WESTPORT, CT – August 31, 2013 – The Board of Directors of the EQUUS Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the award of $275,000 in grants to charities dedicated to ensuring the well-being of horses, improving the quality of life of people through equine-assisted activities and therapies, and fostering the horse-human bond.
2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the EQUUS Foundation and the evolution from a local community-based effort to a nationwide campaign to serve charities directly involved with horse rescue, foster care, rehabilitation, adoption and retirement and charities that are operating programs involving horses that benefit the public, including equine assisted activities and therapies for those with special needs.
“While our primary goal is to provide financial support, we also operate a network connecting equine enthusiasts to organizations that need their help,” said Jenny Belknap Kees, the Foundation’s Chairman of the Board. Thanks to the partnership with Ariat International, we also offer the Champions Equine Service program and awarded $10,000 in scholarships to equine volunteers in addition to the grants to organizations.
“Even though we have awarded over $2.5 million in grants and there are nearly 800 organizations taking advantage of our free services, many qualified organizations are not awarded grants due to the limited availability of funds,” said Belknap-Kees.”
The EQUUS Foundation is now one of only seven animal welfare Principle Partners of Animal Planet, and the only organization focused on horse welfare. This significant recognition should will help raise awareness and donations so that the Foundation can support more organizations that need help.
“Our success in raising funds is directly related to donor confidence in our evaluation and selection process. Most recently, we developed standards for the management and operation of a charity either directly or indirectly responsible for the care of horses and a systematic mechanism to provide an impartial verification of the charity’s horse care and use practices,” continued Belknap-Kees.
The EQUUS Foundation will be renaming its network, the Equine Welfare Network, to encompass the philanthropic aspect of the Foundation’s mission and the other services provided to aid equine charities, and to more clearly identify the network as a trusted source for equine welfare organizations in the United States.
The EQUUS Foundation will also be introducing a new program to recognize organizations on our Equine Welfare Network that demonstrate a commitment to public transparency by their willingness to publish and make available critical data about their programs, horse care practices, and governance.
The new program will not only provide vital information to individuals seeking information on the services provided by participating organizations but also the means for participating organizations to share their best practices.
The EQUUS Foundation is proud to announce that the following organizations received grants and scholarships from the EQUUS Foundation this year:
7 Star Horse and Family Center
Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary, Inc.
American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Inc.
American Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development (AIND) & Giant Steps School
Animal Assisted Therapy Services, Inc.
Animals as Natural Therapy
Bridgeport Police Mounted Unit
Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses, Inc.
Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
CANTER-Michigan
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Inc. (CKRH)
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Chasing Rainbows
College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) Horse Show Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Dream Catcher Stables, Inc.
Equestrian Aid Foundation
Equine Land Conservation Resource
Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation
Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary
Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center
Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center
G.A.I.T. Inc.
Garfield Park Academy
Giving Alternative Learners Uplifting Opportunities, Inc. (GALLOPNYC)
Gleneayre Equestrian Program
Green Chimneys Children’s Services, Inc.
H.O.R.S.E. of CT, Inc.
Heavenly Horse Haven
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center
Horse Haven of Tennessee, Inc.
HorseAbility aka Camp HorseAbility, Inc.
Horsepower, Inc.
Humane Equine Aid & Rapid Transport (HEART)
Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation, Inc.
Interscholastic Equestrian Association, Inc.
Kentucky Equine Humane Center
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship
Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, Inc.
National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics (NAEAA)
National Horse Show Association of America
New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc.
North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program
PATH International (formerly NARHA)
People & Animal Learning Services, Inc. (PALS)
R. W. Mutch Educational Foundation
Refuge Farms, Inc., Horse Rescue & Sanctuary
Reindancer Therapeutic Riding Center
ReRun Ride On St. Louis, Inc.
Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center
Riding Unlimited Inc.
Ripley’s Horse Aid Foundation
Rocking Horse Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc.
S.T.A.R. Ranch
Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program
Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding
Shining Hope Farms
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc.
SMILES, Special Methods in Learning Equine Skills
Special Equestrians
Standardbred Retirement Foundation
Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
United States Equestrian Team Foundation, Inc.
Unwanted Horse Coalition
USHJA Foundation
Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center
Washington International Horse Show Assn. Ltd.
We Will RideTherapeutic Riding Inc.
Wings and Hooves Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
About The EQUUS Foundation
The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, also known as Horse Charities of America, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, advancing the use of horses to enrich the lives of people in need and educating the public about the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal. What started as a local effort is now a nationwide campaign on behalf of horses. The Foundation accomplishes its mission by providing financial support to horse-related charities across the United States; connecting a network of equine organizations to equine enthusiasts; providing scholarships to reward volunteer service on behalf of horses, and conducting information outreach to educate the public about horses. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: equus@equusfoundation.org, Website: www.equusfoundation.org.
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