Rescue and adoption

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At Wild Willow Redemption Ranch, horse rescue is rooted in dignity, responsibility, and long term care. We exist to provide safe landings for horses who need a second chance and to steward their next chapter with intention, ethics, and respect.

Rescue here is not rushed, transactional, or driven by urgency alone. Every decision is made with the horse’s physical, emotional, and relational well being in mind.

The Wild Willow Redemption Model is an integrated rescue and adoption approach designed to support the shared recovery of both horse and human. WWRM intentionally bridges ethical horse rescue with the option for equine guided therapeutic work, recognizing that healing unfolds best through relationship, consistency, and time.

Under this model, a horse is rescued or accepted into the program and thoughtfully paired with an adopter whose capacity, readiness, and values align with the horse’s needs. This pairing is not about ownership alone, but about creating the conditions for mutual regulation, trust building, and recovery. Horses are given time to stabilize and heal, while adopters are supported in developing attunement, boundaries, and responsibility within relationship.

In some cases, Wild Willow Redemption Ranch may sponsor the rescue of a horse, with donor and sponsorship support helping to cover intake, care, and transition costs. This allows horses to be rescued ethically without urgency-driven placements and ensures they receive appropriate time, support, and consideration before adoption.

What makes WWRM distinct is that adopters may also choose to participate in optional equine guided therapy with their own rescued horse as services become available. In this model, the horse, adopter, and professional guide or therapist work together to support emotional regulation, communication, nervous system healing, and recovery on both sides of the relationship. Therapy is not required for adoption, but is offered as an additional layer of care for those who would benefit from guided relational work.

This model may include:

• intentional matching between horse and adopter
• education and support around ethical care, boundaries, and nervous system awareness
• continued oversight and check-ins to support safety and well-being
• optional equine guided or therapeutic sessions focused on shared recovery

In the near future, WWRM will open to the public as a specialized pathway for individuals who desire both to rescue a horse and to engage in their own healing journey alongside that horse. Additional information about program structure, eligibility, and timelines will be released soon.

Application details will be announced in the coming months, including how individuals may apply to be considered as candidates for the program. Candidates are not selected solely by Wild Willow Redemption Ranch. Instead, applications will be reviewed and candidates voted upon by a private board, ensuring discernment, fairness, and alignment with the values and responsibilities of the program.

The goal of the Wild Willow Redemption Model is not simply placement or ownership. It is recovery together. Horses are not treated as disposable, and humans are not left unsupported. WWRM exists to create healing partnerships rooted in accountability, care, and long term commitment.

Wild Willow Redemption Ranch accepts select surrender cases on a limited basis. We understand that surrender is often a painful and complex decision, and we approach each request with compassion, honesty, and discernment.

All surrender inquiries are reviewed individually and may require:

• veterinary records and history when available
• transparency regarding health, behavior, and training
• an intake and evaluation period

We reserve the right to decline a surrender if we cannot ethically meet the horse’s needs or if placement would compromise the safety or integrity of the program.

Once accepted, surrendered horses are provided safety, consistent care, and time to decompress before any decisions about next steps are made.

Our rescue program is guided by ethical horsemanship and trauma informed care. Horses in our care are never treated as tools, commodities, or problems to be fixed.

We are committed to:

• humane, consent based handling
• patience over pressure
• relationship over performance
• honoring each horse’s nervous system, history, and capacity

Training or handling methods that rely on fear, force, punishment, or intimidation are not permitted. This includes excessive or punitive use of equipment, aggressive handling, or dominance based approaches.

Every horse is allowed time, choice, and consistency to rebuild trust. Progress is measured by regulation, safety, and relationship, not speed.

Adoption through Wild Willow Redemption Ranch is intentional and selective. We do not operate on a first come, first served basis.

All adoptions are completed under contract with Wild Willow Redemption Ranch, outlining care standards, welfare protections, and return policies designed to safeguard the horse’s long term well being.

Adopters must demonstrate

• the ability to provide safe, appropriate housing and daily care
• financial readiness for ongoing veterinary, farrier, and nutritional needs
• alignment with our care and training ethics
• willingness to participate in a thoughtful matching process

If circumstances change, horses adopted through Wild Willow Redemption Ranch always have a safe return path.

For information about currently available horses, please contact the Wild Willow Redemption Ranch page directly at this time. Adoption availability is shared intentionally to ensure appropriate matching and care.

Our priority is not adoption speed. It is the right home, for the right horse, at the right time.