How to Adopt a Horse in the United States | PetzLover
To adopt a horse in the United States, choose a reputable rescue or adoption program, complete its application and facility check, have the horse examined by your own vet, and sign an adoption contract before you take it home. The ASPCA says adoption fees are typically lower than prices on the open market, but an adopted horse costs the same to keep as any other.
Rescue horses include retired riding horses, off-track Thoroughbreds, owner surrenders, horses from cruelty cases and wild mustangs and burros. Many are sound riding horses with known histories; others are best as companions. A good rescue tells you which is which.
Key points
- Adopt through a group you can check: an ASPCA Right Horse partner, a sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) accredited group or the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
- Expect an application, references, a facility check and an adoption fee.
- Read the contract: many forbid breeding, resale for slaughter or passing the horse on without telling the rescue.
- Have your own vet examine the horse, and keep a new horse apart from your other horses for about two weeks.
- Avoid kill pen bail-outs with slaughter deadlines; the ASPCA warns these horses are often sick or contagious.
Where can you adopt a horse in the US?
| Source | What you will find | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Local equine rescue | Riding horses, companions, owner surrenders | Nonprofit status, visits allowed, vet records |
| ASPCA Right Horse partners | Horses placed by member rescues with matchmaking support | The partner's own contract and return policy |
| GFAS-accredited rescues and sanctuaries | Groups that applied voluntarily and passed a site visit | Current accreditation on the GFAS site |
| TAA-accredited aftercare groups | Retired racehorses, often being retrained | Current accreditation; the TAA inspects groups and rechecks them |
| BLM wild horse and burro program | Untrained or gentled mustangs and burros | Corral, fence and trailer rules; one year before title |
| Private owners | Horses offered with adoption terms | A written contract and the horse's records |
You can also browse horses for adoption by location, and save the search to get alerts about new listings. Message the poster through the listing to ask about the horse before you visit.
How do you check that a horse rescue is legitimate?
- Accreditation: GFAS accreditation is voluntary, so a good rescue may not have it, but accredited groups have passed a site visit against GFAS equine care standards.
- Nonprofit status: a rescue that says it is a 501(c)(3) charity should appear in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, and its public Form 990 filings show how it spends money.
- Openness: you should be able to visit, see the horses' living conditions and read medical and training records.
- Reputation: ask local vets, farriers and past adopters about their experience.
What is the horse adoption process, and how much does it cost?
- Fill in an application about your experience, facilities, budget and goals.
- Give references, often your vet and farrier.
- Pass a facility check: an in-person visit or photos and video of your fencing, shelter and turnout.
- Meet the horse, watch it handled and, for a riding horse, ask whether you can ride it.
- Book your own vet exam if the rescue allows it.
- Sign the contract, pay the fee and arrange transport with a current Coggins test and, if crossing state lines, a health certificate.
Fees vary by rescue and horse, and the ASPCA says they help fund care for other at-risk horses. Some rescues take a small deposit to hold a horse; MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, for example, has described a $100 deposit held while the adopter completes a vet check and paperwork. BLM adoption events list a base fee of $125, and some use competitive bidding.
Can you adopt a wild mustang or burro?
Yes, through the BLM's wild horse and burro program. The BLM requires adopters to be at least 18 with no record of animal abuse, and to have at least 400 square feet of corral space per animal with access to food, water and shelter. Corral fences must be 6 feet high for adult horses, 5 feet for yearlings and 4.5 feet for burros.
The BLM transfers title only after at least one year of good care, and until then you may not sell or transfer the animal. Many mustangs are untrained when adopted, so this suits people with experience or access to a trainer.
What should a horse adoption contract include?
The ASPCA's sample equine adoption agreement shows what many rescues ask adopters to accept:
- Ownership passes to you, and you pay all costs, including vet, farrier and dental care.
- You provide shelter, food, water, turnout, safe fencing and regular exercise.
- You will not abandon or breed the horse, or sell or transfer it for slaughter or breeding.
- The rescue may check in from time to time and always welcomes the horse back.
- You tell the rescue if you rehome the horse with a friend or relative.
- Return terms, such as credit toward another adoption if you return the horse within 30 days.
Some rescues keep ownership or limit resale for life, so read every clause and ask before you sign. If a private owner offers a horse for adoption, ask for the same kind of written agreement.
What happens in the first weeks after you adopt a horse?
- Keep the new horse apart from your other horses at first; the American Association of Equine Practitioners suggests a two-week quarantine for new horses.
- Book a vet check and farrier visit in the first weeks, and follow the rescue's feeding plan exactly, especially for a horse that was underweight.
- Introduce turnout companions gradually, over a fence first.
- Keep the routine simple and the work light until the horse settles.
- Stay in touch with the rescue and ask for help early if problems appear.
Plan your budget before you adopt. A 2023 survey of US owners reported by The Horse put basic yearly costs at about $8,600 for a backyard horse and $11,800 for a recreational horse. Compare this with buying in how to buy a horse, or see how to post a horse wanted ad if you are still searching.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a horse?
Adoption fees vary by rescue, horse and training, and the ASPCA says they are typically lower than open-market prices. BLM events list a base fee of $125 for wild horses and burros. Upkeep then costs the same as for any horse, often several thousand dollars a year.
Can I ride an adopted horse?
Many adoptable horses are sound for riding, and some rescues retrain horses before placing them. Others are only suitable as companions because of age or injury. The rescue should tell you which, and you can ask your vet to confirm.
Do I own a horse I adopt?
It depends on the contract. The ASPCA's sample agreement transfers ownership to the adopter, while some rescues keep ownership or limit resale. With the BLM, title passes only after at least one year of good care.
Can a beginner adopt a horse?
Yes, if the horse is matched to your experience. Tell the rescue honestly how much you ride, and ask for a calm, trained horse. Lessons and a trainer's help in the first months make a big difference.
Should I pay bail for a horse at a kill pen?
The ASPCA advises against it, because bail money supports the practice and these horses often arrive sick, injured or contagious. If you want to help a horse at risk, adopt from a reputable rescue or support one.
How do I list a horse for adoption myself?
Set clear adopter criteria, describe the horse honestly and use a written contract. See how to list a horse for adoption for a full checklist.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Horse for Adoption in the United StatesList a horse for adoption in the US by setting clear adopter criteria, disclosing health and training honestly, screening every home and signing a written contract with care terms and a return clause.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Horse in the United StatesBuy a horse in the US by matching it to your riding goals and experience, test-riding it more than once, booking your own vet's pre-purchase exam, and getting a negative Coggins test and a signed bill of sale.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell a Horse in the United StatesSell a horse in the US by getting its Coggins test, records and any brand inspection in order, pricing it against similar horses, writing an honest ad, screening buyers and taking payment that has fully cleared.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Horse Wanted" Ad in the United StatesRespond to a horse wanted ad in the US by checking your horse truly fits the request, replying with honest details and video, verifying the requester and handing over only after payment clears and papers are signed.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Horse Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesPost a horse wanted ad that gets useful replies by stating the job, your riding experience, height and age range, temperament, budget in dollars and how far you can travel, then vet every reply before you pay.