In a word: yes. Horse adoption is the goal of every rescue, provided that horse goes to a loving home that is knowledgable about horse care. The sole reason some horses wound up at the rescue in the first place is because their owners had no idea the level of care that a horse actually requires in order to be healthy and happy.

Horses that are brought into the rescue are first made healthy in body and then in spirit. Horses are herd creatures and crave companionship either from other horses or from a human companion. Once you have adopted a horse from a rescue, he may be a little apprehensive of you at first, especially if he was abused by a previous owner.

Bring treats and use a calm voice when you work with your horse and never raise your hand or your voice to your horse. Start off by letting him learn who you are. He will want to sniff you and he may even nibble on your hair or shoulder. Horses learn a lot by exploring with their mouths. Stroke him and tell him he's safe and with friends. Most horses will respond by calming down. If he's skittish you can start off in a smaller space by walking beside and petting him - keep your hands on his back and rear end and if you feel those muscles tense, he's about to kick -move immediately.

Do this every day and your horse will quickly learn you mean him no harm and a bond will begin to form. Once that bond begins it will continue to grow with each training session and your horse will show you what a marvelous companion animal he can be. Adopting a horse can be a huge plus for getting a wonderful animal who has been rescued and given a second chance at a good life. Work with your adopted horse using patience and kindness and you'll have a fabulous equine friend for years to come.