Many
people think that because the horse is up for adoption, nobody
wants it and it has no value. This couldn't be further from
the truth. Many of our horses have a market value well into
the thousands, but the owners were more concerned with finding
a good home for them.
(Hazel's Boy pictured above)
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What
condition are the horses in?
Most of the horses up
for adoption are in top condition. Many of them are right off the
racing season and have been exercised regularly and have had routine
veterinary exams. All horses up for adoption have had Coggins tests.
Of course, a few of the horses are in need of rest or possible vet
care. Each horse is its own special case.
How
long does the adoption process take?
Once
we receive your application, it usually only takes a few days to
be approved or disapproved. Once you are approved, we will inform
you on the various horses that are available. You can then make
arrangements to meet the horse or horses you are interested in.
Once you've found your new friend, all you have to do is pay your
adoption fee and get your Standardbred home.
What
gaits can Standardbreds use?
All Standardbreds are
naturally gaited. They either pace or trot. Pacers are more common.
Standardbreds are receptive learners and can learn just about any
gait you can teach. Many of the horses in our program have gone
on to compete and win in many national titles and many different
gaits and competitions.
Are
these horses broke to ride?
Many of the horses have
been broke to saddle already. Most of them have been handled and
trained very well during their racing careers. If your horse is
not broke to ride, it will most likely already have great ground
manners and will lift all its legs and tolerate any tack you might
need. Standardbreds are known for their great dispositions, and
breaking to saddle isn't very difficult with a little experience
and time.
How
old are they?
A healthy Standardbred
should easily live to be 30 years old. The mandatory retirement
age for a harness racing horse is 14. There are horses in our program
in any age group. Most of the horses up for adoption have many healthy
years ahead of them. All they need is a loving home.
Why
are they retired?
Each horse has a story
of its own. Some of the horses were not fast enough to win their
races, and others had minor injury and the owner chose to retire
the horse instead of risking further injury. Other horses reached
mandatory retirement.
Why
are they given to the adoption agency instead of being sold?
Many people think that
because the horse is up for adoption, nobody wants it and it has
no value. This couldn't be further from the truth. Many of our horses
have a market value well into the thousands, but the owners were
more concerned with finding a good home for them. Most harness racers
are good people and build a strong bond with their horses over a
racing career. Many of them choose to put their horses in the adoption
program knowing that they will go to good, caring homes. Once a
horse goes to market, who knows what will happen to that horse.
Once a horse is put in our program, we know where that horse is.
Where
does the adoption money go?
All of the money for adoption
fees goes back into the program. Your adoption fee goes directly
to food, vet care, and all the other expenses that come along with
this type of work. If you adopt a horse, you won't just be helping
the animal you adopt. You will be helping all the other horses that
get placed in ASAP.
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