There are horses across the country in need of loving homes. In 2019, Horse Illustrated and partner organizations will be helping bring together horses and humans through our horse adoption drive.
Horse Illustrated Adoption Drive
Thoroughbred Thursday
If you’ve been considering adopting an off-track Thoroughbred, maybe one of these featured adoptable horses from New Vocations will give you the final inspiration you need to make it happen. These OTTBs include show and sport prospects as well as future pleasure riding and trail partners. Plus, New Vocations is running a Summer Special through the month of June: half off adoption fees through June 30!
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: The Versatile Saddlebred
The American Saddlebred stands out among all horse breeds that originated in the United States. While Saddlebreds are most often associated with the high-stepping show horses in saddle seat classes, their athleticism translates well to the sport disciplines, and their people-oriented personalities make many of them great companion and pleasure riding horses. This week, we’re featuring two horses offered for adoption through the American Saddlebred Legacy Foundation and Horse Illustrated adoption drive. One of these eye-catching sweethearts could be yours!
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: Let’s Do Some Dressage
Are you working toward goals in competitive dressage? Or do you enjoy the sport as part of a well-rounded riding routine? Either way, this week we’ve compiled some listings from MyRightHorse.org of horses who have a potential future and/or past experience in dressage. One of them could be your new best friend.
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Companion Horses are #WaitingForYou
When horses are no longer able to carry people, they need people to carry them. That’s the message behind Days End Farm Horse Rescue’s heart wrenching Letters from H video and campaign.
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: Two more OTTBs to Love
This week, we have a couple of wonderful off-track Thoroughbreds from New Vocations Medina, Ohio, facility who are seeking their next adventures. One is a former steeplechaser who could transition his training to the eventing world. The other is a kind-hearted soul seeking a pleasure or trail-riding home.
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: Let’s Go to a Horse Show!
Adoptable horses come in all breeds, types, and with a wide variety of experience levels. If you’re looking for a competitive partner to join you on your equestrian journey, maybe one of this week’s featured horses from MyRightHorse.org is the horse for you.
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Take Home an Oldie!
In the market for a new horse? Consider the seniors.
Older horses can bring experience and confidence to young or timid riders. They can be a calming presence for rambunctious younger horses in the herd. They can stand for pony games during summer camp or be a faithful pasture pet.
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: Off the Track and Into Your Barn
This week, we’ve got five retired racehorses: four Thoroughbreds and on Standardbred. They’re located at New Vocations’ facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Is one of them the horse of your dreams?
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: Pony Power
Think you can keep up with a pony personality at your barn? See if one of these adoptable under-14-hand equines from MyRightHorse.org is the pony of your dreams.
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Adoptable Thoroughbred Roundup
Most Thoroughbreds will never make it to the Kentucky Derby, but one of these OTTBs is sure to find a special place in your heart.
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Take-Me-Home Tuesday: Your Next Trail Partner
Meet Sky and Jane, two mares seeking homes where they can take on trails and more!
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Horse Adoption Resources
Homes for More Horses
When she arrived at the Heart of Phoenix (HOP) rescue in West Virginia, Sansa was starving and nearly too weak to stand. The attending veterinarian advised rescuer Tinia Creamer that even with extensive rehabilitation the filly would never be sound and recommended that she be humanely euthanized. But Creamer disagreed.
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Caring for Horses Through Tough Times
No matter how well they are cared for, many of the horses in backyard pastures or boarding barns will eventually need to be rehomed. This can happen when the animal’s owner becomes challenged by changing finances, illness, age or even death. Still, many owners fail to plan for a time when they cannot keep their horses for any reason.
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Basic Training for Your Horse’s Future
Young horses especially must learn basic skills to establish a foundation for future training and to make them safe for their owners and trainers to handle. Initially the tasks are simple: haltering, leading, and standing for grooming, bathing and routine veterinary and farrier procedures. But they are crucial to the horse’s healthy future.
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The Volunteer Spirit
Several times each month, Mary Lou Spellmeyer travels the hour to Longmeadow Rescue Ranch in time to bring horses in from their nighttime turnout and begin the morning feeding ritual.
“I have to start out pretty early to be there by 7:30 a.m.,” she says. “But it’s worth it—you do whatever you have to do to help the animals.”
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Back to School for Horses in Need
CSU’s Right Horse program began as a pilot program offered to equine science students as an independent study course. From October 2017 through May 2018, students involved in the pilot worked with six horses that came to CSU from the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center in Franktown, Colo.
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The Best Therapy
Bud Kamrud has been challenged by muscular dystrophy (MS) all of his adult life. But once a week he is free of the disease’s limitations thanks to a therapy horse named Claude and the staff at the Colorado State University (CSU) Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) Program.
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Success Stories
Just a Fluke
I wanted to share a story with you. It starts with two horses, skinny and scared, huddled together in a holding pen at an auction in the Northeast. This particular pen at the auction was the pen where horses are sold based on their weight and are then likely shipped to be processed to meat. There are some kind folks who frequent the pen to look for opportunities for live outcomes for the horses within.
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