EQUUS Foundation Honors Charities Dedicated to Equine Welfare
The EQUUS Foundation established its Mentor Accreditation program in 2022 expanding the scope of its mission from grant maker to accrediting body. “It was a natural transition,” said Lynn Coakley, EQUUS Foundation President. “We had already established standards for equine welfare and business practices for equine charities and required equine charities to undergo a rigorous review to attain the EQUUS Foundation Guardian designation and to receive financial support, resources, and guidance from the EQUUS Foundation.”
In 2025, the EQUUS Foundation awarded the Guardian designation to 128 equine charities, up from 104 last year, and 34 Guardian charities attained the Mentor Accreditation in recognition of their operating at the highest standards for equine welfare and business practices.
2025 EQUUS Foundation Mentors
New England
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Old Lyme, CT; Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, South Windham, ME; Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, Salem, CT; New England Equine Rescue – North Inc., West Newbury, MA; Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center, Windham, ME; Rising Starr Horse Rescue, Wilton, CT; Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center, Bristol, CT
Middle Atlantic
Begin Again Horse Rescue Inc, Lima, NY; Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship, Mount Kisko, NY; Gleneayre Equestrian Program, Lumberton, NJ; Green Chimneys, Brewster, NY; Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue, Dover Plains, NY; Thorncroft Equestrian Center, Malvern, PA
South Atlantic
Brook Hill Farm, Forest, VA; Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding, Johns Island, SC; Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Lisbon, MD; Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation, Palm City, FL, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation, Lovettsville, VA; Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Crownsville, MD; Prancing Horse, Southern Pines, NC, South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Homestead, FL; Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center, Aldie, VA
Midwest
BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center, Harvard, IL; Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, Ravenna, OH, Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH), Lexington, KY; Horse Haven of Tennessee, Seymour, TN, Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, Lexington, KY; Ridin’ High, Morrison, TN; Secretariat Center, Lexington, KY; Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Diana, TX
West
Colorado Horse Rescue, Longmont, CO; Mountain Valley Horse Rescue, McCoy, CO; New Mexico Horse Rescue at Walkin N Circles Ranch, Edgewood, NM; Save a Forgotten Equine, Redmond, WA
2025 Funding Awarded
Following close of fiscal year on August 31, the EQUUS Foundation awarded over $335,000 in grants to 139 equine charities nationwide that are involved with Equine Transition Services – rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing, and retirement – and also charities that provide Equine Assisted Services (EAS) and Outreach programs by partnering with horses to improve the well-being of people.
The EQUUS Foundation also awarded $25,000 in scholarships to students enrolled in equine studies programs at the undergraduate and graduate level to encourage the pursuit of equine careers.
In addition, over 1,000 individual riders, scholastic riding programs, pony clubs, equestrian camp programs, and equine charities received over 11,500 items of new and gently used riding apparel, valued at over $302,000, through the EQUUS Foundation Rider’s Closet – bringing the grand total to over $660,000 in monetary and in-kind awards.
“We are thankful for the continued leadership and guidance provided by our Board of Directors, the expertise and dedication of our staff, and the many individuals and organizations that supported us this year,” said Lynn Coakley, EQUUS Foundation President.
EQUUS Foundation Horse Whisperers
The EQUUS Foundation presents Horse Whisperer Awards to deserving charities in the name of individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a significant commitment to ensure that America’s horses are safe and live with dignity throughout their lives.
The recipients of Horse Whisperer Awards are selected by the Board of Directors from among EQUUS Foundation grant recipients that best align with the interests of the Horse Whisperers, including those equine charities with which the Horse Whisperer may be familiar. The awards bring added recognition to equine charities operating at the highest standards for business and equine welfare practices.
Establishing an EQUUS Foundation Horse Whisperer Award is a meaningful way a donor wishing to make a substantial contribution to the EQUUS Foundation may be recognized. Horse Whisperer awards may be named in honor of a family member, friend, associate, or in the memory of a loved one or a loved equine companion. Donors may establish an Unrestricted or Field-of-Interest Award. Field-of-interest awards are those where the donor designates a particular area of charitable interest for the award. Contact us at mail@equusfoundation.org for more information.
To learn more about the EQUUS Foundation and their mission, please visit www.equusfoundation.org.
