Rehoming Your Horse
We wish all horses enjoyed the stability of the same owner for life but we know that is not reality. Life happens and there can be a variety of reasons why you might feel you need to re-home your horse.
If you are considering re-homing your horse, make sure you have a good reason. You should not give your horse away for free or list it for sale within the slaughter price range. If you're considering re-homing your horse, you should only do so if your horse is healthy and well-behaved. Your veterinarian can help determine if there's an underlying health issue that may be causing your horse pain or discomfort. If there is and it cannot be remedied, it may be time to consider humane euthanasia. It's not an easy decision but it's the responsible thing to do for your horse's well-being. If you cannot keep your horse it's important to remember that you are still responsible for its well-being. Giving away a horse because of its medical or behavioral conditions is not the responsible thing to do. You have a connection and a relationship with your horse, so it's up to you to ensure that it is taken care of properly. If you cannot keep your horse, consider humane euthanasia as a responsible option. You are the best person for your horse and it's up to you to ensure that it is taken care of properly. It is not a failure or a betrayal of your horse to choose humane euthanasia if you are not able to care for it or find a suitable new home.
​Horse rescue organizations are often at capacity and unable to take your horse in an urgent situation so it is important to plan ahead. Give yourself and the organization time to make arrangements. Many responsible rescues will help you find a new suitable home through their own network, bypassing the need to send your horse to their facility. Contact any horse rescue organization in your area to discuss your options.
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If a horse rescue is able to take your horse, always consider paying them a surrender fee or making a donation sufficient to cover at least the first 30 days of care for your horse. Almost all horse rescue organizations are volunteer run, rely solely on donations and have a lot of expenses. If you can't afford a surrender fee, please let them know about anything you might be able to donate to help offset the cost of taking in your horse, or ask them about their waiting list for hardship cases. Remember, they are helping you in your time of need and contributing to the care of your horse is a great way to show your appreciation.
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Here is a list of reputable horse rescue organizations across Canada. It is by no means comprehensive so if you know of an organization you would like to see added to this list please let us know.
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