Horse Donation & Free-LeaseDonate or Free-Lease Your Horse to High Horses Center for Equine-Assisted Services
Do you have a horse or pony that could make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities? Consider donating or free-leasing to High Horses Center for Equine-Assisted Services located in Sharon, VT, where your equine companion can become a cherished partner in our therapeutic riding programs!
Our herd members are the foundation of the High Horses team. As a non-profit accredited member center of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, we depend on the generosity of horse owners to donate or free-lease horses to be able to offer our equine-assisted services and programs. More than 4,500 caring and devoted horses of many different breeds, ages and sizes are serving individuals with disabilities across North America–almost all are donated or free-leased. If you have, or know of someone who has a horse or pony that you would consider donating or free-leasing to High Horses, please let us know! Read below for more information and how to contact us.
What We Look For in a Therapy Horse
Our program horses work in a unique and demanding environment. We are looking for horses that match the following criteria. Consider reaching out or completing the application even if your horse does not match all of these specific qualifications because some of this criteria can be trained.
Soundness: We are particularly interested in horses that are sound and able to carry riders safely and comfortably at the walk, trot, and in some cases, a canter. We do consider horses that need some maintenance, but due to our clients’ need for consistency and predictability, we want to be sure our horses’ health care needs will not take them out of use often as a result of a chronic injury or condition.
Temperament: We seek gentle, "bombproof" horses who are quiet and well-mannered on the ground, tolerant of people walking and trotting beside them, and often unpredictable, unbalanced or noisy rider behavior.
Experience: Horses with all sorts of experience can be a great fit. For the safety of riders, the horse must be gentle and indifferent toward objects moving nearby or touching them. The horse should also accept new experiences calmly and get along with other horses. They should be able to reside peacefully in a pasture or paddock.
Health: Horses must be overall healthy, with no lameness or significant medical issues. Minimal maintenance is preferred. We cannot accept horses with cushings.
Size: Please see Current Requests below, we may consider others based on our current needs.
Age: We prefer horses that are between 8 and 18 years, although we consider others based on our current needs.
Breeds: Quarter Horse, Warmblood, Irish Sport Horse, Morgan, Welsh Pony, Halflinger, Fjord, Draft breeds, Draft/Quarter Horse crosses, Arabian, Connemara, Shetland Pony and crosses of breeds
Current Requests
Draft type horse that is able to carry up to 200 pounds for our Adaptive Riding Program. No height limit. Must be able to walk, trot, and canter.
Draft/Quarter Horse Cross or similar to carry our 200 pound weight limit for our PT/OT sessions that needs to be lower to the ground for sidewalkers. No taller than 15.3 hands high.
Narrow Quarter Horse, Morgan, Arabian and cross type for clients that benefit from or need a narrow horse. No height limit.
Stocky Quarter Horse or similar type no more than 15 hands high
Small pony 11-13 hands high
Bigger pony 12-14 hands high - Fjord or Haflinger or cross for example
The Donation & Free-Lease Process
If you think your horse would make a great therapy horse and addition to our High Horses herd, please follow the steps below:
1.
Contact Us: We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to our Herd Manager, Sydney Hoyt, at 802-763-3280 ext 41 or sydney@highhorses.org. We’ll discuss our current equine needs and start with an initial screening to learn more about your horse and how they might fit into our programs.
2.
Meet and Greet: If we all feel it’s a great match, our Herd Manager will arrange a time to visit and get to know your horse better – this includes grooming, tacking, and riding. Should we decide to proceed, we’ll send you our Horse Donation & Free-Lease Application, allowing you to provide more details about your horse’s experiences and unique qualities.
3.
Trial Period: All approved horses will go through a 30-day trial to make sure they are happy and thriving in their new role. If it turns out not to be the right fit, we ask that you be ready to reclaim your horse at the end of this period.
4.
Agreement: If we all agree that your horse is a great addition to our program, we’ll work together to complete our Horse Donation & Free-Lease Agreement. We’re excited about the possibility of welcoming your horse to our herd!
Benefits of Donating or Free-Leasing
Impact: Your horse will play a crucial role in supporting the healing journey for differently abled individuals with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions.
Tax Deductions: You may be eligible for state and federal tax deductions for your donation. Consult your tax advisor for details.
Legacy: Your horse's legacy will continue as it becomes a beloved part of our therapeutic community.
Herd Life at High Horses
Our horses typically serve two or three participants per day, three to five days per week. They receive routine hoof care, vaccinations, regular deworming and dental care. We are also able to offer complementary therapies such as massage therapy and physical vascular therapy with our BEMER blanket. We are fortunately able to have our herd turned out in the pastures on our 40-acre property, where they always have shelter available in three-sided sheds. Daily care and feeding are provided by the barn staff and a dedicated group of volunteers.
Contact Us
For more information or to start the process, please contact our Herd Manager, Sydney Hoyt, at:
Phone: 802-763-3280 ext 41
Email: sydney@highhorses.org