Adopt a Training Challenge Horse

If you are interested in adopting a Challenge horse – even if you do not know which horse you are interested in yet – you will need to complete an adoption application and complete your membership.  You can read about how adoption works and access our application at https://www.bluebonnetequine.org/adopt-a-horse/. Please do not be intimidated by the word application – we’re just gathering some info on your needs and experience so we can help you make the best match possible.  We want you and your adopted horse(s) to be happy!  If you are already an approved adopter, you can skip this step – you do not need to reapply.

Once you have submitted your complete adoption application, the Adoption Team will touch base with you and let you know if they need more information or are approved to foster/adopt. 

Starting September 9th at 9am and not before approved adopters can write to the adoption team at adoption@bluebonnetequine.org to get on a horse’s ” interest list.” You can only be first on one horse at a time so when you email let the adoption team know your 1st choice is, then your 2nd choice and then your 3rd choice. She will also need your cell phone for the day of the event because we’ll be texting folks who aren’t first in line to let them know when they can come look at the horse(s) they’re interested in.  If you are already approved, please contact the adoption team at adoption@bluebonnetequine.org to let her know which horse(s) you are interested in, again, not until Sept 9.  You can be on the list for three horses at a time and can be first in line for only one horse at a time.  If you change your mind about adoption, and are no longer able to adopt, please contact the adoption team at adoption@bluebonnetequine.org to let her know. This year you will be able to be on 3 horse’s lists, but only allowed to be 1st on one list. Once you have selected your Top 3 choices, you will be able to remove your name off a list, but not able to add to another list until the day of the event.  

The adoption team will contact people the week of the Expo and Challenge to let them know if they’re first in line for a horse and with the time they need to be there to adopt (and if you don’t arrive during that time, we’ll move on to the next person). If you are not 1st in line, check in at the adoption table once you arrive. You’ll be put on the horse’s waiting list – sometimes the 4th or 5th person on the list is the one who ends up adopting, so don’t despair if you’re not first in line.

A few notes:  The only folks who can adopt before the Challenge are the trainers (if they fall in love, we don’t want to make them give up their Challenge horse). Training Challenge competitors will have until August 29, 2024 to adopt their Challenge horses. Everyone else will need to adopt IN PERSON at the event. Adoption fees on Challenge horses will be half-price, and there will also be some non-Challenge horses there (their fees will not be half-price). You will need to arrange transportation for your horse after he/she is done competing in the Challenge. Non-Challenge horses can leave as soon as they’re adopted. All horses must be picked up from the Expo center by 10am on Sunday, October 6th. If you leave your horse overnight on the 5th, you will be responsible for feeding and watering your horse Sat. evening.

At the Expo, the Training Challenge competitors will be available to show you the horses and answer questions about them as long as they are not getting ready to show. For rideable horses, you will be able to test ride the horse in a round pen and we strongly encourage you to wear a riding helmet when you do so. If you are 17 and under, you will be required to wear a riding helmet.  Proper footwear is also required. If you decide to adopt the horse, you will need to visit the adoption team to sign the adoption contact and pay the adoption fee.  You will then be able to take your horse home once he/she is done competing.  If you visit a horse at the Expo and decide he/she is not a good fit, you may visit other horses who are available for adoption at the Expo.  It isn’t unusual for someone to come see one horse but end up adopting a completely different horse instead!

We may also have other horses available for adoption who are not in the Challenge.  We will have volunteers who can show those horses to you, and if you adopt a non-Challenge horse you can take him/her home once you have signed the contract and paid the fee.

Adopted horses may be taken home after the adoption is complete and the horse has competed in all events or no later than 8pm Saturday night or between 8am and 10am on Sunday morning. If you will need to leave your adopted horse Saturday night, please make sure to bring feed and water buckets for him and make sure he has been fed and watered Saturday evening. 

For Challenge competitors:

Training Challenge competitors will have until August 29, 2024 to adopt their Challenge horses. If you are a Challenge competitor and want to adopt your horse, please contact the training challenge coordinator at Challengeapplications@bluebonnetequine.org as soon as you know you want to adopt. If you adopt before we send out fostering stipends, we will take the stipend amount off your adoption fee.  You can adopt at any time and still compete, but please let us know if you do not plan to compete so we can update the competition schedule.  The absolute last date you may adopt is August 29, 2024.  We must have your adoption fee and contract by August 29, 2024 or we will make the horse available to other adopters, and we will no longer be able to grant extensions.