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Equine charities receive a large number of calls every month from horse owners seeking
alternative homes for their animals. There are over one million horses and donkeys in the USA
and the charitable sector has limited space available and must prioritize welfare and rescue cases.
Welfare organizations simply do not have the resources to take in all the horses whose owners
can no longer afford to care for them.
BITS has adapted this sheet with the intention of helping owners in difficult circumstances. This
sheet aims to help owners plan for the future and reduce costs without compromising their horse’
s welfare. The accompanying documents, “Can you afford a horse?”, “Cutting Costs without
Compromising Health’, and “Tips if you must take your horse to Auction”, outline the main
options available if you find that having a horse is an expense you can definitely no longer afford.
(The term horse is used to cover all domestic equine species, including horses, ponies, donkeys,
hinnies and mules).
alternative homes for their animals. There are over one million horses and donkeys in the USA
and the charitable sector has limited space available and must prioritize welfare and rescue cases.
Welfare organizations simply do not have the resources to take in all the horses whose owners
can no longer afford to care for them.
BITS has adapted this sheet with the intention of helping owners in difficult circumstances. This
sheet aims to help owners plan for the future and reduce costs without compromising their horse’
s welfare. The accompanying documents, “Can you afford a horse?”, “Cutting Costs without
Compromising Health’, and “Tips if you must take your horse to Auction”, outline the main
options available if you find that having a horse is an expense you can definitely no longer afford.
(The term horse is used to cover all domestic equine species, including horses, ponies, donkeys,
hinnies and mules).
| Tips for safely Re-homing your Horse |
Thinking about Re-homing
If you are starting to struggle financially and have exhausted cost cutting possibilities, the sooner you look into the re-
homing options the better the chances of securing a positive outcome for you and your horse. If possible and
appropriate, keep your horse in work so that potential owners/keepers can see his fitness level and working potential.
Selling
If your horse is fit and healthy, this may be the most straightforward option. There are many responsible people
looking to buy a horse, but it is essential to be honest about your horse’s health, temperament and needs in order to get
the best home. Once you have sold your horse you will have no control over what happens to it in the future. Most
people are looking to take on a straightforward healthy horse. Owners of elderly horses or those with severe behavioral
problems or a recurrent health or lameness problem should think very carefully before selling their horse as these
animals may be at an increased risk of receiving sub-standard care or being passed on. In these cases, veterinary
advice should be sought.
Always word adverts carefully; avoid using phrases such as ‘reduced for quick sale’ or ‘free to a good home’ even if you
are not concerned about financial recompense, as this is unlikely to attract genuine buyers.
In order to secure a good home for your horse, it is advisable to:
• Make sure the person visits your horse in his current home and rides him a few times (if applicable)
to ensure they are compatible and that the rider can handle the horse. Discuss the personality and
needs of your horse
• Try to find out as much as possible about their level of horse knowledge and previous experience
• Ask for references, perhaps from their veterinary surgeon, farrier or stable manager. Follow up
the references with a phone call!
• Visit the home beforehand and check its suitability.
Leasing Prior to Transferring Ownership
Many people find it useful to arrange a trial period of loan before agreeing to sign over ownership of the horse. This
provides a period where both parties can assess whether the decision is right for everyone involved. It is advisable to
have a signed contract for the trial period.
Leasing
This can work well if it is carefully arranged. It is important to remember that although another person will be caring
for your horse, as the owner, you retain a legal responsibility for the welfare of your horse. There are inevitably risks
involved in asking another person to take on the time and expense of caring for your horse, but those risks can be
reduced with careful planning at the outset. In addition to the practical re-homing steps advised under the selling
section above, it is also advisable to;
• Look for a local home, as it will be easier to keep in touch with your horse and the borrower.
• Always put a written loan agreement in place to define exactly what is expected of each party,
including regular visits, but understand that a borrower will have their own routine and ways of
doing things. The agreement should be signed by both parties and a copy kept by each.
• Ensure you have a contingency plan should the loan home wish to return your horse. This could
happen at any time and you must be prepared to take your horse back or secure another home.
If this is not possible, you may need to arrange and pay for the horse to be put down.
Companion Homes
In some cases it may be possible to find a suitable home for a non-ridden horse as a companion. But fewer people are
willing to take on the expense of a horse they cannot ride. People who are looking for a companion generally seek a
horse that is straightforward and requires minimal management and expense. You also need to consider whether this is
the right thing for your horse. Older horses may find a new home unsettling and stressful and this may not be the
kindest option for them. The general tips for loaning outlined above should still be applied.
Commercial Retirement Homes
These are generally full retirement stables, which cater specifically for elderly or retired horses. It can be an expensive
option depending upon how the horses are managed. Make sure you research and visit any establishment before
placing your horse in their care. It is advisable to have a formal agreement signed by both parties that outlines how the
arrangement will work.
Equine Charities
Most charities are unable to take horses from private owners due to the high number of rescue and neglect cases. Each
charity has its own criteria for accepting horses and most would expect you to sign ownership over to the organization.
These charities have very few spaces but are more than happy to discuss the options available to you in more detail. If
you are fortunate enough to be offered a place with an equine charity, it is important to research and visit the
organization that has made the offer before accepting. Find out whether the organization is a registered
charity, or is a member of the National Equine Welfare Council and ask to visit and be shown around.
Euthanasia
For some owners, re-homing is not a responsible or realistic option for their horse. In these cases, having the horse put
down may be the kindest thing to do if you can no longer meet his needs yourself. Many people may feel guilty even
considering this option. However, it is one of the most responsible decisions an owner can make when they cannot
safeguard their animal’s future welfare by any other means, and it is certainly not the worst possible outcome for the
horse. It is always better to have a horse put down in familiar soundings rather than to re-home unwisely. Speaking to
your veterinary surgeon may help with this decision. It is your duty as the owner to look carefully into all available re-
homing options should you become unable to care for your horse yourself. Every owner, by accepting and dealing with
re-homing responsibly, can make a real difference to the overall standards of welfare. This may reduce the cycle of
neglect seen regularly by equine welfare charities.
If you are starting to struggle financially and have exhausted cost cutting possibilities, the sooner you look into the re-
homing options the better the chances of securing a positive outcome for you and your horse. If possible and
appropriate, keep your horse in work so that potential owners/keepers can see his fitness level and working potential.
Selling
If your horse is fit and healthy, this may be the most straightforward option. There are many responsible people
looking to buy a horse, but it is essential to be honest about your horse’s health, temperament and needs in order to get
the best home. Once you have sold your horse you will have no control over what happens to it in the future. Most
people are looking to take on a straightforward healthy horse. Owners of elderly horses or those with severe behavioral
problems or a recurrent health or lameness problem should think very carefully before selling their horse as these
animals may be at an increased risk of receiving sub-standard care or being passed on. In these cases, veterinary
advice should be sought.
Always word adverts carefully; avoid using phrases such as ‘reduced for quick sale’ or ‘free to a good home’ even if you
are not concerned about financial recompense, as this is unlikely to attract genuine buyers.
In order to secure a good home for your horse, it is advisable to:
• Make sure the person visits your horse in his current home and rides him a few times (if applicable)
to ensure they are compatible and that the rider can handle the horse. Discuss the personality and
needs of your horse
• Try to find out as much as possible about their level of horse knowledge and previous experience
• Ask for references, perhaps from their veterinary surgeon, farrier or stable manager. Follow up
the references with a phone call!
• Visit the home beforehand and check its suitability.
Leasing Prior to Transferring Ownership
Many people find it useful to arrange a trial period of loan before agreeing to sign over ownership of the horse. This
provides a period where both parties can assess whether the decision is right for everyone involved. It is advisable to
have a signed contract for the trial period.
Leasing
This can work well if it is carefully arranged. It is important to remember that although another person will be caring
for your horse, as the owner, you retain a legal responsibility for the welfare of your horse. There are inevitably risks
involved in asking another person to take on the time and expense of caring for your horse, but those risks can be
reduced with careful planning at the outset. In addition to the practical re-homing steps advised under the selling
section above, it is also advisable to;
• Look for a local home, as it will be easier to keep in touch with your horse and the borrower.
• Always put a written loan agreement in place to define exactly what is expected of each party,
including regular visits, but understand that a borrower will have their own routine and ways of
doing things. The agreement should be signed by both parties and a copy kept by each.
• Ensure you have a contingency plan should the loan home wish to return your horse. This could
happen at any time and you must be prepared to take your horse back or secure another home.
If this is not possible, you may need to arrange and pay for the horse to be put down.
Companion Homes
In some cases it may be possible to find a suitable home for a non-ridden horse as a companion. But fewer people are
willing to take on the expense of a horse they cannot ride. People who are looking for a companion generally seek a
horse that is straightforward and requires minimal management and expense. You also need to consider whether this is
the right thing for your horse. Older horses may find a new home unsettling and stressful and this may not be the
kindest option for them. The general tips for loaning outlined above should still be applied.
Commercial Retirement Homes
These are generally full retirement stables, which cater specifically for elderly or retired horses. It can be an expensive
option depending upon how the horses are managed. Make sure you research and visit any establishment before
placing your horse in their care. It is advisable to have a formal agreement signed by both parties that outlines how the
arrangement will work.
Equine Charities
Most charities are unable to take horses from private owners due to the high number of rescue and neglect cases. Each
charity has its own criteria for accepting horses and most would expect you to sign ownership over to the organization.
These charities have very few spaces but are more than happy to discuss the options available to you in more detail. If
you are fortunate enough to be offered a place with an equine charity, it is important to research and visit the
organization that has made the offer before accepting. Find out whether the organization is a registered
charity, or is a member of the National Equine Welfare Council and ask to visit and be shown around.
Euthanasia
For some owners, re-homing is not a responsible or realistic option for their horse. In these cases, having the horse put
down may be the kindest thing to do if you can no longer meet his needs yourself. Many people may feel guilty even
considering this option. However, it is one of the most responsible decisions an owner can make when they cannot
safeguard their animal’s future welfare by any other means, and it is certainly not the worst possible outcome for the
horse. It is always better to have a horse put down in familiar soundings rather than to re-home unwisely. Speaking to
your veterinary surgeon may help with this decision. It is your duty as the owner to look carefully into all available re-
homing options should you become unable to care for your horse yourself. Every owner, by accepting and dealing with
re-homing responsibly, can make a real difference to the overall standards of welfare. This may reduce the cycle of
neglect seen regularly by equine welfare charities.
