish up by 4:00. Due to insurance
restrictions, all persons riding must sign a liability release before
riding.
Seriously Considering Adopting?
If
there is a specific horse you are interested in adopting, you must meet
some pre-adoption requirements, such as vet references and a suitable
facility with turn-out. You are welcome to have your trainer or vet
look at any of our horses. Because safety and suitability are of the
utmost importance in placing our horses, we reserve the right to refuse
any application.
We
cannot hold horses for anyone. You are welcome to come back and ride until you know which is THE one. If there is a suitable horse that you
have decided to adopt and want to have the horse vetted, we request
a $100- deposit while you arrange for the vet exam. If the horse passes
the vet check, the balance of the adoption fee is due immediately and
you are free to take your horse home. If the horse does not pass the
vet exam and you decide not to adopt that horse, the $100- deposit will
be returned in full. If for any reason you change your mind and decide
not to adopt the horse before it is vetted, the $100- deposit is non-returnable
and will be considered a donation to MAHR. Before you put a deposit
on a certain horse, PLEASE make sure you are sincere in wanting
to adopt that horse. It is not fair to the horse, other potential
adopters, or our program if the horse is made unavailable--- yet you
are not really sure it is the horse for you. The horse may miss out
on a permanent home with a different adopter in the meantime, and we
can't go save another horse from slaughter while we are waiting for
you to make up your mind. Once you do put a deposit on a horse, we hope
that you can make all arrangements to finalize that adoption
and take the horse home within a week or 10 days.
We ask that all vet exams are scheduled in a timely manner
and upon completion of the adoption process, you take your new horse
home as soon as possible, so we can rescue another horse right away.
Upon finalization of the adoption, the balance of the adoption fee must be paid in full before the horse can leave the farm. This can be paid by certified check, cashier's check, ( made payable to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue ), or cash. Please note, as per our adoption contract, adoption fees are non-refundable.
Upon completion of the adoption process,
the adopter does assume ownership of the horse. We will call you for
the first few months you have your new horse, to check that everything
is going smoothly and answer any questions. Of course, you can always
call us for help or advice!
Are you committed?
We are committed to making the best possible match between
horse and rider. We do stand behind our horses, but cannot foresee all
future circumstances. We expect all adopters to have a strong
commitment to all of the responsibilities that horse ownership entails-
financial, time, and otherwise. If you run into a problem with
your new horse, we expect that you will pursue any and all options to
continue to provide the horse with a good home, to include different
training approaches, shoeing, care, etc. If you do encounter a situation
where you feel you can no longer provide the proper home for your adopted
horse, or if the horse develops some physical issue, call us and we will try to help you solve the problem or give
you suggestions for the placement or resale of your horse. We cannot simply
take a horse back at any time without notice because some circumstance has changed
for the adopter or because a physical condition has developed. We will do our best to help you place the horse or take it back in a timely fashion. We do not want our horses where they are not wanted. Remember, we have limited space and generally
have a waiting list of horses wanting to come in, horses that might
otherwise go to slaughter if we can't take them-- as well as those horses
awaiting a cruel and horrifying fate EVERY Monday at the livestock auction.
Our track record has been excellent, with only about 2% of our adopted
horses needing to be rehomed for one reason or another. Call us and
talk to us and we will work together towards a solution that will work
for all involved--- most of all, the horse!
We
understand that riders advance, or change their goals, or circumstances
may change, necessitating the sale of the horse down the road. We request,
though, that you notify MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in advance if you decide
to sell one of our adoptees in the future.
Questions?
Just call or email,
we'll be happy to answer them. We found a great article (in PDF)
by Priscilla Clark that details how to retrain a racehorse. Download
it at http://www.tranquilityfarmtbs.org/pdf/retraining.pdf
Here are some great articles by Sue Smith, our good friend, TB advocate, and director of CANTER- PA on choosing a horse from the track, if you decide to go that route, and restarting a horse......invaluable advice!
Selecting a horse from the track Part 1
Selecting a horse from the track Part 2
Selecting a horse from the track Part 3
Restarting an off track thoroughbred

Interested
in one of our horses?
Download
and print an adoption application and agreement and
fax to 410-885-5685 when completed.
Horses are kept on a private farm and shown by appointment only!
If you want to meet the horses you must make an appointment- we do not live on the farm so don't just drop by- you will be wasting a trip!
Thanks for understanding.
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