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Adoption Fees

11K views 70 replies 26 participants last post by  jimmy 
#1 · (Edited)
What is your opinion on rescues who charge adoption fees that are equivalent to the sell of the horse?

Such as this

Miss Bee's adopt now fee is $2500. (check for details on specials at the top of the page)
If paying payments $1000. down and $250. a month, 10% off final bid if paying up front
located at SWAP HQ and CSS in WV



Another:
Sukhoi is located in MI (riding pictures coming)
Sukhoi's adoption fee is $3000. (see specials at the top of the page, 10% off if paying up front vs. paying monthly payments. If paying monthly payments it would be $1000. down and $250. a month until paid).

 
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#4 ·
I volunteered for a rescue. The horses were usually surrendered to the rescue or bought from auctions. $2000 to $3000 a horse is more than breaking even. Look at New Vocations (horseadoption.com) all of their horses are surrendered, they keep them for months before they get adopted and the highest fee on there is $700. Most of the horses they end up with need some kind of surgery to repair damage from being a track horse as well.

You can't call yourself a rescue if you are just buying, training and then re-selling a horse. Even if you do actually have a few rescues at your location.
 
#5 ·
It probably depends on the rescue, but in some places there is a lot of overhead associated with keeping the horse. Land cost, feed, fencing, training, vets, farrier care, workers, and so on. I believe some of these rescues keep some horses for quite awhile. I'm not saying every place that charges these high prices is really on the up and up. I'm just saying that there are reasons that some places would have higher prices than others.

You would probably pay more at a facility that had a larger number of "non-adoptables" or that had more severe rescue cases or even in more highly populated areas were land prices/property taxes are much higher. These people are already donating a lot of their time to take on a job that very few people seem to want, so I don't see anything wrong with them trying to make a small profit.

Of course, if they're abusing the word rescue that's a different story. I definitely have a problem with them falsly advertising that they are a rescue in order to get "pity money."
 
#7 ·
I agree!

I see nothing wrong with rescues charging more than way cheap for a horse. I would assume a good rescue would have the horse current on all vet things and farrier and working on any training issues it might have so it is safe.

Some rescues do give ownership to the adopter.
 
#8 ·
That's what I would think, but I know NOTHING about rescues. I just know how much it costs to take care of my horses. Especially when we had a "special needs" one. It got a little spendy quick.

Of course, I don't think these places are doing themselves or their horses any favors with some of their requirements. And the ones where you don't own the animal? Come on, that just seems a little ridiculous.

I don't know why I bother to defend them though, even if I had the money no rescue would let me adopt a horse. My facilities aren't good enough, even though we've had our horses for years (3 of them from birth to death) and they are all (or were anyways for the dead ones) fat, happy, spoiled, and loved.
 
#9 ·
I'm going to use that particular rescue as an example. Because if they were charging that adoption fee for every horse or even making the difference a few hundred dollars with companion horses waived then it would be different. But (and I see this a lot) this one has horses adoption fees priced from free, $550, $750 and so on. That to me is selling. They are pricing the horse according to what they believe they are worth.

(Which is ridiculous becuase they have an arab on there that has WAY better confirmation than the first horse I posted for around $650)

Real rescues price the horses within the same price range.

It's also ridiculous to me because this rescue is relatively close to me and there are horses of the same breed as the above going for hundreds not thousands. So they are stuck feeding those horses because they don't have an appropriate fee for them. While more horses need rescued.

I think the person who owned the rescue I volunteered for brain washed me. This used to drive her mad, lol.
 
#12 ·
HORSES AVAILABLE

The place that I volunteered has set fees. She didn't recoup anything and relied on donations. She was purely non-profit. Ridable horses were $500, un-trained horses $400, horses to young to ride were $300 and companion horses were always free. No matter what breed, size or how much she spent on it.
 
#13 · (Edited)
This is the info on the first mare:

Miss Bee is a 1989 Thoroughbred mare, 16.1 hands, a 3rd level dressage master (including tempi's) and has been teaching kids dressage for the last 2 years at Meredith Manor International Equestrian School, sweet, sensible and sound. Will be an excellent horse for someone wanting to learn dressage or just do some fun dressage, clinics and personal lessons. No special care beyond some consideration for her age. We want to keep her from being a lesson horse for a lot of different riders and just have her with an individual rider that wants to learn and enjoy a super well trained horse but may not be ready for competition or no desire to compete. A real love bug. Many students from Meredith Manor tell us that Miss Bee taught them everything they know about dressage, that is a pretty good resume for this lovely girl. She deserves a great home where she can have some fun with one special person. She is a sweet mare that loves people. If well cared for she has a good 10 years of dressage in her and maybe another 5 of pleasure riding. Remember 20 is the new 10! Goes in a snaffle, never raced, good manners, good temperament, confident, easily trained, smart, sound barefoot, good with other horses and animals, good around kids on the ground, good with farrier and vet, loads, ties, cross ties, bathes, good alone, quiet in stall, free lunges or lunges on a line, can catch in an open field.

Well this is the info on the second mare:

Sukhoi: 2001 registered and branded Swedish Warmblood mare, dark bay, 15.1 hands, a very well built mare in a small package, currently located in Michigan. sound for all professions, no vices, completes all ground requirements (loading, tying, etc), likes people, good manners, respects your space, good temperament, easily trained, smart, good with other animals and horses, good with the farrier and vet, loads, ties and cross ties, easy keeper, health care up to date and always been on a consistent worming program. Sensitive but well behaved,
She will make a very nice horse. She is perfectly sound with breath-taking movement and a loving personality that is the essence of femininity and elegance. She is by Johanniter (SW) and out of a Martini daughter, Sterling (Trak). She has had extensive ground training and ground driven prior to riding. She is a very balanced horse with an exceptional trot, forward mover. She learns quickly as she learned the turn on the forehand in one 15 minute ride and promptly remembered the lesson the next ride. Sukhoi has had training in dressage and hunter/jumper, plus Clinton Anderson level 1, 2 and some 3 ground work and level 1 riding.. Best with an experienced patient rider or a rider working with an experienced patient trainer. Super horse for any profession.

Here's the link; http://www.crossedsabers.com/SECOND_WIND_ADOPTION_PROGRAM/Horses_Available_For_Adoption.htm
 
#14 ·
LOL, we're working at the same time.. :)

I guess I don't have a problem with a rescue charging more for certian horses. If it allows them to rescue more horses that is. I don't really like the ones that place a huge fee on a horse, a bunch of conditions, and then you don't own the horse. In my opinion that doesn't do anything to help get these animals homes and make room for more.

Of course, I'm a bit of an idealist (w/a good bit of realist mixed in, explain that :)) So in my wonderful world, people would use the extra money they get from the "better" horses to save others.
 
#16 ·
Well then you're probably right about this particular rescue. But I don't think that every rescue that charges higher prices for their horses or different prices based on the horse's worth are bad rescues. If I had a rescue I would probably charge fair market value for each horse based on it's individual attributes.

I have to say that for this place I was just reading their website and some of their prices seem really arbitrary.
 
#20 ·
Those horses don't really seem like "rescues" persay at least not from the descriptions you posted..

A rescue needs to take only the number of horses it can afford without having to post craigslist adds begging for hay and grain or charge an arm and a leg for a horse that is only sound for plodding around the pasture (speaking in general, not this rescue). I think it is fair of them to be looking to get back the adoption rescue fee of the horse, and some more of their expenses if they can. However they should not be looking to make profit, IMO.

Considering the prices of horses right now, I would be very picky with rescuing (Especially because of Crimsonshorse's point that you never really have true ownership of the horse, no papers generally, etc). If I am going to spend $2500 on a horse, I'll probably just buy it.

Personally, I would rescue a horse if I was looking for something to pamper and ride for fun and wouldn't spend more than a grand on one. I want the rescue to stay open if it is a legit rescue, but it's usually not the best financial decision.

...and don't even get me started on the PMU "rescues"
 
#22 ·
Most of the rescues in my area are about $200-$1000 depending on the horse. I personally will not get a horse from a rescue however I am glade that they are there and some do not mind doing so.

I think charging those prices in this economy especially for the horses posted is way too much.
 
#23 ·
Quite frankly, unless you're actually active in bringing down negligent owners and providing a safehouse for severely abused animals, you're not rescueing a dang thing.

Going to feedlots or auctions and picking up cheap horses and then selling them for thirteen times you paid has a name - it's called FLIPPING. My 2 year old was a scruffy mess when I bought her, underweight, filthy and hooves longer then Aunt May's 80 year old breasts. I paid $800 for her, oh oh oh, I RESCUED her! Now payz me three thousand of dollarz plz.

It's great people are making sure these rideable animals aren't slipping under the cracks, but it infuriates me that they tug on people's heart strings by calling themselves a rescue when there are actual horses and charities out there that could use the money to help sick and injured animals confiscated from the local jerk off. Rescuing a three legged behemoth with the brains of a pickle off a feedlot isn't helping anyone.

But that's my two cents. I can just say a penny of my money will never go to these so called "rescues". My money goes to NON-profit organization who are out for solely the welfare of the animal.
 
#25 ·
Dear God, STAY AWAY FROM CROSSED SABERS!!!!

She's a shyster, scam artist, and just wants the money so she can pay her private bills with it!

Celeita Cramer is well known among real rescues and knowledgeable horse people, and she's shunned by the equestrian community.

Unless things have changed she is NOT registered as a 501(c)3, although she tells everyone she is.

NONE of those horses on her website are even close to being as advertised.

You don't have to take my word for it, just Google her name and read what comes up about her.

She's a piece of ****e, and there are people working behind the scenes to get her shut down forever.

Stay far, far away from Second Wind and Crossed Sabers.

If you really want to help rescued horses, there are plenty of reputable rescues and adoption programs out there.
 
#63 ·
Dear God, STAY AWAY FROM CROSSED SABERS!!!!

She's a shyster, scam artist, and just wants the money so she can pay her private bills with it!

Celeita Cramer is well known among real rescues and knowledgeable horse people, and she's shunned by the equestrian community.

Unless things have changed she is NOT registered as a 501(c)3, although she tells everyone she is.

NONE of those horses on her website are even close to being as advertised.

You don't have to take my word for it, just Google her name and read what comes up about her.

She's a piece of ****e, and there are people working behind the scenes to get her shut down forever.

Stay far, far away from Second Wind and Crossed Sabers.

If you really want to help rescued horses, there are plenty of reputable rescues and adoption programs out there.
just googled her your right about being ****e how does she keep gettin away with it
 
#28 ·
If anyone wants to "rescue" one of my horses for $3000 I will let you take your pick. If you want to give me a few weeks I might be able to abuse and neglect them before you come to pick them up. Just bring cash and a horse trailer. I don't own a horse that looks as bad as the first horse. If she's not lame on both ends and sore in the middle I'll eat my hat. You're not getting much there for $2500.
 
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