Attention, horse lovers: Foster homes for horses are needed now. Fostering means that you are opening your home and heart to an at-risk horse by becoming the primary caregiver until they are adopted, or until the shelter the horse came from is able to take them back into their facility.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are expecting to see a rise in the number of horses in need of rehoming. With Help a Horse Day this Sunday, April 26, equine adoption organizations across the country are putting out a call for foster homes to help bridge the gap in their communities.

In many parts of the country, horses are kept at home on green pasture. In drier or densely populated areas, horses are often boarded at a community stable. As boarding barns are closing to follow quarantine protocols, and owners experience sudden unemployment and related challenges, some horse owners may be forced to make difficult decisions and are looking to their local horse rescues for help.

With a finite number of stalls available for at-risk horses, local adoption groups may be unable to meet the demands of the current situation without additional support. Foster homes are essential at this time—they allow adoption groups to both stay afloat and meet the needs of their community. 

If you aren’t able to foster, we still need your help! Visit therighthorse.org/fostertoolkit for downloadable graphics and information to help promote equine fostering and adoption. You can also share your favorite horses on myrighthorse.org on social media to help connect them with potential homes!

If you are able to foster, you will allow your local rescue to keep an open stall for the next horse needing help. Once that horse finds an adoptive or foster home, another horse can be helped … and then, another. By fostering just one horse, you are helping multiple horses safely transition to new homes and receive needed care. Plus, fostering a horse is a highly fulfilling experience and important way of building a system of support for horses in your community during this time.

If you have extra land or can secure a stall at your local boarding barn, you could be a great candidate to foster a horse. Adoption organizations are experts at matching the appropriate horse for your skill level, and at providing education and guidance during the process. You might even be surprised at how easy it is to foster a horse with contact-free appointments and a network of support.

If you or someone you know might be interested in fostering a horse, visit myrighthorse.org/foster to learn more.

Below, you’ll see some of the incredible equines currently looking for both foster and adoptive homes. If you’ve considered bringing a horse into your family, the time has never been better to take the reins and discover the life-changing joy that comes from loving a horse.

Queenie

Pokey

Sally

SH Jack Rose

Indiana

Frog