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Search & Adopt Saddlebred Horses

  • Find photos of Saddlebred horses for adoption near you. Read profiles of Saddlebred horse personalities.
  • Help stop overbreeding, give a healthy Saddlebred horse a home. Why buy a Saddlebred horse for sale when you can adopt!
  • Use Search Saver. We will e-mail you when we find a Saddlebred horse in your area for adoption.

What You Need to Know About Saddlebred Horse Adoption

By Adopt-a-Pet.com

Where Do Adoptable Saddlebred horses Come From?
Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred 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. Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horse its entire life. Saddlebred 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. Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horse on your own property. Horses are also grazing animals that naturally will walk on average 20 miles a day. Confining a Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horse with confidence, and consider how your lifestyle may change when owning a Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horses may need less exercise than younger ones, but they still require daily cleaning, feeding, and love! If you are boarding a Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horse?

Sure. Volunteering at a local horse rescue is a great idea to help familiarize yourself with Saddlebred horses without enduring the financial and time commitment of ownership. Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horse care, while satisfying your desire to enjoy time with Saddlebred 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!

Saddlebred 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 Saddlebred horse breeders, and Saddlebred horses for sale at large costs are no different or better than a Saddlebred horse for adoption at rescues. With care almost any horse has the potential to become an enriching companion. Please don’t buy a Saddlebred 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.

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