Finding a rescue mini - is this normal?

[zoon]

I am looking for a mini from a rescue centre and the couple that I’ve found (there don’t seem to be many little ones available) all state that the ponies must be kept on adopters own property where the adopter lives

I don’t have my horses on a livery yard, but I don’t live on site so have been instantly turned down

Is this normal?

 

[brighteyes]

They are extremely likely to be targets for theft.

 

[zoon]

They are extremely likely to be targets for theft.

There is someone living on site, just not me. I rent my place and the land owner lives on site

 

[meleeka]

I've not heard of that, but can see why it might be a new rule. Nobody mentioned it when I was looking a couple of years ago.

 

[94lunagem]

I haven’t heard of it either, but @brighteyes ’s comment makes complete sense.

 

[tda]

You can pick one up cheap from any auction, why do you want to adopt from a charity

 

[zoon]

You can pick one up cheap from any auction, why do you want to adopt from a charity

We have no auctions near us in Kent and anything for sale is £1500+, this seemed like the next option to explore

 

[darcip]

Keep an eye out on freeads ect, I found my 25yr year old Shetland stallion on there.

 

[Bellaboo18]

If you're looking for one as a companion, there's a Facebook group 'companion loan homes for semi retired retired injured elderly horses uk'.
I've found one and loaned one out from there x

 

[HopOnTrot]

We adopted a mini in 2018 and that wasn’t the case. Just safe fencing and company.

 

[smolmaus]

This wasn't a written down rule when I was working at a rescue, but it was basically an unwritten one. It was unusual for them to allow me to adopt a pony to keep on livery (blatant favouritism). BUT I'm not saying it's a good rule and it isn't universal either. The other local rescue is more flexible so you may just need to try another rescue.

As far as the logic goes, when I was doing home checks you get a much better idea of someone's husbandry and how the horse is likely to be kept if you look at their own property. If they're at someone else's property any assurances as to how the animal will be kept given by the adopter can be changed by the property owner. Any changes necessary for the pony (fences, grazing, stables etc) will be subject to land owners permission, on-going home checks will have to have permission of 2 parties, the land use might change etc. Usually there will be a person in the past, or multiple people, causing problems who will be the reason this is a strict rule. Theft never came into it in my experience, but I suppose it is possible.

 

[easteregg]

I keep my horses on a DIY livery yard and have had a mini on loan from Blue Cross since December 24. Over time, quite a number of people on the yard have adopted ponies and horses from various rescue organisations and there doesn't seem to have been any problem with this. The owner does live on site though and security is good.