Become an RVHR Caregiver/Adopter

Becoming a Caregiver/adopter of an RVHR horse can save a life.

All families interested in taking an RVHR horse into their home are encouraged to contact us. The Caregiver/Adoption Program will now become easier for families to realize their dream of having a horse in their lives.

What Do I need to do to become an RVHR Caregiver/Adopter?

• Out-of-state adopters must meet all required guidelines.
• Be of 21 years of age or older
  • IMPORTANT NOTES YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW:
    • If you plan to Board an RVHR Horse All Boarding Facilities must be approved by RVHR before a horse can be placed in their care.
    • RVHR does NOT place RVHR rescue horses in any financial riding programs.  Our goal is to place each horse in a one-family environment. 
• Schedule a Meet and Greet with the horse you like to adopt. (link is above)
• After your 1 hour Meet and Greet with the horse. (link is above)  If you are still interested in the horse you can request by email to info@rvhr.com within 5 days RVHR will then email you the full application by email to submit.  You will have 10 days from the email date to return it to RVHR with the needed information, Videos, and photos.  The horse you are interested in will be placed into application pending for an additional 10 days
• Once we have the full application it is then submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.  Approval normally takes 3-5 days for approval.
• Once you have been approved you will be required to schedule an additional 2 – 1-hour visits at the facility where the horse is with a staff member so we can teach you what we have taught the horses such as leading, backing up basic ground manners, and such.
• If the horse is Rideable this is when you can ride them.  Adopters must bring their own tack and submit a one-day release of liability before that visit.
• You will have 30 days after approval to work with and ride the horse here if rideable and to make arrangements to take the horse home.

In a 5 Year contract with RVHR you will be agreeing to some of the following

• That you have another grazing animal, also called a “companion”, at all times where the placed horse will be housed. RVHR considers a companion to be another horse, goat or cow.
• If you do not have experience with horses, you may be required to take at least one basic horsemanship class from an approved horse facility and/or instructor.
• that you can provide a stall, shelter or run-in, 3 closed sides with a roof), and a paddock with a turnout area at the place of residence.
• You understand RVHR’s placement donation fees average $750, but can range from $150 to $1000+. These monies defer the costs of rehabilitating the horse being placed.
• The placement donation fee is set for each horse individually and is kept confidential between the caregiver and RVHR.
• Placement fees are not reimbursable nor refundable.
  •       Placement of new arrival mares less than 10 months.  If a mare is placed with you that has NOT been at RVHR for over 11.5 months and it is found that the mare was carrying a foal before its intake to RVHR all foals born to that mare will automatically become property of RVHR.  
  •       If at any time from the day of adoption, an adopter may think the mare may have been covered before intake to RVHR RVHR will cover the cost of the veterinarian exam and test to see if she is carrying a foal.
  •       If it is found by a veterinarian that the mare is in foal adopter will have the choice to send the mare back to RVHR to deliver the foal at no cost of care to the adopter and has the first right of adoption of such foal.
• If the placement does not work out while under contract with RVHR, you understand that the horse must be returned to RVHR with no exceptions.
• If at any time after the 5-year release of the horse to the adopter they no longer can care for or need to re-home the horse RVHR must be contacted and given first right of refusal.

What do I need to do once an RVHR horse has been placed in my care?

• You are responsible for all expenses incurred for the care and transportation of the horse to his or her new home.
• If after 30 days from the time of approval, the horse has not been moved from the RVHR facility, then all caregiver/adopters’ rights to the horse are forfeited, as are any donation fees already paid.
• Upon forfeit,  the horse will be immediately placed back into the caregiver/adoption program for other applicant opportunities.
• RVHR reserves the right to check the progress and condition periodically of every horse.
• No rescue horse can ever be bred or sold for any reason.
• Anyone attempting to breed or sell, or anyone succeeding at breeding or selling a rescue horse will be prosecuted in a court of law for all costs to RVHR for breach of the signed contract agreement.
• If it has been found that the horse has been bred or sold, it will be removed from the caregiver or purchaser immediately and returned to the RVHR facility.
• RVHR does not place any mare in any facility where a stallion resides or is being trained.
• If the caregiver purchases a stallion at any time after placement, the placed mare horse(s) will be immediately removed by RVHR and returned to our facility and our caregiver/adoption program for other applicant opportunities. The caregiver/adopter will not receive any refund of any placement fee or cost.
• You will make every effort not to place the horse with an abusive trainer. If a placed horse is to be sent to a trainer’s facility it must be approved by RVHR before being moved from the location on file with RVHR.
• You agree not to allow the horse to run at large and will provide adequate fencing at all times.
• If the horse becomes sick or lame, you agree to provide prompt and adequate medical care and treatment by a certified equine veterinarian.
• If at any time the placed horses should need any major medical procedures the procedure must be approved by the RVHR Board of Directors before being performed.  All procedures are at the cost of the caregiver/adopter.
• Upon the death of the horse, notification is required immediately with a veterinarian’s statement/cause of death. If the horse suffers a major injury or medical problem, the veterinarian must also report this.
• Moving a horse from the location on file with RVHR is not permitted unless a written request is made before being moved to a new location RVHR will inspect the new location for compliance with the guidelines of this agreement.
• After placements, RVHR requests a yearly, up-to-date, dated photo of the horse for our records as well as permission to record a video of the horse in their new home to help promote future placements of rescued horses.
• You will receive a copy of a current Coggins test (for Equine Infectious Anemia), a medical record of vaccinations and worming, and a feeding/medication/special care form at the time of placement.
• You agree to continue to do yearly shots and Coggins for the next 5 years after adoption and to submit copies of the same for RVHR’s files with RVHR listed as the owner and the caregiver/adopter as the stable.
• If you purchase another horse for the safety of the placed horse please request a current copy of the new horse’s Coggins test before housing it with the RVHR horse.
• You understand and accept that once the horse is in your possession all responsibility and liability concerning that horse belongs to you.
• If RVHR or its agent(s) find that any of the above conditions have been violated, the horse is subject to a breach of these requirements and will be repossessed by RVHR.
• Please Note:
  Our goal at RVHR is to create a lasting, loving bond between a person and a very special horse that deserves a second chance at life. We will do everything possible to make that relationship a success. If at any time the caregiver requires assistance, including medical, financial, or handling for a placed horse, please contact us immediately.  We are here to help.
• Every new intake horse will stay at RVHR for a minimum of 30 days for quarantine, health, and training assessment.
• The boarding of a rescue horse 5 years old or under is prohibited.
• All boarding facilities will be required to be approved by RVHR and must sign a barn lien agreement with RVHR.  For the list of approved Boarding facilities please contact RVHR before submitting a Meet & Greet
• Prospective caregivers/adopters acknowledge and accept that Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue, Inc. retains ownership of all rescued horses for the first 5 years of the caregivers/adoption contract.  In the fifth year if all requirements have been met RVHR will send the caregiver/adopter an ownership release form with an agreement that RVHR has first right of refusal if you no longer want to keep the horse.
• How to submit a Pre-Adoption Meet and Greet with an available horse at RVHR please visit http://www.rvhr.com/wordpress/preadoptionapp/