​

The Texas 4-H Homes for Horses program is uniquely designed to connect 4-H youth with horses in need of additional training and attention to prepare them for adoption. A close working partnership with The Right Horse Initiative, a group strongly committed to improving equine welfare through increasing adoption, has been established to help identify equine adoption partners that can effectively serve this program by procuring suitable equine partners for 4-H youth. 

Program Goals

• Provide Texas 4-H youth the opportunity to engage in a hands-on program that actively helps to solve the at-risk horse problem in Texas

• Reduce the number of at-risk horses in Texas by providing an outlet for horses that need additional training in order to be adoptable

• Facilitate the opportunity for new 4-H families to get involved with horses who otherwise might not have been able to participate

​

This is an annual program that follows the 4-H calendar year of August 15th to August 15th and is slated to begin in 2021. To participate, youth will undergo an application process and eligibility requirements include being at least 13 years old and being an active Texas 4-H member that has participated or is enrolled in a Texas 4-H horse educational event and/or contest. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of equine professionals and narrowed down to 20 finalists who will be divided into two categories: (1) in-hand horse projects (2) under saddle horse projects. The 20 finalists will be paired with an at-risk horse to participate in the program. A parent/guardian will be required to agree to temporarily adopt the horse on Day 1 for the duration of the program.

A Day 1 Meet & Greet workshop will take place in early September for 4-H youth who are selected to acquaint them with their horse. This would include the youth and their family meeting the horse and becoming familiar with the unique circumstances and needs of the horse. 

​

The horses would then be transported home with each respective family. Youth will have the privilege to advance the training of their horse and improve the overall health and wellbeing of the animal. They will also be required to keep financial and management records, as well as goal and objective training records as part of the educational process of horse ownership. Educational checkpoints will be set up throughout the 4-H year where youth will have the opportunity to learn more about managing and training their horse with equine professionals and be able to troubleshoot any roadblocks they may be experiencing in their journey. 

The final pinnacle of this program will take place at the Texas State 4-H Horse Show, which is the last full week of July every year. Specialized classes of competition for in-hand horse projects and under saddle horse projects will be developed and implemented into the state show to showcase the transformation and progress youth have achieved with their horse over the course of the 4-H year. After the completion of the program, youth can either choose to permanently adopt their equine partner or put the horse up for adoption at a special event at the state show. In both scenarios, both the youth and the horse has gained valuable, life-changing skills that will improve their success in life.