“The Adoption Affaire has become a special part of Equine Affaire over the years, and we are honored to continue partnering with the ASPCA Right Horse Program in Ohio and in Massachusetts,” says Allison Rehnborg, marketing coordinator for Equine Affaire. “Visiting the Adoption Affaire stalls in the Horse & Farm Exhibits is an incredibly heartwarming experience at both of our events because you can see horses and people connecting in some truly special ways. I’ve had the privilege of hearing about the horses adopted at Equine Affaire thriving in their new homes months and years after the fact. Sometimes we even get to see them again because their owners bring them back to participate in our clinics or demos.”

Finding the Fun

The Adoption Affaire was a huge success from the get-go, and it continues to grow.

“We’ve noticed, especially over the last couple of years at the Ohio event, that public support is increasing,” says Bailey Richards, ASPCA Right Horse Program manager. “We’ve seen more people seek out the adoption barn instead of stumbling upon it.”

These visitors have expressed that they wanted to get to the barn early before all of the horses were adopted. But even if you aren’t specifically seeking out the Adoption Barn, you won’t have any trouble finding it.

“Equine Affaire is a fantastic partner of ours,” says Richards. “They let us put up signs across the whole area.”

In addition, whenever they are out of their stalls, adoptable horses wear special bright orange saddle pads and coolers with the words “adopt me” in large letters. Anyone with questions can talk directly with the horses’ handlers or visit the ASPCA Right Horse booth.

Richards says that you might also become aware of the Adoption Affaire when you see horses strolling down an orange carpet accompanied by a ringing bell and an announcement that they have been adopted. Adopted horses and their owners are treated like celebrities with photos and cheering to celebrate the occasion.

Finally, during a showcase activity, adoptable horses are brought out to perform while information about them is shared.

Success Stories Abound

According to Richards, ASPCA Right Horse Partners brought 32 horses to the Equine Affaire this past April in Ohio. Twenty-eight of those were adopted on-site. As they were returning home, interest in adoption was expressed for the remaining four horses.

Some of the most memorable adoption stories include Brianne, who adopted her first horse, Tootsie, at the 2023 Equine Affaire Ohio. In 2024, she returned with her husband to volunteer at the adoption barn. During the event, Brianne, who is expecting a baby, became interested in adding a second adoptable equine to add to the family, Toledo. Her husband, Hunter, then arranged for a surprise adoption!

Another adoption success story is that of Noelle. Noelle, a 30-year-old pony, prefers children to adults and had strong preferences about who her adopter might be. Harper, Noelle’s eventual adopter, felt equally strong about finding her perfect match. During the Ohio Equine Affaire, the two formed an instant, mutual connection that led to an adoption and new partnership.

Planning for Massachusetts

Equine Affaire Massachusetts is set for November 6-9, 2025, and the Adoption Affaire will be featured within the Horse & Farm Exhibits area in C-Barn. The Adoption Affaire will include a variety of rescues and sanctuaries with healthy, trained, adoptable horses of a variety of breeds, backgrounds, and ages. Attendees can meet the horses in person and apply to adopt on the spot. Regardless of your specific reason for attending the event, a chance to meet, learn more, and potentially adopt a horse is a can’t-miss occasion.

This article about the Adoption Affaire at Equine Affaire appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Adoption Affaire at Equine Affaire appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Rolo, a 23-year-old, 15.0hh Tennessee Walking Horse (Grade) mare
Organization: Houston Humane Society, Houston, Texas

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Rolo

Rolo is the wise, gentle elder of the barn. With her striking pinto coat and calm demeanor, she exudes a sense of serenity that puts everyone at ease. Although she’s no longer interested in riding, Rolo still loves to spend her days grazing in the pasture, enjoying the simple pleasures of life. She’s a patient and nurturing soul, often seen quietly observing the younger horses and offering them a calming presence. Rolo enjoys her daily grooming sessions, where she stands still and appreciates the gentle attention, as well as the occasional treat—especially Nickerdoodles, which she happily accepts with a soft nudge. She’s the type of horse who loves quiet companionship, and while she may move slower these days, she’s still full of grace and charm. Rolo is the heart of the herd, and her loving nature makes her a cherished companion for all who know her.

Please note that Rolo has squamous cell carcinoma on the left eye, and possible osteoarthritis in pelvis/hind limbs.

A few fun facts about Rolo:

Favorite Activity: Grazing peacefully in the pasture and soaking up the sun

Likes: Quiet moments, gentle brushing, snacks, and spending time with her favorite human

Dislikes: Loud noises, abrupt changes, and being rushed

Contact Houston Humane Society today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Rolo!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Rolo appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Imagine finding the horse of your dreams online, only to discover that he was thousands of miles away. While that may not be an unusual traditional horse shopping experience, for a potential adoptive family, it can seem like an insurmountable obstacle. The good news is that doesn’t need to be the case.

Geographic Barrier

No story about long-distance horse adoption would be complete without at least mentioning sisters Ava and Ilana of West Virginia. Ilana, 12, had already adopted a local horse, but Ava, 11, while reading an article titled “Reimagining Racers” in the March 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated, wanted to adopt a second one.

The story led her to the myrighthorse.org website, the ASPCA’s online adoption platform for equines, where she discovered Little Man, the horse she wanted to call her own.

The catch? He was located more than 1,000 miles away at the ASPCA Equine Transition and Adoption Center (ETAC) near Oklahoma City, Okla. Undeterred, Ava worked together with her family to facilitate the long-distance adoption and bring her new horse home.

Raising Awareness

While the tenacity of youth can almost always be counted on to overcome obstacles, long-distance horse adoption can also be easy for the rest of us.

Libby Hanon, equine adoption and marketing specialist with the ASPCA, has some great advice to anyone in this situation. One of the first barriers she faces in placing horses in long-distance adoptable homes is awareness.

“We strive to make people aware that there are adoptable horses nationwide,” she says. “The ASPCA has tried to eliminate that barrier via myrighthorse.org. It’s a powerful tool that brings awareness to adoptable horses. It showcases adoptable horses from 40-plus ASPCA Right Horse Partners.”

She says that these partners are the best of the best, putting horses through a comprehensive intake process, including veterinary and training evaluations, so that they can provide the information that potential adopters seek when searching the website.

Not Sight Unseen

Another potential long-distance barrier for horse adoption is that, for a variety of reasons, the prospective adopter may not be able to physically see the horse before they decide to adopt him. Here again, the ASPCA and Right Horse Adoption Partners work to reduce or eliminate the barrier.

“We pride ourselves on transparency,” says Hanon. “We do everything possible to make the adopter feel as if they are having that in-person experience.”

She says that her organization works with potential adopters through Zoom, FaceTime, or videos to facilitate a similar experience. Using technology, adopters can see the horse being caught in the pasture, groomed, ridden, loaded onto a trailer, and more.

Horse Adoption Express

Getting the horse to his adoptive home thousands of miles away may, at first, seem like a major complication. This is where the ASPCA’s Horse Adoption Express (HAE) program comes in.

“The HAE was instituted because we saw a need on different levels,” says Hanon. “One of those needs was to transport horses between Adoption Partners. Different breeds can have their popularity regionally.”

She describes HAE as a network of followers and transporters that can get horses to other Partners, where they can be adopted more easily.

Another aspect of HAE is to get horses to adopters more simply and economically.

“Getting a horse to an adopter is another way we are lowering those barriers to long-distance adoptions with the HAE program,” says Hanon.

The HAE transport-to-adopter stipend program is offered at any distance to companion or non-riding horses, and if ridable horses are located 250 miles or more away from their adopter, then they are also eligible for a stipend equal to half the cost of transport up to $500. Hanon says that on myrighthorse.org, around 70 percent of the inquiries and adoptions are happening long-distance.

That figure is echoed at the ASPCA, where 75 percent of the adoptions from ETAC in 2023 were long-distance.

Safety Net

Whether you buy or adopt a horse, sometimes things just don’t work out. One of the many positive aspects of horse adoption through an ASPCA Right Horse Partner is that no matter the distance, there are Partners nationwide that provide a safety net and will take these horses back.

Hanon says that successfully placing horses into adoptable homes is her passion.

“My mindset is that every inquiry I get, whether it be local or long-distance, is an opportunity to bring that person into our adoption family,” she says. “We make this doable. We make it fun.”

She explains that she wants adopters and potential adopters alike to feel like a community. The ASPCA encourages potential adopters to visit myrighthorse.org and inquire about their Right Horse with confidence, no matter the distance.

This article about ASPCA Right Horse’s solution to long-distance horse adoption appeared in the August 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Solutions for Long-Distance Horse Adoption appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Cheyenne & Whisper

Alexa Atchison of West Farmington, Ohio, had always dreamed of owning a horse.

“When I was told that I was going to get one, I couldn’t keep my eyes off myrighthorse.org,” Atchison says.

While much needed to be done before she and her family were able to bring a new horse home, when she saw Cheyenne and her dam advertised, they immediately planned a visit for the following day to ASPCA Right Horse Partner Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary in nearby Raveena, Ohio. During the visit, while Atchison was busy meeting the horses, her father noticed the cute-faced Whisper in the stall across the aisle.

“Her fee happened to be waived for Adopt a Horse Month,” Atchison says. The family was smitten with her and signed the papers that evening. “I fell in love with Cheyenne, and Whisper was the perfect companion to help her leave her mother. I was thrilled, because not only did my dream come true with bringing Cheyenne home, but because of Adopt a Horse Month, we were able to bring Whisper home, too.”

Pony Hero

In 2024, Alina Bartlett of Springdale, Ark., adopted Hero. Bartlett had previously adopted other horses from the ASPCA Equine Transition and Adoption Center (ETAC) in El Reno, Okla., but unlike her other adoptions, Hero was not supposed to stay.

In the process of being relinquished by owners that could no longer care for him, Hero stayed with Bartlett overnight before she was to return him to the ETAC.

“He was coming to my house for only one night,” Bartlett recalls. She says that while she didn’t know Hero’s entire story, she did know that at some point he was mistreated. “In his younger years as he was growing, his halter had grown into his soft tissue and had to be surgically removed.”

Hero was also exhibiting some behavioral challenges while at Bartlett’s home. He was very nervous and untrusting around people. As such, Bartlett placed Hero in a stall and advised her boyfriend, David, to be watchful. Wanting to ease David’s mind, she also told him not to worry because the pony would be going back to the ASPCA in the morning.

A bit later, as Bartlett was feeding her other horses, she found David sitting in a lawn chair in the stall with Hero. Soon enough, Hero had taken to David and was allowing him to give pets and scratches, much to everyone’s surprise.

“I had no need for a pony, nor did I want this one,” Bartlett says. “I was taking this pony back and adopting another horse.” David, however, had another idea. He spent hours in the stall forming a bond with the timid little pony.

“David fell in love with this pony,” she says. The next morning, as she went to hook up her trailer and head out, David told her to call whoever she needed to and find out how to keep the pony.

Now, she says, on top of the many horses they already have, they also have a pony that is just around for David to love on.

“Hero is very spoiled and really only likes David,” Bartlett says. “He was meant to be here with David. They needed each other.”

Ella’s Story

“Adopt a Horse Month is such a great opportunity to promote our available equines,” says Allison Hungerford, director of communications for the Susquehanna SPCA in Cooperstown, N.Y., an ASPCA Right Horse Partner.

In 2024, the organization received a stipend from the ASPCA Right Horse program to spend on paid advertising for their horses, something that allowed them to expand their audience.

“The opportunity was one that I was grateful for because so many of our adoptable horses at the time were going to be happiest living out their days as companions only, which is something that can be an adoption hurdle,” she says. With the stipend, Hungerford was able to target groups looking for horses similar to the ones at the facility.

“While these promotions increased inquiries for all of our adoptable equines, there was one horse in particular that found her match through the campaign,” Hungerford says.

Ella had come to the Susquehanna SPCA through a suspected animal cruelty case.

“She was extremely emaciated upon arrival and had a foal at her side that she was caring for,” Hungerford recalls. “After the case was closed, Ella became ours. Ella’s foal was quickly adopted, and she was healthy and searching for a pasture where she could spend her days relaxing while munching on grass, maybe participating in some light riding now and then.”

Hungerford says that sadly, Ella kept getting overlooked and had been waiting for her person to come along for quite some time.

“With the help of paid and targeted advertising, I was able to reach folks who lived in areas we weren’t necessarily accessing with our regular organic outreach,” she says. “This did the trick for sweet Ella, and she found her match!”

Facilitating Adoption

When the Adopt a Horse Month initiative officially started, everyone involved dreamed about how it would evolve and what it would one day become.

“Adopt a Horse Month plays a critical role in raising awareness and excitement around equine adoption,” says Cailin Caldwell, director of the ASPCA Right Horse Program. “In 2024, thousands of horse lovers explored equine adoption for the first time by visiting myrighthorse.org and met adoptable horses online.”

Caldwell says that as a result, more than 200 horses, donkeys, and mules found homes during the month through ASPCA Right Horse Partners.

“We’re hoping to make this year’s Adopt a Horse Month even more impactful and encourage everyone to get involved,” she says. “If you know someone looking for a horse, encourage them to consider adoption by visiting myrighthorse.org or their local adoption group. Or share on your social media channels to raise awareness and interest in these amazing horses. Whether you’re looking to adopt or not, there are countless ways to get involved and support these amazing equines.”

Be part of something big during Adopt a Horse Month 2025. Join The Rescue Effort to see how one adoption creates space for more horses to be helped. Learn more at aspca.org.

This article about Adopt a Horse Month appeared in the May 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Adopt a Horse Month 2025: Finding Forever appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Stella, a 18-year-old, 14.2hh grade Appaloosa mare
Organization: Susquehanna SPCA, Cooperstown, N.Y.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Stella

Stella is an 18-year-old mare that came into Susquehanna SPCA’s care after her previous owner fell upon hard times. Stella is short, sweet, and very food-motivated. She is completely blind, but it doesn’t slow her down. This pint-sized lady confidently navigates the world around her and adapts to change in stride. For instance, Stella is very comfortable with being led, trailering, entering new spaces, and locating her food and water sources. When out to pasture, Stella utilizes her remaining senses and the guidance of her companion, Matilda, to learn where boundaries lie. These best friends would love to find a home together!

Contact Susquehanna SPCA today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Stella!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Stella appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Lucille, a 25-year-old, 15.0hh Tennessee Walking Horse mare
Organization: West Virginia Horse Network, Elkview, W.Va.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Lucille

Lucille, also known as Keepsake, is looking for the perfect home where she can live her best life munching treats, hanging out with friends and looking beautiful. West Virginia Horse Network’s veterinarian believes her ideal career is being a pet or pasture puff because of an old injury. She is fully pasture sound without any additional supplements or extra care. She also does excellent being led through obstacles and playing games on the ground. She’d do fine with in-hand obstacles at a local show or in a therapy program.

Lucille has been adopted and returned several times now, due to no fault whatsoever of her own. It has just been a string of unfortunate luck. We’d love to find a new and long term placement for her quickly, with a new friend.

Contact West Virginia Horse Network today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Lucille!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Lucille appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Perfectly Peppy, a 17-year-old, 15.2hh Appaloosa mare
Organization: Wild at Heart Horse Rescue, Lancaster, Calif.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Perfectly Peppy

Meet Perfectly Peppy, a 2008 registered Appaloosa mare with a sweet personality and a lot of potential. Peppy has been trained to be ridden and, while she’s a little out of practice, she’s currently in Wild at Heart’s training program and making great progress. She does have a sway back, but with the proper pad under her saddle, she rides beautifully. Peppy is the perfect partner for someone looking to bond with a horse and help her shine. If you’re ready for a fun and rewarding journey, Peppy is waiting to meet you.

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Perfectly Peppy appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Brew, a 17-year-old, 13.3hh grade gelding
Organization: MSPCA at Nevins Farm, Methuen, Mass.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Brew

If you ever wanted a horse-sized Bulldog, Brew is your guy! This stocky gentleman is looking for his new digs. Due to his conformation, Brew is adoptable as companion only and should not be ridden. His legs are quite short for his body and his front fetlock joints are both dropped. This does not stop this boy from kicking up his heels while out in the paddock, though! After reviewing with MSPCA’s vets, they have determined he is not painful and has most likely been this way his whole life. Upon ultrasound, we were able to rule out Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Disease (DSLD), as his ligaments looked quite healthy.

Brew is a pretty easygoing guy and is able to turn out with both mares and geldings. He leads well, though sometimes thinks he is a bulldozer and needs a quick little reminder that he is, in fact, attached to a human. He is very responsive and very sweet; he just needs a little tune-up. Brew is up to date on all vet and farrier care and is a pretty easy keeper, maintaining on just a bit of balancer and first-cut hay.

If you are looking for a big hunk of a gelding to love on, or if your current horse is lonely, please submit an adoption inquiry for ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week Brew and a staff member from MSPCA at Nevins Farm will be in touch.

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Brew appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Nyssa, a 12-year-old, 15.0hh American Paint Horse mare
Organization: Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, Shoals, W.Va. (now in training at MB Equine in Indiana)

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Nyssa

Nyssa is a stock-type Paint mare who requires an upper level rider and will need someone with a good trainer as a resource for lessons and potentially additional training.

Nyssa has pushed and sorted cattle at the stockyards, gone on a weekend overnight camping trip, packed saddle bags, ridden double, ponied other horses, worked on obstacles, and successfully ridden in a back cinch. Nyssa will walk, trot, lope, stop, and back. She has the prettiest little jog and all of her gaits are smooth as can be. She has potential to be a playday horse or even a western pleasure horse.

She is great in the field with mares and geldings, and low in the pecking order. She is easy to catch and also content being in a stall. Nyssa stands for bathing, grooming, saddling, mounting, and dismounting. She loads and unloads in the trailer with ease. She hauls well with zero problems. She has all the brains, size, and looks you can ask for!

Nyssa headed to training in February and will be adoptable soon from MB Equine in Indiana.

If you are interested in adopting ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week Nyssa, apply here.

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Nyssa appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Adoptable Horse: Sunset Dragunn, an 11-year-old, 16.0hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: CANTER California, Davis, Calif.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Sunset Dragunn

Sunset Dragunn is a Retired Racehorse Project-eligible 11-year-old dark bay Thoroughbred gelding standing just over 16 hands. This handsome war horse boasts 60 starts and nearly $250,000 in winnings. By Bold Chieftain and out of Luke’s Finest (by Indian Charlie), Dragunn has a wealth of experience and is looking for a loving forever home.

Dragunn retired sound from the track in September of 2024. CANTER’s veterinarians advise that he is best suited for a lower-level riding home (no jumping) based on fetlock X-rays (available upon request for serious inquiries). With his classic good looks, uphill build, and floaty gaits, CANTER thinks he would make a perfect lower-level dressage mount. He is up to date on vaccinations and dental care and does not currently require any additional maintenance.

Dragunn is a smart, sensitive horse. He has been ridden walk/trot/canter by a few different people while under CANTER’s care. He had only been with CANTER for about a month when he was used as demonstration horse for the mounted archery performance at UC Davis Horse Day. He handled the unfamiliar location, grandstand full of people, galloping horses, and sounds (including a cymbal) beautifully and impressed everyone with his professionalism.

His perfect person is an intermediate level and above rider in a training program. This rider is calm, confident, and consistent. Dragunn appreciates clear, fair expectations, and patience while he is figuring out what is being asked. He is a one-person kind of horse and is not suitable for a lesson program. He has a very sweet temperament and is a favorite among CANTER’s volunteers. They are confident that he will blossom with the right person!

If interested in meeting ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week Sunset Dragunn, please fill out this interest form and a member of CANTER California’s team will be in touch.

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Sunset Dragunn appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.