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Donating a Horse

Our equine partners are central to our mission of improving the health and well-being of many in our community. Each horse in our program is honored as an individual with a voice, personality, and purpose. We take great care to ensure their physical, mental, and emotional qualities by providing a structured, enriching environment. Our detailed, mission-aligned policies outline how horses are selected, cared for, and supported—including opportunities to “opt out” of activities—to ensure they feel comfortable, respected, and fulfilled.

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When you donate a horse to Ride On St. Louis, you can take comfort in knowing your equine will find peace and purpose in a meaningful new career under the care of our state-recognized equine staff professionals.

HOW YOUR HORSE BENEFITS

 

  • Consistency and care through participation in appropriate equine-assisted services that extends his career and keeps him healthy, useful, and loved.

  • Healthy social interaction within a closed herd of dynamic equines.

  • Affection and positive experiences with staff and clients.

  • Professional management including individualized dietary, exercise, training, and veterinary care.

HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT

 

  • Gain peace of mind knowing exactly where your horse is and who is caring for him.

  • Satisfaction and pride in knowing his purpose and life have been extended to help people with disabilities.

  • Eligibility for a tax credit for your generous donation.

Ready to Explore?
 

If you believe your horse might be a good fit for our program, we’d love to learn more. Every potential equine partner participates in our thoughtful evaluation process to ensure their health, temperament, and interests align with our services. Learn about our evaluation criteria below.

Screening & Evaluation​​​

We are selective when accepting horses into our training program to ensure the safety, well-being, and happiness of both horses and humans. We look for horses and ponies that are ideal and suitable for equine-assisted services—where temperament, movement, and adaptability make all the difference. To determine a good fit, every equine candidate goes through a comprehensive screening and evaluation, assessing conformation, health, age, gaits, manners of going, posture and movement, attitude, temperament, demeanor, reliability, past training, and adaptability. We typically look for: - Mare or gelding between the ages of 12 and 16 - Height between 13.2hh and 16.1hh - Sound at the walk, trot, and canter - Curious and even-tempered - Safe for beginner riders Exceptions may be made under certain circumstances, so please don’t be discouraged from applying. While minor health issues may be acceptable, horses must be able participate comfortably and reliably in services. We cannot accept horses with chronic health issues. Horses must have a negative Coggins and be up to date with all state-required vaccinations. To help us learn more, please take a few minutes to answer some questions about you and your horse. Complete the evaluation form below.

Application for Donating a Horse

RIDE ON ST. LOUIS
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(636) 464-3408

Mail Us: PO Box 94 | Kimmswick, MO | 63053

Visit Us: 9000 Grab Ln | Hillsboro, MO | 63050

©2025 by Ride On St. Louis, Inc.

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