Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Adopt Sergeant

Male · Senior · 18 years

Sergeant is an 18hh black Irish Sport Horse born in 2008. He was bought and brought over from Ireland by the Ministry of Defence in 2016 and taken to live at Sandhurst, as they planned to train him to join the Household Cavalry. After their first attempts to do so, they quickly decided that he was unsuitable for the job. The usual process in those circumstances would be to sell the horse on to a member of the public, but they had reached a point where they were unable to even put a head collar on Sergeant, and he had been classed as dangerous and untrainable, so they were unwilling to sell him for fear of him seriously hurting someone, and he was to be put to sleep at 8 years of age. Thankfully, the wife of a cavalry soldier heard of his plight, found Shy Lowen and persuaded the MoD to give him a chance at a different future. He came to the sanctuary in summer 2016 with a file full of disclaimers to say he was not safe to handle or ride, and they would accept no liability for any injuries he may cause. Handsome Sergeant settled in very quickly and proved to be a giant baby who simply needed a lot of love and reassurance. He is a lovely, gentle boy, but not the brightest, so needs plenty of time to process anything new! He is very good to handle, load and with the vet and farrier. By the end of the summer he had carried his first rider very calmly, and has been progressing well, but slowly ever since. Sergeant is available for rehoming on loan to an experienced and understanding home where he can continue his education.

Size
Extra large
Age
Senior · 18 years
Location
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Shelter
Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary
Create free account to contact →

Free account — 10 contacts included

Cared for by Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary · United Kingdom

Listed 2 weeks ago

About Sergeant

What life with Sergeant looks like

Sergeant is a extra-large senior horse waiting at Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary in United Kingdom.

Adopting a horse is a long-term commitment that almost always requires either land or a boarding stable. The shelter will discuss the horse's training level, vet history, and what kind of work or companionship they're suited for. Expect ongoing costs: feed, farrier, vet, and stabling.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

United Kingdom, United Kingdom browse more horses in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Sergeant, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Sergeant?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Sergeant on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Sergeant if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Sergeant already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most horses on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Sergeant isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary early rather than rehoming privately; they know Sergeant and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
You might also like

More from Shy Lowen Horse and Pony Sanctuary

Simone

22 years

Mixed Breed

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Izzy

14 years

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Bambi

16 years

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Similar animals

More animals looking for a home

Simone

22 years

Mixed Breed

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Izzy

14 years

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Bambi

16 years

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Mythical River

23 years

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Zander

3 years

Mixed Breed · small

🇬🇧Lincoln, United Kingdom

Hugo

11 years

Mixed Breed · small

🇬🇧Lincoln, United Kingdom

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →