At Lollypop Farm, every animal’s journey to a new home is important, including our equines. We often discuss length of stay, which refers to how long an animal is in our care before adoption. For horses, donkeys, ponies, and mules, that journey involves time, dedication, and a customized plan to prepare them for the right home.
The Process of Preparing Equines for Adoption
Every equine we take in receives individualized care and attention. Here’s how we help set them up for success:
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Background Information Before the equine even arrives, we gather as much information as we can about their history. Knowing more helps us plan veterinary care, training, and potential placement.
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Medical Evaluation Soon after arrival, the equine is thoroughly checked by our experienced medical staff. This includes a full medical examination and any updated vaccines if needed. Depending on the equine’s history, we want to be sure we have evaluated the horse to ensure there are no physical concerns.
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Hoof Care Next up: a visit from our farrier. Healthy hooves are essential, and we make sure each equine gets a proper trim and evaluation.
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Behavior & Training Assessment We take things slowly. From basic grooming to baths, fly spray, and haltering, we evaluate each equine’s comfort and behavior. We use the ASPCA’s Right Horse Basic Behaviors Profile to guide our assessments and inform our direction on the best ways to help advance the horse.
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Training & Enrichment Training is not just about rideability—it’s also crucial for mental and emotional wellness. We tailor our approach to each horse’s background.
Many Thoroughbreds, for example, need time to decompress after careers as athletes and adjust to a life without strict routines. To help them find their way in a world that’s new to them, we provide enrichment, like toys or new experiences, to help them relax and thrive.
When we have a solid understanding of their needs and abilities, the equine becomes available for adoption. We continue working with them, and we often recommend that adopters collaborate with a trainer to ensure a smooth transition.
Finding the Right Horse for You: The Adoption Process at Lollypop Farm
“I LOVE HORSES and want to pet them all!”
“I’ve wanted a horse since I was a kid!”
“I’m an experienced rider looking for my next partner.”
“I just want a companion to groom and love.”
No matter your reason, we believe the right horse can brighten your world. Whether you ride every day or just want a pasture buddy, we’re here to help you make a meaningful match.
During ASPCA Right Horse Adopt A Horse Month we want to shine a spotlight on our adoption process. The number of horses we have here can change, sometimes quickly and other times slowly. Our property is currently under construction, so our capacity is lower than normal.
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1) Evaluation & Listing Before the equine even arrives, we gather as much information as we can about their history. Knowing more helps us plan veterinary care, training, and potential placement.
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2) Ways to Inquire Here’s how you can get started:
Website
Visit our adoptable horse page to see available horses and fill out our short adoption questionnaire. It helps us get to know you and what you’re looking for.Phone
Call (585) 223-1330 ext. 266 to speak with a member of our equine team—or leave a message, and we’ll call back as soon as possible.Social Media
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for featured horses. You can also join our private group, Lollypop Farm Equine Program, for updates and conversations.MyRightHorse.org
As a proud partner of My Right Horse, we also list our horses on MyRightHorse.org, a national equine adoption platform affiliated with the ASPCA. So whether your right horse is close by or a little further out, you can see what horses are available.In-Person Visits
When possible, we encourage visitors and recommend in-person conversation to best determine your equine interests. If you’d like, we can schedule a time to talk more in-depth about your equine interests.3) Meeting A Horse
Once we know more about what you are looking for in your new equine partner, we will review the horses in our care to see if we have any that fit your interests. After which, we will connect with you to provide more details about the horse. If the horse sounds promising and you would like to meet them, then we will schedule an appointment for you to come in. Meeting the horse gives us a chance to see how you interact with each other. We will have you handle the horse, groom them, lead them around, and depending on the horse’s training and ability, riding may be part of the visit. We do require helmets for riding, and we have a riding waiver that you will need to sign.
Some adopters like to come out more than once to get a good feel for the horse, which is fine. We also encourage the adopter to bring any equine professionals to help them decide if the horse is the right fit based on their equine experience and abilities.
We do like to see pictures of where the equine will be living. We can also offer guidance if the adopter wants us to visit their farm and give suggestions for how to best accommodate the horse.
If everyone agrees that the equine is the right match, then arrangements can be made for finalizing the adoption and transporting the horse to their new home. Depending on availability, we may be able to assist with transport for a fee.From medical care to behavior assessments, our goal is to prepare every horse for a new beginning. With the right match, horses and humans can thrive together, and we’re honored to be part of that journey.
Whether you’re ready to adopt or just starting to explore, we’re here to help you find your right horse.
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