Bringing home a new horse is an exciting milestone that requires time, patience, and careful consideration. Horses are unique individuals with their own personalities, training, and needs. A successful match depends on finding the right fit for both the horse and adopter.

At Colorado Horse Rescue, we don’t take that responsibility lightly. Our goal isn’t simply to help horses leave the rescue; it’s to create lasting partnerships where horses can thrive long term. Because our herd naturally changes with the needs of our community, finding the perfect match may take time, but our priority is always finding the right horse, not the fastest one.

Our Matching Process

Step 1: Tell Us About Yourself 

Every adoption begins with a Match Profile. This questionnaire helps us learn about your horse experience, riding and handling abilities, goals, facility, and the type of horse that will suit you best.

The more we know about you, the better we can identify horses that are likely to thrive in your care.

Step 2: Let’s Talk 

Within about a week of receiving your Match Profile, a member of our Placement Team will reach out to discuss your application. This conversation gives us the opportunity to learn more about your experience, answer questions, and determine whether we currently have a horse that could be a great fit.

Sometimes the perfect match is available right away. Other times, it’s worth waiting for the right horse to enter our gates.

Step 3: Meet Your Potential Partner 

If we believe we’ve found a promising match, we’ll schedule adoption appointments for you to spend time with the horse alongside one of our trainers and a member of the Placement Team.

For riding horses, we require a minimum of two in-person adoption appointments before placement.

These visits are much more than meet-and-greets. They give both you and the horse an opportunity to get to know one another while allowing our team to evaluate how you work together. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, handle, and ride the horse under the guidance of the trainer who knows them best.

These appointments help ensure that everyone is confident the partnership is the right one before any adoption is finalized.

Step 4: Final Steps 

Once we feel we have a great match, we take it from there! Our placement team completes a brand inspection (transfer of ownership), adoption contract, and ensures each horse is up to date on required medical tests and vaccines. Once all needed documentation is completed, we set a date!

Step 5: Welcome Home 

It’s official – your horse is coming home!

Before your horse goes home, we’ll discuss the type of trailer you’ll be using to ensure it’s a safe and appropriate option for your horse. We can accommodate pickups with most trailer types. However, we are unable to permit pickups using straight-load trailers or trailers with ramps, as our facilities and resources do not allow us to safely evaluate a horse’s ability to load with this equipment.

When you pick up your new equine partner, you’ll receive a take-home packet with everything you need to help them settle into their new home, including:

• Health and veterinary records
• Current feeding program
• Farrier schedule
• Brand inspection paperwork
• Any additional care or training information specific to your horse

Our team is always invested in the success of every placement, and we want our adopters to feel prepared as they begin this new adventure.

Why We Don’t Rush

It’s natural to feel excited when you meet a horse you connect with. But successful horse ownership is built on much more than a first impression.

Taking the time to evaluate compatibility helps prevent future challenges and gives both horse and adopter the best chance for a successful, lifelong partnership.

Our timeline also depends on the horses currently in our care. CHR’s herd naturally ebbs and flows with the needs of our community, so there may not always be a horse that fits your experience level or specific goals. Finding a beginner-safe horse or another highly sought-after type of horse can take time, and we’d rather wait for the right match than rush into the wrong one.

Our priority is finding the best possible match, not the fastest one. 

How to Increase Your Chances of Finding the Right Horse Sooner

While every adoption is unique, there are a few things that can make the matching process smoother and may increase the number of horses that could be a good fit for you.

Work with a trainer or instructor. One of the biggest advantages you can have during your horse search is a knowledgeable professional in your corner. A trainer or riding instructor can help you honestly assess your current skill level, attend adoption appointments with you, and continue supporting you after your horse comes home. Knowing an experienced horse person will be part of your journey often allows us to consider more potential matches with confidence.

Continue riding and building experience. If purchasing your first horse or returning to riding after several years away, spending time taking lessons before adopting can make a tremendous difference. Horses are always keeping us on our toes, and refreshing those fundamentals helps set both you and your future horse up for success.

Trust the process. Our placement team gets to know every horse in our care – their personalities, training, strengths, and areas where they need support. Sometimes the horse we recommend isn’t the one you expected, but our recommendations are always based on creating the safest, happiest, and most successful partnership possible.

Our ultimate goal isn’t simply to help you adopt a horse – it’s to help you find your horse. Taking a little extra time and surrounding yourself with the right support gives both you and your new partner the best opportunity for a lifetime together.

If you’re considering adopting a horse, check out our Available Horses and submit your Horse Match Profile. We can’t wait to find your perfect match!