Rough Start Horse Rescue

Additional adoption info

Our adoption process excitedly begins when a family comes forward ready to adopt.

We start with having the potential adopter(s) come out and meet the animal. We want to make sure the horse and adopter make a good fit by matching skills. We don’t want to see adopters in over their heads with a horse that requires more in training, care, handling, and or riding ability than an adopter is capable of giving. Most adopters are just as concerned, so this ends up being a pretty easy and fun process.

Once we’ve found a good fit, an adopter will fill out an application which includes:
• Financial questionnaire, making sure adopters are financially able to care for the horse.
• Reference checks, we’d like to check with professionals (preferably) or in some cases, members of the community that will speak to the character of our adopters as pet owners.
- Do our adopters have a good history of providing pet care?
- Do they have the frame of mind and financial ability to provide a stable home?
- Do they have a history of providing a stable home for current or prior pets?
- Do they have a history of rehoming their pets? If so, why? Was it due to personal crisis or a matter of training and personality that pushed rehoming? Have they rehomed responsibly in those cases?

Lastly a home check is done by one of our staff. Perfection is NOT required. We’re really just looking for a loving and safe home. These are some of the things we look for:
- Are fences tight and in good order?
- Is there proper space for the horse?
- Is the horse’s area clean and free of debris?
- Is there shelter/windbreak available?
- Is water available with heater tanks for winter?
- Is hay onsite and properly stored?

Full ownership is given to the new owners once they’ve signed an agreement in the application that includes:
• Agreement to our “No Breeding” clause for any of the horses.
• Providing proper care such as medical and farrier care.
• Adequate food & water are provided.
• Upkeep of fencing, shelter, and horse area.
• Always remaining diligent in the animal’s safety and care.
• 18 month agreement that Rough Start can come onto a property to do after adoption checks on the animal.
• Notifying Rough Start if the animal is to be moved or rehomed.
• The animal can be confiscated by Rough Start if contract is breached by disregard of the above.

And of course we always encourage our treasured adopters to send us updates on how these horses are doing and what kind of fun it’s enjoying with the new owners.