The Adoption Process

1. Fill out an adoption application and submit a nonrefundable $25 dollar adoption application fee via the Paypal button on our website & FaceBook page or by mailing a check to Horse North Rescue, PO Box 76 Kingsley, MI 49649

2. Schedule a Meet n' Greet by calling or texting 231-645-4674 and leaving your name and phone number with date & time preferred. NOTE: This is a very basic 30 minute time to interact with the horse. If you have submitted an adoption application, additional time and equine handling is encouraged.

3. Should you be interested in a horse that is not currently available for adoption, we encourage you to submit an application so we can get the preliminary site visit and paperwork started. All horses will be given at least two weeks advertised as "available" before the selection process begins.

4. This application will expire after two years from date of signature or adoption of a HNR horse or whichever comes first.

5. The dedicated volunteers at HNR will conduct a site visit, check on the references you provide and discuss further with you whether that particular horse will be the most suitable for your family.

Please note: All HNR horses are adopted out on a 'right to first refusal contract' meaning if you cannot or should no longer wish to own the horse, HNR must be contacted prior to the horse being advertised or transferred to another home.

Adoption Application

Conditional Adoption Agreement

Foster Application

Foster Agreement

Lilly -Available for Adoption $350

Lilly is a beautiful 14.1 hand Arabian mare, approximately 12 years old, that came to us as an Animal Control seizure. She has been started walk/trot under saddle though still not riding in a bit, and had two impressive outings on the trails where she handled bicycles, hikers, and dirt bikes. Lilly does have allergies, an allergy blood test indicated she is allergic to dust mites and also to most local grasses and hay - though she is least allergic to timothy and alfalfa. Her full allergy test information will be available to her future adopters. Lilly would best be kept out of a barn stall/arena situation and fed small amounts of wetted hay and other complete feeds . She is currently on Oxy-Gen and Immunize supplements to aid her respiratory system and we are seeing positive results. She will not be able to be in heavy competition, but can certainly enjoy life as a light riding horse. At this time she will still require a skilled and rider to complete her training and bring her to her best potential, though a confident intermediate rider with professional guidance could also suit. As we follow the 20% rule for maximum weight a horse should carry, we would recommend Lilly best suited for a rider and tack to total no more than 200 lbs.

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Spice: Currently rehabilitating and not yet available for adoption

Spice is a beautiful , 21 year old Tennessee Walker mare who came to HNR from an Animal Control intercept via Menonminee County in the UP. Friends of UPAWS and Sally's Fund took her under their wing and did the initial weeks of care, and she finished her weight gain and recovery with Horse North. Spice came in very thin with a severe case of ulcers. She is now at a very good weight and has been treated for the ulcers, but she has some defensiveness as a result of being handled and ridden with that constant ulcer pain. She has made good progress, but it is important not to rush her as she continues to work with our trainer to regain her trust in people. We will post updates on her journey.

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Nike - Available for Adoption - $1,000 - Adoption Pending

Nike is an 11 year old off the track Thoroughbred standing at approximately 16.1 hands tall, Jockey's Club name Wilma's Numberone. He is not at all your expected "hot" OTTB, Nike appears to have taken his retirement quite seriously. He is relaxed under saddle in the pen and on the trail, and has shown us a nice w/t/c, remaining responsive to the bit. In fact, his biggest challenge is the opposite of your normal OTTB, he can sometimes get very slow and occasionally want to stop. He will need someone with the persistence and energy to keep him moving at those times.

For that reason, we recommend him for a confident intermediate rider or above. We also recommend him mainly for flat work. He is untested in any jumping, and we have no way to try that at the rescue. However, his demeanor and personality do not suggest that he would be an eager, forward jumper. Nike can be a little tender-footed at times when riding on dirt roads with little stones. As he gets more time on the trail, we will have a better idea whether his feet will toughen up now that he is walking on surfaces other than sand, or whether he would be best served to wear boots for trail riding in the long term.

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Pebbles - Available for Adoption $500 - Adoption Pending

Pebbles is a 24 year old mare standing at about 14.1, either a refined quarter horse or a quarter horse mix, with a sweet disposition. She is trained to ride and has an easy, calm manner under saddle. Her training is quite basic, however. She does appear to not know any leg cues or neck reining, but she does have a reasonably soft turn cue and a good solid stop. On the ground she is slightly rough around the edges, needs to be gently reminded of space and is a little wiggly at the cinch and mount. She would not be what one might term a "babysitter" horse for the super tiny, new, beginners, but she certainly appears suitable for a beginner. She only recently arrived so we have not yet had her out on a trail, but we will be trying that soon and will update at that time. She should be available for adoption as soon as her vet and farrier work is up to date, and we don't expect her to be with us long. If you are interested in this sweet little lady, we suggest starting the adoption application process soon! Pebble face

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Comet - Not Yet Available

Comet is Pebbles' daughter, a beautiful, flashy black and white paint mare with jaw-dropping floaty movement. She is 15 years old and stands at approximately 14.3 hands tall, just slightly taller than her dam. Comet is not yet started under saddle, and can be quite a handful on the ground. No kick or bite at all, but she has never had boundaries established and needs to learn. Our intention will be to improve her ground manners and get her started under saddle before officially listing her for adoption. However, if you are a skilled and patient trainer looking for a project, you would be welcome to send in an application sooner. Comet Face

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Max - Available for Adoption - $800

Max is a sweet, friendly gelding standing at approximately 14.3 hands tall and stocky. He is approximately 17 years old. We were told he was a solid-bred paint, though a previous barn owner where he was stabled thought she might remember that he has some Tennessee Walker in him. Whatever the case he is not gaited, but is a great, calm, laid-back personality.

Max has been ridden primarily in a bitless sidepull in recent years, and he goes fantastically well in it. He is basic trail trained, no neck rein, but overall soft and willing, and steps out well under saddle, whether in a pen or on the trail. Max is recommended for an active beginner rider.

Piper - Available for Adoption - $650

Piper is an approximately 15 year old Thoroughbred mare standing at about 15.3 hands tall. She is built beautifully but does not appear to have ever been raced. She is not tattooed, and therefore may have been bred for pleasure and never even been in a racing barn. She is a sweet, kind mare who enjoys attention.

Under saddle, Piper is a forward mover, steps out at the walk and will willingly trot. We have yet to try her canter due to space limitations at the rescue, but will update when we are able. Her former owner found that she had some anxiety in a bit, and therefore rode her primarily in a sidepull. She responds well to it. Piper is recommended for an intermediate rider or above. She is sensitive and tuned in to both her rider’s mental state and physical positioning, therefore requires a rider with good self-awareness.

Piper will have some limitations on her riding abilities. Her former vet believed that she may have navicular changes going on, although she has not had x-rays to confirm that. She is currently wearing padded shoes, and in them she has been sound walk/trot in the pasture and under saddle. Her management has kept her comfortable for years as a light riding horse and that is the type of home she will be looking for. She is not suited for jumping, endurance, or any heavy stress competition riding.