Foster A Rescue

Thank you for considering fostering a rescue horse through Second Chance Horse Rescue. This page covers all you need to know about fostering one of our horses or ponies. Please read this thoroughly before sending in your application.

What is Fostering?
As Second Chance Horse Rescue does not yet have land or facilities to take in neglected, abused and abandoned horses and ponies, we look to people like you with a kind enough heart to take in and rehabilitate these animals themselves.

Fostering is hard work and of course will be one of the most rewarding experiences you'll ever have and will give you memories to treasure forever.

Second Chance will of course include a full foster agreement to ensure that the animal recieves the best of care and that both parties are in full awareness of their parts in the care for the horse or pony.

How to Become a Foster Home
First, you MUST be a current Member of Second Chance and remain a member until the horse or pony leaves your care. For Membership Applications, visit here. You must read through the information and then fill out a Fostering Application Form. You will need to email us to express your interest and have this form sent to you.

When we receive your application, we will arrange an inspection of the property where you wish to keep your foster animal to ensure that the facilities are safe and secure. During this time we will speak with you at length to asses and ensure that you have adequate knowledge to care for a rescue horse. Once this step has been completed you will be put on our database so we can refer to your details whenever a rescue comes into our care to see if it is suitable for you.

We also require 3 equine references, professionals in the horse industry such as your farrier, veterinarian, dental practitioner, riding instructor etc who can vouch for your equine experience and level of care.

What Happens Next
When a horse or pony suiting your experience and circumstances comes into our care, we will contact you immediately to arrange transportation of the rescue to its new home with you. We will also provide you with all known history in regards to the rescue so you are well prepared to care for it.

You will be asked to sign a Fostering Agreement, to show that you are willing to take full responsibility for the animal. If this Agreement is breached in any way, you will receive a warning. If it is breached again, we will remove the animal from your care immediately. We also reserve the right to remove the animal from your care in the case of abuse or negligence. Second Chance will provide continuing assistance and support to you for the entire time the horse or pony is in your care.

PLEASE NOTE: You may not ride or school your foster horse or pony without prior consultation and approval from Second Chance Horse Rescue. This animal has come to you fresh from a terrible experience and will possibly need months of specialized care and treatment before it is suitable to be ridden, if ever.

Naturally you will know this animal best, taking care of it and getting to know it day in, day out so if you believe the animal is ready for riding and/or correctional training and you wish to be a part of this please let us know and our Field Officer and yourself can discuss and decide on a course of action between you.

Once the animal has recovered in both mind and body and is ready for a new home, you will be given first option to become its new adoptive owner. If you decline and wish to instead take on a fresh rescue to Foster and care for, we will of course organise this for you.

Foster Home Requirements

• Horses must have a sheltered area to be fed in and feed must be placed in a proper feed bucket or hay-net.
• Horses and ponies are social animals, instinct tells them they must be with the herd to be safe and therefore, they get uneasy and lonely without company. We require that another animal, whether horse, sheep or goat etc needs to be either in the same paddock or next to your Foster horse's paddock so it is not alone.
• Horses must have 24 hour access to clean, fresh water. Water troughs must be checked daily and scrubbed out once a week – no exceptions.
• ‘Foster Parents’ must have a minimum of 2 years of horse care experience/lessons.
• No horse or pony owned by Second Chance HRAR may be removed from its nominated Foster home without prior notice and full permission.

Your responsibilities as a Foster home
You, as a Foster home, will be responsible for the horse or pony’s day-to-day care and well-being. You are required to ensure that the animal’s environment is safe and secure. You are responsible financially for the horse’s feed, regular worming and general hoof care.

You may not remove the horse or pony from its nominated home without prior written warning to Second Chance, including the details as to why you are moving the animal and where it will be going.

You may not sell, sub-lease or give any of Second Chance’s horses or ponies to another person. Legal action will be taken if you breach this.

If the horse or pony in your care receives an injury or contracts an illness that is NOT directly related to or a result of its previous neglect, we expect you as the person responsible for its day to day care and condition to be liable for any and all costs involved with this particular injury or illness.

You pay for:

• All required feeding and suppliments
• Hoof care as required
• Worming
• Vet care for any injury/illness NOT related to the animal's original condition when rescued

Our Responsibilities to You
We will cover the costs of all required Veterinary care (including immunisations, drench, micro-chip and any other treatment required) and medications should they be prescribed. We will cover dental costs. Second Chance will also take full responsibility for euthanasia and disposal of the body should the worst come to worst.

We will visit you every two months whilst the horse or pony is in your care to see how you and your Fostered Rescue are doing. Second Chance also provides an expansive advisory and assistance service. We will also take care of anything concerning re-training and dealing with those horses who have ‘people problems’ and may be difficult to work with.

Should you encounter any problems or issues regarding anything to do with your Fostered animal; we will do our utmost to solve the problem quickly and effectively.

We pay for:

• All required Veterinary care in relation to the animal's original condition when rescued
• Dental care
• Other required care such as chiropractic, Bowen, ET etc

Adoption
If you develop a special bond with your Foster animal, and wish to permanently adopt it, the adoption fee is waived as a thanks for the effort and money you’ve put in to help this horse or pony already.