Horses

Hope Equine Rescue, Inc.

Winter Haven, FL 33881

About

Hope Equine Rescue, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in 2008, but the love of horses has been in our hearts for a very long time. The rescue was founded by Dani Horton and the Horton family when they took in their first rescue that they named Hope. Hope was tied to a tree with a dog chain and left to starve in a neighborhood where neighbors drove by her every day and never did anything to help.

Pets available

Horses

Adoption process

The first step in the process is filling out our application. We are a volunteer run organization and we must manage our time wisely. Your commitment to filling out an application lets us know you are serious about adopting. After we receive your application: You will receive a confirmation email that we have your application. You will be contacted by an adoption team member. Please note if you do not respond they will not move forward with your application. This call gives them a little more information on what you are looking for, and they can go over available horses if you do not know which horse might work. We try to make sure we contact you within 5 days of receiving your application. The adoption team will then contact all your references. Once that is complete you move to the next step. Once all of your references have been contacted, we will schedule an in-person interview. We will go over the following in this interview: We will go over your application in depth. This is where we can get any important information about your horse experience and skill level. We will go over our adoption contract. We can answer any questions or concerns you have about adoption. We will introduce you to all the available horses that meet your requirements. This is where you can ask us any questions. We typically schedule these appointments during the week while our trainers are here. That way you can watch the horses worked and ask the trainers any questions you may have. We are not open Saturday and Sundays. Sometimes Saturdays can be done by special arrangement but normally our team is out in the community doing events. Once you have looked at the horses and we think we have found you the perfect match we will then schedule the training sessions. This is where you will work one on one with that horse’s trainer. You can see all their skills, any vices they may have, and what the trainer is working on. You will ride in this session (or do groundwork if horse is not rideable) under the trainer’s supervision. You are welcome to bring your own trainer or advisor to any session. The next 2 sessions you will work the horse on your own with supervision. Congratulations you are finished! You will now sign the adoption contract and pay the adoption fee.