Horses and ponies rehoming and adoption

Thinking of owning a rescued horse?

Horses must be handled, educated and socialised before they can be rehomed. And their handling and their education must continue in their new home.

Things to consider

Owning a horse or pony is a huge commitment:

• A horse may live to be 25-30 years old, and they have been known to live far longer, even up to 40 years old. 
• You will need to attend your horse at least twice a day, rain of shine, throughout its lifetime.

Horse ownership can be expensive. Your horse will need:

• A suitable environment to live – such as a livery yard.
• Regular visits from a farrier to keep hooves in tip-top condition.
• Veterinary check ups and care.
• A variety of tack which may include rugs, headgear, saddles and more.
• Over their life they will also need vaccinations, worming, insurance, dentists, saddle fittings, feed, bedding, grazing and plans for retirment and death.

The total cost of keeping a horse could amount to over £70,000.

You can get more expert advice on how to keep horses and ponies healthy and happy in our horses pages.

Looking for your first horse?

A lot of our horses will not be suitable for first time horse owners.

If you have no experience of horse care, why not try to do some basic qualifications in stable management? Be sure to combine this with practical experience as well.

The British Horse Society runs Horse Owner Certificate courses which are in-depth and comprehensive. There may also be training courses you can attend locally, usually organised by local riding schools.

If you are under 18 years of age, an adult must adopt on your behalf and they need to prove their commitment to horse ownership too.

If you are looking for a riding horse, bear in mind that your riding skills will be assessed as part of our rehoming process.