How We Accept a Horse at Redwings

Accepting a new horse at Redwings is a complex task. Every week we get many "take my horse" phone calls and emails from owners who are unable or unwilling to care for their horses. Potential new horses are considered through an individualized, case-by-case procedure. Redwings wishes we could take every horse in need, but that is impossible. There are so many horses in need, and we must be cautious in deciding which horses we can rescue.
   
Most horses at Redwings have been abandoned or are from abusive or neglected backgrounds. Redwings works with the SPCA, Animal Services, and Sheriff's Departments across the state to provide sanctuary for those equines who have been rescued.
   
Law enforcement agencies often are forced to seize equines from terrible conditions. Owners often surrender the animal when law enforcement threatens to seize the horses. These law enforcement agencies frequently do not have long-term equine facilities, so a permanent home for the horse is needed. This is when Redwings gets involved. 
   
Redwings offers these horses a permanent home at our sanctuary or, whenever possible, will try to find permanent loving adoptive homes. Some of the horses at Redwings came from other situations. Some Redwings residents were purchased at auctions where their future was uncertain had Redwings not been at the auction that day. Two horses came from Canada after the big Premarin auctions in 2005-2006. Over the past four years, we have taken four retired border patrol horses from Tucson and San Diego sectors and a retired Military Working Horse from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Our beautiful Mustang herd came from the Pryor Mountains of Montana, and our adorable burro herd came from a BLM round-up in Death Valley. A few Redwings residents were fortunate never to experience abuse or neglect. They were born here to mothers we rescued.

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Redwings is also active in rehabilitating, retraining, and rehoming retired racehorses. Redwings is an approved aftercare partner with CARMA (California Retirement Management Account) and accredited by the TAA (Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance). We work together to find second careers and forever homes for Thoroughbreds after their race careers have ended. 
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Here at Redwings, we help as many equines as possible. We can't save them all. We wish we could,  but we provide the love and care each equine deserves for those we can rescue.