The Intake Process

People often ask where our horses come from, and it isn’t a simple answer. There are many situations where horses need sanctuary, and we fill that need whenever possible. Here are three types of intakes at our rescue:

New Mexico Livestock Board: This is the official department that is responsible for estray animals and cruelty cases. Thanks to SB 271, any horse that comes into the possession of the NMLB gets offered to licensed rescues first. There are 12 of us in the state of New Mexico, so we share the responsibility of taking these horses into safety.

Owner surrender: When circumstances change, it is often the most loving choice to find another home for our animals. We will take ownership in times of financial hardship or other life events. However, we do our best to help the animal succeed in its current home or find another home first, before we bring them here.

Adoption Return: In our adoption contract, it is agreed that we get the first right of refusal if a horse isn’t able to stay in the adopted home. That means that if someone adopts a horse, they are not allowed to sell it elsewhere. We want to keep track of where each of these horses ends up and make sure they are placed appropriately.