The New February MHWF Fundraiser Auction has
begun!Click
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How to Adopt a Horse from MHWF
The process of adopting a horse from MHWF
is simple, print out the application. Send that in along with a $5.00 processing
fee and photos of your farm. Once it is received we will get in touch with you
via telephone and will answer any questions you might have, whether they be
about our program and policies or a particular horse in our program.
If after that phone call both parties feel like one or more of the horses is a
possible match, we will set up an appointment for you to meet the horses. If the
horse is a match, you may choose to adopt it and take it home after a little
paperwork.
1. You must have an application on file to inquire about adoption horses, no
exceptions.
2. You must call during our posted hours and not on off hours.
3. You must set an appointment via telephone with us before planning on coming
to the MHWF farm. Calling or emailing to let us know you are coming is not
setting an appointment and will not be honored.
We try our best to make adoption as easy and fun as we can make it. It is for
that reason that we have set these policies. Everyone at MHWF has a regular
daytime job and we must make good use of our limited time as this is a volunteer
job and the people who take their time off to spend with the horses and
potential adopters do it because they love it and believe in it.
This page is always
current and updated immediately after an adoption takes place.
Fanny -
18
yrs.
$400 - Fanny is an 18 year old Morgan/Arab
cross mare. She stands at 15 hands tall and is sound and healthy. Fanny is broke
to ride and is good for the vet and farrier. As far as we know, she has only had
one owner her entire adult life. She is very sweet and easy to like, plus a nice
looking mare as well. Sadly, her owner passed away about a year or so ago and
she has not been worked much since. Being that Fanny has just come into the
program, we have not yet had a chance to test ride her or really get to know her
at all. We will post updates as we learn more. In the meantime, we think Fanny
is going to make someone a wonderful horse with a few weekends of refresher
work.
Update: 1-28-2012
We made time to work in a test ride on Fanny
last night. She did very well, even better than expected, especially considering
that she has not been ridden in at least a year, probably more. She gave us no
attitude at all and did everything asked of her without complaint. She certainly
seems like a solid, hard-working gal who knows when its work time. Even with her
being in a new place, the wind howling, it was snowing, semi trucks rumbling by
and her buddies calling out for her, she focused on us and was a good girl. We
can tell you that she direct reins only, no neck-reining. She also did not seem
to understand how to back up. Other than those couple of things that are simple
to work on, she did very well and we think she will make someone a wonderful
horse. There is very little she cannot do physically.
$400 - Stormy is an 18 year old Morgan/Paint
gelding. He stands at 14.1 hands tall and is sound and healthy. Stormy is broke
to ride and is good for the vet and farrier. As far as we know, he has only had
one owner his entire adult life. He is very sweet and easy to like, plus as cute
as they come. He is outgoing and not at all shy. Sadly, his owner passed away
about a year or so ago and he has not been worked since. We do know that he was
originally broke to ride by Jim Marshall, who had a reputation of being one of
the best trainers around. Being that Stormy has just come into the program, we
have not yet had a chance to test ride him or really get to know him at all. We
will post updates as we learn more. In the meantime, we think Stormy is going to
make someone a wonderful horse with a few weekends of refresher work.
Update: 1-28-2012
We made time to work in a test ride on
Stormy last night. He did very well, even better than expected, especially
considering that he has not been ridden in at least a year, probably more.
Stormy behaved very well and you can tell he has some very good training. He is
a high energy horse though and not a horse for a green rider. His rider should
be the kind of person who likes some get up and go. Stormy, leads, loads, ties,
stops and backs very well. He direct reins, but also kind of gets neck reining
as well. He will need a little more work on the neck reining, but that is to be
expected for a horse who has not been ridden for so long. Stormy is also a
nipper and will need some correction in that area. If he is here for any amount
of time we will have that problem fixed before he even gets adopted. This is one
cute little horse and he has a ton of personality.
Iorek (pronounced (your rick) is a Percheron/TW cross
gelding.
He stands at 15.2 hands tall.There is a little debate over his age. We were told that he is 16 and after
aging him by his teeth, we think he is more like 22 or 23. We will update that
once our vet, who specializes in equine dental, gives his estimate. Iorek is
about as sweet of an old guy as they get. He is very willing once he trusts you
and just about anyone who knows how to ride can ride him. Being half Walker, he
is also gaited. We have not yet had a chance to test ride him to see what his
gaits are yet, but will update when that does happen. Iorek also has some issues
with his feet and we will not make him available until we know exactly what
those issues are and have them ready to go. In the meantime, we hope that you
all watch for updates on this neat old guy. Posted below is a photo of him from
summer when he is all shed out.
$500 - Piper is a Percheron/QH cross mare.
She is only 4 years old now, but will be 5 years old in a few weeks. She stands
at 16.2 hands tall. Piper is super easy going and very well broke. She rides
both English and Western, but most of her training has been English. She has
also been on a few trail rides. Sounds and healthy and always well-cared for,
this is a nice mare. For her young age, she is very mellow and easy going and is
a pretty reliable mount who does not spook or shy and has never bucked bolted or
reared that we know of. She leads, loads, ties and is good for the vet and
farrier. This will be a great horse for someone who wants a trail horse or even
wants to show in the local shows, jumping etc. While she is mellow and easy
going with a lot of training, she is young and this is not a horse for beginner
riders. Her adopter should have some time in the saddle.
Update: 1-28-2012
We made time to work in a test ride on Piper
last night. She did very well. This is one big super sweet horse with a very
likable personality. She has been formerly trained English and you can tell
under saddle. She carries herself very well, walk, trot, canter. She even knows
how to side-pass very well. She very well may know more than we asked from her.
Please keep in mind that although she is well trained, she is just coming 5, so
this is not a horse for a green rider. She is a wonderful horse though and will
make someone a wonderful partner. We wish we could keep her for ourselves, but
that is not going to happen.
$300 - Ben is an 11 year old STB gelding.
His stands 15.2 hands tall, is sound and healthy and is current on all his
trims, wormings and shots. Ben is broke to ride and drive, but needs quite a bit
of work in both areas. His ground manners are very good, but he has no work
ethic and really protests hard so that he does not have to do any real work. He
will be someone's project. If you have been watching our site for any amount if
time, then you know Ben finally found his new home last month. He turned out to
be more work than his adopters anticipated and was returned. We can now begin to
start looking for a better match for Ben. He is not a hard horse to deal with,
he simply needs to be put back to work and shown that he is better off listening
and working than he is protesting.
$400 - Fancy Me First is a registered 19
year old Appy mare. Even though she is registered as an appy, she is a grulla
and is a pretty gal as well. She is sound and very well broke to ride. Fancy is
current on all her shots, wormings and trims and had her teeth floated in
October 2011, so she is all set to go. She loads, leads, ties and is great for
the vet and farrier. This is a horse just about anyone can ride and handle. She
is very laid back and sweet and is a trail veteran. She does not have much for
special needs, just a scoop a day of grain and no dusty or moldy hay. This is
the kind of horse anyone can appreciate and enjoy, plus a grulla to boot!
$400 - Ace of Spades is a 15 year old National Show
Horse gelding. He stands at 15.1 hands tall and is well broke. Ace has done a
little of everything, some English Pleasure, a little jumping, some basic
dressage and even a trail ride. He is easy to get along with and has very good
manners and no real bad habits. He is a very likable guy and will make someone a
wonderful partner. Ace is current on all of his shots, wormings and trims and is
ready to go. Ace is going to make someone a wonderful horse.
Rebel was brought to MHWF by authorities in Trempealeau County. We can safely assume that
his rehab and any legal proceedings will take a great deal of time. In the meantime we are going to give him
our full efforts to get him back to full health. He will need his shots, worming, his feet
trimmed, his teeth floated and lots of calories, plus whatever else we might
find. He is pretty stocked up in his back legs and we will have to see what
exactly is the issue there as well. Rebel is a 20+ year old gelding. He appears
to be either a Saddlebred or a Walker. He is very sweet and laid
back and we will learn a great deal more about him as he gets
healthier and we get to know him better.
How You Can Help
In the meantime, we anticipate Rebel being
with us for a long time and also anticipate spending a great deal of money on
his rehab, especially this time of year when pastures are no longer green and we
are feeding hay and grain. If you would like to help out and pitch in a few
dollars toward Rebel's care, we would certainly welcome any help we can get.
Thank you!
Update: 1-28-2012
While we have nothing new to report as far
as any legal matters regarding Rebel, we did manage to get him saddled up and
out for a test ride last night. He was a little unsure of himself when we first
brought him out to be tacked up, but once we got on him he was a different
horse. He carried himself very proudly, collected, with his big muscled neck
arched. He was quite a site, especially considering what he first looked like
when he arrived here. He obviously has some training on him and now that his
body is feeling and looking good again, his pride and spirit have come back as
well. His is a big boy and knows how to collect and use that big strong body
when being ridden. He must have been quite a guy when he was young. Needless to
say, Rebel did very well under saddle, especially considering it had to have
been years since he was last ridden.
$300 - Dakota is a 6 year old Appendix QH
gelding. He stands at 14.2 hands tall. Dakota is current on his shots and wormers
and has had one home his entire life. He is sound and healthy. He leads, loads, ties and is good for the vet and farrier. Dakota has been ridden in traffic and has even given some lessons. He
has always been ridden in a bozal and has never had a bit in his mouth. He can be pushy on the ground a, but
we have been told hr is amazing under saddle
when out on the trails and has been described as "dead broke" to us. He is smart
and seems to learn very quickly. He is also the son of Elsie (listed below).
Update: 10/11/2011
We took advantage of the nice weather on
Monday evening and test rode Dakota. He was taken from walk to trot and to the
canter, then back down again. He was probably ridden for about 30 minutes or so.
Of course his manners on the ground were pretty poor and he will need a lot more
work there, but he did ok under saddle considering he is only 6 years old and it
has been 2 years since he has been ridden. His biggest issue under saddle right
now is that he is more worried about where his mother is than what his rider is
asking of him. Once they are separated in new homes that will no longer be an
issue. He's a little rough around the edges, but he is young and will come
around with a little work here and there. His adopter should start by correcting
some of the dancing around on the ground and getting out of his handler's space
as well as paying more attention to the person handling him. That will translate
unto his saddle training and he will make someone a wonderful and very beautiful
horse.
$400 - Elsie is a 9 year old Appendix QH mare. She
stands at 15 hands tall. Elsie is current on her shots and wormers and
has had one home since she was a yearling.
She is sound, healthy and well behaved. She leads, loads, ties and is good for
the vet and farrier. Elsie has been ridden English Hunt and is the mother of
Dakota (listed above). She has been ridden in traffic and has even done a few
trail rides. She is a very nice horse with the abilities and training a good
English rider can appreciate.
Update: 10/11/2011
We took advantage of the nice weather on
Monday evening and test rode Elsie. She was taken from walk to trot and to the
canter, then back down again. She was probably ridden for about 20. Elsie stood
nicely to be tacked up, stayed calm and relaxed and did very well for a horse
that has not been ridden in 2 years. After a few minutes she settled in and did well. She is not a horse for a
green rider, but is just a little rusty and will come back around very quickly.
This is a nice mare and anyone not completely green will do well with her and
will enjoy her unlimited abilities.
$200 - Caramel is a 13 year old pony gelding
that has been in the MHWF program since our start in 2001, so we know Caramel as
well as any horse in this program. He is sound and healthy, current on all his
shots, trims and wormers, he loads, leads ties, is good for the vet and farrier
and is always easy to catch and easy to handle. Even very little kids can lead
him around or even get pony rides on him. He is super laid back and easy going.
Caramel is known for some bucking under saddle from time to time though. It is
simply an issue of that when kids are on his back, he knows he can get away with
it. He never tries this when he is being led around the yard for pony rides. His
ground manners are always near perfect as well. So maybe that is what Caramel
should be doing, spending time giving pony rides and being a pet. He enjoys it
and is as cute as they get.
$200- Chloe is a 10 year old Appy pony mare.
Many of you will remember her from a few years back when we rescued her from the
local auction and found out afterward that she was pregnant. It turns out that
Chloe and her son were not getting along and Chloe needed to come back. She is
just a hair under 13 hands tall, sound and healthy and well broke to saddle.
Chloe is current on all of her shots and wormers and will get her feet trimmed
soon as she came back overdue for a trim. She is easy to get along with and is
respectful on the ground...no issues with leading, loading, tying or with the
vet or farrier. Chloe is not a horse for a green or timid kid. She will need a
kid who can ride and not be intimidated by a little mare with some get up and go
and a little spunk. She is very well broke however and had given lessons to
young children and has been ridden by older children as well.
$200 - Bob is a 20 year old Belgian gelding.
He is sound, healthy and broke to ride. He is also current on all of his shots,
wormings and trimmings. He stands at 16 hands tall. Bob is easy going, leads,
loads, ties and is very good for the farrier most of the time. He has been
ridden almost exclusively in an arena and does very well. Once out of the arena
he becomes spooky. His adopter should either be looking for a horse to ride in
the arena or simply a pasture buddy for another lonely horse. We have known Bob
for 7 years since we first rescued him from the local auction. We have always
known Bob to be sound and mellow.
$300 - Doc is an 8 year old QH gelding. He is
15.1 hands tall, sound and healthy. Doc is current with all of his shots,
wormers and trims. He is in excellent shape and ready for the trails this
summer. Some of you may remember Doc from 2009. He came to us with a good start
under saddle, but very green. He needed some more time under
saddle and out on the trails. Since 2009 he has had a lot of work and will be a
wonderful partner for the right person. He has now been on quite a few trail
rides, crossing water, up and down the hills, camping and even obstacle courses.
He is good for the vet and farrier, he leads, loads, ties....you name it. Doc
can be a little shy at first, but take a little time to bond with him and earn
his trust and he will do anything for you. Doc is a very good horse with some
great experience and hours under saddle now. He is young and has many many good
years ahead of him for the right person. Doc should have an intermediate rider.
We also have some video of Doc being
ridden very recently and will be happy to share that video with anyone with an
interest in him.
Update:
6-18-2011
We had a chance to pull Doc out of the
pasture and give him a test ride. Doc is very shy with people he does not know,
but warms up to people very quickly. Once he knows you are his friend and can be
trusted, he will do anything for you. He was a little nervous at first, but the
longer he was handled and ridden, the more relaxed Doc became. Under saddle he
did not question any of his cues. It seems that all Doc really needs is some
desensitizing, which is easy enough and kind of fun. Doc will make someone a
wonderful horse. All he needs is one person to spend some time with him and let
him build a bond with them.
Figaro is a 7 year old Bashkir Curly gelding. Figaro stands 14.3 hands tall and is a sweet guy, super
friendly and easy to work with. He stands nice for the vet and farrier and gets
along well with the entire herd. He leads, loads and ties and is current on all
his shots, wormings and trimmings. We are sad to say that Figaro will never be a
riding horse. He is going to have to live out his years as a pasture buddy.
Figaro went into training. Shortly after his training began, it was discovered
that he was sore after workouts and his training was stopped. X-rays were taken.
The x-rays showed that the cartilage in many of Figaro's joints never formed
properly and because of it he will never be able to be ridden. He has no special needs and is not a lame horse when
you see him move, but we do know that he cannot be ridden. Hopefully someone
will come along and offer him a nice retirement as a pasture buddy. You can't
ask for a sweeter horse, very respectful of his handlers with no special needs
other than to be fed and loved. If you can provide this home for Figaro, please
let us know and we will be happy to have you meet him.
Danny is a 6 year old registered Friesian sporthorse gelding. His sire is a Friesian and his dam a Morgan, which makes him a Moresian. Danny stands at 16 hands tall, solid black with the typical big
Friesian head. Sadly, Danny was born with very low pasterns which will prevent
him from ever being a riding or working horse. He is a pasture buddy only. He is
still big and beautiful. He loves to play and is very much a happy kid at heart.
Danny will make a very entertaining and beautiful pasture ornament for someone
with a little extra pasture space.
