Adoption Procedures

You want to adopt a rescued horse? Fantastic!

We are also greatly in need of donations, so please visit our website at http://www.falconridgerescue.org/how-to-help/ to donate!
FIRST - YOU will be screened first on if you are right for adoption of one of our horses. Please take a look at the horses for adoption on this blog and read through what we are looking for in adopters. If you are interested in any of the horses and feel they are a good fit for your riding ability and experience, then once you see a horse you are interested in, do the following:

1. Please call Nicki Branch at 760-519-2190 if you are interested in seeing a horse for adoption. DO NOT TEXT or Email. Tell Nicki about yourself and what you are looking for in a horse and how its life would be with you and your family, your horses and experience. Tell her which horse you saw on the blog you are interested in. Do not say "what do you have?" as we have 45 rescued horses here. Tell her if you currently have horses, or horses you have owned in the past, how much you ride, how you ride, facility, etc. If Nicki likes how you sound, then she will have you set up an appointment with our trainer Julie Picot for you to come meet the horse here at FalconRidge if you are interested in a riding horse. This will be dependent on Julies schedule and hours. For companion only and nonriding horses you would set up the appointment with Nicki to see the horse. If you do not follow these basic instructions do not expect a call back for we want intelligent adopters who are able to follow simple instructions.

We are located in Valley Center, California. We do not adopt horses to Mexico or out of the country. Rideable horses for adoption are available to see by appointment only with Julie Picot. Nonrideable horses for adoption are available for viewing by an appointment only with Nicki. FalconRidge Ranch is Nicki's private home and property, not a public facility. The ranch is closed on any day if it rains or has rained one or two days prior.


Thank you for wanting to adopt a horse, instead of breed or buy one! Don't shop, ADOPT!

2. Once you have been screened by phone, and have your appointment set up to see your horse, you will be screened in person at FalconRidge to see if you are a good fit for the horse. We want a successful match between horse and it's possible FOREVER owner!

3. If you want a horse for adoption after seeing it in person, and have been approved by Nicki, you will be given an adoption contract to fill out with all your personal information needed. Once that has been approved and your adoption fee paid, you will be allowed to take your horse home.

We are looking for owners who adopt a horse into their family for the rest of it's life. Adoptable horses are shown by scheduled appointments only. Please make sure you make your appointment time and if you cannot, please call to say why. We are looking for committed and responsible mature owners, which means those people who can keep appointments. Realize if you adopt a horse, you cannot legally sell, give away, breed or lease it out. It is for you and you only.

No first time horse owners who have no experience leasing or riding horses or who have no trainer. Horses must be placed where there is at least one other horse, or if there are neighboring horses that are nearby, that is acceptable as they are herd animals. Please do not contact us if you have a horse you have to sell first in order to adopt, want to trade, or if you cannot afford the adoption fee. We do not do "trades". We are looking for families who keep horses for life. Financial responsibility is required. We do NOT allow BREEDING, leasing or borrowing out of any adopted horse. Adoption fees are tax deductible (they help support the rescues feed and vet costs) and they are non-refundable.

We are looking for loving homes FOR LIFE and owners who wish to commit to the horse as a family member, take the time to bond with it, train it further if needed, grow and learn with it. We would rather horses be in homes as family members, not as worker bees who "have" to have a job. Some of these horses have already been through that or worse and deserve not to work. We do not adopt horses out as lesson horses. Horses make great pets in addition to riding companions and companions on the ground! Horses on the ground can help people who have PTSD or stress just be being around them!

There is no deposit to "hold" a horse for adoption and it is first come first served on approved adopters interested in the same horse. Please be honest when describing your experience to us with horses as it assures the correct horse is matched to your horsemanship capabilities creating an appropriate and successful human/horse match.

We have great horses are here for great people! Some horses are not rescue horses who have been neglected in the past, but have instead been donated by private parties to help raise funds for the rescue as they know we find good homes only. We have a very successful adoption program with a high success rate and have enriched the lives of numerous families by allowing them to adopt one or more of our very special horses. Adopters love our horses!

NOTE - There are some horses that you can see that have been rescued were on Nicki's Facebook page (Nicki Branch), or on the FalconRidge Facebook page who are currently under evaluation or retraining and therefore not "up" here for adoption yet. IF you are interested in one of those horses in the future, please contact me at nickbranch@aol.com by email.

PLEASE DISREGARD THE 2012 DATE ON THIS BLOG, I cannot change it so realize this list is kept up to date! If the horses are on here they are for adoption and current! Thank you!


A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO YOU FROM THE HORSES

"I am not an until you get bored or lose interest in me horse.

I am not an until your child goes off to college or finds boys instead horse.

I am not an until I get old horse.

I am not an until I get lame horse.

I am not an until you have to move horse.

I am not an until you get a new younger horse horse.

I am not an until you get pregnant horse.

I am a FOREVER HORSE. I am FAMILY.

If you cannot promise FOREVER, I am not your horse.

I have been through too much already."

RIDING OR HALTERBROKE ONLY HORSES

Bailey

Bailey

Bailey

Bailey is an 8 year old paint mare up for adoption. She has been in training for several months with our trainer Julie Picot. She is a solid walk, trot and canter in the roundpen and has been ponied on trail so far. Healthy and sound, this girl stands 15.1 hands high and will need an advanced experienced rider. Adoption fee, $1000.

NON-RIDEABLE HORSES FOR ADOPTION

The horses below are non-rideable horses for adoption

Phoenix

Phoenix

Phoenix

Phoenix

Phoenix

Phoenix is a quarter horse gelding up for adoption. He is approximately 20 yrs old and stands 14.3 hands high. He appears to have been trained in western pleasure riding. Light riding only due to tender feet. Phoenix would love an adoptive home with an experienced horse person or family. Adoption fee $500

Polar Kap

Polar Kap

Polar Kapp

Polar Kapp

Polar Kapp

Polar Kapp is a 14 yr old registered arabian gelding up for adoption as a companion horse only. He arrived with severe ringbone in his front hoof so he cannot be ridden. He has personality plus though and is just gorgeous, tall at 15.2 hands. Would make someone an amazing pet with his super funny personality. A wonderful addition to your family. Adoption fee, free

Charm

Charm

Charm

Charm is a 6 yr old thoroughbred mare up for adoption. She stands 16 hands tall and has a very sweet personality and ground manners. Greenbroke only to ride but has had intermittant lameness, therefore only being adopted as a nonriding horse. Charm will make someone a very nice companion horse. Adoption fee, Free

Admiral

Admiral

Admiral

Admiral is a 21 year old thoroughbred gelding up for adoption as a companion horse. Admiral was rescued by Riverside AC and is off on a front, making him not rideable, but no less valuable as a loving family member. This boy is sweet, 16.1 hands high and used to race. His Jockey Club name is Hail and Salute! What a wonderful horse. Adoption fee, Free.

Sheeba

Sheeba

Sheeba

Sheeba is an approximately 5 year old TB cross mare up for adoption as a companion horse only, no riding. She is about 15 hands high. She was rescued from a neglectful home in Nuevo where she did not have proper farrier care of her front hooves. She appears to have been born with slightly turned out legs which caused her to not walk properly when she was younger. She has since gotten correct trims and has greatly improved. She moves around fine, just not well enough to have weight on her. She is very sweet and gorgeous. She would make an excellent companion pasture puff for a loving family. Adoption fee, Free.

Dominick

Dominick

Dominick

Dominick

Dominick

Dominick is a handsome thoroughbred gelding up for adoption. He is a 23 yr old ex racer, Jockey Club name is Ice It Is. He is beautiful, sweet and loves to be groomed. Originally from Hicaliber, he stands 16.0 hands high. He is unsound for an adult to ride him due to lameness on his left front. He would be perfect if you want to put kids or grandkids on him and lead around. Adoption fee, $500.

Forest

Forest

Forest

Forest

Forest

Forest is a darling quarter horse gelding up for adoption. He stands 15 hands high, is approximately 25 years old, and has never been trained to ride. Nice flaxen mane and tail. Needs to be a super pasture puff for somebody. Cute. Adoption fee, Free

Lacey

Lacey

Lacey

Lacey is an 11 year old Azteca mare who was donated to the rescue from previous owners who had rescued her from a neglectful situation. She is not rideable due to an injury to her hind leg, thought to be from being roped. She was being ridden prior to coming here, but when we evaluated her, it was evident that she was lame on her hind leg and should not be ridden. She is up for adoption as companion horse only. She is very smart and cute. Adoption fee, free.

Snickerdoodle

Snickerdoodle

Snickerdoodle

Snickerdoodle

Snickerdoodle

Snickerdoodle is a paint colt up for adoption. Approximately 12 months old he is halterbroke only. Adoption fee is $500.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Scroll down to see the horses! IGNORE THE DATE! This page is kept updated so if a horse is on here they are still available for adoption. Thank you!
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