Looking to adopt in Pennsylvania

[greeneyelioness]

Hi Everyone
I just found out about you this morning- cool site. Kinda reminds me of the Bits and Barter board (you should check them out for tack that you want to buy sell or trade: http://bitsandbarter.proboards.com)

Anyways, I am looking to adopt a OTTB. I'm located in York County,PA home of Harley Davidson I am limiting to local horses, within an hour and a half of me.

I'm an equine vet tech going to school next year (HOPEFULLY) to become a Vet. I say this because I don't mind minor injuries as long as he is sound for riding and jumping now. My current gelding is laid up with a sheared heel and ringbone so I am going to retire him to my kids but I want to ride now

I'm looking for a gelding that is youngish, at least 16h (my current boy is 18h ) and is sound for jumping (I want to foxhunt and event, maybe do a bit of dressage for fun)

My current gelding is chestnut so I would like to find someone who is different, maybe gray or black with lots of chrome.

He absolutely must have personality. My guy now is very stoic, very not cuddly and I want a horse that is. I want someone who is a bit silly,a steal your hat and run kinda guy.

I am looking for an individual owner or trainer giving away a horse. I have had 2 really bad experiences with rescues and won't deal with them anymore. I volunteer at some when I can but to adopt, no thanks. So please don't suggest me contacting CANTER, ReRun, etc. They are great rescues but for some people, adopting from a rescue is not for them and I am one of those people. I won't publish why as I don't want to deter anyone from adopting from a rescue so please don't ask.

Thank you everyone for any help you can give me. I'm not in a rush at all so if you know of someone still running let me know. I want to find the right horse, not the right horse for the moment.

I'm on Alex Brown and you can checkout my Wiki there. Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

Thanks everyone,
Rachell

[johnnysauntie]

Welcome to ER! I can't help you out with the horse hunt, other than to wish you luck. I know lots of silly, snuggly TBs so I'm sure you'll be able to find your ideal match. And there are a lot of folks here who are close to the backside and will be a great resource for you.

I did want to clarify that Canter is emphatically not a rescue - its primary function is to help trainers market their horses when its time for them to hang up their racing plates. The vast majority of the horses on the Canter listings are owned by racing people. Canter is just is an easy place for you to peruse available horses at a track near you. You don't even have to interact with the organization - if you see one you like, call the owner listed and off you go.

There are a couple on the Canter PA trainer listings that sound like what you're looking for - cute bay geldings with chrome and personality!

canterusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=814:patter&catid=58:pa-trainer-listings&Itemid=279&directory=279

canterusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=676:oakridge-star&catid=58:pa-trainer-listings&Itemid=279&directory=279

Obviously, these guys are for sale, but it never hurts to ask, and you may find others there that people just need gone.

Anyway, I've had some issues with rescues too, having been deeply involved in one that went awry, and I just wanted to be sure that Canter wasn't painted with the same brush. They also post give aways on their site frequently.

Whatever you decide, happy horse shopping!

[greeneyelioness]

Hi! Thanks for the welcome! This looks like a great place and I am sure you'll see a lot of me

Unfortunately, CANTER is one of the rescues I had problems with but I don't want to post what happened because I do believe that the issues that I had should not influence anybody else. Luckily, it was with a person and did not involve any horse specifically.

Despite my experience with them, I do often recommend them to people as I believe in the over-all cause and know that my experience is most likely just isolated to me, even though later issues arose a few years later. I wouldn't want what happened between me and this person to cause a horse a home.

The one rescue that I would deal with if I still lived in NY is FingerLakes. To this day I am in awe of the work that they do and despite how busy they are, when I was interested in adopting a horse from them, who ended up being euthanized for post surgical complications, they emailed me and texted me updates about his progress, even after I had decided to accept another horse from one of our clients. The way they handled the whole situation went far and beyond any effort I could have asked for. Unfortunately, I live waaaaay too far away from them now, especially when there are so many local horses needing help.

[juliab]

If you look at the CANTER trainer listings there are often giveaways or very inexpensive horses available. You would be dealing directly with the owner/trainer with CANTER only providing the listing service. There are tons of nice ones at CANTER Delaware right now, but I guess that is too far.

[Smay]

Well I got mine out of an auction meat pen, so theoretically, I "rescued" him myself! Maybe you could try that since you would be adept at noticing any unsoundnesses or illnesses present. There are SO MANY TBs at auctions... so many. Also, CANTER is NOT a rescue.. they don't rescue anything. Track horses aren't generally in need of rescuing... although they are in need of new homes and transition training. They are for sale, like any other horse although, as Julia says, there are often freebies available, from trainers who just don't have the time or inclination to market their horses for sale through CANTER.

[louise16]

Well, after all this time, the OP probably won't see this. However, I just wanted to point out that FLTAP isn't a rescue either. Both the Adoption Center and the Trainer's Listings provide means to rehome horses who are ready to transition to a second career.

And, I want to emphasize again that both the Canter Trainer's Listings and the Finger Lakes Trainer's Listings show horses that are for sale from the trainers or owners. All dealings are strictly between them and the prospective buyer.

There is a CanterPA
www.canterusa.org/index.php?option=com_alphacontent&view=alphacontent&Itemid=279

And right now is a good time to be looking, with plenty of horses available.

[greeneyelioness]

So I'm bumping to say that I'm still looking. I did contact CANTER and saw a few horses on their site that I was interested in and was unfortunately a day too late. I was very pleased with CANTERPA's people, and so I am glad that I gave them a second shot and am even going to help them with emails and phone calls etc.
So I'm still looking. I keep checking Leighton farms and CANTERPA and a few others but would like to know if you guys know of anyone.

[allie]

There are SO many horses needing homes right now, and being given away, I cannot believe you are having such a hard time finding them.

There were 5 on CANTER Mid Atlantic that were sold for 200$ (one still left) and were desperate for a home.
Check Craigslist, Go to the racetrack. The horses are OUT THERE. What exactly are you looking for?

[animaldoc]

I want to put in a plug for New Vocations - IME they are very accurate with their descriptions of the horses, and the clinic I work at has sent them a few horses and two are on their website now (Metinicus and Point to the Red). I also adopted a horse from them and have been VERY happy with him.....