The Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation (ERAF) in Palm City, FL, has been an important resource for aftercare on Florida’s Treasure Coast since 2000.

Our mission is simple: We rescue horses facing an uncertain future through no fault of their own. Some have been neglected, abused or abandoned. Many have arrived after careers on the track or in the arena and are ready for their next chapter. Still others can simply no longer be cared for by their owners. Our caring staff and dedicated volunteers work to rehabilitate and retrain our horses so they may be placed in suitable adoptive homes. Our adoptees have excelled in show rings, as pleasure horses, trail horses, companions, and in equine-assisted services.

When these horses arrive at our gates, the page turns on their next chapter.

ERAF has recognized Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) as a growing field in the horse industry. Given the burgeoning popularity of EAS, providing a direct link between horse rescue and professionally managed EAS barns searching for horses should result in more adoptions of our rescue horses.

With that in mind, ERAF launched a new program called Begin Again. The mission of Begin Again is to evaluate and prepare horses to be suitable partners for equine-assisted services (EAS) so they may find meaningful second careers in EAS facilities and/or other suitable adoptive homes.

Begin Again incorporates elements of Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) exercises, ASPCA Right Horse’s Basic Behavioral Profile, natural horsemanship, and liberty work. This expanded skillset broadens the adoption prospects for horses, particularly those no longer suitable for riding.

While ERAF is primarily focused on the care, rehabilitation, retraining, and adoption of its equine residents, ERAF also endeavors to provide ongoing equine education, outreach, and training to the community to support its mission.

ERAF is dependent upon grants, individual donors and foundations, fundraising events, and bequests to support its services and programs. In addition to our TAA accreditation, ERAF is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), an ASPCA Right Horse Partner, an EQUUS Guardian, and a GuideStar Gold-rated charity.