2014 Grant Award Recipients Announced

WESTPORT, CT - September 1, 2014 - The Board of Directors of the EQUUS Foundation, Inc. is pleased to announce the award of $272,000 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. In addition to the grants to equine organizations, the Foundation also awarded $11,500 in scholarships to equine volunteers participating in the Foundation's CHAMPIONS program thanks to EQUUS Foundation Partner Ariat International.

"Our success in raising funds is directly related to donor confidence in our evaluation and selection process," said Jenny Belknap Kees, the Foundation's Chairman of the Board. "We have developed one of the most comprehensive and impartial verification processes over the years, including standards for the management and operation of a charity either directly or indirectly responsible for the care of horses," continued Belknap-Kees.

The EQUUS Foundation launched a new program this year, MESSENGERS, to recognize and reward organizations on the Foundation's 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. Only organizations approved as Messengers are eligible to apply for grants. In addition, thanks to EQUUS Foundation Partner The Michele & Agnese Cestone Foundation, nine Messengers were selected by random to receive grants ranging from $500 to $1,000.

The program is modeled on the same concept as Guidestar as a free information service. Organizations are in fact required to provide the necessary information to Guidestar to be recognized as a Silver Level Exchange Member before they are approved as Messengers so that both general and equine-related information is easily accessible to the general public. A link is available on the organization's Equine Welfare Network profile connecting the visitor to the organization's Guidestar profile. In addition, links are available on the organization's Equine Welfare Network profile allowing the visitor to review detailed information on the organization's equine policies and practices.

The EQUUS Foundation is proud to announce that the following organizations received grants and scholarships this year:

Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary, Inc
American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, Inc.
American Vaulting Association
Animal Assisted Therapy Services, Inc.
Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center
Brook Hill Farm
Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
Celtic Charms Inc
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Chasing Rainbows
Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center
Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred ExRacehorses (CANTER Michigan)
Days End Farm Horse Rescue
Eagle Mount Bozeman
Equestrian Aid Foundation
Equine Land Conservation Resource
Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center
Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center
Free Rein Therapeutic Riding
G.A.I.T. Inc.
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee
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
Helping Hearts Equine Rescue, Inc.
Heroes on Horseback
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc.
Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center
Humane Equine Aid & Rapid Transport (HEART)
Illinois Equine Humane Center, NFP
Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation, Inc.
Interscholastic Equestrian Association
Kentucky Equine Humane Center
Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship
Marywood University
Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement, Inc.
Mylestone Equine Rescue
National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics( NAEAA)
National Horse Show Association of America
New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc.
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program
Partners Therapeutic Horsemanship
PATH International
People & Animal Learning Services, Inc. (PALS)
Ray of Light Farm
Refuge Farms, Inc., Horse Rescue & Sanctuary
ReRun
RideAbility
Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center
Riding Unlimited Inc
Rio Bravo Therapy Services, Inc DBA Therapeutic Horsemanship of El Paso
Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue Inc.
Rocking Horse Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc.
S.T.A.R. Ranch
Saffyre Sanctuary, Inc,
Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program
Seven Star Horse & Family Center
Shining Hope Farms
SIRE, Houston's Therapeutic Equestrian Centers
Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc.
Special Equestrians
Special People United to Ride
Standardbred Retirement Foundation
Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc.
Touchstone Farm
Unbridled Change
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
United States Equestrian Team Foundation, Inc.
United States Pony Clubs, Inc.
Unwanted Horse Coalition
USHJA Foundation
Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center
Washington International Horse Show Assn. Ltd
We Will Ride Therapeutic Riding Inc.
Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Wings and Hooves Therapeutic Riding, Inc.