Frequently Asked Questions

Answers about Hawkez Haven horse rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, volunteering, support and horsemanship education in New Zealand.

About Hawkez Haven

What is Hawkez Haven – Second Chances?

Hawkez Haven is a New Zealand equine rescue, rehabilitation, education and responsible rehoming organisation with a welfare-first approach.

Where is Hawkez Haven located?

Hawkez Haven is based in Ashhurst, Manawatū, New Zealand.

What does Hawkez Haven do?

Hawkez Haven rescues horses in need, supports physical and emotional recovery, provides rehabilitation and retraining where appropriate, and carefully matches suitable horses with responsible homes.

What types of horses does Hawkez Haven help?

Hawkez Haven works with horses who need rescue, rehabilitation or a carefully considered next chapter, including horses affected by neglect, injury, difficult experiences or the challenges of life after racing. Some may be senior, companion-only or have ongoing physical limitations.

Rescue & Rehabilitation

What happens when a horse arrives at Hawkez Haven?

The horse's health, behaviour, handling needs and welfare are considered so their care can be shaped around what they actually need.

How is a rescued horse assessed?

Assessment is individual and considers history, health, temperament, behaviour, confidence, handling and practical needs.

Does every horse receive veterinary assessment?

Every horse entering Hawkez Haven is assessed according to its individual health, history and circumstances, and veterinary care is sought whenever it is required. Depending on the horse, this can include assessment or treatment relating to weight and body condition, injuries or previous injuries, lameness or mobility concerns, feet and hoof condition, dental health, skin or other visible health problems, parasites and worming requirements, nutrition and dietary needs, medications or ongoing treatment, previous racing, riding or work history, and any other concern identified during rehabilitation. The type and level of veterinary care is not identical for every horse — some may require extensive veterinary intervention while another may require routine care and monitoring.

How long does rehabilitation take?

There is no fixed timeline. Each horse's rehabilitation is shaped around their individual needs, health, confidence and progress.

What happens when a horse isn't suitable for rehoming?

Not every horse that comes into Hawkez Haven will be suitable for rehoming, and being unable to be rehomed does not mean that horse is unwanted or has failed. Some horses may have permanent physical limitations, ongoing medical needs, significant behavioural or emotional needs, age-related requirements, or simply be unsuitable for the type of home available to them. Hawkez Haven looks at what that individual horse actually needs for the rest of its life. This may mean remaining under Hawkez Haven's care, remaining as a companion horse, living a non-ridden life, requiring ongoing veterinary, hoof, dietary or management support, or being placed only with a home that can genuinely meet its specific needs. A horse will not be placed into an unsuitable home simply to make room for another horse.

Do you help senior horses?

Yes. Hawkez Haven considers companion and non-ridden placements for senior horses where appropriate.

Do you help horses with injuries or ongoing limitations?

Yes. Horses with injuries, physical limitations or ongoing management needs may require a different rehabilitation pathway or a specialised home.

Adoption & Rehoming

How does adoption work?

Adoption begins with an enquiry and open conversation, followed by suitability discussions, meeting the horse, adoption arrangements and ongoing support.

What are the requirements to adopt a horse?

Hawkez Haven is looking for genuine, committed homes — not temporary homes, impulse purchases or placements based simply on wanting a horse. Adoption is intended to be a long-term, lifelong commitment wherever possible. Before adopting, applicants need to be confident that they are prepared to care for the horse throughout its life, including through changes in circumstances and the horse's changing needs as it ages. An approved adopter must be willing to provide safe, appropriate accommodation and daily care, meet the horse's feed, hoof, dental, veterinary and general welfare needs, provide appropriate companionship and management, have the experience, knowledge or support necessary for that particular horse, respect any restrictions or special requirements relating to the horse, communicate honestly with Hawkez Haven, agree to Hawkez Haven's Approved Home Agreement and associated adoption documentation, and commit to the horse's long-term welfare. Every horse is different, so the requirements aren't identical for every adoption. Approval is based on whether the individual horse and individual home are a suitable match.

Do you require references?

References or additional information may be requested when needed to assess a proposed home.

Can a beginner adopt a rescue horse?

Yes, potentially — but being a beginner does not automatically make a horse suitable for you. Some horses may be appropriate for a less experienced owner when the right support system is in place, while others will require an experienced handler. Support may include a qualified riding instructor, an experienced horse-owning friend, a knowledgeable sibling or parent, a partner with appropriate horse experience, or another trusted local horse professional. The important thing is whether you have the support, willingness to learn and commitment required to safely care for the particular horse you're applying for.

How do you decide which home is suitable for each horse?

Matching is based on compatibility between the horse's needs and the adopter's experience, setup, lifestyle and ability to provide long-term care.

What happens if an adopter can no longer keep the horse?

Hawkez Haven's first priority is making sure the horse remains safe. If circumstances change and an adopter can no longer keep their horse, the adopter must contact Hawkez Haven rather than simply selling, giving away or passing the horse on without communication. The horse can be returned to Hawkez Haven for assessment and the next appropriate placement to be considered, or the adopter may be able to help Hawkez Haven find a suitable new home themselves, provided the proposed home is approved and is willing to enter into the same required agreements and welfare conditions. Any new placement must continue to protect the horse's welfare and maintain the information and history needed to safely track its future.

Why are Hawkez Haven horses placed in approved homes?

Where a rescue horse goes next can be just as important as what happens to it while it is in rescue. Horses can be sold, given away or passed on with good intentions, only for circumstances to change. A horse may end up with someone who does not understand its needs, is inexperienced with its temperament, expected it to perform at a level it cannot safely manage, loses interest, or does not understand the horse's previous trauma or limitations. Sometimes the horse and human simply do not connect. A horse may lose confidence, a rider may lose confidence, and handling mistakes can escalate. A horse that was previously progressing can begin to regress and acquire a label such as difficult or problematic, which can lead to another unsuitable placement. In the worst circumstances, a horse can continue moving from home to home, become neglected, lose condition, receive inadequate care, or end up in a situation where its welfare is seriously compromised. The approved-home process is intended to interrupt that cycle by establishing who the horse is, what the horse needs, who the person applying is, what they can realistically provide, and whether they are actually going to work together. The goal is a safe, appropriate and lasting connection rather than simply getting a horse out of rescue quickly. That is why Hawkez Haven uses approved-home agreements and why adopters are expected to remain accountable for the horse's welfare. The horse's story should not end when it leaves Hawkez Haven — we want to know that the next chapter is a safe one.

Volunteering

How can I volunteer?

Volunteer enquiries can be made through the Hawkez Haven volunteer page.

What sort of volunteer work is available?

Roles can include horse care and husbandry, rehabilitation support, gear and yard care, and session support.

Do I need horse experience to volunteer?

Not necessarily. Some roles are suitable for enthusiastic helpers with appropriate supervision, while sensitive horse handling and rehabilitation support value prior experience.

How do I apply?

Use the volunteer enquiry options on the Hawkez Haven website to get in touch.

Supporting Hawkez Haven

How can I donate?

Support Hawkez Haven through the Support page, including one-off giving and specific horse-care needs.

Can I sponsor a horse?

Yes. Hawkez Haven offers rescue-horse sponsorship to help support the care of individual horses.

Can I donate hay, feed or equipment?

Hay, feed, veterinary care, hoof care and practical equipment are ongoing needs. Contact Hawkez Haven first about a specific physical donation so the current need can be confirmed.

How can businesses support Hawkez Haven?

Businesses interested in supporting rescue, rehabilitation, education or practical horse-care needs can contact Hawkez Haven to discuss ways to help.

Education

Does Hawkez Haven offer horsemanship education?

Yes. Hawkez Haven offers horse education, horsemanship and practical experiences centred on welfare, safety and understanding.

What do students learn?

Depending on the experience, students can learn about horse care, body language, welfare, groundwork, communication, handling, life after racing and rescue rehabilitation.

Do you offer children's programmes?

Yes. Hawkez Haven offers experiences for school-aged children and families, with suitable sessions and age requirements listed on the Education & Horsemanship page.

About Hawkez Haven · Meet the horses · Horse adoption · Volunteer · Education & Horsemanship · Support Hawkez Haven