Facility Guidelines

FREEDOM HILL HORSE RESCUE, INC.

Facility Guidelines that must be in place for potential Adopters

and carried out during adoption period

* All equine adopted from Freedom Hill Horse Rescue (FHHR) must be provided shelter for

all weather conditions, use of stalls and/or shelters in the fields.

* Equines must have availability to a stall in case of injury or illness.

* Under no circumstances will equine be adopted out as either birthday or Christmas gifts.

* Freedom Hill Horse Rescue reserves the right to deny adoption for any reason, indiscretion

and is not obligated to state any reason.

* At no time during the adoption procedure period shall an adopted equine be tied and left

unattended.

* Horse size and riders weight guidelines will be followed as in this Heavier Riders' Guide 

( www.gaitedhorses.net/articles/HRiderguide.shtml ) Fully tacked a green horse should carry no more than 20% of the horses weight. Conditioned horses no more than 25%.

Stabling Facilities:

1.       All stabling facilities shall have designated areas for disposal of soiled bedding, garbage and other such debris so as to prevent vermin infestation, odors and disease.

2.        Facilities shall have a designated exam area which is safe and well lit with electricity available for use by a vet or farrier.

3.       Facilities shall have on hand all materials necessary for emergency first aid.

4.       Facilities shall have necessary tools and implements to properly care for equines.

5.       Secure storage for food, medications and care items must be available.

Shelters:

1.       Shelter for equines shall be designed so they are structurally sound with sides and a roof.

2.       Shelters shall be maintained in good repair and free from sharp edges or objects to avoid injury.

3.       Shelters shall be free from accumulated waste and debris and have no standing water.

4.       Shelter must be of adequate size to accommodate all equine regardless of breed/health.

5.       Equines must be able to go into and out of shelter with ease and without fear of an equine higher in the pecking order.

6.       All shelters must have ample natural or artificial lighting and be well ventilated.

* Trees and tarp covered wooden frames are NOT considered adequate shelter. Also keeping

certain equines adopted from FHHR may have specific needs and requirements not

addressed above.

Stalls:

1.       All stalls shall be box type stalls constructed of material of sufficient thickness to properly contain equines according to their size, sex and temperament.

2.       Stall ceilings shall be of sufficient height to prevent injury to the equine.

3.       All equines adopted from FHHR shall have access to a stall if needed for medical reasons, equine adopted from FHHR may require the regular use of a stall due to health/ age /temperment reasons.

4.       Stalls must be constructed in such a way as to prevent injury from horses in adjoining stalls.

5.       Bedding and/ or mats are required in stalls. Bedding is required if the horse is stalled greater than 6 hrs a day.

6.       Bedding must be non toxic and as free from dust and mold as possible.

7.       Stalls shall be kept clean, dry and free from excessive manure accumulation or ammonia.

8.       Stalls shall be well ventilated and draft free and sufficiently cool in the heat and warm in the cold.

* Sick equine are prone to lay down more and may require deeper bedding.

* Dust and molds can cause colic.

Grain Storage:

1.       Grain and hay shall be kept in a clean, dry room or building secured from the equines.

2.       Grain shall be free of contaminants and stored in such a way as to prevent rodents.

Hay & Hay Storage:

1.       Hay shall be of good nutritive quality and free from contaminants.

2.       Hay shall be stored in an area that is well ventilated to prevent combustion from the heat.

3.       Hay shall be stored in a building to protect it from extreme weather conditions.

* Dust and molds can cause coli AND respiratory problems

Proper Feed:

1.       Grain shall be fed in sufficient quantity and have an appropriate nutritive value for breed, work and age to allow the equine to maintain adequate weight and body condition unless under a vet’s supervision.

2.       Equines must be fed separately to ensure the equine receives nutrition in sufficient amounts.

3.       Equines shall have access to adequate natural forage or hay on a daily basis.

4.       All storage and feeding receptacles shall be kept free from contaminants such as rodents, insects, etc.

* The type of food and quantity currently being fed to equines adopted from FHHR will be

supplied to adopter.

* Some equines MUST be maintained on food in a quantity recommended by FHHR and fed in

intervals. If an equine you are adopting falls into this category instructions will be included

and may not be changed except on the recommendation of your vet.

Outdoor Facilities:

1.       Fields, paddocks and other outside areas where equines are turned out shall be free from dangerous objects.

2.       Fences shall be sturdy and in good repair.

3.       Gates shall be sturdy and in good repair to prevent injury.

4.       Gates shall be free from sharp edges.

5.       Gates shall have secure latches that can not be opened by the equines.

Fences:

1.       Fencing must be at least four(4) feet and up in height.

2.       Preferred fences are three(3) or four(4) board with wooden posts, welded pipe fencing, cyclone fencing, farm or field fence, or vinyl fencing with wooden posts.

3.       An electric wire across the top of the fence is suggested but not required.

4.       UNACCEPTABLE FENCING is barbed wire and high tensile that is not electric unless the area fenced is very large in relation to the quantity of equines and pasture land in between.

* Other types of fencing or combination of fencing will have to be evaluated on a case by case

scenario. Certain types of fencing may be unacceptable for specific equine based on their

personal ability to get into trouble.

Water Supply:

1.       Water and water receptacles shall be clean, free of contaminants and available at all times.

2.       Ponds or streams are NOT an acceptable water source.

3.       Water receptacles in stalls or fields must be free from ice through the winter to avoid colic.

4.       Quantity of water available must be adequate for the number of equine in an area.

5.       Equine that must be stalled must have fresh water and full water receptacles daily.

* Equine must have sufficient water to avoid impaction colic and dehydration.

Other Equine Housed On The Property:

1.       All equine housed on the property shall be in good health and healthy weight.

2.       Equines hooves shall be in good condition.

3.       The appearance of equines coat should be good and coincide with seasonal and weather conditions.

Quantity Of Land:

1.       Facility must have a pen as a method of introducing new equine into a field with existing equine.

2.       Area of property must be large enough to accommodate the equines that exist there and to allow proper exercise.

* Foundered equine will require a dry paddock for turn out and not turned out on grass without a grazing muzzle.

* Some adopted equine may have special requirements based on their limitations.

Necessary Vet Care:

1.       All equine adopted from FHHR shall be afforded immediate vet care if known for an injury, accidental or deliberate, or exhibiting signs of shock, colic, founder, broken bones, open wounds, inability to eat or drink, blistering (as a result or fire or acid), trouble breathing, partial or total paralysis, abnormal discharge or bleeding, signs of distress from fluctuation, persistent diarrhea and inability to bear weight on a limb or lameness.

2.       The following are required for all adopted FHHR equine:

A.      Hoof Care: Hoof care maintenance and trimming shall be done every six to eight weeks. Special equine may require more frequent care, if so that will be listed in the adoption papers.

B.      Parasite Control: Equine must be wormed every six to eight weeks.

C.      Dental check up and necessary treatment, to ensure proper and adequate food digestion, must be done annuallyOR  more frequently if recommended by dentist or vet.

D.      You must vaccinate all FHHR equine. Veterinarians, due to specific area or locale, may recommed vaccinations that are needed for your area and also every equine must have a yearly Coggins test. A copy of the Coggins must be submitted to FHHR during the one year adoption procedure.

* When adopting an FHHR equine there may be explicit veterinary care required for them to be adopted. If so additional care will be listed in your adoption paper AND you will be made aware of them before adoption.

For additional information please feel free to contact us by either writing or calling with

the information provided below.

Freedom Hill Horse Rescue

P.O. Box 606

Dunkirk, MD 20754

Ph# (410) 474-7662

Fax#  (410) 257-2766 ( Call cell number to notify of a incoming fax)

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Website: www.freedomhillhorserescue.com 

Here is a copy of our adoption agreement:

ADOPTION_AGREEMENT_2011.doc.pdf

Freedom Hill Horse Rescue is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization