Foster a Horse

Screening Process - Please read!

Our horses are not for sale. We place horses only in carefully screened private homes, with the expectation that they will remain there for the duration of their lives. Horses will not be placed in for-profit lesson programs, therapy programs, or similar operations. We also do not offer short-term foster placements unless the horse is entering a training program or requires urgent care due to extenuating circumstances.

Our placement agreements are legally binding and mirror the terms of a full adoption. The term “foster” is used solely for the caregiver's benefit, allowing them to track and deduct the horse’s annual expenses for tax purposes.

Foster Responsibilities and Expenses

Fosters are responsible for arranging transportation of the horse to their property.
All care-related expenses—including grain, hay, farrier, veterinary care, and routine maintenance—are the responsibility of the foster home.
Foster care expenses are tax-deductible under current IRS guidelines.

Geographic and Housing Requirements

We place horses in fully screened homes located within a four-hour radius (although we do make some geographic exceptions in emergency cases) of Hughesville, MD (ZIP: 20637), covering parts of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Homes must meet or exceed Maryland’s Standards of Care, including:

Safe, well-maintained fencing (no barbed wire or single-strand electric).
- Acceptable fencing: 4–5 strand high-tensile, electrified, and in good repair.
A permanent, structurally sound three-sided shelter of at least 10x10 feet per horse.

Application Process

To begin the screening process:

Email us at trfsanctuary@gmail.com with responses to our foster application questions (see below).
Attach clear, recent photos of the shelter and fencing where the horse(s) will reside.
Be advised: We contact all provided references as part of our screening process.

Full Legal Name:

Property Address where horse(s) will reside:

Mailing Address (if different):

Email Address:

Phone Number:

Which horse(s) are you interested in?

What is the intended use of the horse?

Do you have other horses? What kind? Where are they kept?

Do you own/rent your residence?

Where do you intend to keep the horse?

Owned property
Leased property*
Boarding facility**

*If leased, do you have a written lease? How long is its term (in years)? Will you make the owner aware this is a fostered horse and provide them with our contact information?

**If boarding facility, please provide us with the barn manager's name and number.

How many acres will the horse be kept on?

What type of fencing does it have?

What will the horse(s) turnout schedule be?

If you plan to ride the horse(s), please describe your expertise in riding, handling, training, care, and rehabilitation.

Who will ride the horse? What is their age and riding level?

Who will be responsible for feeding/training/general care?

Who will take care of the horse when you are out of town if you are the party responsible?

How much do you anticipate spending yearly on grain, hay, farrier, and veterinary care?

Can you financially provide the horse with this care/these services?

What would you do with the horse if you had to move?

Have you ever been issued a warning/citation or been convicted for a violation against animals? If so, please explain.

Have you ever rehomed, sold, sent a horse to auction, or surrendered a horse? If so, please explain.

What is the name and number of your veterinarian? *

What is the name and number of your farrier? *

Your vet and farrier reference MUST have seen your horse(s) at their current location within the last year, and your account must be active and in good standing.
Please note we do our research and check social media pages and posts, check case search sites in your state and surrounding states, call all references, review pictures, and look up addresses.
Horse(s) can be boarded or kept at home, but the screening process is the same - no exceptions.

AVAILABLE HORSES (current as of 13 March 2026)

Screening Process - Please read!

Foster Application

AVAILABLE HORSES (current as of 13 March 2026)

Screening Process - Please read!

Foster Application

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