Adopt A Horse or Burro

Since adoptions do not always provide a lifetime of security and protection for animals, Return to Freedom has specific adoption criteria to ensure that the horse(s) and /or burro(s) are placed in suitable environments.

Due to limited resources and the constant need for displaced horses and burros to find sanctuary, we may occasionally place horses from the sanctuary and most often work with other individuals, groups, state and federal agencies to find homes for wild horses and burros in need remotely.

Some of the younger horses who volunteer a natural desire to socialize with humans, are available to be placed in approved homes. For the welfare of the horses, we have an extensive application process for their lifelong protection. The horses and/or burros may not be sold, slaughtered, abused, or live without other equine companions.

We typically place horses in bonded pairs or groups; however, each situation is different. Under no circumstances will we place a horse in an environment where it will be stalled for most of the time or be alone.

Please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Email applications to: equine@original.returntofreedom.org

or mail:

Return to Freedom

P.O. Box 926

Lompoc, CA. 93438

Storm is a beautiful 3 year old bay mare who was born at Return to Freedom’s American Wild Horse Sanctuary. Her mother is Luna, a beautiful tall black mare from the Sheldon herd. The Sheldon Refuge horses have a mixture of Standardbred, Morgan and draft.

Storm is just being ridden at a walk. She has been through obstacle courses and being exposed to the world. Smart and trusting.

She is ready to continue her training to become better under saddle. You couldn’t ask for a nicer mare! She is easy to handle, takes everything in stride, and is up for any new challenge. She is just 3 years old and  14.2hh. She knows all her ground work and stands tied nicely.

She is ready to be adopted to her forever home…is it you? Please read our Terms and conditions and fill out an application!

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Storm- Adoption fee: $1900

Looking for someone fancy and eye-catching? Heather a beautiful grey mare, is the daughter of our well known “Grey Mare”, the lead mare of one of our herds, featured by several of our regular photographers. “Grey Mare” is something special, and so is her daughter. Heather has been well started under saddle, and will walk / trot / canter in both directions. Her gaits are smooth and energetic, a forward mare with good lateral movement. She is ridden in either a bosal or bitless bridle. She will sidle up to the mounting block for you, and is sensible enough to allow someone to stand on her back and do rope tricks. She is sensitive and responsive, and requires a tactful, experienced rider to bring out the best in her. An ideal candidate for Cowboy Dressage! She would like to go home with her band mate Chloe!

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Heather- Adoption fee: $3000

Looking for color, looks, and a springy, elastic trot? Chloe is your girl. Chloe has been well started under saddle, and will walk, trot and canter in both directions. Chloe is ridden in a bosal, or bitless bridle. Chloe has lovely gaits, and is well balanced. She has been trail ridden, had horses ponied off of her, and is very comfortable to sit at all three gaits. She will make somebody a very solid and enjoyable trail horse, and she will continue to blossom with a quiet, experienced rider. We have put novice riders on her, and she has done well with them, but in order to develop her to her fullest potential, we feel a more experienced rider would be the best match for her. If you are prepared to guide this lovely girl on her way to becoming your favorite trail partner, inquire about her soon – she will not last long! She hopes for a home with her sister Heather!

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Chloe- Adoption fee: $2500

Willamina is a well mannered bay filly. She was born in a herd of wild Calico mares. She was found alone and abandoned shortly after birth. She may have been rejected by her mother or stolen by another mare and rejected shortly after birth. For her survival she was bottle fed at Miracle Mustang for 4 months until arriving at Return to Freedom. Her feisty spirit has made her a survivor and she loves to be around people.

Willamina has been at ” school” with Angie Murray all summer. She wears a western saddle, about 25 lbs, is confident with her ground work, stands tied both on tie blocker and high line, stands to be bathed and fly sprayed and stands for the farrier. She does obstacles; jump poles, giant snowman, and rocking bridge without problems. She is a very respectful, sweet and confident little mare who will make a fun ride for an experienced rider when she is old enough to be started under saddle.

She is well mannered and is looking for a home where she has room to run and play while she grows into the beautiful mare she promises to be. Willamina’s best friend is fellow orphan Little Blue. They grew up together and it would be very hard to split them up. Because RTF respects the emotional well being of these social animals, Willamina and Blue need to remain together! 

Adoption Fee: $1000

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Blue is a small, well mannered blue roan gelding. As an orphan foal, Little Blue was underweight, weak and exhausted. Miracle Mustang took him in; however due to his lack of strength, he spent most of his first few weeks lying down. Eventually, a 2 inch deep infected puncture wound on his chest was discovered as the culprit for his poor health. He had a tough start in life, but persevered and made a full recovery, at which point it became time for him to find a new home. Rather than separate him from his first and closest companion, Willamina, Return to Freedom took in both foals.

Little Blue is a playful and affectionate two year old!

He is now wearing a saddle but still can get a little hoppy if he feels irritated. He is not afraid of many things and is confident with obstacles. He stands tied to both tie blocker and high line although can be a little impatient. He stands to be bathed, trimmed and fly sprayed. He has all his preparation work to be started under saddle when he is the right age and with an experienced rider.

Because RTF respects the emotional well being of these social animals, Willamina and Blue need to remain together!

Adoption Fee: $1000

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Currently in training, these two absolutely beautiful young fillies from the Hart Mountain Herd. The Hart Mountain Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Oregon removed all wild horses in 1998. Horses from that total removal were the first to arrive to Return to Freedom as we opened our sanctuary gates in December 1998. We DNA tested some of the horses and found strong Spanish influence which is strongly displayed in some of the horses, like the stallion Freedom. Because the PZP contraception does not work on all mares, these two sisters were sired by Freedom. Work Study volunteers worked with them last summer and fell in love with them. They have just started their continued training. We are looking for the right forever home for these herd sisters who will flourish with the right leadership in the right environment! They are beautiful, intelligent, sensitive and full of potential! If you are looking for two magical carousel horses and are a confidence builder- You may want to meet these two fillies!

This gorgeous liver roan filly is not only sweet and sensitive but flashy too. Sired by Freedom, and born from his lead mare Adeer here at the sanctuary, she has the distinct roan coloring found throughout the Hart Mountain herd and a natural curiosity that Freedom gives to all his babies as well as the thick mane and tail indicative of his strong Spanish Barb influence. Adoe is always willing to work, loves to come out and learn new things. She is just recently under saddle and has a solid disengage on both sides, stop, and back up. She has learned to stay focused even around alot of distractions.

She is sweet and wants to please but needs someone who she views as worthy to follow. She ties on blocker but is still sensitive to outside stimuli while tied except for being brushed quietly.

She is a gorgeous and willing to please mare who needs an experienced rider with good horsemanship skills to guide her to being the fabulous horse she can be.

Adoption Fee: $2300

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Cecilia is a full sister to Adoe and just like her sister; she is gorgeous and flashy with lots of chrome, thick wavy mane and tail revealing some Spanish pheno-typing like both her sire (Freedom) and Dam (Adeer). She is part of the Hart Mountain herd and was born here at the ranch. Cecilia is a bold mare and needs someone with confidence to help her develop into her full potential. She is always waiting for you to pick her to take her out and play. She is still learning to tie better on the tie blocker and is a little claustrophobic. She is not confident with the bath yet either but is improving. She is very smart and tries really hard to please you. She is riding at a walk and trot and lope and has a great stop. She is very athletic. She is riding with chaos going on around her and is very focused. She does best when given time to think  about new things. She is introverted and processes slowly. She has been out on trails and will make a wonderful horse for an experienced rider who understands how much praise she needs!

She truly enjoys interacting with people and is ready to find someone who is looking for that special horse.

Adoption Fee: $2300

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

ADOPTED! This mother and daughter duo have found an amazing forever home on 20 acres with 2 horses and Skip and Jessica Jankowski! These two affectionate burros want to have alot more human contact and bonding then we can offer at the sanctuary. Their owner lost her ranch a few years ago and they landed at Return to Freedom’s sanctuary.  They did not like being out with all the wild burros and would hang out by the fence line and bray, so we led them back to where the action is all around the offices and main barn.

They love to be groomed, fawned over, read to…they are easy to be with! Lola has some ringbone and needs to be managed on fairly even terrain and butte-less butte for pain. Adoption Fee – $ 450

To adopt, please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions.

Stuart and Bo!

Wendie Malick, her niece Gwen and husband Richard, adopted two social and noble steeds from our Challis herd. Stuart and Bo were born in captivity after their mothers endured the Challis Idaho roundup in 2009. Bo and Stuart  now live with 3 other horses, a burro and 2 dogs in California!

Tess!

Yvonne and Mike Rockwood were ready to open their hearts to a new addition to their small herd…of Arabs! One of their endurance trail horses needed to be retired and Yvonne needed a calm horse with stamina who would enjoy long scenic trail rides!

I introduced them to Tess, a beautiful strawberry roan mare from Freedom’s band in our Hart Mountain herd. As Tess got older she sometimes had a hard time finding her place in the herd.

The Rockwoods adopted Tess last year and brought their gelding Rocky up to live with her at our trainers ranch in Santa Ynez for 3 months while Hector slowly and systematically brought Tess along under saddle! The devoted Rockwoods came up every weekend for 3 months and joined in!

Here is an update!

August 22,2015

Neda:

Hi. We are doing so great.  We just moved to Colorado and Tess and Rocky have great new space – lots and lots of room –  1/2 acre to themselves.  The farm (Kenlyn Arabians)  grows the hay both for a business and for the farm. So they have tons of good food all the time.  Tess has been very healthy.

Tess has been the most incredible, smart, loyal horse ever.  We have not had one negative experience with her at all.  The trainer you directed us to to start her was a god-sent.  We go on day trips into the mountains every weekend now, and have had several camping trips.  Today, we are practicing crossing water.

We are used to people raving about our beautiful Arab, but no more. All heads turn to Tess. Her beautiful full mane and majestic look.  She remains dominant and no horse dare come near her if food is around!

Thank for checking in with us.  Look for more pictures to come.

Yvonne

Tess video2015

CHOCO, DOB 2007:  ADOPTED

Choco and his best buddy Midnight are teaching high school youth at Midland Boarding School in nearby Los Olivos California!

Choco is a particularly sweet bay gelding who has long been a favorite among staff. Choco was born at Return to Freedom from the Sheldon herd and certainly the Stanadardbred breed is well represented in his smooth long walk and trot. His strong desire to bond with a human, his unflappable personality and his adorable face make him a great companion and trail buddy.

To Adopt

If you have experience with horses and /or burros, and can afford to provide a forever home to a horse(s) or burro(s), please review our Terms and Conditions. If they are acceptable to you, fill out an Application and send it to us, along with the signed Terms and Conditions!

Email applications to: equine@original.returntofreedom.org

or mail:

Return to Freedom

P.O. Box 926

Lompoc, CA. 93438