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Where Horses get to be Horses
 
 

Adoption

While adoption is not our focus, select horses may be available to adopt, under a strictly enforced contract, to approved homes.

 
 
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A common question is “Who is available for adoption?”

The better question is “Are you ready to fall in love?”

At Rosemary Farm, everything starts with the horse, what they want, what they need. If that aligns with what a special person or family might be seeking and have to offer, we will consider adoption. This means only a small number of our equines are available for adoption at any point in time! For those who are, whether you desire a riding partner, a groundwork friend, or a companion for another equine, our match-making process strives to ensure a mutually satisfying relationship that will stand the test of time. Horses can live for more than 30 years and, as with all living beings, there will be constant, organic change, for both of you!

We believe our equines deserve to find love....love in action....for a lifetime....via care, time spent together, emotional, mental and physical needs met. So, who is ready to fall in love?

Scroll down to learn more about what is involved in adopting from Rosemary Farm.

Adoption Steps

1

Review our Terms of Adoption.

Please review our Terms of Adoption below to ensure you understand the conditions of ownership, and your obligations to the adopted horse and to Rosemary Farm.

2

There are many opinions about how to keep a horse. Please review our Facilities Requirements below to ensure your home or boarding barn meets the needs we feel are important.

3

Explore and Inquire!

Use the website to explore the horses that are available for adoption, or in transition, and may be a fit. Fill out our Adoption Inquiry Form to give us an idea of who you are and what you have to offer an adopted equine. We’ll review and follow-up about possible matches for you. If we don’t believe we have a possible match, we will tell you.

4

Visit the Farm.

If there is a potential match, we will schedule an appointment for you to come to Rosemary Farm and meet horse(s). This interaction is an opportunity to observe and assess the compatibility of both horse and human. We encourage potential adopters to take their time here, and multiple meetings are expected – we typically recommend that a potential adopter completes three visits before moving forward. NO equine may be adopted without at least one in person visit.

5

Complete the Application
& Get Approved.

If your first visit results in a likely candidate that you are interested in adopting, you will be asked to complete and submit our Adoption Application and pay the non-refundable $50 Application Fee. Once received, Rosemary Farm will conduct background and reference checks, and a site visit will be scheduled to the facility where the adopted equine will live.

6

The Foster Period.

Rosemary Farm equines start their transition to adoption under a Foster-to-Adopt agreement that allows all parties the time to ensure the fit is solid. Depending on your prior ownership experience, this lasts from 3 to 12 months and includes check-ins with our team. 40% of the Adoption Fee is due at the start of the Foster Period.

7

Make it Official!

Upon successful completion of the Foster Period, the Adoption Agreement is signed and the remaining 60% of the Adoption Fee is paid. At this point, ownership of the equine is transferred to the Adopter. Annual check-ins with our team will continue for the life of the equine. If at any point after the adoption is complete you are unable to care for the adopted equine, our legally binding contract guarantees their safe return to Rosemary Farm, no questions asked.

 
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Additional Things to Consider

  • Adoption is not our focus or our mission. When it is right for the horse, we will consider adoption under a strict contract to a forever family that can offer an environment that suits the needs of the horse.

  • We are committed to finding forever, loving homes for horses we adopt out. We stand behind our horses and our word, but cannot foresee all future circumstances.

  • We expect adoptive families to have weighed the decision to adopt seriously, with the awareness that horses may live into their 30’s, and will need appropriate lifetime care.

  • We expect adoptive families to be aware of the unforseen expenses potential with horse ownership, and to be committed to the horse of their choice.

  • We represent our horses as accurately as possible, based on our experience with them, but in our environment, we are sometimes able to handle a behavior that an adopter may not. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the adopter to gauge if the horse is appropriate for their ability, experience and home environment.

  • When an adoptive family runs into a challenge with their new horse, we expect they will pursue any and all options to continue to provide the horse with a good home, including training for the horse, or themselves, to overcome the problem. We are available for support.

  • If the adoptive family does encounter a situation where they feel they can no longer provide the proper home for their adopted horse, we will work together to find a solution for all involved, most of all, the horse!

  • Adoption Fees are non-negotiable. We assure you we have invested far more than the fee we ask in the rehabilitation and training of your adopted horse, and your funds facilitate the rescue and rehabilitation of future horses.

  • Adoption Fees are non-refundable, even in the event the horse is returned to Rosemary Farm.

 
 
 
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