08/11/2025
There have been several posts by different individuals referencing horse rescues. Some discuss their efforts in “rescuing”. Some discuss rescues as scammers. Some complaining about adoption fees that rescues ask for.
Of course this is just a tid bit of my opinion and experience in the rescue circle.
1. There are well intended people out there that take on a “rescue” to get them out of a bad situation. What I find oftentimes more than not is they themselves have NO business taking on such an effort. Many have zero experience or knowledge of horses dietary needs.
2. There are several rescues across the country taking in hundreds of thousands of donor dollars. Meanwhile donors have no idea about the back handed horse trading going on. I have first hand experience having to take in horses that certain rescues mass bailed and left abandoned on the lot. So yes if you’re going to donate to a rescue…. donate to one you consistently see results from. As in: off the lot pics, freedom ride pics, update photos, and getting adopted photos.
3. Adoption fees unfortunately are a must for multiple reasons.
A. If you don’t have money to adopt, how in the world are you going to afford to maintain the horse
B. Adoption fees help with the expenses that animal may have incurred while at the rescue
C. There is not a steady flow of donations and rescues have to look at every avenue possible to put funds back in to the rescue to continue giving the best care possible for these precious animals.
I myself in the past three weeks spent:
Hoof care: $360 No donation
Dental: $760 No donation
Hay: $650 No donation
Grain: $345 Coupons donated $100 value
Training bill: $1300 No donation
Veterinarian: $1609 No donations
So YES I will ask for an adoption fee!!!