Here at Zuma’s Rescue Ranch we take quite a bit of flack for our adoption requirements, it is our responsibility to place horses into forever homes with knowledgable owners that plan to provide a forever home. One of the most stressful events for a horse aside from abuse and neglect of course is to lose their family aka herd. Horses survive by living in herds and become very attached to those herd mates. So when we place a horse, we are looking for forever homes.
We expect that the horses living standards meet safety requirements for; shelter, fencing, nutrition, hoof care,chiropractic evaluations, parasite control, end of life plans, end of owners life plans, and training programs. We also remain on the horses ownership papers with first right of refusal to protect them for the rest of their lives. This lifetime commitment is a huge responsibility to have for every horse we adopt out. Without these measures in place horses can become ill, injured, or abandoned to, best case rescue again and worse case auction.
Limited space and funds at the rescue make enforcing these protocols difficult and sometimes horses fall through the cracks… Recently we were asked to take in three horses that had been in a placement for three years. Three more mouths to feed and provide care for in an instant is a hardship on an already full operation. Learning that the horses are still untrained compounds the level of difficulty in taking the horses in. We will now have to hire a trainer to evaluate the horses, and get them going under saddle before they can be adopted. We no longer adopt out horses that are untrained, this situation is why. If you adopt a horse it is your responsibility to provide the required training, this is now a requirement in our adoption contract.
So for those that take issue with horse rescues placing strict requirements in their adoption contracts, know that these protocols are all about keeping the horses safe. If the protocols don’t meet your needs, adopt elsewhere rather than passing judgement and criticism.
The three horses that were in a placement for three years and not trained will be arriving at Zuma’s 2/28/2018. We will need to have assesments performed and both will will need to be trained. If you are a skilled colt starter and have time to donate to assist us with these horses, please contact Hilary at Zuma’s Rescue Ranch westernlessons@zumasrescueranch.com.
Thanks for being part of the soulution for our once homeless herd of horses here at Zuma’s Rescue Ranch. If you would like to sponsor the training for one of these horses please visit our donation page https://www.zumasrescueranch.com/general-donations
Zuma's Rescue Ranch 