Horse Adoption Process

The horses we offer for adoption have often unfortunately experienced a difficult past of abuse and neglect. During their stay at the shelter, these horses must receive various rehabilitation and retraining care. They become available for adoption only when they have physically and/or psychologically recovered. Depending on the horse’s condition upon arrival at the shelter, this recovery can take from a few weeks to a year. Furthermore, this period allows us to learn more about the horse by discovering its personality, temperament, and training level.

Since our goal is to find people who will commit to caring for their new companion for life, we carefully select each potential adopter. Each step of the adoption process is designed to help us find the best match in terms of temperament, training, and individual needs of the horse with the goals, experience, and abilities of the potential adopter.

We often receive multiple applications for the horses we advertise. While our adoption horses are not offered on a first-come, first-served basis, they are offered to the first potential adopter who will provide them with a suitable new home according to the terms and conditions of the adoption contract. It is therefore important to submit your application promptly when you are interested in a horse offered for adoption.

Step 1 – Application 

We post the horses available for adoption on our website as well as on our Facebook page. If a horse listed appears to meet your search criteria, you can contact us by email or through Facebook Messenger from our page to express your interest.

Step 2 – Questionnaire

We will send you a questionnaire that will help us identify your needs, goals, and level of experience. We will also ask you about where the horse will reside, who will take care of him, etc. Based on your answers, we can determine if the horse offered for adoption would be a good candidate considering his personality, temperament, and level of training.

Step 3 – Potential Contract

We will provide you with the adoption contract so that you can familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions and indicate your agreement with it in the event of an adoption. Your signature on the contract is not required at this stage.

The purpose of the adoption contract is to establish and agree on the future care that will be provided to the horse by the adopter. The contract includes clauses of non-resale, non-slaughter, as well as clauses concerning animal welfare, such as the commitment to treat the equine as a living and sentient being, to provide them with fresh food and water, shelter, and an adequate environment, all in compliance with the B-3.1 law on animal welfare and safety (http://legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/ShowDoc/cs/B-3.1).

Step 4 – Visit to the rescue

The long-awaited moment has arrived. This is when we will authorise your visit to the rescue to come and meet the horse. During this visit, you can spend as much time as you want with the animal so that you can get to know each other. You can also try things with him, such as riding, lunging, grooming, and cuddling. This visit will take place without any pressure, and you can enjoy your time with him as you wish.

Step 5 – Decision

We want the best match for you and the horse. That’s why we want you to take your time to make a thoughtful decision. After your visit to the shelter, you will have up to 24 hours to inform us of your decision to adopt the horse or not. We also take this same period to decide if we believe the adoption process should continue from our side.

Step 6 – Contract signing

Now is the time for the contract that you previously reviewed to be signed by both parties and for the adoption fee (if applicable) to be paid. A 7-day period is granted to plan for the transportation of the animal. Any days exceeding this period will be charged at a rate of $20 per day.

The adoption fees requested for our horses only partially cover the care provided by the organisation. These adoption fees never fully cover the veterinary costs, treatments, medications, farrier care, forage, and other daily care that the horses require during their stay at the refuge.

Step 7 – Transport

The final step before welcoming your new lifelong companion. For the transportation of the horse to its new home, you can either use our transportation service or transport the horse yourself.