Second
Hope Ranch, Inc.
has an aggressive
adoption policy for
placing horses in
qualified homes.
All applications
will be considered
based on your ability
to provide the best
home for the horse.
The adoption fee
helps us recover
some of the cost
of caring for the
horse while in our
care and allows us
to continue our operation
to rescue, bringing
back health and finding
homes for other horses.
How
we set Adoption Fees
The
financial realities
of rehabilitating
a horse are far
greater than most
people realize.
Most of the horses
we bring in are
skinny beyond belief
or have a very
serious injury
or illness. Our
first priority
is to have the
veterinarian take
a close look at
their medical condition
and tell us exactly
what treatment
is best. Usually
that involves
deworming to get
rid of the parasites
in their intestines,
bringing in an
equine dentist
to float their
teeth if needed,
and a visit from
a farrier to attempt
to restore hooves
that probably haven’t
been trimmed in
years.
Then
come the months and
months of rebuilding
their weight. A normal
size horse of 1,000
pounds will burn
16,000 calories a
day! So a lot of
hay and feed has
to get into the system
to build up the lost
weight. Typically,
a horse that comes
to us is around 300-500
pounds underweight.
The weight gain must
be slow and regulated
to make certain the
digestive system
is not overloaded.
If not done correctly,
the horse can start
having a lot of other
problems, so we plan
on at least 6 months
of doing nothing
more than feeding,
grooming and loving.
How
much are we spending
so far? We’ve
had the vet visit,
with the associated
blood work and
fecal exam, which
cost around $100.
We had him tested
for EIA, which
is a Coggins and
gave him shots
for three different
kinds of viruses,
inserted a microchip
and a rabies
vaccination -
$120. The visit
from the equine
dentist cost $125
and, during the
six months, the
farrier has been
out four times
(once every six
weeks) at $30
a visit.
In
additon to all
the vet fees, ,
we need to add
in the feed and
hay…which
the cost is rising,
weekly. Through
years of experience,
we know it can
be around $200-$250
a month. These
costs dont' even
include any supplements
or special requirements
for health during
this time. That
alone can run from
$50-$100 per month
depending on the
supplement.
So
six months after
a very skinny
horse steps through
our gates, if all
has gone well and
praying that there
are no major medical
issues, we’ve
spent well over $1,080
and we have a healthy
horse ready for adoption – except
for another small
problem.
We
often have no
clue as to the
training or capabilities
of our horses.
Other than hands
on caring and loving,
a horse in rehab
is not healthy
enough to undergo
any type of training
or evaluation.
When we are finally
able to do an evaluation,
we’ll
find that the horse
either has experience
and is ready to ride,
needs a refresher
course, has never
been ridden or can
only be a pasture
buddy for the rest
of its life. If it
needs a refresher
course, or it needs
to be completely
trained, we’re
looking at one to
two months at a
professional trainer,
at a cost of between
$1000 to $1500. That
level of training,
plus the age and
experience of the
horse, is what determines
our adoption fee.
At
the very least,
we’ve
spent between
$1,500 and $2,500
on each of these
horse. Some of
them stay in foster
care or at the
ranch far longer
than six months,
and the additional
cost continues
every month.
So
when you see a
horse with an adoption
fee of $250, or
maybe a fee of
$900, understand
what you are paying
for. We’re
a non-profit,
but we must make
a little bit in
return because
that, and the
financial contributions
of our members,
saved this horse
from certain death,
brought it back
to health and
made it ready
for your barn,
plus, there are
more horses standing
at the gate, waiting
to get in, and
the adoption fees
are what enable
us to do it all
over again.
Adoption
Application
We
strongly suggest
that you read
ALL
the terms of the
adoption contract
and application
to avoid any "Oops!
I didn't know that!" problems.
To request an adoption
application please
contact us at adopt@secondhoperanch.org or
call 1.321-902-1993.
Financial
Responsibility
We
do not have FREE
horses. The average
adoption fee is $500,
more for a well-trained
horse, less for disabled
horses. We do not
rent horses, provide
horses for rodeos,
sell horses, offer
horse rides or have
mares for breeding.
Horses can be very
expensive. Other
than the initial
cost of stalls and
fencing, there is
the ongoing cost
of worming, shots,
farrier bills, hay,
feed, medications,
supplements and hundreds
of items that you
will eventually need
to purchase. At some
point you will probably
be faced with a large
vet bill. Like people,
horses can seriously
injure themselves
or get very sick.
One case of colic
can cost you from
the $100's to $1,000's,
with no guarantee
that he
will live through
it. We expect you
to have the financial
ability to handle
these costs.
The
Details
You
must become a member
of Second Hope
Ranch, Inc. to
be able to adopt
a horse. Applications
will only be considered
after the payment
of a $25 non-refundable
membership fee,
when all the required
information is
complete and all
letters of reference
are received. At
that time we will
start the investigation
and evaluation
process. The final
determination on
your application
should occur within
two weeks.
If,
during the inspections,
we find areas that
are in violation
of our regulations
we will advise you
on how to bring them
up to our minimum
standards. Failure
to meet the minimum
standards will result
in the rejection
of your application.
It
is extremely important
to note that the
horse belongs
to Second Hope
Ranch, Inc. forever,
if there is a failure
to abide by the
regulations or
if we feel that
the horse is in
an unsafe environment,
we will remove
the horse without
recourse. We keep
continuous contact
with the new home
and the owners
assuring that the
rules are being
abided by.
Horses
adopted from us cannot
be transferred, moved
without notifying
us, bred, or leased
at any time. They
cannot be sold. If
you decided that
you no longer want
the horse for any
reason, it must come
back to us. Contact
us for our full Placement
form.
FOSTER:
Would
you like to help
an equine in need
by providing a place
in your pasture and
in your heart? Join
us in helping equines
throughout Florida,
with many horses
coming in from the
South East United
States for care and
rehabilitation!
We
always have a waiting
list of horses needing
placement into foster
care. Each horse
is unique, and, depending
on the horse's recent
neglect, requires
special training
in specific areas.
Some just need love
and companionship.
The
Horses We
have horses
currently
being rehabilitated,
and others
in reside
as program
horses, and
those that
are available
for adoption.
Each horse
requires
a minimum
standard
of care,
which includes
the following:
Farrier
(every 4-6
weeks) - $30
- $35 per visit,
more if the
horse is a
Draft
Equine
dentist (yearly
after the age
of 3) - $100
- $200
Wormer
(every 4-6
weeks) - Between
$7to $12
Bag
of feed - $15
(lasts 3-5
days)
Fly
Spray (bottle)
- $8 -12 a
bottle
1
dose of antibiotic
- $6, including
needle and
syringe
1
dose of pain
medicine, Bute
- $2, Banamine
- about $7
Vaccines
(Twice yearly
including a
yearly Coggins)
- $100-$200,Varies
with vet
Or
you can choose
to sponsor a featured
special needs equine.
Our Featured Special
Needs Equine are
usually in need
of intensive veterinary
care to restore
them to health
and much support
and love to restore
there faith and
trust in human
beings. Contact
us for
information on
these horses.
A
man on a horse
is spiritually
as well as physically
bigger than a man
on foot. ~John
Steinbeck