Foster Care FAQ:

How much horse experience do I need in order to foster for USESR?

None! We won't place an equine with you that both you and the Adoptions Coordinator thinks is going to be a poor match for you. We've had great success over the years with our first-time "parents".

Am I going to have to buy the horse special feed?

Maybe, if the horse needs it in order to maintain its health; otherwise you may have to buy a special bag upon the arrival of your foster equine while you change him or her over to what you normally feed. We feed pellets while the equine is changing destinations so that we don't have to keep switching it's feed until it gets settled. Sometimes, your foster equine may spend a night in another foster care barn on its way to being delivered to you.

How do we handle transport of equine within the program?

If transport is from member to member for the purpose of foster care only, or anything aside from adoption, we allow members to split the gas expenses any way they see fit. Adopters pay full fuel expenses. We also have a travel reimbursement program.

Do I need to own a trailer?

No, not unless you want to serve as an Intake Foster Care Provider(IFCP). IFCPs must own an enclosed stock or horse/stock trailer.

What is an Intake Care Facility, and can I do that sort of thing for USESR?

We do need intake foster facilities in our various regions. Right now, we have only one, and that is in Bridgeport, Texas. 99% of all of our equine enter Intake prior to placement in permanent Foster Care. Intake Foster Care Providers must agree to take in all kinds of equine, including a stallion. We geld all stallions, so one would need at least a temporary (and safe) way to keep at least one stallion on the premises. IFCPs may not board their fostered equine. This is different than regular FCPs because they are allowed to board their fostered equine. They also have a limit of only being able to take in two fostered equine from USESR at a time. Another difference is that foster expenses are paid for IFCPs, but not for regular Foster Care Providers. You do not have to be a Regional Coordinator in order to become an intake facility, but you will not see much "action" unless or until your Region gets a Regional Coordinator.

Does any tack come with the equine?

Not usually. Sometimes it will, depending upon the needs of the equine, or if an owner sends a halter or something with a horse, those things may remain with the horse and be passed along. You will need to supply your own halter, lead rope, grooming supplies, feed bucket, bins for feed storage, if you need them, saddle, blanket, bridle, and everything else you'll need to keep an equine adequately.

How many equine can I foster at one time?

Foster Care Providers may foster up to two equine at a time. Intake Foster Care Providers are required to foster up to five equine at one time.

What expenses are reimbursable?

For the most part, none. For the most detailed description, please read the actual Foster Care Contract, here.

What kind of fencing is required?

Any kind! ...as long as it is safe and will hold the equine in. Yes, barbed wire is okay with us! Thousands and thousands of horses exist in barbed wire fences each day, for years and years on end and they don't get killed, maimed, or injured. Granted, barbed wire injuries can be gruesome, but we have yet to find a fencing material that is 100% safe for the equine. In the case of barbed wire, this is Texas…cattle country. So many people purchase properties on which their neighbors have already constructed a barbed wire fence that borders their property. Fencing is expensive and we are not going to ask people to put up a fence beside a fence just because some horses get hurt or killed on barbed wire on occasion. Besides that, what is to say that an equine couldn't get tangled up worse on two fences next to each other than it could on one barbed wire fence alone?

What if I want to adopt the equine I am fostering?

Yes! You can go about this in one of two ways, depending on whether or not you are a member of USESR or just want to try out an equine for a while to see if it's compatible with you and your family.

For current members who may have been fostering an equine for several months or weeks, who decides that he or she would like to adopt the equine. That person contacts Headquarters and notifies us of their decision. At that point, they have two weeks to pay the deposit and two more weeks to pay the remainder of the adoption fee.

For persons who are not current members, we offer a try-out program wherein a person who is interested in adopting a certain equine desires to take possession of the equine to see if it will fit in with the family.

Can I board my fostered equine?

Yes, you can, IF you are a regular Foster Care Provider. IFCPs are not allowed to board equine they foster for USESR.

Foster Care General Information

** Note: Depending on what part of Texas you live in, you may or may not see a lot of, or any, foster care activity. At the present time, we are seeking Foster Care Providers in the following cities and surrounding areas of Texas:

Dallas/Fort Worth
Mineral Wells
Weatherford
McKinney
Decatur
Bowie
Houston
Grandbury/Stephenville
Waco

In all other areas, please see our Volunteer page at the link on the left side of this page, or see our Site Map for this page and other interesting places to go on our site! You will want to review the volunteer position, Regional Coordinator.

Foster Care Providers are not required to allow anyone to actually ride the equine. Riding a foster equine in order to make an adoption decision is at the discretion of the Foster Care Provider. If you, the FCP (Foster Care Provider) think that the prospective adopter may hurt themselves or the equine, you do not have to allow them to do anything with the equine.

The only thing we require you to do, regarding the potential adopter, is return messages promptly and tell the truth about the equine, both good and bad. What matters is making a good, permanent match, not just 'moving horses'.

Contact us after you send in your membership and FCP questionnaire so that we can arrange for your Foster Care Site Inspection and get you started fostering right away!