Serenity Adoptions
Our adoption goal at Serenity Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation is to give our horses the best chance of being placed with responsible, caring owners who are looking for a forever companion.
Each horse is evaluated by a veterinarian when they arrive and given a rehabilitation plan that includes both their nutritional and medical needs. All of the horses at Serenity are handled daily and are up-to-date on deworming, shots, dental work, and hoof care. When you come to Serenity to look for your new companion, you will find that our adoptable horses are healthy, friendly, and trusting.
Our suggested adoption donations are set based on a number of factors such as breeding, training, and age. Adoption is by private treaty. If you are interested in adopting one of our rescues first read our policies.
We look forward to helping you find your equine companion.
Adoption Policies
Serenity’s first obligation and concern is that our horses are placed into safe, informed, approved forever home. Below is a description of the minimum requirements that we expect from our potential adopters. Serenity reserves the right to deny adoption of any horse for any reason.
Financial ability policies
Adopter is financially capable of caring for the horse. The adopter must assert on the application that they are financially capable of providing for the horse including the items listed below.
Feed
Sufficient hay, grains and supplements to maintain the horse in good health, and a free choice supply of clean, fresh water at all times. Serenity will provide a nutritional program for each horse upon adoption.
Required Veterinarian Care
Care must include routine checkups, vaccinations, teeth floating, and emergency care. Additionally, adoptee must provide regular farrier care and deworming. Serenity will provide information on veterinary care, worming program, and farrier care upon adoption.
Farrier Care
We keep our horses barefoot; they are trimmed by our farrier every 4 to 6 weeks depending on the horse. Research tells us that metal shoes cut down 50% of the profusion in the hoof and leg, we would prefer that they be kept barefoot and booted for riding. If they require shoes the Easyboot Flex shoe or a similar product is recommended.
Health and welfare policies
Safe, Healthy Daily Turnout
Horses must be turned out on a daily basis for 8-10 hours. A mud-management plan must be in place for winter months. Stables or other situations where horses are not turned out daily and/or they are kept in stalls for over 16 hours a day will not be considered. Paddocks and pastures must be free of debris or unsafe items.
Shelter
Adoptee must provide the horse with adequate shelter in order for the horse to be protected from the elements. At minimum the shelter must be a three-sided structure in good repair. A tarp, carport or trees is not considered adequate. This is mandated by Washington State law.
Fencing
Safe, secure fencing in good repair is required. We do not accept T-post with electric wire/ribbon as the perimeter fencing. T-posts with caps and ribbon can be used to divide pastures or paddocks. Barbed wire as fencing anywhere will not be accepted. Gates must be secure and in good working order. We prefer that the property is gated to ensure horses cannot leave the property. If the property isn't gated, other protections must be in place. Acceptance of your fencing is on a case by case basis.
Emotional wellbeing policies
Changing the Horses Name
We do not allow our adoptees to change the horse's name. Changing homes for a horse is stressful and consistency is what builds trust. When they come to Serenity the one consistent part of their life is their name. This is also true when they go to their adoptive home. Research tells us that a horse knows its name and hearing it lowers their stress level.
Adoption as Lesson or Therapy Horse
We do not adopt our horses to be lesson or therapy horses. Most of our rescues have had a pretty rough life and are not suitable for multiple riders with differing skill levels. We are looking for forever, loving homes where they have consistency and are considered family.
Special Needs Horses
Occasionally, Serenity will offer a special needs horse for adoption or an Off-The-Track-Thoroughbred. These horses require a special care to keep them in good health. Adoptees must have a working knowledge of these horses to be eligible to adopt them. If the adoptee has not worked with OTTB's you must have a trainer in place prior to adoption.
First-time Horse Owners
If you haven't owned a horse for some time, consider yourself a first-time owner! We welcome first time horse owners to apply for adoption. Because our first concern is the safety of the horse and the new owner, we strongly suggest that before you adopt, you complete the five course horsemanship series that is offered through Serenity’s Education Center.
A first time owner must have taken, or is planning on taking lessons, and/or have the help of an experienced horse person before the adoption takes place. Care, training, treatment, and riding has changed a great deal over the past 10-15 years. We now understand a lot more about how a horse thinks and what works and does not work in terms of training. Horses are much more sensitive than most of us recognize. Make sure you understand horse behavior well enough that you can recognize common ailments and diseases so you know how to care for your horse properly. Nutrition is also very important.
Life of the horse policies
No-breeding
Most of the horses that come to Serenity have been abandoned, come from the slaughter-pen, have been seized or relinquished. Usually this is a result of the previous owner’s inability to care for the horse or the horse no longer fits their needs. There are over 150,000 horses going to slaughter from the US every year and until there are homes for every horse, Serenity will not approve the breeding of any of our horses. The adopter must contractually agree not to breed any of our adopted horses, and all stallions and colts will be gelded before offered for adoption.
Relocation
Horse(s) may NOT be moved from their approved location or leased out to a third party without our approval during the first year after adoption. We understand that there are circumstances where you may have to move the first year. In these cases you must contact Serenity prior to the move so that we can approve the new location.
Resale
Serenity’s mission is to find permanent, forever homes for our horses. We realize that there are times when adopters can no longer keep their horse. Serenity’s policy is that adopters may not sell, lease, trade or give the horse to another party without our written permission. Serenity will always take back their horse. No part of the adoption fee will be refunded.
Serenity has first right of refusal no matter the situation. You must contact Serenity first if you think you have found a suitable home and wish to re-home the horse yourself. Serenity must approve the home. Prospective owners must meet all of our adoption criteria for Serenity to approve the request to re-home the horse, and we will ask the new owner/guardian to sign an adoption contract. If a suitable home cannot be found, the owner must relinquish the horse to Serenity. To be clear, we are not preventing you from re-homing the horse, rather we want to be assured that the horse will not end up in the same situation that initially brought it to Serenity.
Visits by Serenity after Adoption
Adopter agrees that Serenity may visit the horse from time to time without notice. We may also contact you occasionally to get an update on the horse. Serenity reserves the right to remove the horse if the horse is not being cared for properly or the horse’s environment does not meet Serenity’s standards. This right will be in force for the rest of the horse’s life. If the horse passes on, adopter needs to advise Serenity.