Horse Donation Requirements

Guidelines for Prospective Horses

• Age: 7–18 years. Horses outside this range considered on an individual basis.
• Gender: Geldings or mares only. No stallions.
• Height: Prefer up to approximately 15 hands, but will consider taller depending on current rider and program needs.
• Soundness: Must be sound at walk and trot, serviceably sound at canter. Preference given to horses that don't require therapeutic shoeing, medications, or supplements.
• Condition: Ideal body condition — not over or underweight — and in a regular routine of being ridden/conditioned.
• Temperament/Vices: Calm, quiet, and predictably safe to handle or ride by a beginner. No rearing, bucking, biting, pacing, pulling back, cribbing, kicking, or other dangerous behaviors.
• Training: Fully broke and beginner-safe. Not overly sensitive to leg or rein cues. Safe for farrier work, grooming, tacking, and handling from both sides. We do not accept young, green-broke, or untrained horses.
• Health: Up to date on shots, deworming, and a current negative Coggins test. Teeth checked/floated within the last year, farrier work done within the last 6 weeks. All health maintenance is the responsibility and expense of the owner.

We Cannot Accept Horses With:

• EIA
• Partial or complete blindness
• ERU, EPM, laminitis, or neurological conditions

RWJR may decline a donation for any reason at any time.

The Evaluation Process

Before a horse can be accepted for a trial, we need to see how they move and handle:

• Home evaluation: Owner or representative demonstrates the horse being led, groomed (including picking front and back feet), tacked, mounted/dismounted, and ridden at walk, trot, and canter in both directions.
• Video option: If an in-person visit isn't possible due to scheduling or distance, owners can send video of the same — leading, grooming, tacking, mounting/dismounting, and being ridden at all three gaits in both directions.

What the Trial Period Looks Like

Once a horse passes evaluation, RWJR accepts it on a 30-day trial period (which may be shortened at our discretion, or extended if needed — with a revised contract signed by both parties).

During the trial:

• The horse practices everyday program situations — arena props, loud noises, sudden movements, wheelchairs, walkers, mounting blocks, different mounting styles, and balanced/unbalanced riders.
• RWJR covers board, feed, and basic care.
• RWJR does not provide colic surgery. We'll do everything we can to reach the owner if colic is suspected, but surgery and rehab become the owner's responsibility.
• Acceptance for a trial does not guarantee the horse will be accepted into the program.

Either party can end the trial early with 48 hours' notice. If the horse isn't accepted, the owner is responsible for picking the horse up (at owner's expense).

Before Arrival, We Also Need:

• A negative Coggins test within the last 12 months
• Recent trim/shoeing
• Copy of the horse's vet records from the past year (vaccinations, teeth floating, other visits)
• Confirmation the horse loads and travels safely in a trailer
• Confirmation all shots are current
• The owner must submit a completed Vet Check Letter or pre-purchase exam (PPE) signed by a veterinarian mutually agreed upon by the owner and RWJR, prior to starting the trial period.

Visiting Your Horse

If your horse is accepted into the program, you're welcome to visit by appointment during regular business hours. Unscheduled visits aren't permitted, out of consideration for our staff and programming.

If a Horse Leaves the Program

If a horse is no longer suited for the program (health/soundness issues, unsafe behavior, can't handle the daily work, or RWJR needs to reduce herd size), our first step is offering the horse back to the original owner. If that's not possible, we explore other options — adoption to a new home, transfer to another therapeutic facility, or a retirement pasture. Humane euthanasia is considered only as a last resort for severe health or quality-of-life issues.

This information is for educational purposes only and isn't legal or financial advice. It's meant to help you determine if your horse is a good fit for our program.