AVALON ADOPTION

Avalon's adoption program is for those horses for whom adoption is an option. 

We do not adopt out geriatric, or medical or emotionally compromised horses. Those horses will stay with us forever, and never be asked to do anything other than live a long and happy life. Potentially adoptable (after they are medically, emotionally and physically able) horses are evaluated and retrained by our team of in house highly educated and experienced trainers. 

We let the individual horse dictate the direction they want to go in (some jumpers are now trail horses, some dressage horses want to do western, some barrel racers want to pull a cart). This is a slow process and is not pushed or manipulated by Avalon in any way. The horses will let us know what direction they want to go in, and our trainers will then help them to that end. Regardless of the style of riding, ground manners and Liberty training are at the core of our retraining process. Once mentally, physically and emotionally ready to find their "furever" homes, Avalon will reach out to individual trainers in our community to facilitate adoption with one of their clients and/or contact an individual on our waiting list. 

All potential adopters are vetted by our administrative staff and, if qualified, must take their potential horse on a trial period. This trial period allows us to determine whether the fit is actually the right one (as horses will act differently at our property than they will act at yours). If the fit is not right, then or at anytime in the future, Avalon will take back the horse - no questions asked. There is no judgment, no questions, no stress - if it isn't working out then the horses come back to us, period. 

We have been adopting out horses for 20 years now and have had 3 horses return in total. 

• Coco (a small welsh pony) was returned after 2 years due to her little girl outgrowing her. After retraining and reevaluation she was readopted to another fabulous family that has had her ever since and will never let her go. 
• Peanut (a small paint pony) was returned a year after his adoption when his adopter realized her work schedule was not allowing her the time Peanut deserved. Peanut is a forever Avalon horse now and will never be adopted again as he is getting older and he deserves to have the stability of a forever home at Avalon. 
• Luke is a massively huge OTTB that came back after only a week with his potential adopter (he was on trial) as both the potential adopter and her trainer realized he was too much horse for her. Luke too may never be adopted again. Although he is young (only 11yo), he thrives in having a stable situation he can count on and it does him a great disservice to bounce him from one place to another. It would have to be a very special circumstance for us to consider adopting him out ever again. 

All other horses that have been adopted are checked in on throughout the years to ensure they are doing well with their new families. We also host BBQ get togethers for adopters to solidify the bonds with Avalon and ensure that we keep these Avalon horses on our radar. We also have a handful of adopted Avalon horses whose new families have requested they stay on Avalon site and so have become boarders.

The application process for potential Avalon adopters mirrors the structured, match-first approach utilized by the San Diego Humane Society to prioritize long-term animal welfare and behavioral compatibility. To begin, prospective adopters initiate a collaborative relationship by requesting a digital profile account to complete a comprehensive, multi-step preliminary evaluation. This questionnaire collects critical details regarding the handler’s equestrian experience level, their intended rideability expectations, and the physical characteristics of their boarding or ranch facilities—including fencing materials, stall setups, feeding programs, and large-animal veterinarian references. Rather than acting as a rigid screening test, this initial information functions as an interactive matchmaking baseline. Once an aligned profile is identified, applicants are invited to Avalon's facility for private, scheduled appointments to see the horse, observe them under saddle or during groundwork, and meet with a dedicated Avalon Adoption Counselor. This hands-on consultation ensures a safe, non-prescriptive trial window before finalizing the adoption agreement, ensuring that rehabilitated and emotionally sensitive horses are securely paired with their permanent "fur-ever" homes.