Rescue Horse
General Questions
Are rescue horses healthy?
Horses come to rescues for many reasons. Some may have health or lameness issues, which the rescue would clearly explain. Others are healthy, of all ages, and ready for a riding partner.
Are rescue horses trained to ride?
Many rescue horses were trained for trails, dressage, etc. before arriving. Some work with trainers while at the rescue, and some come without any known riding history. Rescue staff want a safe and successful adoption, so they will be honest about their horses.
How can I be sure about picking the right horse for my skill level?
Rescues know the importance of training and of matching riding ability with horses. Be honest and ask for guidance in choosing the right horse for your skill level. In some cases, a horse may need a “tune up” with a trainer. Ask the rescue about options for that. If you feel unqualified to assess the appropriateness of a horse for you, bring an experienced mentor or friend.
What if my horse adoption doesn’t work out?
Most rescues have adoption contracts that specify if an adoption doesn’t work out, they will take the horse back. Ask the staff what provisions they have. Rescues don’t want unsuccessful adoptions that can lead to passing the horse into the wrong hands.
What does it cost to adopt a horse in Oregon?
Prices vary from next to nothing to $1000. It depends on the horse’s training, age, health, etc. The adoption fee is almost always significantly less than purchasing from private parties.
Isn’t it safer to buy from a private party through Craigslist or other want ads?
Rescues exist to match horses to good homes, so they are honest about each horse with potential adopters. Sometimes private parties are less than honest about a horse’s age, health, or fears because they want to make the sale.
Do county sheriff departments adopt out horses?
Sometimes. If there is no horse rescue in an area, sheriff departments may be the appropriate contact to check with about horse adoption.
About Mustangs in Oregon
What is a mustang?
The mustang is a free-roaming horse of the Western United States, descended from horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. These horses bred with other types of horses, including quarter horses and draft horses, to create the breed we know today. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but because they are descended from once-domesticated horses, they are actually feral horses.
According to Nancy Kerson, a BLM Wild Horse and Burro volunteer, “Mustangs are incredibly intelligent… They have a depth, a complexity, as well as what, for lack of a better word, I will call ‘wisdom’ than other horses.”
Kerson believes mustangs that have spent time on the open range in a functioning herd make especially good trail horses. “Until being captured, their everyday life was an endurance ride and a trail ride, averaging 18 or more miles per day,” she points out. “They know where their feet are. And they don’t want to get hurt. Their surefootedness and their ability to make sense of the movements, sights, sounds, and scents along the trail rival that of the best mules, in my experience.”

Another advantage of wild mustangs, Kerson points out, is that they’re used to living by their wits and their ability to read other animals’ intentions. As a result, they’re absolute masters of reading people. “Mustangs are capable of bonding very deeply to their human, just as in the wild they bonded to their herdmates,” says Kerson. “Once they trust you and bond with you, it goes very deep.”
Source: Equisearch
How many mustangs are waiting for adoption in Oregon?
On average the Burns BLM Corrals keeps around 700 horses. That doesn’t mean they are all available for adoption. Some are being held while their range recovers from wildfire, for example, or have not yet been processed for adoption for a variety of reasons. Other “wild” options are to contact reputable wild horse trainers, since they are likely to have horses which are partially or fully trained and are from BLM/Forest Service lands as well as from Tribal herds.
Are the mustangs in holding ridable?
The majority of horses in the BLM corrals are untouched. On occasion, a horse will be returned to BLM by the adopter or trainer, but it’s even less likely that under these circumstances the horse would be suitable for a first-time adopter expecting a riding horse. Some great alternatives are sanctioned training programs; Mustang Makeover-type events, the Beaty Butte Training Center program, and again, from trainers who specialize in creating adoptable horses. The Trainer Incentive Program (TIP) is designed to compensate trainers for gentling a horse, while the adopter pays only the $125 adoption fee, but these horses are not started under saddle.
What skills are needed to adopt a wild mustang?
Some wild horses require little more than kindness and common sense, but adopters would be wise to have a basis in horse handling and should have observed good wild horse trainers at work at clinics or events. The TIP program will take the wild edge off the horse, though the horse needs to be fully mature and generally of a less-desirable solid coloration to qualify for the program. Young horses are almost always easier for the first-time adopter. There are also facility qualifications, which can be found on the BLM website and are variable according to region.
What do adopters say about mustangs?
Adopters almost universally will never go back to “domestic” horses after having a relationship with a mustang.
Are mustangs degrading the environment from overpopulation?
The “range degradation” controversy is heavily tainted by false information and by unnatural conditions on the range such as
- Fences
- Restricted Water
- Far Less Land Than the Horses Originally Used (According to Historic Migration Patterns)
- Competition with Non-Native Livestock
- Encroachment from Humans
The horse is naturally adapted to the Western landscape, and elsewhere in the world, horses are being used as the keystone species to restore lands overused by humans and livestock.
Helping Horses in Need
What should I do if I see a horse that appears underfed or neglected?
You can take pictures from outside the property where the horse is, but do not go onto the property. Take notes about how long the horse has looked neglected or abused from your experience. Share the pictures and the notes with your local sheriff. They will investigate. Follow up with them if you don’t see anything change.
What if nothing happens after I call the sheriff?
Check our Resources page for volunteer groups who will get involved with neglect and abuse cases in your area. Some animal shelters across the state handle horses and some do not, but they can help direct you if they don’t handle them.
Volunteering
Can I volunteer at a rescue if I don’t have horse experience?
Yes! But because rescues are volunteer run and usually very busy, don’t expect to get trained to work with horses. Some have time to train you, and some don’t. If you have no experience, there are many things you can do based on your skills (beyond just manure mucking!) You may be able to fix fences or equipment; write grants; fundraise activities; web support; coordinate volunteers, communication; etc.
I have experience with horses. What could I do as a volunteer?
Rescue horses need regular handling (like shelter dogs) to stay engaged with people, responding to our cues, being touched all over, and overcoming any fears that may dissuade a potential adopter. Talk to the rescue director to find out how you can best help the horses with your skills.