Bright Futures Farm is a sanctuary for retired Thoroughbreds.  We find homes for many horses that have the potential for a new career as a trail horse or family pleasure mount.   Our focus is to save as many horses as we can before  they are faced with neglect or auction. 

We are always in need of foster homes.  When you foster a horse you help us save one more from harm.  Fostering expenses are tax-deductible.  If you have room, please ask us about our foster program.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Backgrounds

Most of our horses will need additional training, patient handlers and a good amount of love and attention.  They come here from a variety of situations (former racehorses, show horses, family pets, abusive or negligent care, etc.) and they are all in need of a new loving home where they will feel safe and secure. 

Most thoroughbreds are not for beginner riders, or  advanced beginners/novices/amateurs.  They need someone who:

●has been riding for some time

●is confident and calm if a horse startles suddenly

●has been on horses that shy

●who can work with a horse not only under saddle but also on the ground

●who has the time and patience to work with a horse from the ground up

We have had several horses come back due to the adopter's improper assessment of their ability, level of confidence, time to reschool,  lack of desire (or funds) to hire a trainer, etc....   

We have had a number of people who thought they were skilled enough to reschool, ground school and/or desensitize a horse.  Not just a former racehorse, but any green horse.  Some of them could.  Most of them could not.  It's not always easy, and it takes a good amount of time and patience.   If you choose a horse not listed as "finished", we will need to either see you interact with the horse on the ground and ride, or you will need to provide us with video footage of you riding.  If you have never schooled a horse or desensitized a horse before, you will be required to work with your horse and a trainer for a  minimum of three months.  We do work with the horses that come to our main facility, and we also have several foster farms that do - but most of them do not.   Therefore, we need to know that you can handle a horse that needs to be re-schooled or will hire someone who can. 

Availability

Well schooled horses, and sound horses will  be in the highest demand (they will also carry a slightly higher placement fee).  Please be aware that in most cases, you are not the only person who may be "very" interested in any one horse.  We understand that logistics and schedules play a role in how soon you can visit.  If you find a horse that you are serious about, call or email us.  We can provide you with all the information we know about every horse we have.  This information comes from our interaction with the horse, observations, information from the donor of the horse, and in some cases from our veterinarian if we deem the horse needs to be thoroughly examined. 

Once you've chosen a horse, we encourage you to complete and return the Placement Application and reference information to us as soon as possible.  If you know you want to go through our placement program to find a horse, but do not see a horse you are interested in right now, you can complete the application and return it so that we have it on file.  All applications will be held for one year.  You will find our Placement Application and other necessary documents to complete the placement process on the "Forms" page of our web site.  

Fostering

There are always horses waiting to come into our program, and our resources are limited.  Therefore, we always welcome the help of individuals who can provide foster care for our horses until we can either take them at our main facility, or find them a new permanent home.  Your time, expenses and supplies are fully tax-deductible.  Click here to find out more about fostering.

Sponsoring

At times, a horse will arrive that needs time off due to illness or injury - or the horse may be unable to ever be ridden.  These are special needs horses, and they remain at our farm sometimes for long periods of time (sometimes permanently).  It is expensive to provide ongoing care for special needs horses.  Sponsoring a special needs horse is a wonderful way to help a cause you believe in if circumstances prohibit you from actually having a horse of your own. 

Click here to learn more about sponsoring a horse in need or making a gift to our organization.

Training

We are always in need of qualified trainers who can provide various levels of retraining and foster care during the transition.  If you are interested in a rewarding experience by helping one of our horses prepare for a new career, please contact us.  Your time,  expenses and supplies are tax-deductible and you will be making a lasting difference for - and impression on - a horse in need.

Additional Information

Unless otherwise stated, all horses bathe, clip, stand for vet and farrier, load easily, pick up feet, etc. and have no vices.

Placement fees on this site are current.  We place ads on many internet classified sites for more exposure and many of those sites forward our ads to other sites.  We do  not always know "where" our ads are and therefore, cannot update all of our ads on the internet in a timely manner.  If you see a placement fee on another site that is contrary to the fee listed on this site, the fee on this site prevails.

When you find a horse you want to take home, you have the option to place a deposit on that particular horse.  A deposit will hold a horse for only two weeks.   We appreciate your situation, schedule and finances, but you must also appreciate ours.  We have no "steady" income.  We rely solely on donations and adoption fees to fund our program and care for the horses.  Once we receive a deposit, we are still feeding and caring for that horse.  In the same spirit, we do not take "payments" on placement fees.  We thank you for understanding.   

We only place horses within certain geographic parameters.  We do place out of the state of Pennsylvania, but please check with us before you assume you will be able to adopt a particular horse from us. 

Contacting us

You may contact us via phone or email.  An appointment is required to visit our main facility or any foster farm. 

If you contact us by phone, please be respectful of the time you call.  We do not accept calls before 8am or after 9pm EST.  Thank you.

All photos can be enlarged by double clicking your mouse on the photo.  To return to the previous page, simply click the button "back" or hit "backspace" on your computer.

Thank you

Handbags for Horses was established to help provide revenue for other Equine Welfare Organizations in addition to Bright Futures Farm.  It's also my way of being able to continue to contribute to other worthy causes.  Through this program, when you purchase one of our unique handbags, we will donate $10 to the organization of your choice. 

A list of current participating organizations is to the left.  There are two criteria to be a participating organization.  The organization must be a registered 501c3 charity, and the organization must be established solely for the rescue and subsequent care of equines.

If you do not see "your" charity on the left, let us know.  As long as they are a registered 501c3 equine charity, we will make the donation.

Finally, when you purchase your exclusive handbag (a genuine "

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