Horses and Ponies waiting for new homes from the big charities

I've tried for the past 2 years to adopt/loan from a leading equine charity,filled in two separate forms on 2 separate occasions and heard nothing either time.We ended up loaning privately.It is a shame as we could have offered a lovely home.
 
^ I've had the same with the RSPCA, even just after an appeal saying they were desperate for homes. The WHW replied the next morning though.
 
I think the problem is that there are relatively few rideable, sensible ponies/horses available. Two of my liveries are mini-Shelties from a very well-known charity (their adopter adores them and they have a wonderful life here, thanks to her devotion) but to be honest they are no good to anyone. Both tagged as 'not to be ridden', both laminitis cases waiting to happen, both under 9 hands - and one of the charity's trustees who I know sayss they are completely overwhelmed with these types.

Many of us could/would take on a horse we could ride. But to take on an additional animal which will probably be, bar shoeing, just as expensive as a ridden horse, is a massive undertaking.

Until some legislation is put in place regarding indiscriminate breeding of equines (and canines) the problems will not only remain, but will proliferate. The number of willing adopters will not!
 
Tried in past but some only re home to local homes where as I would travel every 3yrs as OH in forces so not sure how that would go down shame as I could have offered a great future and home for one
 
We've recently adopted a standard shetland from WHW and it couldn't have been an easier process, they were helpful and friendly every step of the way and matched us up to the perfect pony.

She's broken to ride, has been thoroughly child-proofed by taking part in their pony parties and is generally a pretty, affectionate and inquisitive little soul. She's now a bombproof lead rein pony for a three year old and a companion for my big laminitic horse who needs strictly controlled grazing same as a shettie. She comes hacking with us. :)

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ETA: The centre she came from was 2.5 hours away so distance was no problem.
 
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Lots of charities will only loan locally so that many, many horses miss the chance of a loving home.

Perhaps more charities should get together and pool their resources, so that if a potential loaner outside their area is willing to home a horse, one of the other charities in the area could do the home checks on a reciprocal basis.
 
Anyone near Lincolnshire Bransby are great to rehome from, I went to talk to them (maybe the difference with just filling in an online form which I guess they get 100's of from 14 y/o dreamers), they came did a home visit then I went back to choose the one I wanted (companion only so easy).
I think the only difference with their ridden horses is you do a ridden assessment for them, then go back more than once to check you're compatable.
The also have loads more than on their web site (as I'm sure to the other big charities) so never just look on line and think they've got nothing for you. The nice ridden ones never make it as far as on line.
 
When I lost the big lad last year I wanted to find him a "friend" as long as he/she would be quiet in a field and be able to be on 5 acres of good grazing - the horse would be stabled at night in the winter, happy to take a TB on or one that just needed a home whilst growing.

Pony would be handled everyday, would be rugged, fly sprayed, broken, backed, or just loved.....

Got nowhere -
so gave up and brought a youngster
 
blackcob said:
We've recently adopted a standard shetland from WHW and it couldn't have been an easier process, they were helpful and friendly every step of the way and matched us up to the perfect pony.

She's broken to ride, has been thoroughly child-proofed by taking part in their pony parties and is generally a pretty, affectionate and inquisitive little soul. She's now a bombproof lead rein pony for a three year old and a companion for my big laminitic horse who needs strictly controlled grazing same as a shettie. She comes hacking with us. :)

525354_319558954839315_699483694_n.jpg


ETA: The centre she came from was 2.5 hours away so distance was no problem.
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I love this photo, adorable :D
 
From this thread it seems like the same problems exist with horses as with re homing dogs from the RSPCA.

Charities are far too fussy about the homes.

Why should people jump through hoops to rehome a charity case when they don't have to when they buy?

Might be that people are selfish, hard hearted, self indulgent ect. but that's what the charities need to take on board.
And even a six months loan will allow them to help other animals that are in more desperate need.

Nobody came and inspected where I was keeping the pony I bought, asked hundreds of questions ect. ect.

Perhaps the charities could get round this by asking for some type of bond? Repayable after a set period of time and the horse is being looked after properly?
Rather than the intrusiveness that people just won't put up with.
 
When I had my home check 2 nice ladies came out, there were here about 25 mins, looked at stables, fencing, other horses - certainly not 100's of questions and in no way intrusive.
I would be very wary of a 'charity' that didn't want to check where it's horses were going?

To buy a horse I would have had to spend much more time going to look at ones that weren't as described and being lied to by dodgy sellers than the time it took me to do two trips to the Bransby site and have them here for 25 mins!!

They come for maybe 20 mins every six months and usually have something to offer me when they come - last time it was free worm counts they'd been offered (I already do counts so didn;t take them up on the offer) - a very small price of time to pay for certainty that if anything ever happens my lovely pony can go back and be looked after well

Oh and I forgot they gave him a full vetting before he came on loan to me for free - and gave me a copy of the certificate.
 
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Aarrghimpossiblepony said:
From this thread it seems like the same problems exist with horses as with re homing dogs from the RSPCA.

Charities are far too fussy about the homes.

Why should people jump through hoops to rehome a charity case when they don't have to when they buy?

Might be that people are selfish, hard hearted, self indulgent ect. but that's what the charities need to take on board.
And even a six months loan will allow them to help other animals that are in more desperate need.

Nobody came and inspected where I was keeping the pony I bought, asked hundreds of questions ect. ect.

Perhaps the charities could get round this by asking for some type of bond? Repayable after a set period of time and the horse is being looked after properly?
Rather than the intrusiveness that people just won't put up with.
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What more could i have offered - the horse would have been on full livery, with me handling him or her to turn out in the morn and bring in at night - in the autum - in the summer they were out at night and in during the heat of the afternoon, in the winter they would be turned out or brought back in by the yard depending on the weather - they could have hay in the field - the farrier would be here every 5 weeks as the little tb needed care at this point - I offered my vets whom we had spent a small fortune with as a referance - i offered to have a 17 hh poor doer - whom would have a huge stable - I just needed a quiet field companion for my poor little lad whom had just lost his friend.

What more could i have offered ?
 
GW - you sound like an ideal loaner - did you ask them why they never got back to you?

Some are more silly with rules than others, I recall trying to get a kitten for my parents when their elderly cat had to be put down and being told they couldn't have one as they were both at work in the day time !!!! and yes I was clear cat not dog!
 
I have in the past had 2 ponies from WHW. I am nowhere near any of their farms but that was not a problem as they have field officers covering all areas and the one covering Shropshire used to pop in for his visits when he was passing by. I had no problems adopting (I only wanted a companion), had a fairly thorough home check but wouldn't expect any less. The FOs were very supportive, even offering to come and hold my old girl if I couldn't face it when we made the decision to pts. I know a couple of people who have had ridden horses from them and have gone on to do loads with them, after putting in a bit of work.
 
Polos Mum said:
GW - you sound like an ideal loaner - did you ask them why they never got back to you?

Some are more silly with rules than others, I recall trying to get a kitten for my parents when their elderly cat had to be put down and being told they couldn't have one as they were both at work in the day time !!!! and yes I was clear cat not dog!
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Nope I was full of grief, which was why i wanted to take on a needy horse as I was in no fit state to go buying - tbh all i wanted to do was get something that could keep the little lad happy and give me a 6 months to a year to sort my head out - i was looking for a companion for the winter too - which also struck me as a good deal for the charity.

I got nothing back at all except an e-mail to say could i contact x person - i e-mailed and phoned and got nothing so we ended up buying a youngster that my hubby liked
 
That is one naughty pony :eek: I'm a Bransby loaner and have found them really nice and helpful - they are strict on weight but as my girl was grossly obese when she came I have actually made great progress. I nearly had a Shettie the other month (they only do them in 2's but found a local riding school schoolmaster who wanted some fussing:)
 
I have an elderly companion pony and a ridden pony from SWHP - I would thoroughly recommend them to loan from.
 
If anyone has seen my recent thread regarding a charity pony they will understand my frustration. We live in Kent and just cant seem to find anywhere that would loan locally. I would welcome any suggestions as would prefer to do this .
 
maree t said:
If anyone has seen my recent thread regarding a charity pony they will understand my frustration. We live in Kent and just cant seem to find anywhere that would loan locally. I would welcome any suggestions as would prefer to do this .
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I have loaned through the Blue Cross, and I understood that through their team of Welfare Officers they loan through out the country, I think WHW do as well.

For anyone wanting a pleasure/competition horse to ride WHW posted the offer of a lovely looking 16.1 that needs an experienced on Friday on their Facebook page.

Have to say my experience of loaning through Blue Cross has been a good one, and I have the back up that I know the ponies will always go to approved homes, when they continue with their education when they are old enough.
 
I looked into taking on a horse from a charity that has already been mentioned on this thread that is quite local to me. I looked at what they wanted to know and didn't even bother taking it any further. On paper i would struggle to keep one horse but i had kept 2 horses for years, i keep them at home so have no livery costs. I lost my oldest horse and needed a horse quickly to keep the other one company as she was on her own. I went out and bought a lovely horse and have for the last year and a half been keeping 4 horses.
 
Also i think that the adoption fee of some of the horses that i have see o the internet is too much as you could go out and buy a horse for less these days.
 
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