Where Do Adoptable Belgian horses Come From?
Belgian horses for adoption are usually surrendered by their previous owners because of change in lifestyle, a lack of financial ability to maintain a horse, or the owner needs to find the Belgian horse a companion. Horse rescues work very hard to make sure horses are healthy and polite with people before being made available for adoption. Rescues usually categorize horses by; “unstarted” which means they to be need trained in order to be ridden, and typically these horses are under 5 years. “Rideable,” and “Companion” horses are the two categories for adult horses. Belgian horses are social creatures just like humans and must have social interactions with their own kind in order to be happy and healthy.
How Should I Prepare to Adopt Horse?
Mostly you must be aware that every rescue’s goal is to find forever homes for all their horses. This means that they will anticipate you are providing a home and safe atmosphere for the Belgian horse its entire life. Belgian horses will need the right size stable and a big enough corral, paddock or pasture are key for your horses to remain happy and healthy. What kind of housing is right for your horse depends on your climate, but all horses have the same basic requirements - enough room to move around and lie down inside, enough space to graze & run outside, all areas kept clean & safe, and sufficient protection from sun, rain, and cold. You may be have barn and fenced pasture on your own land, or be boarding at a horse facility nearby. Belgian horses are herd animals and take comfort in having at least one other horse friend, so keep that in mind if you are thinking of housing your newly adopted Belgian horse on your own property. Horses are also grazing animals that naturally will walk on average 20 miles a day. Confining a Belgian horse to a small area where he can't move around can lead to many behavior and health problems. So where ever you keep your horse, make sure that both the barn, pastures and especially the fencing are safe, well-maintained, with plenty of room to move around - and that they have a horse friend or two! Above all you need to make the decision to adopt a Belgian horse with confidence, and consider how your lifestyle may change when owning a Belgian horse. Remember that horses live long lives, an average of 30 years or more.
What Costs & Supplies Do Horses Need?
The average cost of maintaining a horse is usually about $2,500 and up per year. Be prepared to provide; stall/corral rental, shoeing, veterinarian care including worming, vaccinations and any other needed medicines, salt/supplements, feed, hay, grooming supplies, blankets for different temperatures, and tack. Owning your own horse requires a serious investment in your time as well as money. Older Belgian horses may need less exercise than younger ones, but they still require daily cleaning, feeding, and love! If you are boarding a Belgian horse, make sure to ask if the fee includes a daily mucking and turnout, or be prepared to spend at least an hour cleaning both your horse and their stall, in addition to the time needed to give them their daily exercise. Finally, ask the broader what supplies are included, such as buckets, feed, hay, and bedding, or if you will need to purchase and provide those.
Can I Get Involved with a Horse Rescue Without Adopting a Belgian horse?
Sure. Volunteering at a local horse rescue is a great idea to help familiarize yourself with Belgian horses without enduring the financial and time commitment of ownership. Belgian horses Rescues and general horse recuses need volunteers, and this is an excellent way to understand what kind of horse temperament is best for you. You’ll also quickly become very knowledgeable about Belgian horse care, while satisfying your desire to enjoy time with Belgian horses.
What is it Like to Adopt from a Horse Rescue?
A horse adoption rescue will request that you fill out an application, and come into the rescue to meet with a staff member to initiate the adoption process. While meeting, rescue volunteers will review the horses within their organization and try to find one that will meet your lifestyle, and expectations. Anticipate that the rescue volunteers will inspect the new home you’re providing for the horse, they also will spend time with you and the horse so that it is clear you are getting along well with your potential adoptable horse. Usually adoption agencies will have a donation fee in the range of $600-$1,500. Sometimes rescue volunteers will perform follow-ups with you to make sure everything is going okay.
Why Horse Adoption a Better Option!
Belgian horses within rescues have sometimes had periods of loneliness and hardship in their lives. Once taken in by a rescue they become forever thankful for an improved life alongside compassionate human caretakers and social activity with other horses. Horses available from Belgian horse breeders, and Belgian horses for sale at large costs are no different or better than a Belgian horse for adoption at rescues. With care almost any horse has the potential to become an enriching companion. Please don’t buy a Belgian horse before looking into adoption. Here are several horse adoption success stories http://peoplehelpinghorses.org/residents/success-stories/.
We want to spread the word!
If you have contact info for a shelter in one of these places that does not have pets posted with us, please e-mail us and we'll contact them.
California Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Irvine, San Bernardino, Riverside, Fresno, Oakland, Sacramento, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Bakersfield, Ontario, Walnut Creek, Santa Cruz, Northern, Southern, Central, Concord, Hanford, Los Angeles County, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Riverside County, Mission Viejo, Yolo, San Bernardino County, San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, Novato Santa Clara County, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, San Gabriel Valley
Texas Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Waco, Austin, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Abilene, Amarillo, Western Texas, Eastern Texas, San Marcos, Dallas County, Harris County, Galveston, Brazoria, McAllen, San Antonio
New York New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Niagara Falls, Kings County, Queens County, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island
Florida Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Broward County, Miami Dade County, Sarasota, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton
Illinois Chicago, Springfield, Peoria, DeKalb, Bloomington, Cook County
Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Allentown, Erie, Bethlehem
Ohio Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Canton, Akron, Youngstown, Hamilton
Michigan Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Ann Arbor, Flint Michigan, Holland, Wayne County
Ontario Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Kingston
New Jersey Newark, Trenton, Jersey City, Atlantic City, Camden, New Brunswick, Hackensack
Georgia Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Valdosta
North Carolina Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Gastonia, Rock Hill, High Point, Chapel Hill
Virginia Richmond, Arlington, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Virginia Beach, Newport News
Massachusetts Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Cape Cod, Lawrence, Fall River
Indiana Indianapolis, Evansville, Gary, Muncie, Bloomington, Richmond, Centerville
Quebec Montreal, Quebec City
Washington Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Everett, Kirkland, Bellingham, Vancouver, King County, Bremerton
Tennessee Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Jackson, Davidson
Missouri St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City, Muskegon, Holland
Wisconsin Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Racine
Maryland Baltimore, Annapolis, Bethesda, Gaithersburg
Arizona Flagstaff, Phoenix, Mesa, Yuma, Tucson, Maricopa County, Casa Grande
Minnesota Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth
Louisiana New Orleans, Lafayette, Baton Rouge
Alabama Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Decatur
Colorado Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Fort Collins, Aurora, Greeley
Kentucky Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green
South CarolinaColumbia, Charleston, Greenville
Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Muskogee
Oregon Portland, Eugene, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Salem
Connecticut Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury, Stamford
Iowa Des Moines, Sioux City
Mississippi Jackson, Gulfport
Kansas Topeka, Wichita, Kansas City, Dodge City
Alberta Edmonton, Calgary
Arkansas Little Rock Texarkana
Utah Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Cedar City, Moab
Nevada Reno, Las Vegas, Henderson, Carson City
New Mexico Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Alamogordo
West Virginia Charleston, Clarksburg
Nebraska Omaha, Lincoln
Idaho Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls
Maine Portland, Kennebunk, Augusta
New Hampshire Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Berlin
HawaiiHonolulu, Oahu, Maui, Hilo, Kailua
Rhode Island Providence, Newport, Portsmouth, Warwick
British Columbia Victoria, Vancouver, Prince George
Montana Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, Missoula, Helena
Nova Scotia Halifax
Delaware Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown
South Dakota Rapid City, Pierre, Sioux Falls
Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's
North Dakota Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks
Alaska Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau
Manitoba Winnipeg
Vermont Burlington, Montpelier, Newport, Bennington
District of Columbia Washington DC
Wyoming Cheyenne, Jackson
New Brunswick Fredericton
Saskatchewan Regina
Prince Edward Island Charlottetown
Northwest Territories Yellowknife
Yukon Whitehorse
